Portrait of Time

P ORTRAIT OF T IME S EA D RIFT E LIZABETH B ARTLETT P ORTRAIT OF T IME S EA D RIFT B OOKS OF P OETRY BY ELIZABETH BARTLETT Poems of Yes and No , 1952 Behold This Dreamer , 1959 Poetry Concerto , 1961 It Takes Practice Not to Die , 1964 Threads , 1968 Twelve-tone Poems , 1968 Selected Poems , 1970 The House of Sleep , 1975 In Search of Identity , 1977 Dialogue of Dust (a one-act play in verse), 1977 A Zodiac of Poems , 1979 Address in Time , 1979 Memory Is No Stranger , 1981 The Gemini Poems , 1984 Candles , 1987, 1988 Around the Clock , 1989 AUTOGRAPH EDITIONS  Established 1975  Copyright © 2025 Steven James Bartlett Elizabeth Bartlett’s literary executor and son Stev en James Bar tlett has mad e th is book available as an open access publication, freely available to re ade rs under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NoDerivatives l i c e n s e C C B Y - N D 4 . 0 , w h i c h a l l o w s anyone to copy and redistribute this work in any medium for any purpose, without changes to its content other than m inor spelling or punct uation corrections, provid ed that appropri ate attribution and a link to the license are given. No adaptations are p ermitted without t he wri tten co nsent of the copyri ght h older. Attrib ution shoul d be given as: “ Portra it of Time: Sea Drift , Au thor: Elizabeth Bartlett, © Steven James Bartle tt 2025, licensed under CC BY -ND 4.0.” http://creativeco mmons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/leg alcode DOI: https://do i.org/qhpt Autograph Editions is a non-pro fit, trad itional pr ess committed to bringing orig inal and important works to readers. First eBook edition Cover: original acrylic painting by Elizabeth Bartlett Title page: Illustration by E lizabeth Ba rtlett accompanying the poem “Tima” in A Zodiac of Poems by Elizabeth Bartlett AUTOGRAPH EDITIONS Salem, Oregon, U.S.A. Produced in U.S.A. P ORTRAIT OF T IME S EA D RIFT A facsimile of the original manuscript by E LIZABETH B ARTLETT Foreword by S TEVEN J AMES B ARTLETT AUTOGRAPH EDITIONS F OREWORD Steven James Bartlett merican poet Elizabeth Bartlett (1911–1994) possessed an except ional memory. As her son, I was astonished even when I was a child how vividl y and in great detail she was able to recall events, people, conversations, an d experiences from many years ago. As an adult, I came to recognize that her memor ies did not involve purely factual occurrences, but laced through them were also he r thoughts and feelings she had experienced at the tim e, often long ago. In Portrait of Time: Sea Drift , Elizabeth Bartlett’s sensitive and prodigious memory creates a richly ela borated recapturing of a remembered childhood of a kind seldom found in autobiographies. . . . When Elizabeth Bartlett died, she left behind an enorm ous colle ction of her lite rary papers and correspondence, copies of her many publications of p oetry, short stories, essays, literary criticism, tr anslations, and book reviews; as yet unpublished manuscripts; as well as original award-winning works of art in a variety of media, including scratchboard, brush and ink, pen drawings, wax painting, cut pa per, and collage. As her literary executor, it fell to me to place these works in perman ent collections, which are now to be found in the Archive for New Poetry maintained by the Mandeville Department of Special Collections at the University of Californ ia, San Diego, and in the Rare Books Archives and Special C ollections of the University o f Louisville . In addition to these materials, I put aside for my personal re ference and enjoyment a number of her manuscripts not published previously. During the more than 30 years that have passed since then, one book manuscript in particular has f requently drawn me back to it. It stands apart from the work for which Elizabeth Bartle tt became well-known, i.e., her poetry, her creation of the twelve-tone form, and the establishment by her of the international non-profit organization Literary Olympics, I nc., whose purpose is to honor and award celebrated poets in juried intern ational competitions coinciding with the Summer Olympic Games. The unpublished manuscript to which I’ve returned again and ag ain is Portrait of Time . The copy in my possession, as far as I am able to verify, may be the only one in existence. The book is distinctive in a variety of ways: First, it is an autobiographical account, yet is told in the third person, and in an unusual way that I’ll describe. Second, it is a recreation through Elizabeth Bartlett’s remarkable memory of her childhood in the New York City of long ago. The book spans the time when her ear liest memories were formed, until her late childhood, at about the age of 12. Third , the book is innovative in its style, portrayed through the eyes and by means of the langu a g e o f t h e c h i l d s h e o n c e was, recreating a sen sitive and o riginal mind with the vibrancy of r e memb e re d A ii experience. Fourth, for an a utobiographical account of a childh ood, the book is long. The manuscript that is now before me on my desk consists of some 550 typed pages or more than 205,000 words. I will add a few notes later