Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-05-20
SWEETEST NAME
BY MARY wiNIFRED FORD.
1921. BY Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate

the qostman eheerily, as he placed a
dainty pink and white envelope in the
wrinkled old hands.
Before he had time to be out of
sight she called to him excitediy 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, nay
Oh, my!" was all she could say. Alit
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 a grandma to someone now"
and as he saw her brush tear away,
he left hurriedly, for in his own eyes
there lad gathered a mist.
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 wonderful woman
and mother. Every morning at 6
found her working around little
restaurant near her home, and g
o'clock at night she could be seen
leaving the restaurant, tired, but g
smile was there playing around the
sweet mouth She adopted the baby
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 a 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 ac-
company them, but she refused to
part with the old home and the things
she loved--the trees, the birds that
had become 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, l am so disap-
pointedl / just wanted to see Num-
sy cuddle baby to her and to see the
10Y 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 a tear
trlckled down the pretty cheek. Jack
brushed it away lovingly saying that
just as soon as baby and she We're
strong enough they would visit dear
old Mumsy.
But, Jack, what are we going to
name this precious baby? l want q
real pretty name for her
why, your own name, dear, would
please me best of ALL"
mo! no. that isn't pretty-Claire
/ 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 a
dear old lady telling each little bird
what she wanted most of ALL and at
the thought of 1t 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, still 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
a slip of paper, and on it was writ
ten ever so many times, "Anastasia
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