River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1922-09-07
INVITING BOBBY
BY MoLLiE MATHER
l151525151515751575
Co 1922. by Western Newspaper Union.l

Bliss was tying morning glories ON
+! the porch vine, when the letter came.
Lizzie brought it over from the post
office
| Bliss looked like human morning
glOry--if such might be-with her
| soft pink cheeks and her violet eyes,
and the very dancing lightness of her.
The letter was from her stepmother,
who spent most of the time abroad
with her husband, whose business af-
fairs called him there. Bliss and the
stepmother were the best of friends.
and 1t was this understanding friend
ship which left the girl In sole pos
session of her former home.
Lizzie, aer own mothers trusted
helper, was also left in charge.
The girl hed been given her moth
| srs family name, and those who loved
thought it the most appropriate name,
for surely the brigh. presence, was
as they said, "blissfm.y happy one"
Trying, too. to make others as
happy"
Bliss seated herself on lower step
to read her letter. 1t was written in
behalf of some new-found friend of
her mothers. "a dear woman" the
letter said, from our own home city,
who, widowed, had come over here,
with her young daughter. I have
talked with her about you, of course,
Bliss darling, and she was moved to
write you-her inclosed letter speaks
for itself"
Bliss unfolded the accompanying let
ter.
my Dear Miss Carmel: Your
mother has told me about you and
your pretty home in the co ptry vii
lage. l, who am far from home, wish
that its hospitality might be extended,
through your kindness, TO my poor
boy, Left alone in the hot, dusty city.
know that Bobby is lonely without
his mother-for, you see. ne is my
baby, and I'm afraid my friends are
right when they say l have made my
self too necessary to him. But that is
way Of mothers. My little girl Is
with me here. | wonder if it is ask
ing too much to suggest that you write
him-just a little line, if you are
busily occupied with other matters
and perhaps some time you will let
him come out to sun himself in your
lovely old-fashioned garden; / am see
| ing it through your mothers eyes.
know it would do my poor lonely
Bobby world of good, and I would
| be always, Yours most gratefully,
ESTHER GALE"
/ Bliss bounced In to Lizzie. "Just
| think" she cried, in ever-ready sympa-
thy, "of that poor boy left alone In
the city, while his mother and little
| sister are away in Europe. shall
write for him to come, Lizzie, and
/ you shall make him some Of your ia.
nous cookies. 1t will really be pleas
| ant to mother the motherless child"
So Bliss sat down to her letter.
One evening at shutdown Bliss was
banging rope swing for her antici-
] pated guest, beneath the apple tree,
and was looking very young herself,
when a man approached through the
hedge.
He smiled, as he came near, then
stopped to adjust the swing beard,
which lay at the girls feet.
"Will you tell me-" he inquired,
| where I may find Miss Bliss Garment
An elderly lady, would fancy her, as
she is friend of my mother. A we'll
meaning friend" added the man, and
smiled again.
II am Miss Carmen" she absently
replied.
The man stared - rudely, she
thought. "Youi" he exclaimed.
Bliss nodded. "You wanted to see
meT'
The man laughed. Then instantly
ne excused himself. II was. certain
that a friend Of my mothers as you
stated you were in Boobies letter,
must naturally be near my mothers
age. Indeed-you are just little girl
In swing"
Bliss slipped from the swing to
stand before him. "What do you
know Of BobbyY she asked.
The man stood up. II am Bobby"
he announced astonishingly. Il sup
pose mother Is to blame for your mis-
take" he said "She always refers
to my sister as her little girl, though
Sue has long been married. /, to my
confusion, am her baby because /
happen to have been the youngest In
the family. Butt did like my In
vitation, its true hospitality, the real
thing all through"
From the open kitchen doorway
came a spicy odor; Lizzie stood 9here
curiously regarding the visitor.
Suddenly laughing, Bliss put out
her hand to him. 81 must keep my
promise about the cookies" she said.
"And the hammock afterward?" he
smiled into the violet eyes.