Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1909-01-01

her baby and a few
months later she went to join the ia.
ther and baby Jeffrey was left all
alone in the world.
Then friendly neighbors who had
too many babies of their own to find
room for this little fatherless and
motherless boy had him taken to an
orphan asylum and he grew up with
SO other boys and girls who had no
mother or father. .-...;
When Alice Lane came to the
home she was eight years old. Her
mother and father had died within
few weeks of one another and it
was sad-eyed little girl who crept
about the big rooms of the home.
Little Jeffrey had big heart and he
felt very sorry for Alice. ..-
On the third day after her ar
rival he walked up to her and plant.
ing himself in front of her he said:
Alice Lane. why do you cry 80
i much? Why don't you :play?'
He was such q funny, freckle-faced
little fellow that Alice smiled q faint
little smile. 1t was the first one since
her mothers death. Then the tears
came again and she sobbed:
Il want mamma, Jeffrey. 4 want
papa, too, and my own home. This is
big and lonesome and they don't love
you like mamma and papa"
From that time on Alice and Jeffrey
were the best of friends. He was
such a cheerful little fellow and often
SO dro1l that many times Alice
laughed in spite of herself
But when Alice began to talk much
OF her home and her mamma and papa
he began to wish for one, too. The
wish grew and grew until at last he
felt that there was nothing in the
world that he wanted except a moth
er and father and a home. When
Christmas time came and the chill.
dren wrote their wishes on a piece of
paper one of the house mothers read
in Jeffrey's: "Ples, l don't want
nothing but a father and a mother
and home with flowers in the win
dow"
From time to time children were
taken from the orphans home by peo-
pie who had no children of their own.
The house mother hoped so much
that little Jeffery would be chosen
and his wish granted. But the people
VINO came passed by the eager little
fellow who eyed each newcomer
hopefully.
Sc Christmas day passed and jeff.
rey received sweetmeats and warm
clothing and an iron engine, but not
the father and mother and home.
He cried himself to sleep that night
and Alice had to turn comforter for
the next few days.
Mamma always said New Years
was the lucky day and maybe you'll
get them then. And if you don't, then
you willsome other time, cause Moth.
er Burns said she'd try
On New Years morning Jeffrey
was awake early, and his first thought
was:
Maybe the mothern come today"
A few hours later a very rretty
woman dressed in velvet and furs fol-
lowed by a tall man came to the home.
Little jeffrey looked up hopefully. But
the woman seemed not to see the boys
for her eyes were scanning the faces
of the little girls When she same to
Alice she started:
That's the one, Jerome" she said
eagerly. THE same gentle face and
blue eyes and golden hair. We must
have her. 1t will seem like having our
little Alice back again!"
When she learned the MAMIE &C the
little girl she had chosen she was
still more interested.
"You would like to go home with me.
dear, wouldn't you?" she asked
Alice.
Yes, maam," answered Alice, .but
I couldn't go without Jeffrey, cause
he's been my friend and he wants
father and a mother so BAD
"Oh, but don't want little boy,
dear. just want one little girl to
make it seem as though my own Alice
were living" answered the lady.
Then can't come" said Alice, 'un-
less they make me co.
For few moments the man and
woman talked together and the man
seemed to see In little. jeffrey all the
things that other people had missed
He saw the honest blue eyes, the firm
mouth and the manly walk, and he
saw years ahead when the same little
boy might be his partner in business.
Then he, said to jeffrey:
1--WE want son, as well as daugh.
tetr. So we will take you. home md
give you happy New Year.
New Years is the lucky day, isn't
IT." answered jeffrey, beaming into
the faces of his new parents. And
the smile won the lady's heart and
she took him as gladly as she did
Alice.
So Jeffrey found his father and
mother and home and a sister all on
happy New Years day.-Farnners'
Review