The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 4, 1904, Page 6

CTNHE fact was, the of Fid- people d n knew mnothing at all of 4 F s antecedents. Old Pot- ter 1 one August ng g boot scle of ad that August tter had found a y of excitement By twos and threes the cobbler’s, till wondered at the sked a thousand d the Ilit one's s eves and after a arted. Most of the C.C.«C ere there the president: Mrs. the standing hard- con- congregated and Potter his wi are morally Mr. Dillon d e, so I've heard I would surely wst be about € d. Oh, dear, v an outcast! How ling and inhuman * said Mrs. Thompson. a meeting,” suggest- Dillon spoke to her hus- of the child he said: “I suppose the W n's Creedless Charity Club 2 a special meeting. No doubt bers will adopt the child. 1 a hardship on that old —an act of charity truly.” Who would adopt 1t?” ventured Mrs. the club members I think a home might be found. There's George, just think—with my two you surely could not—" “Oh pre 1, there's Mrs. Thompson, the Their means would we dent I believe. them—"' ted as much to Mrs. Thompson, She paused and Mr. Dillon up the evening paper rather abrupt muttering something about clubs and charity, while Mrs. Dillon looked flurried and left the room. The special meeting was not called, and so it was that Little Bell remained with the Potters. To that aged couple it seemed an an- gel had come to lighten their lives. That first night they stood hand in hand before the wooden rocker that had lain away in the garret so long unused and gazed at the tiny form sleeping therein and could not repress their feelings. *‘It seems but yester- day, Amos,” said his wife. “Aye, it seems; but we know it has been most a lifetime.” *““We'll keep her, though, Amos; none seem to want her.” “That we will,” answered the old man. “She’ll 1 but picked SLELE00050080000500585050 HESE are the names of the lucky 150 prize winners of No- vember 20, the names of fruits and vegetables. On December 11 there will appear a grand Christ- mas offer in the way of prizes, some- thing which will be a splendid Christ- mas morning gift from The Sunday Call. Prize list will be announced on the 11th, James Rouselle, Benicia; Gertie Ro- SUNDAY ¢ e a sma!l burden—but we'll be re- paid.” The old ! brought to light lor unused dresses and with her stif fingers laboriously fashioned dre and gowns for Little Bell. The old man, in great glee, would hold her in his arms at meal' time, feeding 1 stuffing till the little one would nigh choke, heeding not the old 1 arguments a: of procedure. to the rig method Not unlike two children with a doll were they grew so fast and was so bright that the few that stopped at the cobbler’'s marveled. In six months the story of the waif had lapsed from the memory of al- most all. It was never mentioned at the W. C. C. C. meetings. Why should it be All knew little Bell had a home; that the Potters were moral- ly good—every one said so. However, they were poor, but they were happy— oh, 80 happy, those old people! Passers-by would stop and admire and pet the child as they said, “What a pretty grandchild!” The old man would smile and chuckle, “Grandchild? Why, it is our child—mine and the old woman's. No one else has any claim on her.” . Three years passed away thus when, in the fading summer, the aged part- ner of Amos passed away. Upon the evergreen knoll overlook.ng the town they laid her. Again Lictle Bell came into the notice of the public eye. “I wonder what Potter will.do now?" quéried Mrs, Dillon of her husband. “Do?” he answered. “Has not his wife been an invalid for two years? His cares will be less, if anything.” “He certainly cannot care for that child alone,” she continued. ANSWERS to PUZZLES senbaum, 1584 Bush street, San Fran- cisco; A. Rellly, 2378 Sutter street, San Francisco; Hattie Russell, Brent- wood; Charlie Rickard, Sacramento; Lloyd Schomer, 1029 Shotwell street, San Francisco; Ronald Stewart, 3800 West street, Oakland; Edna Shepherd, 1497 Telegraph avenue, Oakland; Al- ice Schrevier, 1914 Ellis street, San Francisco; Mary Smith, 1903 Tele- graph avenue, Oakland; William Stephenson, San Jose; Jessie Stone, 473 Webster street, San Francisco; gy *50 “Has he not dore so for said Mr. Dillion emphatically. cut much outside aid, if I T kpow