The Detroit times., 1913-12-03
Il Want My Mower to Come and Put Me to Bed
Like She Used tor Weeps 4-YearOld Clara Belle, ~
Whose Mamma Connecticut Says Must SN1
Bv w. n. AlBURN.


MIDDI4EBURY, Conn, Dec. FL
found little Clara Belle Wakefield.
aged 4, sitting on the front steps or
her grandfather's house, with her lap
full OF apples.
They were from the same trees her
mother used to climb. when she was
Bessie Webster--long before they
took her to the Wethersfeld state
prison, to be hanged. The pitiful old
shack, standing among the trees on
the beautiful shore OF Lake Quassa-
paug. was just as it had been In Bes-
sie's childhood, only more decrepit.
l glanced at the little girls sweet
face, and knew her instantly.
II was her mothers face. There
were the same dark brown eyes. the
rich brunei complexion and black
hair, the same facial contour and full
curve OF the lips. And back of the
baby softness l fancied I saw hard.
weary lines and the shadow of the
gallows.
This innocent, lovely child, the
image OF her mother, sitting there In
the very spot where her mother had
80 often sat-would she. like heI
mother. never have "a chance?"
Where Is mother" asked.
She looked up shyly. hesitated, then
murmured: Mower locked up"
Why. what for?"
II do know. Gran ma says mower
in prison. locked up, for long. Ions
time
And do you miss your mother
Clara?
The tears were coming now. Sudden
ly she spilled the apples from her lar
and ran indoors and hid her face IL
her grandmother's skirt, sobbing
Poor little girl" murmured Grand
ma Webster. she cries so for her
mother. when she goes to bed. She
just can't get used to doing without
her"
Then Clara Belle found her voice
again. Il want mower to put mo to
bed, like she used to-" she said, peep
ing from behind the sheltering skirts.
AN. say, Now | lay me- an tuck
me In" Then the sobs came again.
Little George, Mrs. Wakefeld's six
year old SON, looked on stolidly. "He
stands it better" said Mrs. Webster.
He amt so tenderhearted. But he's
hard time of It. bein' lame an
havin' bad back. where his father
kicked him when he was a baby. He
can hardly walk.
PA and me has trouble takin' care
o them" she continued I'VE do the
best We can, an they'll have hoIpe
as long az we have one. I've had 10
children O. my own--pm used to It.
But we're gittin' old now What's
goin' to come of 'em ! don't know"
A look Of despair settled on the worn,
wrinkled. old face.
A man was here the other day"
said Grandfather Webster "sayin' he
wanted to take Clara Belle to raise.
He said he'd be good TO her. an he
said his wife was paralyzed. an he
was old an lame himself. an maybe
Clara Belle could be useful waitin' on
EN-. I told him | guessed little girl
four years old couldn't do much
waitin' on anybody"
Clara" then said, 81 want to take
your picture. want a great many
people to see II. so they will know
what nice little girl you are. and
how lonely you are. and how much
you want your mother. And then
maybe they will help to get mother
out Of prison and bring her back to
you"
The sweet little face frightened
Wait" said Mrs. Webster, "till |
wash her face and put a clean dress
on her"
So Clara stood patiently while
washer her face and
combed her hair, and tied a ribbon In
It, and slipped on a neat littlerdress.