about the m anu script itself. During my childhood, my m other and my father, who was also an author a nd artist, would often share with one another and me their l iterary work i n progress. In the evenings, m y mother frequently would read aloud to my father an d me fro m her poetry, from her short stories, and from my father’s works of fiction a nd non-fiction. She was an inspiring and dramatic reader w ho brought to our ears not only her own and my father’s writing, but also numerous short stories and full-length novels by other authors. These were days without the intrusion a nd distraction of television; instead, our family of three explored the world of literature. Sometim es, though very seldom, wit h years in between, my mothe r would mention in passing that she was once again re-working her manuscript of Portrait of Time: Sea Drift . She may have begun writing the book before I was born. If my me mory is not mistaken, she first had the title Heresy in Steel i n mind, which my father and I liked very much. If this was the book’s initial ti tle, when and why she changed it, I do not know. As I’ve mentioned, Portrait of Time is autob iographical yet written in the third person. This i s uncommon a mong autobiographies, but is not unkn own. Among poet s, in India the widely known Tamil poe t Muthiah Sathappan Chettiar (1927-1981), most often known as Kannadasan, also employed this approach in recalling h is early life in one short chapter, “My Childhood,” in his Gnana Maalika ( Garland of Wisdom , 1971). Also born in India, Urdu Hindi poet Nida Fazli (1938–2016) wrote his 2005 autobiography in the third person, Deewaron Ke Beech ( Between the Walls ), V olume 1, and Deewaron Ke Behar ( Beyond the Walls ), Volume 2. Among other authors whose autobiographies avoided use of the f irst person “I,” there is Salvador Dali’s The Secret Life of Salvador Dali (1942), in which he refers to himself as “Salvador Dali”; Henry Adam s’ The Education of Henry Adams (1907), in which he similarly refers to himself by his name; and Gertrude Stein’s The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas (1933), written in the first person as though by Alice B. Tokl as. Elizabeth Bartlett’s Portrait of Time , however, makes use of a different variety of third person narration: Although the book begins with a straigh tforward a utobiographical “I,” it quickly shifts to third person by investing the author’ s identity in the character she calls “Beatrice Berger.” Other m embers of her family, friends, and neighbors are also renamed. Why she chose to do this, I never learned and can only conjecture. Perhaps, as Oscar Wilde once remarked, “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a m ask, and he will tell you th e truth” (in his essay “The Critic as Artist,” 1891). Alternatively and more poetically, when looking into the mirro r of memories, what one sees is oneself as another. When one looks in an e veryday m ir r o r , t h e i m ag e i s n o t a s others see one, but the image i s of c ourse reversed: If you par t your hair on the left, others do not see you as you see yourself; for them to s ee you as you do in the mirror, your part would need to be on the right. Somewhat in parallel, when you r emember your past, the you whom you remember is from the perspective of you today, who is in some respects, perhaps important ones, no longer the person you were. A rememb e r e d s e l f i s , s o t o speak, a self m irrored back in the form of memories; they portr ay someone as another iii than the person you are now. If one wished and if it serves an author’s literary purpose, that person might be given a different name. P erhaps something like this m ay have been Elizabeth Bartlett’s purpose. S he had a complex and reflective mind. Or the na me changes we find in Portrait of Time may reflect the emotional distance that its author m ay have gained, permitting he r to offer a narr ation as though by an external observer. Or perhaps, we could further conjecture, the style she chose may have provided a greater narrative distance to introd uce some element s of fiction, a distance from her rea l identity at the tim e she wrote. Given these alternatives and ot hers that are possible, it is n ot clear whether Portrait of Time is wholly a non-fiction autobiography, or is what has become k nown as an autobiographical novel or fictiv e memoir that blurs the line be tween fact and fiction, or i s an experiment with so-called depe rsonalized self-narration (as in Gertrude Stein’s, Everybody’s Autobiography , 1937). Whatever Elizabeth Bartlett’s motivation, Portrait of Time p o r t r a y s , a s a phenomenologist might express this, the life-world of a child i n the New York City of the second decade of the 1900s. The chief interest of the work may lie in the insight it offers into the character and childhood of Elizabeth Bartlett as a poe t, in its richly de tailed descriptions of childhood from her point of view as a child, an d in its descriptions from a perceptive and sensitive young person’s point of view of teneme nt life in the New York City of more than a century ago. Many of the experiences, people, and events r