rightly.” man I have been requested to investigate the condi here with a view to the ment of the littlé one's welfare.” ‘Huh! Comes rather late, seems to me, after three vears. The child has nursed through the most labori- rt of its life. Who asked you to te?” Thompson. You know since y died she—" “Wants some one else’s,” broke In Mr. Dillon. His wife arose and left the room. There was a smile of sar- casm on Mr. Dillon’s face. However, on behalf of their presi- dent the W. C. C. C. went valiantly to work, as it expressed in reg- ular meeting, to alleviate the wants of that poor motherless child. Often now old Amos would have call- ers. They would come and chat with the old man, pet little Bell and leave her hands full of toys and candigs. “Poor motherless child,” they would say. “Yes, she's been motherless be- . . Treca Hurlbutt, Lakeport; Lucy Stone, French Gulch; Will Sympson, Pacific Grove; Lilllan Snydan, 33815 Washington street, San Francisco; Blanche Shea, Pasadena; Marjorie Slater, 38274 Adeline street, Berkeley; Martha Sauer, 3879 Seventeenth street, San Francisco; Alice Somer- ville, 139% Henry streét, San Fran- cisco; Ralph BSpencer, Santa Rosa; Sam Sterling, 1425 Folsom street, San Francisco; Hazel Sexton, 224 Duncan street, San Francisco; Car- oline Thurwachter, Watsonville; Ches- ter Wells, 26 Rincon place, San Fran- cisco; Eddie Walters, 8177 Twenty- fifth street, San' Francisco; Maggie ‘White, Watsonville; Dorothy Wenzell, 1889 Forty-ninth avenue, San Fran- cisco; Helena Warness, 63 Albion ave- nue, San Francisco; Ernest Behre, 1762 Fifteenth street, San Francisco; Bernice Behre, 1762 Fifteenth street, San Francisco; Allison Borise, Visalia; Mamie Black, Vallejo; Irma Meagor, San Jose; Helen Baum, 663 Willow avenue, San Francisco; Katie Burke, ERESEE BIERS cosz i - s WEAE e 27 31 Eleventh street, San Francisco; Clara Bascom, 208% Leavenworth street, San Francisco; Gladys Boul, Black Diamond; Dojlie Bouyer, Sacra- mento; Ben Osborn, Watsonville; B J. O’Brien, Gilroy; Adeline Parsons, 1722 Ninth street, West Oakland; Velma Paul, Suisun; Kenneth Pyle, Gilroy; Ed Powell, Sacramento; Jeanette Os- wald, 228 Fair Oaks street, San Fran- cisco; D. Newhouse, 1053 Post street, San Francisco; Gladys Meyers, Berke- ley; Edna McCaughin, Sacramento, Pearl Van Meter, Lafayette; Hugh Mc- Connell, Berkeley; Cecile McTaggart, 463 Shotwell street, San Francisco; Norah Mouritz, 2015 Chestnut street, Oakland; Will Mendes, 1674 Twelfth street, Oakland; Harry Moseley, 1726 Fifth street, Oakland; Willis Lynn, 66 Pierce street,| San Francisco; Laura Levy, 1127 Stelner street, San Francis- co; Edna Lund, Suisun; Lucile Granich- er, 2335 Market street, San Francisco; ‘William Bente, 562 Twenty-third street, Oakland; Elmore Bell, St. Helena; Ar+ fors, but she's not fatherless, oh, no,” returned the old man, but the mem- bers were persistent. On several occa- sions they wished to take Little Bell to their homes. Sometimes the old man consented, but always with great re- luctance, and when he came for her even the most sanguine of the commit- tec felt the hopelessness of the task of separating the two, but still they persevered. The day before Thanks- giving a committee called upon the old man and after a few preliminaries the spokeswoman began: “You see, Mr. Potter, it is necessary that something should be done for the future of Little Bell. You can see that it is almost impossible for you to care for her physical and spiritual welfare. thur Bond, Clovis; Carin Braese, 2622 Folsom street, San Francisco; Willlam Christenson; Kentfield; Teddy Clifford, Alameda; Eulah Cooper, Elmhurst; Beryl Cramer, Stockton; Birdie Cook, Sacramento; Donald Cralg, Alameda; Leslie Collins, Haywards; Bruce Crane, 45 Franklin street, San Francisco; R. E. Crane, 45 Franklin street, San Francis- co; Willlam Dunning, 939 Bush street, San cisco; J. Donohoe, 3246 Twen- ty-fifth street, San Francisco; Henry Delaney, 1714 Clay street, San Francis- co; Essie Danner, 2515 Bush street, San Francisco; W. Dooley, 1323 Natoma street, San Francisco; Merran Ellis, §10 Dolores street, San Francisco; Bertha Ellingwood, 1331 Sanchez street, San Francisco;, Ruth Ervin, Berkeley; Hazel Eskewr, 6% Alemany street, San Fran- cisco; Fred Fernhoff, 220 Twelfth street, Oakland; Elsle