The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1918-01-26

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AN UGLY LITTLE BOY

Finally Donna gravely handed
the girl baby she had held In her
arms so long over to one of the
attendants. l wondered what she
was going to do. She walked
straight over to that earrotty
headed boy baby and I followed.
This baby" said the good
sister, will probably have to
make its own way in the world.
He will never know any home but
this place until he is able to get
out and do for himself. You see.
Bill"
'Is his name Bill?" interrupted
Donna.
Eyes. You see. BILL" the good
sister continued, mot being a
pretty child, Is not apt to win the
attention of prospective parents
who come to the orphanage with
the idea of adopting children.
But Bill is very bright baby
perhaps. the smartest little fellow
we have In the home. So many
people want girl babies-you
would be surprised how much
more rapidly our girl babies are
taken than the boys. And then a
lred-headed boy!" the good sister
threw up her hands. And more
than that, Billie is not very
strong baby. He will have to
have a great deal of care in order
: to raise him and make him a
strong, robust youth"
Just then, little book, some
thing in Donna's face must have
: attracted that blessed baby, for he
: put out his hands and made a
struggle toward Donna, giving
that indescribable little jump a
baby makes when it wants to reach
something's tho space were
nothing to its little mind.
A smile widened the already
large mouth, and as he smiled he
began long conversation of the
obs and abs and COOS by which
a baby expresses satisfaction.
Donna fairly snatched that baby
out of his cart.
This is my baby" she said.
But, madame" said the sister,
81 thought you said you wanted a
girl" There was surprise in her
tone. little book, and l thought l
detected a bit of regret also. That
red-headed homely little chap had
at least one friend in that home of
the friendless, apparently.
YES" | said, turning to Donna,
you said you wanted a girl, that
you were sure you did not want a
boy, and here you are taking a
fancy to a boy, and a red-headed
little tike at that"
We'll, I've changed my mind"
said Donna. II want a boy now
and this is the boy I want, and
unless the orphanage people say
there is some good reason why ]
should not have him, this is the
boy I'm going to have" And she
started off with the boy in her
arms.
But, madame" said the sister
you can't take him off as I'M
tremendously as that, you know"
Donna turned quickly and con-
fronted the sister. when can
have him?" she demanded. 81 am
Mrs. Donna Tenney. My attorney
Is John Stein, whom of course you
know. My bank is the City Ma
tional, and as soon as he is legally
mine I will make a will leaving to
Billy everything l have in the
world. You know I am a widow,
sister, and singularly alone"
Then happened peculiar thing.
The eyes of the good sister filled
with tears.
you love baby Bill?" said
Donna simply to the sister.
Eyes, very much. He is such a
good child l did not think we
would ever have to give him up
until he was old enough to be put
in one of our schools"
| The baby had gone to sleep
with his head close up under
Donna's chin. She pulled him
down softly and handed him with
a sigh to the sister. Then we left
to go to Donna's attorneys office
to make the arrangements for
Bills legal adoption.
"I'1l have that blessed baby
boy in my arms tomorrow night,
Margie," she said to me happily,
"and he'll be mine, too"
l wonder just what the differ
ence is in the love a mother gives
to the children Of her adoption and
the ones that are born of her own
flesh, little book-I wonder.