ecounted in Portrait of Time are, I believe, not fictitious, but fact ually based. My mother would occasionally recount to me many of her memories of the very same experiences, people, and events. These independent, repeated, and confirming recollections are, for mo st us, then commonly judged to refer to real events and people, rather than fictions . Beyond this belief, what I can attest with certainty is that she lived a life in the servi ce of beauty and of truth as she knew it. About the manuscript A facsimile of a manuscript seeks to replicate the source mater ial as accurately as possible in terms of the appearance, scale, condition, and pagi nation of the original. Following this Foreword, readers will find a facsimile of the m anuscript of Elizabeth Bartlett’s Portrait of Time , which reproduces its paginat ion, including the author’s occasional annotations, correctio n s, and hand-drawn diagrams. T he manuscript was typed on standard-size 8½ x 11 paper, b ut the typescript is not t he t op copy, but rather a carbon copy on gossamer-thin, extrem ely lightweight, and now very frag ile onionskin paper. I have no knowledge of what happened to the top copy or why my mo ther remained in possession of only the carbon copy. As a carbon copy, it is gen erally quite readable, but the passage of time, the yellowing of the paper, and its transl ucency have made the reproduction of a facsim ile a challenge. This manuscript was bound in leathe r with cloth-tipped corners . The binding was, as I remember, done as a gift to my mother from my father during one of the periods when iv they lived in Mexico. I cannot pro vide a date, but the manuscri pt was certainly bound more than fifty years ago. The fact that it was bound as a gift f or m y m oth er an d t ha t, a s I remem ber, she was pleased made cl ear that she valued its con ten ts and saw the binding as a way of preserving the work. Why did I choose to publish a facsimile of the manuscript itself rather than create a standard modern typeset equivale n t t e x t ? T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l r e a s ons: First, as one who is dedicated to the conservation of literary works, I wished to re produce as far as possible the original typescript; it is perhaps, as I’ve said, the only copy of the book in existence. Second, readers may share my experience that having a facsimile of the original typescript before their eyes brings them into closer contact wi th its author who sat in thought typing for many long hours at a machine that is now a c ollecto r’s item. Third, there is my own practical reason: the realistic expedience whic h the inevitability of aging with the passage of time brings with it. Now in my 80s and with some of my own writing projects still to care for, offering a facsimile of the origina l manuscript was a realizable project that I could complete with in a limited period of time. Here, I trust the reader will forgive the need to bow to the forces of tim e which one does on e’s best to ignore, but in the end, alas, cannot. It is my hope that Portrait of Time: Sea Drift will find its way into the hands of interested readers, lovers and students of Elizabeth Bartlett’s poetry, and scholars, historians, and literary critics wishing to know more of her li fe and thought, and of a child’s experience growing up in New York City more than a cent ury ago. I further hope, through the efforts of others dedicated to the task, that a sta ndard typeset edition will someday be published. The licensing for t his facsimile has been c hosen to open the door with this end in view. v ABOUT THE AUTHOR Elizabeth Bartlett, c. 1962 Elizabeth Bartlett (1911-1994) was an American poet and writer n o t ed f o r h e r ly r i c a l an d symbolic poetry, creation of the new t welve-tone form of poetry , founder of the international non-profit organization Literary Olympics, Inc., and known as an author of fiction, essays, reviews, translations, and as an e ditor. She i s not to be confused with the British poet (1924-2008) of the same name. For more detailed in formation about Elizabeth Bartlett’ s life, work, and critical commendations, se e the Wikipedia entry . Bartlett’s most notable achievements include:  Creation of a new form of poetry, “the twelve-tone poem ,” adapt ing Arnold Schönberg’s musical system to the verbal, accented sounds of la nguage. Called “the Emily Dickinson of the 20th Century,” Bartlett’s concise l yrics have been praised by poets, musicians, and composers alike.  Publication of 16 books of poetry, a group of edited anthologie s, and more than 1,000 poems, short stories, and essays published, for exam ple, in Harper’s , Virginia Quarterly , New York Times, North American Review , Saturday Review , Prairie Schooner , and in numerous inter national collections.  Recipient of many fellowships, grants and awards, including NEA , PEN Syndicate, fellowships at the Huntington Hartford Foundation, M ontalvo, Yaddo, vi MacDowell, Dorland Mt. Colony and Ragdale, travel grants, and h onors for introducing literature as part of the Olym pics.  