Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-03-01
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
= THE = 5
ADOPTED BOY !
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

con Tanner and his wire. They hau
come to be ffty years old and were
childIess.
The Rev. Mr.. Peters had succeeded
the parson who had had charge of the
church at Bamfeld to which the dea-
con and hIs wife belonged.
One day calamity happened in the
village. A gale blew down a barn In
which a resident and wife had taken
refuge, and they we're killed, while a
year-old baby in the mothers arms
was miraculously spared. The victims
had friends, but no relatives that could
be heard Of Several good women came
forward to take care Of the little or
phan, but Mr.. Peters had his plans In
regard to that matter. He didn't think
It right for the child to be shifted from
one TO the other, but felt It must be
provided with a permanent home and
grow up in gratitude and goodness.
He therefore called upon Deacon Tan
ner and his wife and suggested and
argued and insisted that they legally
adopt the little stranger. A great deal
was said about hearth, home and the
prattle Of innocence; also about
stan to lean on in their declining years.
In their goodness and innocence the
couple agreed with him. and the neces.
sary legal steps were taken and the
kid turned over to them, and every
body was happy, particularly those
who had got It on their hands after
weeks of afIiiction. On the next Sun.
day most Of the sermon was devoted
to this tender incident, and the deacon
went home feeling good. His wife had
remained home to take care Of the
adopted. who had developed beauti-
full case OF rash that morning.
Only about week had passed since
the adoption when the neighDors be-
gan to whisper that they could see
change IN Deacon Tanner and his wife.
They were losing their smiles. There
was something wrong somewhere, and
when It was limited to the minister he
called In hopes to solve the problem.
He wasn't kept waiting very long.
With tears in her eyes Mrs: Tanner
said:
"The deacon has called me foolT
"You can't mean itT'
"But do. He has called me a fool
dozen times over"
But why?"
Because OF the baby. The little
thing hadn't had the collie over Ave
nights running and kept us up most Of
each night when the deacon said ! was
fool for wanting to adopt It, and he's
Keeping it up"
1T seems incredible. | will go out
into the garden and speak to him
about II"
Out he went and demanded an ex-
PLANTATION and got II.
But she has called me an old idiot"
said the deacon in defense.
"Imposslblei Why should shep
ION account Of that young 'un.
whenever he bowls she says l was an
old idiot to saddle as with him."
The good man administered soothing
strip to man and wife in liberal guam
tity. and when he took his departure
they had almost forgiven each other.
Nevertheless the end of another week
saw more trouble. While standing at
his back door In the afternoon the dea.
con was overheard to say to his wife
IN the kitchen:
''You think he's coming down with
tho measles now, do you, and that It
win be four weeks before he Is over
tn Well. | want to say that If he
comes down I'm going to leave this
house. II you'd had the brains Of a
chickadee you'd never have got such
nuisance here"
And later on neighbor could have
sworn to the fact that she saw the dea-
cons wife out under the pear tree, with
her apron to her face. and overheard
her exclaim to herself:
Il can't stand It to live with an idiot
and bowling baby much longer! I'm
getting to be a desperate woman"
Neither the deacon nor his wife ap-
peared at church next day. and toward
evening the minister called. He found
The baby bowling. the adopted mother
crying and the deacon hiding away up
Ia the garrett
what do you think" walled the
wife as she tried to clear her eyes OF
the tears. neither one OF US got a
wink Of sleep last night. and the dea-
,on called baby a hyena and me a
mutton headed scarecrowr
cit can't ber'
"And what did she call me7'' added
The deacon as be came down from his
roost, II told her that the baby had
humps instead Of measles, and she
aid ] didn't know enough to feed hogs
md that she wished she had never set
Eyes on mel.
But this can't 20 on" protested the
shocked minister.
"No; III leave him tomorrow ex.
,laimed the wife.
I'm leave her firstr' added the dea.
,on.
After an hour the good man went
lway. lie talked his best and then
eff the matter 10 the hands of PrOvl
ienee. Providence took hold OF things