Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-11-28
Little Mother
o0
BY ~GENEVIEVE ULMAR

Copyright. 1919. by the Western News
paper Union.)


Somewhere Lucia Willard had read
a story where a poor and humble girl
mad patiently endured all the suffer
ings and deprivations of poverty, to
emerge into a higher condition and
finally become the bride of a man of
wealth and position who, in reverence
for her gentle ways and pure, inno-
cent mind, adored her through all of
a happy, contented life. 1t was a rare
manc of the old school and she had
velOpment.
"Only a dream !" she sighed resign
eddy. what can come to Winston
Flats to me like the story book tells?'
Not but what Lucia deserved all that
a reward for truth, sacrifice and I'M
complaining hard work could give an
orphan, her only living relative, her
grandmother. The two of them worked
at the cheapest grade of sewing, gain
ing a mere subsistence. Their living
quarters were mean and lowly, but
kept exquisitely neat and clean. 1t
was often invaded by those less par
ticular as to rags and dirt, little chill
dren of the neighborhood. A strong
maternal instinct in Lucia attracted
her towards them, and the only break
in the monotony Of her dull existence
was when she gathered in the little
outcasts, washed them clean, combed
out their tangled hair, mended up their
tattered clothing and gave them a lit
tie treat in the way of popcorn or
candy.
'If 1 only got to what the heroine
in the novel reached" Lucia told her
grandmother, g" would just fill my
home with these poor little lear chill
dren."
Grandma often scolded at the i'm
petuous philanthropy Of Lucia, yet
secretly her heart was touched at the
kindly motives of her last living rela-
tive. One day, however, she felt that
Lucia had exceeded the limits of toll
erance and charity. She had burst in
upon her bearing in her arms a tat
tered, half-dressed baby girl covered
with mud and CRIME, grooming out pity
and love and tenderness for the tiny
outcast. Lucia Rugged it close and the
child nestled in her arms as though
it realized a rare kindness and care.
"Just think of it," scolded Lucia
'1eft alone in the back lot to wander
tiny mite! She lay fat in the mire
where she had fallen. Oh, grandma
-lookl look at the sweet darling
facet"
For Lucia had run to the sink and,
washcloth in hand, had cleared the
mud-mottled face of the child.
What are you going to do with her,
Lucia?" questioned grandma.
81 am going to keep her, I am go
ing to adopt her." replied Lucia with
you know who she is? One of the
half-starved babies that Mrs. Woods
took care of. Actually when she went
away she left this n or the door
step of a neighbor, who has hardly
enough to feed her own little ones, and
hO t1AAC " NJ IAAo INV
said she would have to send her to
some orphan asylum. Oh, grandma (!
she shan't, shall she? I'll work dou-
bly, hard to care for someone I love,
and-you sweet pet! you shan't be
taken away from me-"
And little Evaline, as they called
her, wasn't. And at the end of a
month even grandma would have bar
ricaded the house in a state of siege
If anyone had limited at ~despoiling the
happy household of its now cherished
idol. Baby Evaline entered upon an
experience of love and care that kept
her babbling prettily and smiling and
Growing through all her waking hours.
Lucia looked up from her sewing
fairly aghast n day, when q police
officer came into the house with a
kindly faced, but seriouslooking
young man. pointed to the chattering
Evaline and said:
81 guess there is no mistake, Mr..
Barton. The trail ends here and there
is your dead sisters child"
The heart Of Lucia chilled and she
began to cry as the young man told
the story of a sister who had eloped
with a favored lover. He had died
later, and only now after a long search
had the sorrowing brother surely found
the little orphan. He placed a dozen
bank notes on the table, but Lucia
pushed them away and wept only the
more bitterly. Her genuine emotion
affected him greatly. The baby began
to cry In sympathy with her second
mother and grandma Joined in the
general sorrow and desolation.
81 haven't the heart to separate
them" Gerald Barton whispered to the
officer. Don't take on so, miss. You
shall not be troubled about the child
until 1 think of some way Of arrang'
ing all this"
He came the next day. clone. II
was to ask Lucia If she would be will