Founder of the Literary Olympics, to restore literature, specifically poetry, as a vital part of the Olympics as it once had been in ancient Greec e. Bartlett’s poetry came to the attention of leading poets, write rs, and critics as diverse as Marianne Moore, Wallace Stevens, Mark Van Doren, Conrad Aiken, Allen Tate, Alfred Kreymborg, Robert Hillyer, Louis Untermeyer, Rolfe Humphries, J ohn Ciardi, Richard Eberhart, Richard Wilbur, Maxine Kum in, Robert M. H utchins, Ken neth Rexroth, William Stafford, and others. Over the years, Bartlett maintain ed an active and extensive correspondence with eminent poets, writers, and literary critic s; e vident throughout this collected literary correspondence are strong statements attesti ng to the importance of her work. Her husband, Paul Alexander Bartlett (1909–1990) was an America n writer, artist, and poet. He made a large-scale study through pen-and-ink illustrat ions and photographs of more than 350 Mexican haciendas, published novels, short storie s, a nd poetry, and worked as a fine artist in a variety of media. For more detaile d infor m ation about his life and work, see the Wikipedia entry . Elizabeth Bartlett’s son, Steven James Bartlett (1945– ), is a philosopher and psychologist who has published many books and articles in the f ields of philosophy and psychology. For more detailed information about his life and wo rk, see the Wikipedia entry . F URTHER I NFORMATION AND S OURCE S OF E LIZABETH B ARTLETT ’ S W ORK At the time of this writing, an informative Wikipedia entry is available which describes Elizabeth Bartlett’s l ife, lists her creative work, and summari zes its recognition and importance, accom panied by links to additional o nline resources : http://en.wikipedia.o rg/wiki/E lizabeth_Ba rtlett_%28Am erican_poe t%29 A number of Elizabeth Bartlett’s previously published books may now be freely downloaded in a variety of eBook for mats from Project Gutenberg : http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/49768 vii As noted earlier, extensive permanent collections of Elizabeth Bartlett's papers, literary correspondence, publications, unpu blished m anuscripts, and art have been established, one as part of the Archive for New Poetry m aintained by the Mandeville Departm ent of Special Collections at th e University of California, San Diego ( detailed finding aid ), and the second by the Rare Books Archives and Special Collections o f the University o f Louisville ( detailed finding aid ). • PORTRAI'l OF TB SEA DRIF! , ~ime was nhon tioo began, in the beginning, sitting in a rocker · or playing on the bod, tbinl:::inc 1 Ye s terday', Long Ago, Now - I, Bea.trice Bergor, and rq i:iama, my pa p a_, Addie amt Ben .,.. the light slanting through the t7indows on her short, chubby legs and on ltais1o 1 s pretty dress that mnma made. It we a nice big bad. whore liBllB and po.pa sle1lt. Slm liked to pJ.a.v on it \'lhenovor r:1 0Jna me bUsy in the Ji-..i~n or sowing on the machine and told he1• to play thero. Her crib used to be there, against the van, but that nas Before, uhen ehe nas little 1 like Ua1s1e. Uou sllo slept with Addie 1n one bed and Ben ill tho other bed, in tbe room at the end or the hall near tho d~·. She d!<ln't like hot- ~~ it msn•t nearly ao nice as mama•a uhich wu big and llgllt and had the fire-euoape outside one window uhere tho7 coul4 sit and~ink lomonade on ve17 warm cm.vs. It l1Q8 a FOtt7 l'OOrl with a _ nioe dresser and a mir1""0r nbich sho could seo when sho atoo4 up on the bed. She lll:ed tlte smoo·hll bronn nood nnd the round buttonar on the dmuers that abe could open. ~o ohifterobe h£1.d the same wood too, but ohe couldn't pull ou.t the heavy dm\:;ers nith their big copper handles. She knew mam. kept the l'noos and shoats in the bottom dmnors awl that p;ipa ltept hie things ill the top ds.'B.uers. Slial.1. I tell JOU a sto1"7, lla.isio, or slmll I s1.ng1 Well, \1hen 1 was aa lit~le as you - &1sie rell C1'ler 4lDd struck lwr lwnd against the bed and Boatrioo oto p wa to l'Ub and kiss Uaisie• s little hood, · toll ·I n.g her it wa a nauzhty old bod and sbe hit it \'lith her band Just as mama did uh.en aha g_ot lmr'h, and then Maisie felt better. But ubat did maiaa do with hor n1ae nhite crib that used to be there, acain&t the ulll.l? She £1"0\'IJJed. and put ? · ~1isie doun on tha quilted bedspread end climbed down to the tJ.oor. r.1aaa. nas outsicle, talking v11th llrs. t:cavor, vaiting tor the dumlrMnitor to sand up the ico. ~ garbaBS pall had aJ.roady been emptiod. Bee.trice stopped in t.t.ie doorr1a.v to listen, Tiatohi ng l.trs. Weaver• s ~J it wu a 2 .. , ; \\ \ \ 1,1 plain, quiet faooJ ~ t: a.an•t SW."e it sho li!:ecl it ~not. llrs. r.eaver .;· ~L1bed hat' lu:.ir s · t ,~ lr; h t up uith a big knot on top and uoro t\70 co:iba ill ·the bsckJ Boatiico didn•t know u}\y. And then, ttrs. Tieaver al r; ays I I wore the sa m e thinri• af ~g striped apron oghioh tiod behind nnd ahoned. her big bolly. l.~ · ,:Jas r.