Evening journal., 1922-12-11

Susy Smith was seven years old
and s'sed with her three older broth
srs ans two younger sisters in a
> :amshackle cid farm house. But
susy couldn't ru= and play with
her brothers and sisters, She limped
and some days her leg hurt so that
she could not walk at all. She
was considered an invalid" and
was left by herself to think and
think. There was not much sun
shine in the life OF Susy smith-at
least tbat is what normal well chill
dren r.auld think.
But S,ssy was a brave patient little
girl. She loved to sit out on the
soft brown earth in the little flower
garden that her mother had planted.
She liked to hear the bees buzzing
about the mignonette and brilliantly
colored phlox. She tried to catch
the little hummiDg birds that whir-
red over the blossoms. But she
could not run and chase them so
they always got away. One day.
though she caught a bright golden
butterfly and this gave her more
pleasure than she had ever had.
Summer was nice. she thought, but
the cold winter would come and
then she must sit iDsidetthe stuffy
house for long t,resome days.
The other members of susy's fam
fly were all so occupied that they
had no time to think OF the lonely,
thin little sister who had ne yer beer
strong and healthy like them. Mrs.
Smith had the house TO keep clean,
clothes 20 make and mend, food to
cook for the family. the chickens
and other live stock. besides often
times lending n hand 10 her hard
working husband. His days were
buey in the fields milking cows
plowing and planting. Poor Susy,"
thought her mother. shes just an
invalid and / suppose I'm lucky that
the Lord only gave me one slckly
child" She made no effort to find
out what was the matter with her
little girl. just accepted her lame
ness as an inevitable ahliction. In
deed all the family felt sorrow for
Susy but they never sought TO find
the reason why she was not healthy
as they were.
So poor Susy." as they had got
into the habit OF calling her. sat
all day, sometimes in her beloved /
garden, sometimes watching where
her mother was busy with washing
or cooking She did not complain Of
pain, she did not complain OF lone
llness, she merely accepted her
fate.
II was early fall and the first day
OF school had come. All the other
Smith children trooped off with
their lunches in baskets, joyful and
eager for the experiences Of a new
school term.
Wish I could 60" said susy sad
ly as she watched them playing tag
and gaily running down the lane.
Wen. now. maybe you could al
that" said Mrs Smith. The idea had
just occurred TO her for the first time.
She thought it over for. a moment.
then added decidedly, I've a good
mind 10 hitch up DobbiD and rake
you down the road.
Wen see II teacher'I take you"
Her mothers kindness almost over
whelmed the child who had been
brooding over the thought for days
but had not dared to voice IL lest
her wish be not granted.
Mrs Smith lifted Susy into the
wornout oldAbuggy. Such an even
in the little girls life was almost
too much for her. With flushed
Cheeks. and trembling all over she !
finally stood before the pleasant
faced teacher.
Everybody is TO have physical
examination today" the teacher an
nounced to Mrs. Smith, "and maybe
wen be able to find out why your
little girl is lame"
"Oh, nothing's the matter reck-
on" said Mrs. Smith. She'll just
lame and not strong. that's all"