The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-06-22
An Odd Case to
Investigate
BY JANE OSBORN
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as dSSlStnnt 10 tne mutTOn VI tho
Stowe Chlldren's home 1t was under
stood that she should have charge of
what the managers called the home
"field work" This consisted of regular
visits to the homes Of children recon-
nended for the home, and the watch
lnR OF children who had once been
cared for by the home, but had later
been taken back by their parents or
relatives. Laura Stanhope lived at the
Stowe home and, when not engaged on
such errands, she was expected TO see
that the cook did not pare the pota-
toes too thick, that visitors did not
give the children too much candy, to
help with the mendlng, take hand in
the pantry when needed and other
wise put in about fourteen hours Of
usefulness a day.
Here's job for you," said the
matron to Laura one chill winter day
when the snow was In the air. "Some
Of the lady managers have been con-
cerned over an advertisement that has
been running In the Home News for
the last two or three nights. They
think maybe there are children there
that ought to be brought to the home.
Suppose you put on your things and
take the next trolley out Thompson's
road and try to find the place. Here's
the advertisement; II was in the
Female Help Wanted It's probably
some dilapidated farm house out in
the Old Orchard section. Don't go
inside. but get as good an idea as you
can of the people from outside"
Jane did not read the advertisement
until after she was aboard the trolley
that went out ThompsOn's road. Then
she unfolded the bit Of paper and
read: wanted nice lady to come
and be mother to two little girls.
We're dreadful lonesome. Don't come
unless you can read stories out of the
fairy book. Please come to stay al
ways. ThOmpson's road and Orchard
lane, II. f. ID. II"
Laura got of the trolley at Orchard
lane. That was easy. II was also
easy to find letter box few
hundred feet up Orchard lane, marked
II. The difficulty lay in the fact that
the post to which this letterbox was
attached stood in front of a splendid
old Colonial mansion, set far back
from the road, kept in splendid repair
and surrounded by spreading lawns
and groves of trees that showed every
sign Of constant care.
The only thing for Laura to do was
to 60 to the front door of the house
md ask whoever came TO the door
II he or she knew anything of the
sender of the advertisement. However
she was spared the necessity of rails
Ing the well polished old brass
knocker on the ponderous white front
door. A well clad child of eight or
ten playing before the house stopped
her.
"Did you come to be our mother?"
she asked, looking Laura over with
searching, young eyes.
Not exactly" said Laura. "But !
did see your advertisement and came
to see you and to talk with you. Do
you live herein this big houseT"
lGSt Htlu Nht Nilllut Dul uOn
let's go in. Let's talk outside, because
well, you see no one in there knows
about 1t, and / don't want them to
know until you have come for good
to be our really and truly mamma.
Jeane-thats my sister-doesnt know
either. It's going to be a surprise to
her"
"But you, you have everything you
want" suggested Laura. putting a
reassuring arm on the child's shoulder
"You ought to be very happy. You
haven't any-any motheri"
"No.' said the child, shaking her
head vigorously. There's just us and
Jumbo--that's the dog-and Moses
he's the colored man-and Jenny the
cook and Olive that takes care OF us
and Uncle Fred. Olive won't mind
really she won't. She wants to leave
anyway and anyway she just puts us
TO bed and gives us our baths and
sews buttons on. She doesn't read the
fairy story book or kiss us or any,
thing like that"
The child seemed wound up for
much longer explanation, but she
came to a sudden stop. A younglsh
middle-aged man, of rather stern ex-
preston, had come out of the house.
AS he came down the steps the child
whispered
That's Uncle Fred He doesn't
know. Don't tell, please. want to
wait until it's all arranged"
rs there something | can do for
your" asked Uncle Fred, looking as
appralsingly at Laura as had the little
girl when she first arrived.
II was only-only trying to find my
way" said Laura, little nonplused.
"You see wanted to take the trolley
and -and l wondered how often they
went by, going to town."
The man looked at his watch. "They
go only every hour. You've Just
missed it. The siding is right near
here and the up and down cars have
just passed each other there"
II was not surprising thing and
quite In accord with the spirit OF the