Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30

train their children at all. 1 have often
longed to tell some mothers what think
Of them. but a better way would be to
adopt a child and bring him up so per-
fectly that he would be a living example
to all mothers who might ever meet n m.
1T would indeed. In fact, / Lave often
thought this place would make beau-,-
full orphan asylum.
Wouldn't 1t, How the little things
would love to play on the grdss.-they re
not allowed to in the city parks, poor lit
tie dears, In my fancy"-the sun was
sinking low and Miss Ernestine felt in
spired to confidences-'1 can see the cum
n4ng tots tumbling around the lawn,
looking like flowers themselves and max
ing the old place more beautiful than
ever"
Miss Ernestine had in mind certain
water-color paintings that represented
chubby tufts Of babyhood scattered over
a pale-green sward. She saw visions of
fat legs rising out of low socks, of frilly
frocks in immaculate flower hues. OF
golden heads supporting ribbon bows as
large as themselves.
Seriously. Josephine, l am willing to
consider the idea Of adopting boy II
you are"
We will do it
The morning mail brought letter which
It was impossible not to regard as di-
rect opportunity. 1t was from Harrie
Burke:
Dear Friends: am obliged to go away
ness connected with the settling of Fred
erick's little estate. ! had expected my
sister to come to take care of Freddie. but
] have a telegram, at this last moment,
saving IL will be impossible for her to
leave home 1 cannot take Freddie with
me, for / shall have to be flying around all
p the time. looking after business details.
and there is no one else in the world l
would be willing to leave him with except
oh, I know this is wild request, but
could you-would you-keep him with you
a week? Do. please, say yes. and l Will
bring him over in the morning. l wal
spend the rest Of my life thanking YOU.
with love. HARRIE BURKE
How opportune! This will give us
some experience before We assume the
entire responsibility Of adopting child
.As I remember him he is a pretty
child"
Lovely
And good?"
parents trained them properly"
How old is he?"
About four"
"wIll you write Harrie or shall To-
I'VE will both write her. SO she Will
feel assured how pleased We are"
Miss Ernestine had not Overstated Fred
die Burke's attractions when she had said
he was lovely. His red-gold hair and the
indescribable hue Of his starry eyes were
part of his remote heritage from old
Ireland To these were added the irresisti-
BILE Irish smile and dimple Of fame the
world around.
Miss Ernestine and Miss Josephine Were
on their knees to him at once both men
tally and physically. Now that he was
to be their very own for a week. there
was no detail Of his appearance that they
did not observe and gioat over
Such a beautiful expression.
Dear little innocent thing,
cit makes me feel almost sinful and
wicked to have this heavenly little SOU
with u.s.
ITO think how little he knows of thi:
wicked world
I'VE will be very careful of him. Har'
RE
Il am sure of that.
Wen not leave him alone a minute.
There was the ghost of an odd little
smile on Mrs. Burke's lips as she re.
iterated:
I'm sure you'll not.
Freddie's affections were evidently elias.
tic, for Mrs. Burke had no difficulty IN