The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-12-28
The Big Sister
for Bill
BY LIE ROY WINSTON

As the members of the Junior BOYS
club of Harlow Street settlement were
dispensing after their regular Tuesday
afternoon meeting their leader, Mr..
Gordon, noticed that one OF the num-
Der remained. II was Bob Greeley, in
whom MIR. 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 overcrowded
slums.
rs there something can do for
your 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 big brother for each one
of us-a college fellow or something
to help us along. Well, now, honest
Mr.. Gordon, don't need big brother.
Eve got one. But-but-"
"The idea ls," 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
slbly be better educated"
"Not than my big brother" pro
tested Bob. "But what was going
to say was this" Then Bob became
completely embarrassed and said
something that sounded like Couldn't
y'manage to gimme big sister In
stead?"
Mr.. Gordon laughed. $50 that is
what you need most II never oc-
Cured TO us that any of you boys
would rather have big sister Stlll
n 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
beamlng 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 mlghtn't
understand"
Mr.. Gordon, expert wood craftsman
and friend of small boys. was a volun-
teer worker Mt the settlement. Rumor
had II that lie was a disllusioned mil.
lionaire-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 won
der of the youth of Harlow street, was
his excessive gift.
II Mr.. Gordon told Harlow street
little of his personal affairs, he told
! his acqualntances and friends little of
Harlow street. 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 perplexlty. II
| had been an easy enough matter to
get the required number of "big broth
ers." He simply put the proposition
up to the younger men in his college
pledged several thousand dollars for
the new fraternity house, and as he
had promised that he would see about
doubling the amount" the young men
did not take long to decide to fall in
line with his 'blg brother" proposition.
But how to get big sister,
The more Gordon thought OF this
problem the more perplexed he became
about It. Finally he decided to ask
his sister Helen-though she had moi
given very sympathetic or understand
ing heed to the few accounts he had
ever given of Harlow street dolngs.
Helen listened apparently with only
half attention to what her brother
told, but to his surprise she volun
teered herself for the big sister
needed.
"I didn't imagine you'd do that,
protested Mr.. Gordon. ~ just thought
you might know some girl in your sci
who would be interested In that sor
of thing"
I'm lnterested-dreadfu dfully interest
ed myself" Helen Gordon announced
"And you don't need to be preachy
and tell me that | mustn't consider 4
lark. | don't intend to. And / guess
can make as good a sister TO lIttl'
Bobby Greeley as anyone else. Tell me
where he lives. I'll call tomorrow
afternoon"
Helen insisted on calling alone anC
her brother did not discourage her
though he wished then that this llttl'
sister of his was of less striking
type. Ever dressed somberly and a!
quietly as possible, her golden hal
and vivid cOlorlng could not but at
tract attention in the probably ding!
neighborhood where Bobby Greele!
lived.
Bobby greeted his big sister at tn
door and assured her that she LOOKED
Just the way he had always though
big sister ought 10 look, and within
five minutes they had decided TO cal
each other Bobby and Helen. Bobby
home consisted Of three rooms, lly
ing room, a kitchen and bedroom, oI
the tor, floor Of shabby but insist
emily clean tenement. Then Bobby ex