Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1914-01-06

George Cooke looked over the morn
ing mail as it lay on the breakfast
table beside his hngerbow1. There
were several letters for him. one for
his sister and one for his mother. At
his mothers request he was attending
to her correspondence while she was
away on a visit. and he promptly
opened the envelope addressed to her.
The communication was from the
directors of a large hospital and its
contents were particularly interesting
to the young man reading them. 1t
put into his possession q bit of infor-
nation regarding his very early life
and he wondered why his mother had
never told him of it. He finished the
letter and then reread 1t.
The directors of the hospital, 1t
ran in part, ARE planning a celebra
ton in honor of the fiftieth anniVer-
sary of the laying of it's cornerstone.
Among the interesting things ar
ranged for the week will be a reunion
of the incubator children it has taken
care of and sent out into the world.
We have a record of the birth of q
son to you. George Cooke, on Nov.
25, 1887. If he is now living and can
find it convenient to be here during
our celebration week we will be glad
to pay his expenses to and from this
city"
I'll go" said the young man to him
self when he had finished the letter
Funny mother never told me L was
an incubator baby"
That day ne wrote to his mother
and inclosed the letter from the hos
pital He told her of his intention
and asked her to join him and attend
the reunion with him. He had In
tended to take his vacation at about
that season of the year. and as he had
planned no trip in particular this one
would be novel and interesting.
We'll show them that I'm very
much alive. won't We mother? he
asked when some weeks later he
joined her on the way to the eastern
city where he was born.
And none the worse for your early
days in the small glass house, my son"
returned Mrs. Cooke, proudly look
ing up at the tall man at her side.
L wonder if there will be many
graduates there he laughed.
them, George; We'll, I remember sew
eral little ones who were there while
YOU were growing strong in the care
member the names if 1 heard them
again"
And no doubt I'll meet one or two
fond parents who will remember
little George Cooke, Ell, mother"
Mrs. Cooke nodded.
On the day of the reception to for
mer incubator babies George and his
mother sought the hospital with
pleasurable anticipation. The young
man had attended class reunions, fra
! ternity reunions, and even family re-
unions, but this was a novelty. 1t
! dated too far back for him to remem-
Der any of his colleagues.
J The guests ranged from young men
and young women of his own age tC
children of one, two and three years
/ But George was particularly interested
/ in looking up and meeting the gradu-
g a ~ no in IN
/ when he was there.
| Through an old surgeon, friend OF
I his mother, he was presented to Nir-
ginia Lawson. a tall. slender girl.
You, too?" she asked, showing two
dimples in two pink cheeks
Yes; don't you remember me-" the
young man asked.
The old surgeon left them together
and at least one Of them decided tina
! he did not care whether or not he me
/ other members of his gFaduatin;
I class" This pretty young woman
would keep him busy during the re
| union days"
Mother thought it was very sill!
of me to come" Virginia told hin
when they had strolled out togethe
to view the grounds about the grea
! stone buildings.
And my mother had never ever
| told me of my fragile beginning
young Cooke explained. 1T was onl!
| through my having opened the lette
from the directors that l learned o
| it Something promptly told me t,
come he added, not without inten
| of purpose.
Love of dventure-novelty of sit
uation brought me- said Virginia.
Where is your home now?" Cook,
/ asked
In Virginia-Tm the namesale o
| my state she laughed. L happened
to be born up here. but Virginia il
| my mothers native state and sh
called me Virginia. She will have i
that I'm a Southern girl"
And well she may-you embody al
the charms of the girl of the South.
the young man said, looking down a
her radiant beauty.