The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-31
EVENING STORY
Tommy Trot's New Years
BY BARBARA KERR.


Tommy-Trot, christened Thomas
Trotwood Birney, spraHled on the
table at his fathers elbow. He was
engag ed in printing something in a
little blank book which he carried
about with him. Its an awful hard
job. amt it, daddy? But guess gen.
tIemans has to do it anyway. don't
WEI"
whats that, Sir Thomas asked his
father, glancing up from his book.
why. the New Year resolution
thing" answered Tommy as he labo-
riously put on some finishing touches.
Pretty big word, that. What about
it?''
yep, but then 1 don't say it much.
It's sort of like a bet. You bet you
do or you bet you don't. An I'm go
ing to bet do" And Tommy closed
his book on little TAT finger and
climbed on his fathers knee.
"And what is it you're betting you'll
do. Busterkins?" smiled his father.
rumpling up the boys brown curls.
The child was unusually serious, he
looked intently at his father. I'm
our home, daddy. I'm SO tired being
wivout one. II want a muvver,
daddy-a muvver is SO handy" And
try as he might to make his declara-
chin quivered and he hid his face on
his fathers shoulder.
Mr.. Birney laid aside his pipe and
for a full long minute said nothing.
80 that's your New Years resolution,
is it, old man, to get us a lady for our
home?" He somehow could not say
I,the word mother lightly. tho it had
been five long years since Tommy's
mother died. ut would be nice. Have
you found any one, spoken to any one
YETI"
I'D like to have the, lady wiv the
shiny eyes that takes me to school
mornings" admitted Tommy. II
asked her once was she muvver, and
she said no, just only little boys
aunt. spect she's SO busy being
aunt that she wouldn't have any time
to be q muvver,' and the child sighed
dejectedly. Il wisht you'd ask her
daddy. Won't your
burn, old man." The father smiled a
little ruefully as he remembered that
he had thought to strike up an ac-
quaintance thru the child, but Miss
WOODBURY. had coldly repulsed him,
tho she had long been a fast friend Of
Tommys. stopping for him to slip his
hand into hers as she hurried to her
schoolroom, which was in the same
building as the kindergarten. II think
we have pretty good times together,
after all. Shall daddy be the bear
tonight"
''I'm most afraid I'm sick. daddy"
murmured the boy; Il spect I'd better
go to bed" -
Mr.. Birney gathered Tommy. Trot
bed. Il wisht your lap fitted me bet
ter. daddy. I'm going to get the New
Year 1ady's lap to fit like Benny
Jones's muvver's- does" complained
the child droWsily.
The next morning Miss Grace
Woodburn slackened her pace, expect
ing Tommy to come running as usual,
then she retraced her steps, walking
slowly past the house. The door
swung open, and Mr.. Birney. coatless,
an apron tied about his neck, franti-
caalys explained that sTommy-Tro was
very sick with. the Group, that the doc
tor was trying to get a nurse. but he
feared the child would die before they
could get help, as the woman who
kept the cottage was away
Fortunately Miss WOODBURY. had
taken a first-aid course; also, in her
strenuous business of being an aunt,
she had helped to take little Nephew
Peter thru a. very severe attack of
Group. She knew that every minute
was precious. She began drawing off
her gloves and christening her wraps
as she fastened after Mr.. Birney. She
telephoned her assistant to take her
place till further orders, then reached
out her hand for the apron. Lovingly
she bent over Tommy-Trot, who held
out his hand to her; deity she
smoothed b. his pillow, asking quick
questions as to doctors orders and
showing the bewildered father how to
follow them, all the time talking in
soothing. comforting little sentences to
the child. We're good pals, aren't
we, Tommy? And we're going. to
have some awfully good times togeth-
bargain with me-? When my little
Peterkins was sick he did just what I
wanted him to do. Will you do that,
darling? If you will. you may call
me Aunt Grace, just as he does. Will
you, dearest? ?"
t'RaVver call you muvver" whis-
pered the child hoarsely.
The color flooded Miss Woodburn's
face, but with a little life hanging in
the balance there was no time to hest
tate. "All right, little man, it's a
bargain and you'll take the bad medi-
cine just as if it were good
Patiently she worked, sending the
| grateful father flying on errands, or
telephoning the doctor to ask for fuller
directions. No man has any concep-
ton of woman's resourcefulness till
he sees her trying to save the life of
| some one dangerously i'll. Mr.. Thomas
Birney watched, fascinated. the move
ments of this highly competent young
woman who seemed never to give him
thought except to~order him about.
4>ooH cdIne"tne AFTERNOON was almost
spent before the child was sleeping
calmly in her arms, the crisis passed.
We've won't she announced to the
father, land if you will get me glass
of. hot milk I will be very grateful"
I'm ashamed not to have thought
of that myself" he told her remorse-
fully as he hurried to obey. When he
returned she tried to dispatch him to
get himself something to eat.
I'D rather rot" he assured her: 81
do not think could eat. only want
to make you understand how much I
appreciate what you have done for me
| and Tommy Trot. Wen be your de-