Wright, Cotati; Hettie Flood, Forty-ninth avenue and I street, San Francisco; Edna Borden, 2128 Fifth street, San Francisco; Genevieve Ber- tollaci, Berkeley; Edna Brown, 4A Ale- Francisco; She is fast becoming of that age where her environments should be changed to those more natural and cong 1 the company of little ones, th and guidance of a mother”: a. ing derogatory in the least to a tions or reflecting on you in any way do we mean by this demand, for such it s, but you can readily see, if you pause and consider, that we Ti we simply wish to place the child wh she will be better off in every respect. One of the committee said afterward that it was hard to face the oid man when he at last fully understood them. . His hand trembled as he ran it over his thin locks. “You want to take Little Bell from me?” he faltered. “She will be near, Mr. Potter—it is with Mrs. Thompson, you know. She has lost her little one—it will be a grand home for Little B: “For three years an’ over for little Bell, even when I've cared she was a baby an' could hardly eat. You were all here when she came; none ¢ red to help then—she was cute then, but considerable of a care’ 1 cared for her—nursed her when sick an’ taught her to do right as she grew. Now she seems my own child. An’ Mrs. Th son, she was here three years agc didn’t she ‘want her then? Why. she had one, but now she wants mine— ‘tain’t right—'tain’t right,” wailed the old man. “Come here, Little Bell.” The child, who had been watching the old man in open-eyed wonder, dropped her rag doll and rpn into his outstretched arms. “Pap-pee, don't cry; me's a good girl.” The old man strained her to his breast, the women were silent. Mrs. Dillon, who sat in the background, could not keep back the tears. “You say you are sent,” continued the old man, becoming calmer and releas- ing the little one. “Who sent y “We're a committee of the W.C. C. C. It has been fully discussed in meeting and all are cognizant of our efforts in this case. Consider, it's for the child's good, Mr. Potter.” “I suppose you could take her any- way—I mean the law,” said he faintly. “Oh, we do not wish to take those means, Mr. Potter. The change should be made amicably.” “I suppose you're right—maybe you are, but it about kills me,” and he brushed his eyes hastily. “I suppose it is for her good. Come here, Little Bell. There, you is going with the s—I'll come by and by. Take your dolly.” He kissed her and turned away to the fireplace and sat heavily down. There was a hurried rustling of skirts, the door gently closed and all was si- lent. The committee had gome, with them Little Bell. What a Thanksgiving for old Potter! For an hour he sat with bowed head, finally he arose and groping his way to the door he threw it wide. A gentle breeze was moving up the great gulch from the far-off valley. The vine on the arbor before the door was just be- ginning to change to a ruddy, golden color, and here and there among the deep follage, still safe from the failing eyes of the old man, hung several clus- ters of the red tokay. Darkness shut- ting from view the surrounding hills, he turned and moved mechanically to the table and lit the stub of candle that remained in the socket. For a time he stood undecided In the center of the room; then he began moving about, aimlessly at first, but finally as though in search of something, his gray locks moving this way and that as he passed from corner to corner of the room. At last he stopped before the wooden rock- er, brushed his hand wearily across his eyes as though to control his weaken- ing senses, and sat down. Drawing the rocker to the fireplace, with his foot he gently rocked it, cooing a lullaby the ‘while. Hours passed, the room grew cold. Several times he arose and peered into the cradle as though to reassure him- Brown, Petaluma: Leslie Allen, 1389 Franklin street, Oakland; John Ander- son, Petaluma: Mabel Andrews, Bur- lingame; Charlotte Curtiss, Healdsburg; Leona Hurlbut, 1104 Santa Clara avenue, Alameda; Henry Alves, 825 Hampshire street, San Francisco; Ray Koopman, Vallejo; Irving Granicher, 2335 Market street, San Francisco; Lucinda Hall, 734 Valencia street, San Francisco; Susie Hooper, 924 Filbert St., Oakland; Sammie Hern, Tulare; Addie Hartmeyer, Wheatland; Ted