Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-28

WOMAN AND THE HOME-N
The Daily Story
Quality VS. Quantity

| as She was thrifty. While the otner
women leaned from the windows OF the
| tenement and gossiped. or hung clothes
| across the court and quarreled over the
| length of line, Mrs. McGnnis went quietly
| asout her own business without n word
to any OF them. Indeed some Of her
! neighbors looked al her with awe, for
in a tenement where everything is known
/ the news soon spread that Mrs McGinnis
| went out by the day to wash for peo-
| pie who moved In high circles of society.
Her only near rival i'm this was Mrs.
O'Shaunessy, who appeared one Sunday
In a red plush hat nodding with green
plumes, The following week Mrs. Ne
Gnnis went to church in pink satin
waist that had once been the bodice OF
reception gown. It was elaborately
trimmed with chiffon and artificial rose
buds. and had elbow sleeves which dis
played Mrs. McGinns muscular arms
ruddy from much contact with strong
suds Yet II there was anything ludicrous
in the picture she presented she was en-
tirely unconscious of It, and the gorgeous
ness Of her apparel settled her supremacy
as a leader of fashion.
One evening Mrs. 57cGinnls came home
with a larger bundle than usual "Shure,
it's whole new wardrobe We'll be hav-
Ing" she said. breathlessly. I'm that
excited I can hardly cut the strings.
Here's waistcoats for ye, Pat, and some
necktles and a folne silk hat FaiX,
you'll look lolke the Mayor himself in It!
And here's a dress for me. SILK lined
II Is, too. oh, It's myself that will make
a fine rustic when I pass that o'Shaun-
essy woman! And maybe there's a waist
TO go with it."
"Is It this ye mean?" said Pat, and he
held up something that neither of them
had noticed-a small black velvet suit,
with lace cuffs and wide lace collar.
There were little black silk stockings.
too. and patent leather slippers, with
gilt buckles.
Mrs. McGinnls looked at the outfit
speechles3ly.
"Ye might sell it," said her husband.
Indeed, and I'll not said Mrs. Nc
Ginnis
"Ye can give it to Mrs. Oshaunessy.
then" hazarded Pat Twill fit one of
her youngsters
us 1t out of your mind you are?" cried
Mrs. McGlnnis. ITO think I'd be giving
this suit to the loikes of them What
would her red-headed spalphecns be doing
with lace collar and cuffs. I'd loike to
know" And Mrs. McGinnis snorted in
dignantly. To her mind these clothes
were meant for princcling, and none but
a princeling would wear them.
With morning came resolve which
by noon she set resolutely off on her
quest. carrying a letter from the priest
in one hand and dress suit case in the
other. The Sister at st. Margaret's Or
rhan Asylum was accustomed to many
startling requirements, but surely none
were ever more astonishing than Mrs.
McGinnis' demand for a boy to fit a
black velvet suit AS to his age or par
entage. Mrs. McGinnis did not seem to
care. So long as the suit fitted, that was
ell she asked.
Then followed a strenuous half hour
for some of the little orphans. There
were many boys of assorted sizes. There
were thin boys and fat boys, dark boys
and fair boys; but a good fit seemed
hopeless Mrs. McGinnis watched the pro-
ceedlngs with troubled eye. Look at
him. she would wall Hes that chunky!
He'll be bursting the seams IL he moves
an inch!" or again. Begging your par
don, tbs no bean pole I'm after want
inG!'
She tried two more asylums with no
better results. Despair settled down upon
her. Was the surprise she had planned
for Mrs. O'Shaughnessy never to be?
Must she go home baffled and defeated,
and give up all hope of the sensation she
had planned to create? And deeper feel
Ing than all these tugged at her heart.
The world seemed so full of children, and
there was not even one for her! A sob
rose III ner throat as Sne DeBan TO tOlQ up
the velvet suit.
"I'l be laving you with many thanks"
she said huskily to the sister in charge,
for there's not wan of them that fits
the suit at all, at ALL" And even as she
spoke there appeared before her the vision
of her last nights dream-blue-eyed and
with crisp curls of gold-only this child
was dressed in a checked gingham pima
fore instead of velvet. The child smiled
engaEingly at Mrs McGinnis. who felt a
great wave of love and longing sweeping
over her. Such broth of a boy Here
at last was one who would mt not only
the velvet suit but a niche that had long
been vacant in her heart.
What is your name, dear?'' said Mrs.
McGinnis. tenderly.
"Norah, said the child.
Ii was not at all the answer Mrs. Nc |
Ginnis had expected, and the good woman |
gasped. But there was a wistful sweet
ness about the child which was not to
be resisted. The love-light of awakening |
shone in Mrs. McGinnis' |
eyes.
win you be my little gurril, darlInt?"
she whispered.
The night that Norah finally arrived, |
Pat was as delighted as his wife. He |
thought he had never seen "pretter |
Sunday and the McGinnises entered |
church somewhat late, Pat in the lead, |
wearing a tall silk hat and stepping |
very jauntily, Mrs. McGinnis next, moving |
with a notable rustic, and by her side a |
beautiful little girl whose black velvet |
coat. heavily trimmed with lace was the |
admiration of all beholders. 1t was a |
day of triumph for Mrs. McGinns She |
beamed on the whole world. She even |
beamed on Mrs. O'Shaunessy when they
met face to face on the church steps.
"The top of the morning to you. Mrs. |
o. O'Shaunessy," quoth Mrs. McGinnis. |
"It's well you're looking this fine day. |
and all your family. Shure, it's a large |
one, there's no denying il! But with a |
glance Of pride at Norah) it's myself |
that has always preferred quality TO |
quantity"
Copyright 1881