~ ptfettior. She ran over to ~ hor, ~ " I. hor face in mm::n 1 s " sld.rt. Jlr3. Weaver smiled, ohoolna the gold rim edging ' I . i Did 10\1 over see such a love-bug, mom. said, but Beatrice kwn1 that wa tor comp~ because ullO!l the7 wre alono mama didn't 881' such thines, a11d sl10 forgot . ~ bout the orib,, rzonder-J.ng w h 7 mama \'J&ntod to sbcm her ott, as t!10ugh sh~ \'Jere ~ mt::tng bollno. She w011t bo.ok insido to m:dt until llrs. f:eaver wont ~. For so I!l etimes, when she \1BB tollil16 llaisio a stoey about tJbon she n a s lit·\ila, mma would help her out, becauso it uas so long nc-o ru:id allo couldll•t r01110mber ev~i;bing. It seemod ~ nas t10 end to all that bad bo. p penecl si11co she t 1 as born. God hs.d sent hor to Dr. Rausch for mama. She kruJr: tho li·G.tle black baa he · had bro1'.ght her in. She wo11de.ro4 it Dr. Bausch ever ma.de a mistake. Supposina he h::!d b.rought her to another mmna. It nould have been · to ~ rible. Wl\Y, . slle bolougod to maEJB.. EV'er.yonc said she lool:ocl just llko her. It made her v017, VfJr7 hapw to knc,,'W that. She we.a DWi1a 1 o Ot 'J n ~, just as Uai s ie uas hers. And did ,-ou have a mama too, Baatrioe int~ ~ cd tihen mama f'il.-ot told ~ hor about when sho \1SS a babJ'. llama told bor · the ato17 about Gro.ndJa St.el 1 a \ I I 4 who used to whoel Beatl'd.ce around in a Dice black carriage. Grandma had gone auay-. Home, mtl...Til& said. Another homeT !ea, another home, ta!" a~, becnusa Grarulma had other childroo and grandchildrcm too, and . mama loo:.~ed TOJ7 sad, making Beatrice sad too. It was hard to uadarstand. 1Iml could that be2 She and me.ma r.e!9e alm1ys togothor. But mama uaa toll.ins her abau.t when ohe was a little girl - oh, veey long ago, ar.d. far, tar o.wq - and Beatrice found it strange thr:.t mE.mB. ruid ever been~ else but her mama and she ttaa a little bit Jealous too. Because tor as loZJB aa she could romembor thore b:ld lllw818 bt:>en mms. and . papa and Addie and Ben and this was home. ShB never tired of telling Maisie the sto17 and Mais~ never tired ot llstoning. And if not the stoey ~ then all the songs aha Jme\7 1 from the verr bogimdng to the ono A~die had t~ht her yesi.e~. She knew wbon ebe left ~ out and went baclt to mtlke it right. . She would sit on the rocking oba1r end they would both sing together until aha TJas tired ot pusbi ng her bocl1' back and f o.rth to make the chair rock. And than there was m1·e time and something elso happenccl, · a verr important big thing, even bigger and mora importe.nt than aeyt.bing else that had ha.ppcn- od boi'ore that, and it took a long time and was tull ot JllZU\V 1 maq things and• Sha had come to the ba.throom door and mama was washing clotlles in the bathtub, banding avar tho scrubb~J board, perspiring~ the hJ.Acl-; t:oolcn shawl pinnad around her shoulders - oh :fGG, she uaa sure of tho.t • a.nd then she had loosened her dra\ters and climbed on ~~ seat - i'.WJA.1 Something tore, hurt, and then. mama came to look and screamed. And then muma urapped the black allal1:l and.er her to cover the bleedil:lg and rulllied ' out of tho house, dovJn the stain am all the 118¥ to the hospital, .,.~ aski ~ whe~ sho was going so fDst. And then th07 sat a long time on a wocleA bench in the waiting room end she cried on mama• a neck because ot the sharp smell and the pain and mmia rockad her and kissed her and told hor to be a good girl till the nurse came. And then auddenl.J the nurse took her ~ from . IiJSll8 aud uwh~sseid her end put her on a moving table. Then a big man puahad her dO\vn a long hall into a tin1' room t1hich had a gate that closed and theJl opened into another long ball and then a dittorent nurse put her on anothet- whi ta tri.ble in a room f'ull of terrible lights and tho.re were Cloctors and nurses wearing white mnska ~ It's all right, 70u can see her now. Someone•• voioe woke her up. She m@t have been sleeping; she couldn't remembar. And then mama's cool, aott; cbeak bending ovor - her oribl !he same uhite bare all arouwl. Bu.t the roca v;as too big to see, tul1 ot white beds and a very hish ceil-Lng. &m 12aa crying and kissing her, . tliying to make her smile. Then she saw pe.pa stmxUng near the door and she couldn't undGrStand uhat he t1aa doing home till she n- mambered she was in the hoopital, sialt, and it made her start to Cr:f to see pufn blow his nose and uave to her. And mama•• cool abaek \'188 vet. She couldn't l"CDlember h0\'1 m.El%J1' times the7 came but sometimes mama had something nice for h~r from Addie and Ban. She even got to like the nurse who oc.m0 and spo~o to her . and lltted her up and gave lier eomethi.!J6 to eat, tbou'.l'h she lllissad her fnvorite bottle. .And then one d3¥ there were man.J ~ . doctors standing &"OWld the crib, looking doon at her, and trul7 wore toling and smilin~. She lilted the one facing herJ ho was the nioest looking man she - - .... -........------ ~ ... • .;a - - .,,,. hod evor aeon, td."'tih blond cur~ lmir, GI~ blue oyeo, a little ~ and oJJ..iJW uhito tooth. · She 't'l'clS SO'ft7 l'7bon ho \1ent ~· She hopocl ho \'JOUl4 coma blo'I: .. 