The Topeka state journal., 1922-10-24
EDening Story
Big Sister For Bill.

afternoon meeting their leader, Mr..
Gordon, noticed that one of the num-
ber remained. 1t was Bob Greeley, in
whom Mr.. Gordon was especially in
terested, as he was beyond doubt the
only one of the boys of native Ameri-
can parents-the only one, in fact,
who was not the product of over
crowded SlumS.
you?" asked Mr.. Gordon, seeing that
the boy was waiting for him.
"Sure there is said Bob, trying to
hide his embarrassment you were
telling US fellows today that you were
going to get a big brother for each one
of us-a college fellow or something
to help US along. Well. now, honest.
Mr.. Gordon, don't need a big brother.
I've got one. But-but@
The idea is,'' explained Mr.. Gordon
that in having college men for big
brothers they could help you in ways
that your own brothers could not
They would have time and would pos
sibly be better educated"
mot than my big brother" pro-
tested Bob. But what I was going
came completely embarrassed and
said something that sounded like
Couldn't y'manage to gimme a big
sister instead?"
Mr.. Gordon laughed. "If that is
what you need most. 1t never oc-
Cured to us that any of you boys
would rather have a big sister. Still
sister can be very helpful. All
right. Bob, I'll get you a big sister. I'll
have her come to call on you-just
the way the big brothers are going to-"
; Thank you, Mr.. Gordon" said Bob
beaming. and then as he turned to
beat his retreat: "You needn't say
anything to any of the fellows about
my wanting a sister. They mightn't t
understand"
Mr.. Gordon, expert wood craftsman
and friend of small boys, was a volun-
teer worker at the settlement. Rumor
| had it that he was a disillusioned mil
| llionaire-that he had "gone into set
! tlement work because of the death of
his young bride. At all events, he
seemed to get immense satisfaction
out of his club work and was always
generous in his contributions toward
any good work furthered by the set
| tlement. The swimming pool, the
wonder of the youth of Harlow street,
was his latest gift.
If Mr.. Gordon told Harlow Street
little of his personal affairs. he told
| Harlow street, as most of them were
| only mildly amused at this hobby of
his. His sister among them.
| The night of Bob Greeley's request
Mr.. Gordon was in some perplexity.
1t had been an easy enough matter to
!
| brothers" He simply put the PROPOSE
ton up to the younger men in his col
/ lege fraternity in town. Gordon had
pledged several thousand dollars for
the new fraternity house, and as he
had promised that he would see
younger men did not take long to de.
eide to fall in line with his big
brother proposition.
But how to get a big sister?
The more Gordon thought of this
problem the more perpleXed he be-
] came about it. Finally he decided to
ask his sister Helen-tbo she had not
given very sympathetic or understand
| ing heed to the few accounts he had
ever given of Harlow street doings.
Helen listened apparently with one
half attention to what her brother
teereds herself for the big sister
"I didn't imagine you'd do that"
protested Mr.. Gordon. tT just
thought you might know some girl in
your set who would be interested in
that sort of thing
I'm interested-dreadfully inter
ested myself" Helen Gordon an
nounced. And you don't need to be
preaehy and tell me that I mustn't
consider it a lark. 1 don't intend
to. And 1 guess I can make as good
a sister TO little bODDy OTSeley DIS any
one else. Tell me where he lives. III
call tomorrow afternoon"
Helen insisted on calling alone and
her brother did not discourage her
tho he wished then that this little
sister of his was-,of less, striking
type. Even dressed somberly and as
quietly as possible, her golden haii
and vivid coloring could not but at
tract attention in the probably dingy
neighborhood where Bobby Greeley
lived.
Bobby greeted his big sister at the
door and assured her that she looked
just the way he had always thought g
big sister ought to look, and withir
five minutes they had decided to cal
each other Bobby and Helen. Bobby's
home consisted of three rooms, liv.
ing room, a kitchen and a bedroom
on the top floor of a shabby but in
sistently clean tenement. Then Bobby
explained his predicament.
He and his big brother Ned had
been bred in country town. Theil
father, a country doctor, had dieG
when Bobby was baby and Ned was
half grown. Somehow or other thefl
mother had managed to bring then
up until a year ago she had died witt
the last request that Ned should be
come a doctor. He had at that time
already managed by hard work to fin
ish college. There were no funds left
his own inclinations Ned hal come tC
the city with his young brother. Some
how he managt1 outside of hours a
the medical college to earn enough
to pay for their expenses in the little
tenement, and Bobby led a not un.
wholesome existence, attending publi'
school, getting recreation at the Har
low street settlement, and doing hi
little-boy best t. keep house for hi
overworked big brother.
Helen was at first shocked at th'
idea of the ten-year-old boy coming il
from after school play to have to pre-
pare supper for himself and his broth
: er, but she ended by feeling that, aftei
all, Bobby led as normal and happy al
l existence as any motherless boy could
Certainly he was better off than h
would have been had his big brothe
q consented to send him to boys hom'
during the uphill years of his medica
e study
Now. if you really want to be m.
big sister," announced Bobby, lookin,
Z I'll tor