Evening star., 1922-07-07
Shams.
4 n ERRIAM LINDSAY. travel
HH worn and disheveled, sat on
VI the edge Of the spare bed" in
Sharns.

l m Va
HH worn and disheveled, sat on
the edge Of the spare bed" in
the Lindsay seniors house
| trying to undress one whimpering twin.
while John went to rescue the other
from the stairway.
| .Merriam's bronze curls were rumpled,
there was p streak Of smudge across
her chin and the little girl she was try
ing to quiet was even more rumpled
and smudgy than her forlorn young
| mother.
the bed a few moments before and Mer-
riam had perched herself beside her
without any of them giving thought
to the immaculate bed covers.
The Whole room was wnat . aerriam ran
rate lace curtains board-like with
starch; there were starched bureau
covers, starched washstand splashers.
starched pin cushions. starched glove
cases and handkerchief cases and
boot cases, all of which were elabo-
stitches that displayed styles IN
neediework for twenty years back.
Look. Ricky. darling" Merriam
tried to distract the tired baby 50
that she could unbutton the back Of
her frock. Look at this funny big
cunning little pink and blue girl with
her blue doggis saying Good morn
ingn And look at this other funny
big pillow with the dear little pink
and blue boy and his pink pussy cat
saying Good night"
while she contemplated these works
of art, completely drowned cut the
sounds Of her fathers family's arrival
from the railway station and their
exclamations about their misunder-
Of Johns datiins tilss%am' Merriam
sesssd' saa ".o's ~ Merry sf'a1 cam get % Ricky!s
messy ole frock off-and daddy will
find us some nice clean jammies SO s
we can go bye-bye."
| Merriam was struggling not only
with buttons but with a childish de-
sire to join in her daughters howls.
She became aware of a shocked voice
| saying, Couldn't you take on her dusty
| shoes?''
.Oh, my dear" Merriam lifted the
heavy child to the floor, blushing with
dismay as she stammered apologies
careless of us! You see, we're that
tired. Aunt Elsie. that we can't see
straight-and we're very sorry that
we made ole footy marks On your
beautiful clean covers. aren't We
R:cky"
Fredericka. suddenly shy from the
prolonged scrutiny of her Aunt Elsie's
schoolma'amish spectacles. made a
quick lunge for the bed, clutching
| with both sooty little hands the
/ good morning" pillow.
rAnd-.your nice pillows" faltered
her as:tS own i daughter. sf She was wishing
desperately that John would come to
her rescue. She could hear his ring
ing voice below stairs.
! Come along. son." he was coaxing.
"Give your grandmama a nice big
here's Aunt Rose and Aunt Gertrude
come, now. behave yourself"'
! Dickys prolonged howl brought
Merriam to her feet.
J "Dickums. darling" she cried
''Merry's coming"
merry. MerEyr walled Fredericka
"stay right where you are. Ricky.'
Merriam commanded. while Merry
goes to get brother"
| Fredericka obeyed orders, facing the
formidable Miss Lindsay with quiv-
ering lips But again she made a
dive for the bed.
Don't put your fingers on those
shams" commanded her aunt.
Fascinated by this delightful new
word, which meant nothing at all to
her save a pleasant sound Ricky
paused.
II can do a shimmy dance" she re.
marked, with the seeming irrele.
vance of childhood as she grabbed a,
the nearest word she knew tina,
sounded like sham.
Aunt Elsie was horrided.
Whatever is your mother think.
ing of to let a baby like you learn q
thing like that" she exclaimed.
And Merry can't do 1t and Dicky
tcan't do It" Ricky began wrig.
Cling, only des' Ricky can do thu
shimmy dance"
| Merriam made a wild leap from the