Hardwick, 670 East Twenty-fifth street, East Oak- land; Edma Hidorn, Knightsen; Leon Hannaford, Stockton; Gertie Hewman, 2412 Pacific avenue, Sdn Francisco; John Hope, 360 Shotwell street, San Francisco; Lulu Helgoth, 4032 Eighteenth street, San Fran- cisco; Lola Hoffman, 18 Page street, San Francisco; Hulbert Hynes, Sac- ramento; George Hartson, De Witt; Gladys Hewitt, Santa Cruz; Charley Holm, Los Banos; Ruby Jewell, 712 Sutter street, San Francisco; Edward Jose, 1112 Mason street, San Francis- co; Marjorie Jones, Madera; Juanita Judy, Sonora; Martin Johansen, San self. Once he hand over hi ten. there was died awa Little Bell to p ward a f. emed far ahead. Out of and into down th she t the twin Down the the rag doll highway and a ungers a cafes; to the right w er's nearly f a i de th road. turn Tt hoot of PW T b made her gasp and h 1, th a rabbit ran along before her in t dust, but she laughed at that, for had not she and Pappee watched them 1 near the cabin! she saw dark foliage of the pear trees th rounded t s shouted glee as sh and ged 1 the door. e called, but no an- swer came from within. “Pappee! pappee! It's Little Bell I's come me!" But only the gentle rustling of the leaves overhead answered her. "Round the dark room she felt her way:. ing ever and again endearing words to pappee, tili she felt his silent form sitting In the great chair. “Pappee’s alseep!” she cried, as she crawled hastily into his lap, caress and fondling him. e nestled down in his lap, the weary eyelids drooped and soon the gentle l'reathing told that she slept. Thanksgiving day dawned upon Fid- dletown. All the shops were closed; it was a day of rest and good cheer. Mr. Diljon rose early. “George,” said Iis wife, as she placed the turkey In the oven, “T appoint you a committes of one to go to Amos Potter and bring him home to dinner; he's lonesome, I know. He can stay all day. You say he did you many a kindness when you were young.” Mr. Dillon knew nothing as yet of the committee’s action on the day pre- vipus. Some way Mrs. Dillon had not the courage to tell him. The measures adopted had left a pang—but pshaw! the men could talk it over. They would understand. Mr. Dillon walked quickly th the village. Few vverqu\snr,y y::m:: knew old Amos would be up and about. As he passed the Thompson home ha glanced up the lane leading to it. Sev- eral persons were running hither and thither, and for a moment he paused to watch them. “Some game,” he mused, as he hurried on. As he neared Potter’s a man came running and oug of breath behind him. “Have you seen her?” he gasped. “Seen who?" asked Mr. Dillon, “Why, Little Bell—she got away.™ “Little Bell—got away,” repeated Mr. Dillon, dazed like. “They had taken her to and she—" But Mr. Dillon waited to hear no more. He turned and ran up the walk to the house. The door was open and ¥; rs;x in, cnéfhs: “Amos! Amos!™ 'hen he paused. A t his heart at what he ::: e ) e There sat the old man, one hand on the wooden rocker, the other pressed over his heart. Nestled in his lap lay Little Bell, clasping the rag doll. Her little bosom rose and fell in peaceful sleep. On the old man’s face a Queer smile mingled With the death pailor.. it was as If he knew Little Bell h come back to him. LEN LOW Thompson’s Koch, 1327 Sanchez street, San Fran- Madison 1068 cisco; Sid Keenan, aDtre‘et‘ . Oakland; evisadero street, San Francisco; M. Knight, 751 Guerrero street, Francisco; Freda Konlg, 1274 Ale traz avenue, Berkeley; Cora Kirby, 565 O'Farrell street, San Fran- cisco; Sarah Labaree, Danvill Fay Farren, Chico; Frank Foster, Sac- ramento; Francis Garrett, Berkeley; F. Grimmelman, South Berkeley; Alexander Greig, Vallejo; Bulah Ga- roner, Modesto; Waldemar Gentzch, 1158 David Kribs, 4329 Twenty-third street, San Fran- 3 cisco; Robert Gerhon, 1940 street, San Francisco; Annfe Gerho 1940 Ellis street, San Francisco; Gillespie, San Leandro; Genevieve Gadden, Healdsburg; Alma Jones, 1444 Rallroad avenu nie Willlams, Yreka; Mirlam Hu man, 1403 Seventh avenue, East Oal land; Nellle Camp, Berkeley; Frank Russell, Santa Cruz: Ralph Nixon, 1602 Eddy street, San Francisce; May Robinson, Pacific Grove; Ray Hill- man, 763 Harrison street, Oakland: George Hartman, 1643 Telegraph ave- l}‘l‘“’ Oakland; Charles Smith, Santa osa.