Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-07
How Bette Graham Was
Adopted-By Bessie
BrunSO;e

In the lower part Of New York City
stands a tall tenement house in which
there lived over fifty families.
In one of the rooms lived Bette
Graham and her mother.
They were poor and since Bettie's
mother got sick it was hard for Bette
to earn living for them. Bette
worked in large store up town, and
out Of kindness her employer paid her
four dollars a week.
Bette did not have to do much in
the store but run errands, busting
counters, and open the doors for the
customers.
One day the doctor came and said,
II know it is impossible, but only sea
voyage can save her"
Bette also knew it was impossible,
but she did not give up. When she
entered the store she was crying, and
her employer asked her what was the
matter, she said:
Mamma can't" here she sobbed,
Mamma can't get well,' and she Sob
bed again, unless she takes voyage
across the sea-"
Mr.. Thompson, her employer said af-
ter a while, "She shall take voyage"
ooh, no, she can't, cause we have not
got money enough I never saw $780,
"Oh yes l have, can pay for it,
ooh, will you, will you really pay for
it, Mr.. Thompson, I'll be so glad you
will"
Yes, will pay for it,
ooh, then, mamma can get WE'LL
"Oh," said Bette when she got home
'oh mamma, Mr.. Thompson Is going
to pay for you going across the sea.
Aren't you glad?'
Yes, dear, Mr.. Thompson is very
kind. but where would you stay?'
"Oh, mamma. | can stay here. |
won't be afraid at all
Yes, dear, I would not go away and
leave you here. l would worry over
you so much"
When Bette reached the store she
told Mr. Thompson what her mother
had said
"Oh, we will not let so little a
with me-"
"Oh, can I, Mr. Thompson; it's so
NICE
Eyes, of course said Mr.. Thomp-
son, "of course"
In less than a week Mrs. Graham
sailed for Europe. Bette was very
sorry to see her go, but she had the
glad feeling that when she came back
she would be well.
When Bette went home with Mr..
Thompson at noon a little girl came
running up to kiss Mr.. Thompson, but
when she saw Bette she said, Who
are your" Bette did not answer but
Mr. Thompson said, "This is the little
girl who will stay with us awhile,
aren't you glad?"
ooh, yes, very glad"
The next day was Bettie's birthday
and she did not work at the store, but
went with Mr.. Thompson and his lit
tie girl to the theater and two opera
shows, and she enjoyed it very much
because she had never visited them
before.
When Mrs. Graham arrived at Eur
ope she got in a taxicab and drove to
hotel and when she went to get out
her foot caught in the wheel and the
machine started and she was knocked
down on the hard pavement, and 1T
broke her leg and knocked her sense
less. She was carried to the doctors
office and there she died suddenly with
|
heart trouble.
This was very sad news to Bette
and she began crying and saying,
ooh, what shall do, oh, where shall
l go?"
In moment Mr.. Thompson said.
eff you want to you can stay here all
the time
ooh, can I, Mr.. Thompson? I'll be
so glad"
"Of course you cam said Mr..
Thompson, 'of course you can
"Oh, aren't you glade said Mr..
Thompsons little girl.
ooh, yes, I'm very glad said Bette.
Bette lived with Mr. Thompson al
ways after that and stopped working
in the store and was one of Mr.
Thompsons little girls.
Bessie Brunson, Age IL.
Hedrick, Iowa,