The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-06-10
SWEETEST NAME
BY MARY wlNIFRED FORD.
9. 1921. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicafe.)

wrinkied old hands.
Before he had time to be out OF
sight she called to him excitedly to
come back, and she waved the pink
and white envelope as though this
alone would tell him to hurry-how i'm
portant was the letter he handed her
this morning.
"Oh Mr.. Jackson, read it-Oh, myl
Oh, my" was all she could say, but
Mr.. Jackson knew her old heart was
glad over something and the thought
that he was the one to deliver any
| good news to this dear old Lady"
thrilled him through and through.
"a precious little baby girl has
come to gladden. our hearts," was
what he read.
"Just think. Mrs. Abbot, at last your
wish has come true-you are really
and truly grandma to someone now"
and as he saw her brush tear away,
he left hurriedIy, for in his own eyes
there had gathered mist.
Mrs. Abbot had buried her children
years ago and her sorrow had made
her old, and hard work her hands
coarse and wrinkled; but In her eyes
shone the soul of a wonderful woman
and mother. Every morning at
found her working around a little
restaurant near her home, and
o'clock at night she could be seen
leaving the restaurant, tired, but
smile was there playing around the
Cd <N1 fhc hoh y
girl Of her girlhood friend and play
mate, Mae Adams, who died shortly
after her husbands death 20 years
previous.
The child was named Mae after
her mother, but she had known only
one mother, Mrs. Abbot, who toiled
hard to bring the child up as she felt
Mae Adams would have done had
she lived. When In high school the
girl protested and declared she must
leave and help her "Mumsy" out, but
that dear old soul also protested, say
ing that her own mother would have
desired nothing more than to see her
little girl properly educated.
With a pension she was receiving
since her husbands death, and the
money received for her daily work In
the restaurant, she was able to buy
the things young girls heart would
desire, so that Mae was rich with
the things she craved-pretty frilled
dresses, shoes, etc., and wonderful
motherly love from Mrs. Abbot.
Then along came her handsome
young knight, and they were married,
and 'Mumsy Abbott was alone, as
Jack Edmond insisted that his wife
should leave her home In the country
and go to New York with him to live.
They pleaded with Mrs. Abbot to &C
company them, but she refused to
part with the old home and the things
she loved-the trees, the birds that
had become a part Of her wonderful
life. Now came the wonderful news
And "Mumsy" must come at once to
see the little girl. But, alas this poor
little mother was now along in years
and the trip would prove too much
for her, so she sent letter Of con-
graduation and love to them both, in
stead.
Jack, here is letter from Mumsy,
and she feels the trip would be too
much for her. Oh, 1 am so disap-
pointedl I just wanted to see Num-
sy euddle baby to her and to see the
Joy in her eyes, for, Jack, she al
ways wanted to be a. grandma way
back, and now, when her wishes are
fulfilled. she cannot come" and tear
trickled down the pretty cheek. Jack
brushed it away lovingly, saying that
just as soon as baby and she were
strong enough they would visit dear
old Mumsy.s
"But, Jack, what are we going to
name this precious baEy? | want
| real pretty name for her"
"Why, your own name, dear, would
please me best of ALL
mol no! that isn't pretty Claire
I always did like. and then there is
Dorothy and Geraldine"
But neither of them knew that back
home in the country, sitting near the
window watching her birds, was
dear old lady telling each little bird
what she wanted most Of all, and at
the thought of it her blue eyes
sparkled and her heart beat faster.
Some time later when the baby was
strong enough, they went out to the
little country home, stu puzzled what
they should call baby. Grandma was
consulted, but she just looked at them
both, and as she Rugged baby close
to her there was the same longing
In her eyes that the little birds saw
one day. yet she said nothing.
While looking through her moth
er's writing desk one day Mae found
slip of paper, and on it was writ
ten ever so many times, aAnastasia
Mae Edmund" Then it dawned on
Mae that Mumsy's hand had written
that name and was hoping they would
name their first baby after Mumsy
and her own mother.
Its bit old-fashioned, Jack, but
she has been the most wonderful
mother to me, and now that it is my
two mothers names, I shall love the
name and baby. too," and Mae Ed
mond hurried to tell Mumsy about 1t.
A smile and then a few tears, and
hug for little Anastasia Mae was
grandma's means Of telling them how