6 - j After• uhon oho tJaS ham n&'Bin, sbo liked to tb1nk boa ho lool:ed. It naa nico to be home B{Jlin and Addie lUld Don pl.cyOO. tilth bor and abG had a bea u tiful Da\1 doll that said. mam and llad roaJ. eyoo. Sho tma VOJ:'T careful vitb hor .naa doll bocause she didn•t uant to s1 »il hor laV'olg ~mid drooo. AIJ4 aoon oho . · t -IBB \'; a.1ldna around t1!B house e.saJ.n. helping mama · bokoJ 8he 1ovod to wt.ch maEB bt-aic1. tbe brood and O"llt out ~ Tlith a cJ.ass. Somoho\7 mm aluop our-psrlaed her nith a s m n~.l cako eapocjn]l~ tor her, thauch sho JMJVOr kne9 ~uot . when mama btld Dado .I'. It was a voq good aako and she ate it T017 slot1~ because s he mmtod tho good testo to lnst a long time. !hen on.a dey' room said oho \:Ina getting too bis to nit 1n the I'd.ch chalr o.rid it ms tun to sit at the tablo \11th Adclie ond Ban - · althouah lJCr head cw:.10 3uat aboVG the table and mama still bad to feed hor uU;ll a s1X>On. She became verr nuch iutm."GGtod in her grm11ng awl t1 ont m."O"llWi ooasur1ng bow tall sbe f/08• ShG oo ·u ld a - 1m o st reach the faucots . . in the sink on tip-too and olw ttaa ~ hor foG't na!'e _ much nc:>~ tl'..e fl . or . ulwn oho sat on tho edge ~ tlle bod. It me / fUn gott111g bi t:r; e.z-J ollG \1ouderecl hou long it uould take tor hor to be aa bi8 as .Adclie and Ben but thoy J.twghod and told hor naver booauso they no r o older · tl>D.l'l sl10 and they wore gl"Ol'Wlg too. Ia tear 1 uhon SUil9. fixed ttp ~r S'OOlll awl put a brawl now oaver on tho be4 - . i·\; \7t\S p:llm tb110t'3h the lace and vocy beautl1'11 - abo bofiW1 to p]Jq in. the <U n 1ng-room in f}.1C>llt of the biz Jl'd.lolu.- 1 which hn4 drmlers on eithor si<lo. · -- - - -- -- l Somatimes ll ddie pl.a.yed there with her, each one taking a ditt~rent sida. But that was bofoi·e the piano co.me and Addie beean to take lessons1 then Addie got so b"J.Sy going to echool and practicing thc.t eho couldll•t pla1 uith her. But it TJasn 1 t long before Addie ta.ueht the piano to play the same sonaa she had taughh her and it via.a fUn to sing ohile Addie playod. fhere wel."e other changes too. liow, when me.ma went shopping, she took her along. Tho carriazo \1flS put in the cellar, mama said, Wltil har dolls got 7 big enough to be wheoled. She loved to go shopping in tho store3, espec~ the grooGl'T store. It ms full of nice tlrlllcs on the big iuarbla counter awl mama held her up evory time Urs. B1ll bad something to give her. liirs. Bill often gave her aomethille nice to oat and sometimes she allowed hor to p ick out t1bat she wanted all by- hel.•self. · The onl3 store she didn't like wa the butcher shop. She didn• · t like the small in there. It uas fUll or 1&\1dust and feathers. !hen, too, the 0 1 Daniels alr1ays had blood on their lianda and long aprons. It made her sich: to see them chop oft chicken hoads and cut meat into pieces with a big sharp knil"e. She pro£erred to pl&y with mama• s pocket book on the beach . till mama uas finished. It was a nois7 plaoo 1 tull ot old women and lota ot loud talking. One tir&l8 after they- bad finished sh~ing and -.ma had given her aometh.ing to carry, a ve'l:J' exciting thing happened. llama had sone upstairs to open the door while she played one-t9 . 10 on the marble steps, cJ1r·ll>ins o.ne toot at a time, first rig~t foot a 11 d then lett toot, ona-tw. She hold on to the iron g~illGd balv.a'"111 ~ .de bec:;.use aha couldn•t reach the TiOoden rail \-:hich Ben al.id· d01Jn, sa.yin,z it tJas his horse. Before she reachod the top, she bourd mama screamillg inside. Burr,ying, she saw mama lE>Aning out the tire-escape window 7elling thief 1 thief& But the 'thi~ must bo.ve disappeared becauae mam shut the window 8.tld looked it and began to a-.roh through her dresser to aee w hat was missing. fhank God, Ouq & paU Of earring& and m:i- looketl 'fhe lJwnl l'il\v I he mst ha ve gotten in just as I opened the cloorl On rq ba\>7 1 J1J1 poor ba1Jtl And ehe caught Beatr1QG in her arms and started to kiss and hug her, aa though she b3.cl just discovered her greatest treasure. Soon all the neighbors came in to hear about the robbe17 and ner)'OM triocl to guess who it could have beon. Mrs. Singer kept ehaking her head and npoat- 1.ng, the first floor, imagine, becauoe she lived on the third floor and pa1cl less rent. llrs. Goodman looked worried and &aid everybotq ought to put special locks on their dOors and windows. . It' a ~hooe good tor nothing loafers who baDg around on Spenser Av~, said llro. WeaVE>r, the7 can come over the lot to 8DI' one ot the back yards on this side, and she went to tl18 wind.arr to abo1I ~ hem. 'lhe women grew more and . mc)re excited; it i'rightened them to think what might happen to their children 1t tl~ should ban to leo.ve their ape.rtmente ... tor a teo moments. VJho can watch a child and · take oare of other things at '1l8 same time, as k ed Mrs. stone. · Now it• a taking tho laundr;r up to ~ie roof to dry, now it•s running down to the csarUb' store to telephone. mien papa came home, he m i d a policeman with him. 87 that time Addie and Bqan were home from school. Addie waa eaaredj . her taco was pale and ahe kept biti.Dg her lips. Even Ben was nervous. And in~ that night, there was a lot ot whispering, timid aciueaJ.e and threaten1ng stories. So 70u•d. better be a .. 