Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-07-30
LITTLE MOTHER
BY EDNA BOUTWELL,.


pered the Winsome Lady, drawing the
tiny figure within the room and clos
ing the door.
The frail hands caressingly stroked
the brown hair For a moment there
was silence, then the Littlest Mother
spoke:
You are dear girl, Ruth, and |
love you. I'm sorry you're going. But
it's better, as you weren't made for
settlement work Are you going to.
marry the Doctor MANI"
The girl raised her head quickly.
Marry him?r she seoffed. I'D sooner
die y
You say things so beautifully. But
talk TO me, begged the Winsome Lady,
as she resumed her former position.
Il think you need a love story. 1t
sometimes proves cure for a certain
Sickness. I'll tell you my own love
story"
Yours - smiled the girl, her brown
eyes filed with a tender light
1T was long ago" began the Lit
tlest Mother, bending her white head,
when l was girl. l lived in Ire
land, by the sea. / loved and was
loved by Tammas Wynne. One lovely
moonlight night as we srrolled hand
in hand up the side of woodland hill,
] told Tammas that l was sure there
We're fairies about"
Fairies-litt.e men !" Knocked he,
there are no such things!
I'VE heard a peal of shrill laughter,
but could see 20 one. Then Tammas
turned boyishly to me and said Wait
for me, Ellen, wait for mep With
this he was gone. | waited for a long
time and then. being childishly afraid,
| Went after him" Here the speakers
voice broke. but she continued gravely
as If grown weary with the telling
AT the top of the hill / found Tam
mas-dead. Dead, with a smile on his
face, and in his hands-a tiny silver
buttoni The fairies had punished him
sand left their sign"
The girls eyes were luminous with
unshed tears. But you don't believe
that-do your queried the girl as they
both arose.
''Of course Everyone believed 1t
But it's children I've always wanted.
at night | dream of them, with their
little hands that they hold out to me.
/ went to night school for long years
Ito be a teacher; but | came here,
out of pity think today is my birth
day, and I've saved enough to buy
a ticket to Ireland don't feel like
-" She hesitated as the door opened
and revealed the handsome, debonair
doctor.
4 heard the story" he announced,
Ir.shing, and Ruth, forgive me! I'm
9ot in the service, because l belong TO
the secret service.
"0h, my dear" and the girl kissed
him. why didn't you tell me? L
thought you were a slackerr'
And the Llttlest Mother. being
worldly wise, slipped quietly out, into
the crowded street
Suddenly she heard her name called.
She turned and confronted big irish
policeman known as Tim Reilly BY
the arm he held girl with painted
lips and wide. frightened eyes.
V In his rich brogue he narrated TO
the tiny lady. how the "slick un," as
the girl was famed, had been caught
stealing again.
"An' it's me as win give 'er her
zoos, he grinned.
Let me whisper in your ear, Tim, -
commanded the Littlest Mother, as IL
she did not mind the curious throng.
sure an / WILL" shouted Trio,
traightening up we air saint Takc
.1er if We can find good in the loikes
of her.
The wee lady's eyes twinkled like
stars as she drew the girl into door
way. while Tim dispersed the crowd
Take this" she said, giving the girl
roll of bills. 4and try to be better
girl"
The girl looked shrewdly after the
disappearing figure. "GoG-what
fool I" she sneered. and fed.
The Littlest Mother reached her
cheerless room at last, and sank wear
lily down in chair facing the distant
sunset.
Below the window stood wanderer,
his violin tucked loringls beneath his
chin. Seeing the weary figure, he start
ed to play haunting melody
The weary look fed and the Littlest
Mother, CHANGING to raise her eyes.
gave a era of rapture. For there, hung
on the faded wall was a picture of
the Madonna and Child-the birthday
gift Of her friends
'~ammas," whispered the Littlest
Mother. see the baby-and look-the
mother smiles at me"
She stretched out eager. trembling
hands toward the picture and almost
uneonsciously repeated these sweet old
words she loved so well:
do you think what the end of a per