River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-04-29


down Patsy's cheeks, and when Helen
said they weren't children Patsy
screamed. 1t was very bitter mo-
ment, when all the world seemed ar
rayed against her and her children.
Bobby had never before seen Patsy
cry. OF course, he knew that little
girls did cry sometimes, but he could
not think that any had ever cried in
the dreadful way in which Patsy was
crying now. 1t frightened him, and
when he again leaned out the window,
he somehow dropped quite all the way
out
Josephine, to whom the situation
was not novel, and in whose expe-
rience the antidote for tears had been
laughter, now sat down on Patsy's
little boy and laughed at Patsy. Patsy
sat up and stopped crying, though her
eyes were still blinded with tears, and
her voice trembled as she tried to
speak.
"You don't know anything about
my children-you don't! No, you
don't! They have got mouths! Don't
know? I've fed them myself And
they have got hands-real hands that
feel to me; and they do so wear
clothes-yes, they do-and you get
off my little boy this mint"
/ fear Patsy shrieked this conclud-
ing admonition in very loud voice
as she sprang fiercely at Josephine.
Josephinc's laughter ceased. She dis
creetly moved away, and leaning out
the window she went out heels over
head, just as Bobby had done.
Helen was going away too. She
stopped in the doorway and said: L
cannot play with you any more myself,
Patsy. My mamma wouldn't have me
to play with little girls what tell sto-
ries about their children, and fight
the way you do" With this she closed
the door, and whatever Patsy said
never told
She sat among them on the floor
and thought, with her head leaning on
her little boy. After a long time she
got up, and, helping Susie and the
boy up by either hand, she said: Hell
en- likes hers, and l like mine. Well,
| suppose we must all be satisfied with
the children the Lord sends us. am"
Her children were seen no more in
the days of Helen's and Josephine's
visit. Once only were they spoken
of, and then by Bobby. The shortness
of Bobbv's legs caused him SO much
difficulty in running his express wag-
on that ne was wont frequently to
dwell upon the time when they should
be longer
when I'm a man." he said, I'm
going to be a carpenter like Mr.. Ber-
ry. and have horse and wagon to go
about in. On Sundays I'll come and
take Patsy and her children for
ride"
There was a pause, and then jose
phine said: when / grow up | shall
ride in a circus without anything on
the horse. and just wear fluff skirts
myself"
81 shall have a carriage" said Hell
en-. when / grow up, and dresses-so
MANY dresses-velvet and silk and
lace ones, and my children shall too.
| shall have Miss Fisher to take care
of nv children like she takes care OF
me and Josephine. I'll have to be rid
ing about in my carriage all the time,
'cept when I'm getting dressed.
shall be a very beautiful lady. What
kind will you be, Patsy? I've spoken
first to be beautiful, so you can't be
like me-"
Patsy shook her head.
81 don't know she said 'but /
think l shall just be mother.
shall have a little boy and a little
Girl and a baby. I'll have Agnes to
take them out to walk, but I'll always
stay by the window looking out till
they come back"
Whatever hopes Patsy's mother may
have cherished of the benefits to be
wrought by the presence of other
children the long non-appearance of
Patsy's family strengthened. The night
after Josephine and Helen dropped
below the horizon of her life, however,
her mother was brought to realize the
fact that a concession to public opin-
ion does not always mean surrender.
Patsy had gone to bed. Her mother
went softly into the room to kiss her
goodnight. She was asleep. In the
he'd with her were her three children,
and Patsy screwed into a little bunch
so as tn give them plenty of room
Patsy's mother shook her head sadly.
Il WISH" she said, that Patsy were
more like other peoples children. She
is such a queer little girl"
Patsys father shook his head, too,
and he said quizzically: I'VE shall have
to learn from Patsy to be satisfied
with the children the Lord sends us"