New Britain herald., 1924-01-16
Arrangements Were Made to Receive the Children


 For the second time within ten minutes I found myself struggling with an irrepressible desire for laughter. The idea that because Mother Graham had spoken kindly to Katie, and because the girl had been emetionally contrite in return, each had imagined the other to be III, was too much for my risibles. It would have been a disaster if I had laughed before my mother-in-law, but the control I had kept over my lips vanished at Katie's woebegone face, and sinking on the haymow be- side her, I threw dignity 10 the winds and laughed literally until cried. l realized that there was as much of relief from the nervous tension of the past few days in my laughter as there had been in my mother-in-law's tears when she had finally yielded to them after her gallant battle with her shock and grief over her daughters death.
 Katie's frightened face. and her hand upon my shoulder, stopped my mirth as suddenly as it had started.
 oh! Missis Graham. my dear Missis Graham, vot ees matter init you?" she implored. Have you gone crazy init all de troubles? See! Katie right here I take care of you."
 My laughter muscles threatened another rebellion at this impassioned solicitude. but l compromised on smile which I meant to be reassur- ing.
 Katie Sees the Joke
 Don't worry, Katie, I'm all right. Let me tell you at what I was laugh ing. and then you'll know I'm not sick"
 Ordinarily. I would not have taken the girl into my confidence, but I saw that she not only was unstrung, but thoroughly alarmed about me, and frankness was the only possible remedy for the situation. Therefore 1 told her of my reasons for mirth, and she listened in wide-eyed amaze ment which changed to equally wide smiles by the time I had finished.
 Dot awful foony," she comment cd at last "I think old woman's dy- ing ven she nice by me, she tink I seeck ven l nice by her, Yell, tink ve must be beeg cranks bot if ve make mistake like dot. But l glad old vomans not die anyway. She goot egg, if she ees hard boiled"
 I stared at Katie in the amazed amusement I always feel at her ludicrous adaptations Of American slang 10 her own uses. By all the canons of discipline l should have reprimanded her for her impudent reference to Mother Graham, but the years have taught me the wisdom Of compromise where katies vagar- ies are concerned, especially when there Is A domestic crisis at hand where need her skill and enthusi- axm. So l contented myself with a hurried, "Come, Katie, we must go into the house. It is cold out here"
 She sprsng up from her seat in theh ay, and held out her hand to me.
 "Eet don't matter about mo" she said. brushing the hay from my skirt But eef you get shilly und take cold. eooming out here. locking after bad girl like me. nefer for give myself go keel myself init rope"
 Getting a Cup of Tea
 I made no reply save an indulgent smile to this piece Of extTavagance, but Katie hurried me to the house as though her life depended on her speed. and seized the tea kettle bub- bling upon the stove as soon as he entered the kitchen.
 ''Sit right down here. qveeck," she said anxiously. ''vils q make you hot cup of tea, Feet vent take but second
 T can't, Katie" I said regretfuliy. "Mother Graham Is waiting for me Co come back, and.if I don't hurry she will get up before the room is