The Washington times., 1911-05-01
AIDS GIRL
"MANOF THEHOUSE"
Soldiers Home Inmate Sends Dollar to Eva Sewel 1918
Eleventh Street Southeast Who Still Has Faith in
Deserving Father.
By SELENE ARMSTRONG.

Is 1t ten-year-old Eva sewell-the
man of the house-you're looking for
again today?
Then push open the big wooden
door next to the bakery, and you f1nd
yourself in the dark little alley that
is the entrance to Eva's home at 1913
Eleventh street southeast. Mount the
rickety stairs leading to the second
floor back. and you have now reached
a still more rickety balcony which is
not the place to quote Romeo, Ro-
meo." but to ask for Eva Sewell.
Her grandmother will request you
to be seated until Eva comes in from
an errand, for a ten-year- old girl who
keeps the family together while her
father deserts, must run numerous
errands, of course. And now, see the
home which frail little Eva Sewell,
with the body of the will o the wisp,
and the heart of a strong man. is de-
termined to keep together. 1t con-
sistS of three dinEy rooms into which
none of the spring sunshine finds It's
way The breakfast table, unsteady
on It's legs, has not been cleared of
its empty plates, some remaining
hunks of bread, and a few battered
spoons.
Scene of Destitution.
A small cook stove. unused because
the price of coal is not within reach
of a family whose husband and
father has deserted. stands in one
corner of the room, and in the other
a dilapidated lounge with an old
quilt for covering, adds another
hideous note of destitution to the
squalid scene.
Eva hasn't done her usual house
keeping today" explains the infirm
grandmother in apology for the dis
order and uncleanliness of the place.
And her mother"
Hush sh-sh-sh!" says the old wo-
man in g. sort OF frenzy of fear. "If
Eva should hear you! You see, her
home to put her in, and we don't
want her to know 1t till the last
minute. She's a queer sort O. child,
dreamy like, and always hopin'.
"Let's Hold Out Together"
Now, her fathers been gone we'll
nigh onto five weeks, and she still
says he's coming back That's why
she goes out on errands with such
a good heart, and why her courage
hasn't given out once in all this time
She believes he's coming back, and
she keeps on a saying to her mother:
Lets hold together, ma, let's hold
together
She thinks she can be the man of
the house until my daughters hus-
band gets back, and she don't seem
to be able to realize what a deserter
is"
Why. of course not. For at that very
the rickety stair, and while the grand
mothers hand was still lifted in a warn
ing for silence, the fiower-like face Of
Eva Sewell appeared at the door.
I'm too little to get very much work"
she explained to me. but I guess you've
heard 1t said that every little bit makes
little bit more. I'm sure my papa
must have just got tired and gone off
TO rest. for it amt any easy job is it,
thi stalking care of family?'
Believes No Wrong of Father.
And. seating herself quite primly on
the remaining shaky and uncertain
chair, Eva Sewell proceeded to deliver
a preachment on the manly virtues of
her runaway father. whom she adores,
and of whom she will believe no evil.
I'm sure he's coming back" she saws,
seem long time waiting. You see, he
must a just-got tired supportin us all,
and gone off to take a rest"
She's a dreamy sort o. child, and
always hopin'." muttered the old
again.
And little Eva's hope was justified
today-to some extent. at least. An