The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-12-17
The Passing Of
the Children
BY Elizabeth Jordan

BY Elizabeth Jordan
Hello Mary" said care-free young
matron, greeting an intimate fried
at tea the other day, How are your
children"
my children" said Mary gloomily,
ARE dead"
For second her friend stood trans
fixed. Then remembering that she had
seen Mary at dinner only two nights
before, and also that Mary would
hardly be attending tea If bereaved
within the past forty-eight hours, she
turned resentful.
"You gave me a frightful shock"
she said GROSSLY, What on earth do
you mean?"
Babies No More
Gust what 1 said" Mary laid an
urgent hand on her friends arm and
drew her to a retired corner. There,
as they sat down, she repeated urgent
ly.
"My children are dead and have
Just realized it. "Oh, she hurried on
before her friend could interrupt, II
know that the three young persons
called Helen, Barbara and Teddie Ma
son are still on earth. They live with
me and are more or less agreeable &C.
cording to their moods. They are a
great deal of trouble and a great deal
Of expense to me, so must be respon-
sible for them. But-they are not my
children. They are simply three young
persons, self-absorbed, opinionated to
the last degree, and every day reveal
ing new qualities which make me feel
that they are almost strangers"
Her friend began to understand.
I'm other words" she contributed,
"they are not babies any more. That s
what you mean, isn't it,"
Strangers in the Home
"They are not my children" re-
peated Mary darkly. And she again
brought forth her dreary refrain, "My
children are dead"
"You have shocking way Of talking,
Mary" her friend reminded her. "And,
it's ungrateful. too; for your children
are very much alive as I happen to
know. BY the way, how old are they
now?"
"Helen is fifteen, Barbara is thirteen
and Ted is eleven"
"And they have been doing some.
thing to annoy you, suppose?"
"They have been changing into
strangers" repeated Mary flercely. "a
few years ago I had three adorable
babies to play with. Now, as l said.
three young persons are in my home.
They call me mother-but for all Of my
own babies l see in them they might
belong to anybody"
Her friend nodded.
Those Lost Babies
81 know" she said, land you miss
those babies horribly. One always
Does" She laughed little. 81 had the
same experience" she confessed. "My
children seemed to change almost over
night from pink babies to hobbledehoy
youngsters. 1t almost broke my heart.
I've heard a dozen other women say
the same thing. But you'll get over
it, my dear!"
Twill II" Her friends voice was
tragic.
The REIMBURSEMENT
"Of course you will. You will adjust
yourself and so will they. They're a
thousand times more interesting now
than they ever were. You will be abb
sorbed in them-after you have got
over the shock of realizing so suddenly
that they are no longer babies"
did your"
"Of course did"
did you-do you love them as much
as you did when they were cuddle-
some?" ftf
More" declared her friend firmly.
Much more. So will you"
well" Mary rose and Strengthened
her shoulders as If for the burden Of
readjustment. Possibly will. hope
so. But" her voice trembled, lone
thing is sure. They've got to develop
into something wonderful to make up
to me for the loss of my babies!"