New Mexico state record., 1919-12-26

mans 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 I don't say it much.
IT'S sort of like Il bet. You bet you do
or you bet you don't. An I'm going ~
bet do" And Tommy closed his book
on n little fat finger and climbed on
his fathers knee.
"And what is it you're betting you'll
do, Busterkns?" smiled his father.
rumpling up the boys brown curls.
The child was unusually serious; he
looked intently at his father. I'm
going TO see about getting lady for
our home, daddy. I'm so tired being
wivout one. II want Il muvver, dad
dy--a muvver is so handy" And try
as he might to make his declaration
very matter of fact, Tommy-Trot's
chin qulvered and he hid his face on
his fathers shoulder
I'D like to have the lady wiv the
shiny eyes that takes me to school
mornings" admitted Tommy Il asked
her once was she muvver, and she
said no, just only II little boys aunt
| spect she's so busy being n aunt that
she wouldn't have any time to be
muvver," and the child sighed defect
edly. 81 wisht you'd ask her daddy.
Won't yOu?"
"Why, | don't know Miss WOodburn.
old man," The father smiled little
ruefully as he remembered that he had
thought to strike up an acquaintance
through the child. but Miss Woodburn
had coldly repulsed him, though she
had long been a fast friend of Tom
my's, stopping for him TO slip his hand
into hers as she hurried to her school
room, which was in the same building
as the kindergarten. II think we have
pretty good times together, after all.
Shall daddy be the bear tonightf"
'Im most afraid I'm sick. daddy"
murmured the boy; Il spect I'd better
20 to bed"
The next morning Miss Grace Wood
burn slackened her pace, expecting
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, frantically ex-
planned that Tommy-Trot was very |
sick with the Group.
Fortunately Miss WOodburn had
taken frst-ald course; also. in her
strenuous business of being an aunt,
she had helped to take little Nephew
Peter through very severe attack of
Group She knew that every minute
was precious. She began drawing off
her gloves and unfastening her wraps |
as she hastened 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; deftly she
smoothed 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 Were good pals, aren't
we, Tommy? And we're going to have
some awfully good times together.
aren't We? And will you make bar
gain with me? When my little Peter
kins was sick he did just what ! want
ed him to do. VIII you do that. dar-
ling? If you will you may call me
Aunt Grace, just as he does. VIII you.
dearest?"
"Ravver call you muvver." whis-
pered the child hoarsely.
The color flooded Miss Woodburn's
face. but with little life hanging In
the balance there was no time to hesi-
tate. "All right, little man. it's a bar
gain and you'll take the bad medicine
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-
tion of a 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