The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-12-10

o.--Fom years ago. when was
not yet 10, ! was betrayed. owing
mostiy TO my iamentshie Ignorance.
tho ignorance which has ruined 90
many young ulris. When my child
was born. my mother endeavored
TO have me give II up. and ~ she
put II. start over again." Wheth.
or rightly or wrongly. I refused 70
part with my baby. Even under
such circumstances, motherhood 10
me seemed holy.
SO ! have kept my little alri.
have never dIssemhIsd. always civ.
Ing my name - Mas and have
made II plain that the child 10 my
own. I have some good and true
friends, who do not consider me
biaekencd for life. and parents
have, knowing my story, trusted
me a. tire teacher OF their children.
Ny road has not been all sunshine.
either. and there are those who
have cast stones.
All that has passed seems Hike
some strange dream 70 me. only
know ! am the happy mother OF a
child who adores me. The chlId's
father. my rinaless hand, do not
remember whom look Into tho In
noeent eyes Of my baby, ard I
would not exchange one soft little
curt OF hers for all the cororess Of
the world. cannot see where any
Stigma can be attached to my
bsby's name. For her small sake
have held my head erect and
kept my soul white. and II ! had
not kept her. my heart should have
broken In my shame.
Now will you tell ne, do you, or
DO you not. consider that an un-
married mother should scknowl.
edge ard rear her iIieoitimste
ehiloi IL 10 . question that must
come before you often In the noble
work you are doing. and ! would
like 60 know N you think ! have
done right or wrong. not for my.
self alone. but for my ehiiof
MA0DAIENE.
AIS I read your letter. a mist
gathers before my eyes and = host
Of falr-faced girls. with fearful
Elances. form within the hare. The
faces are those OF girls who obcyed
natural impulse and we're to be-
come mothers Blue eyes. gray
eyes. hazel eyes. brown eyes. gaze
into mine with pleading perplexity.
all asking the same question:
What shall do with my babeT"
You ara right This question has
faced me many times since have
taken up this work. But you are
the first girl I know OF who has
followed my advice. and your letter
comes As q sort Of reassurnnce.
To mr. mind. ono Of the most
tragic scenes ever enacted on the
great stage OF life was when Wit.
messed a chiid.mother legally hand
her own Eesh and blood over TO
strange woman. They were both
handsome. Tho foster mother
rich. in dollars. with everything
money can buy To welcome 4 III
tie visitor into her home: but
chiidiess The chiid.mofher poor,
but possessed OF riches that money
cannot buy. There they stood
One with her iewalcd arms out
stretched, the other smuggling hsr
child to her breast for the last
time. Their eyes mot. for one In
slant. In the eyes OF ono cleaned
unsuppressible Joy: In the other
burned hate sostened by sorrow.
Quickly the rhlId.mother laid her
precious burden into thu white
outstretched arms and ran from
the room.
When a girl comes 10 me In such
q plight I have always endeavoref
to show her . way TO keep the 1T
tie pink and white bundle OF hui
manity which she In partly respon-
sibie for. Girls. stand BY your mis-.
take. and. though your footsteps
grow weary. do not faiter. for per
severance conquers all things. Our
greatest glory II not in never fall