8 good girl or the boogeJ' an will como and eo.t 70u up, Addie said and duokoc1 under the covers to hide. But she let Beatrice hug her olosa in the dark, both ot them afraid te be alone there. After that, there r.ere other frightening times and Boatrioo grw o.f'raid I . of' many- things. Like the dq vhen ev~ ran out into the street to hide 1n tho cellars because the BUna aere oom.ns. All the children had been aant home .trom school early and theJ' ran soroam1ng ~ r iushtng to got dotln the stairs~ Some ot them squeezed through the bare and jumped 40\m to the bo.se• ment tl.oor. f.!ama held her tight, looking up at the sq, aay1lJs it was onl7 a game. But Bea.trice knew dii'f'erently because all the \'lomerl were co n pla1ning about their husbands lonving them alone at such a time and there was a lot ot talk about the . WBr and tha Huns and it seemed the.t the broun sugar \1biOh she liked tO eat had something to do with it. But worst of e.ll was the elcmlted train. Even mama couldn't understt.\Dd how terrible it.uas. The bis black th2ng cam ~aring dotm from both sides and toll on her head with such a crash that she almost scratched mama in t.17- ing ·oo get away. She bated it. When she saw tlle :iong, black street at the bottom ot the hill with the big iron posts Wldernoatb it, she mde mama stop to put her do w n, · and v1hen mama picked her up and started asain, llh9 cried and screwnod, nanting to go back. Bow she tore and kioked and hotlledl Even it the big black t~ wa.Wl•t coming, she didn't want to go undornoath• to cross that torriblo s·treet. And no matter w~w.t mama said or did, even it she hid her inside uuder the nice sett t.r oollar, she couldn't atop ahivel-... 1ng a.nd crying. Uh.J did the7 have to go th at W&.77 ot course it waa nice to have Def1 socks and ncm shoes, but •h.1 did they have to 0 ~ "'088 that terrible _ _ __ __ , , --~-- ... - 9 lO street 1n order to bU1' them? Au soon as they left the . l'Otla ot apart:nent houses and stores, passed the nursing home and went doun the hill alongside the boapi- tal grounds, she telt unaata. But one da7, when Addie and Ben ond papa were out walking with them, · wma overcame her fear and she wllispered to ml!ma to wait till tllel'O was no train be- .fore they crossed the street. !hen aha toolc hold of Addie by one band and Bell by the othor nhile they expJ.aj,ned all about trains, p illars, traclt3, platform and stations. Their faaas and voices rea~ed her, especjnll.y- uhen tbQ7 told her thr.t they came this way to and from school evarr day, an.cl oho evon glancacl up to see how l1igh ~bovo her head it r~ v1as. Trains \1ere tun, the7 said, and to z; rave it, they \1ere all going to tako a rido to B.rooklynl Beatrice i'elt · a bit unce~ abmit it when she climbed the stairnay to the top of the st~et, then ~ped when the train on the opposite tracks came rumbling to a standstill. For a moment she \"8.Vered un~Uy batneon shame and tear, then Den le3d her to a slot mo.chine \'lhero, tor a pl3Jlll1' 1 she got ttzo bn.nds ,tull ot ti.Iv' pink coated nuts. When their train came oloDlh the7 hustled her into a car, set ' · her up on the atmw seat taoing the uindov and told her that it she TR18 a good i girl the7 would take her to sea Q~ Thensa, nho uas po.pa's mothor, and I then troo.t her to o. big ice-cream soda in Cousin Louis' storo. lt all sounded j veey neu and joJ.11' though . she wa.s muoh more interested. in l1&tching the I I I streets arfoli houses fl.¥ past her. · As the train curved d:mgerousl.¥ close to one house, Beat1•ice caught her br e athJ she could loolt right into the open v1':dons of the roams and see the people inside. .A. woman ue.s w ashin3 dishea in the kitchen, a man r;as reading a ncmspaper on the bed, two children were pla.ying on the tloor. .Alraost, she felt, she could reach out her hand and touch the ' I I o'UF'...ains blowing out ot the parlour. Ber mind was startled at the thought ot people living so close to the train thnt evozr.1'bod1' could 1oak inside and see t1bat -.:as going on. Unpleasant 1Jno.ges arose, embarrasing · her privacy. And ·. supposing tlle train i'o1~got to go around the street and tlGn.t straight thl'o\A6h · the hoUDeT She thought nothing could be worse and felt dl'8Qdf'uJ.fy sorry tor the people who lived there. Bow awfUl to hear the noise and aeo tho blaok street all d81' long. And at night, too1 Of' course, Addie said, ol:' how would people . be able to get home aeainT Beo.tr1ce tried to 1mag1no hersolf alaeping in a house facing the elevated train and automatloally turned atmy from the \ . . . . window. Her knees hurt and she \1Qfl tired. Wey didn't the7 get oft when the train stopped7 But JDtllD&_kept _ putting it oft from ste.tlo.u to :Jtation, aa,1ng it vsas tho next one and tho next, untU Beo.:trioe felt sick. The noise bur\ her ears and sitting still on t~e seat made her disey. Papa. gave hor a roUDd ~ i'rom a paolw.ge he too!t out o:t his r.ocket, but the taste sickened her still more and she had to spit it out. Nor did aeythlng helps aitt.Ing on mm•s lap or leaning ago.inst Ben or seeing Acldie make fumW · races. And . th.en, when tbe7 did get oft ti1e train, it was onl,y to change to anothor train because that r ~ us the wa;,~ to got to ~ia,n, where Grandma thoreaa lived. Beatr1oe begari to . . cry; she wanted to g~ home. Papa got angry and said all right, it she didn•\ behavo herself' 1 he tiould send her hcma all alono, { · Jhioh iaade thing&J 1'f0r88 be- . . cawe she knen she coulcl never find her 1f01' back b7 heraelt and to be •WT from · mama · t1as unthilJ.lr..able. She fell asleep, worryiDg. And when tm1 fiMlly reached Granclma*s bouae, she was too cross and sleepy and a~k to enJ07 the hss ev~ryone made over her. Sbo didn't like Grondna 'l'h~resa. 'lhe whole house smelled like a lamon smell, old and dark • ,, .. - - ~ J ·• .__ ...... . ,, ••• . · ~ . . ~ , 11 I I ! l 12 - talked, walked and looked old. · The7 smelled like lomon, too. Sha shrank when tbe7 kissed her, fondled her, tried to lift her up. Papa shrugged h19 shouldersJ he fl&B verr disappointed with hor and quite displ: .: ased. Aftel'tlards, they went : ' to Cousin Iouis• store and Beatrice began to feel better. Couaia Iouis and . Mo~ bad three children, Allnie, Sadie and Freddie, and it was tun to . . .. sit nith them at the cot¥1tor and order big ice-cream sodas. They made a game \ . ot their natJes and sang Ka,....tie 1 U&-xie, Ben-31e 1 !Du-le, Bea-ttie, until tho store shook with their acrenms and . laughter. That was the best part ot the ~ for Beatrice and the only part she tborough:q eJl307ed. The rest was like the beginning, except that she slept all the . TIB.J' home and never laum vhen she was put into her own bed. That summer she Y1as tour 7ean old and there was a birtbd.o7 cake w11ih her name on it and five candlos, one bigger than the rest, tor good luok, and some of the children in the neighborhood were thElre and tbe7 all clapped when ~ ble\l out· all the llehta t1ith oQa great big breath. fhere was ohooolate milk and c.~e and ice cream tor every'bod1' arid the children~ tuD1Q" bats and priooa 1 basidds. She had a very good tiLle at thB party and later, w hen everybo~ uont heme, mama said ~he had been a ver:r good girl bocause she Jiadn• · t sp511 ed &DT- thing on her ll8\'l pink dress. Ben gave her a big red-uhite-and-blue rubber ball and Addie gave her a tiJ\1 porcolain doll nith moveable arms and lees and when papa ceme home ho gave hor a surpr~ae present inside a love~ box colored with pictures. It uas a set ot unbreakable dishes wi tl1 the . Sfl!t 1 e colored p1ct.U1"e8 tho.t we1ee on the box. Usma gave her five Jon smacks end Jds3es, et?ying 1 th" . t' s trom me, because she had a~ made tho cake and tile party- for ~ and didn't have to give her &DJ extra p~sent. Bea.trice uas very hapP)" that -~ - - - - . day and attor a spec1o.l din."ler in the dining•l"OOJ:l she \'188 aJ.l.owed to sing an4 danoe the nr.l pieco that Addie had learned on the piano. lt uaa just for the fam1l1' e.nd mama and papa. looked TO'q pleased because · slle was getting to·be such a nice big girl. 'lhen, papa s · toppod giving her baths and sbe missed having hill aqueeae the big sponee ovar hGr hoad and splash wter OYer her body, but he said ehe Vias too big noo and could tako baths by herselt. It wasn't near:cy- so much tun. ex- cept that sometimes mama came into the tub with her and then it ti't!.l!I eyen Dioer than befora when papa had bathed her. Thon mama would plq l1hat•a !hicf 1 . just ea Ben had done when she was a bo:lJY' 1 and mama vauld tickle her as ehe WCl:tt f1'0la . one part to another calling \7hat 'a this and this~ and Beatr!oe kept g1.ooJ.ina and sq11i.m1rJB as she anrmered, lily ear, . rq nosie, mJ mouth, 'll'q chin• aud finnlJ.i she . . J.ey back ~ainst mama• s nice soft bod1" while theJ" both laughed together. . . It . was ve17 hot th.at summer and otlCe the7 all went up to the roof to sleep. They took quilts and pillons and sheets with then and spread evor.(thiDg out comf'ortnbly, but soon mre and more or the neighbors came up to do the sama thing and it got cro "1r1 ded and noisy and the children thought it t:e.s a game and ran around lnughing because ever-.fbody looked so funn.y J.y1ng together, and then sudd.enl3 it began to rain. Evorybocly jumped up, collected tamil.7 bolongillgs and rushed cloon tho titairsl Papa was disgusted. He blamed it all on~' sq- ing she was eJ.na.ys thinking up some brand new idea. And that \1&8 t~he first and last . time t.11ey tried sleeping up on the root 1 whioh thay aalled their tin beaoh. As tho days grew longer tor Jlaatrice, she began to notioe things man ael't;• . . . . tull,y than botoro. Like the gas lieht TJhich fanned into any colon when - ----------- - - - - ·- - - - - - I 14 J:lama held the match up to the tip of the pipe, lifting the lacp and than let · ·· Una it tall sl0\'11y baok in plnoe. She ~:ould hear a low hi.ea aa mam turned the gas ring, thon eae a amalJ • tlame pop up and spread itself out. I1i Ra blue, green, o~e, yellow, oith pretty' clumging curls leaping oll around the edgea, and then eradue.J4r the tan grew still and all yelloo e:mept at the top whore 1\ . . ~ined unevon. Sha loved to wtch tho lights £0 on, eapecdalJ;y 1n the dining. room uhere there was a big gl e. sa cbNldelier with thDee ~ Jeta underneath. It w as nioe to sit there and soe the lights make p1oturea 1n the l'OOll1 1 on the table, on thoir f'aoes. It anyone movod. 1 tlle picture ohangod. It a broeso came in, the walls dancod. Now the ligbt was a box, them long and broad, in too pieces, three. In the light, everyona•s race looked Dice and pink. Addie didn'\ look 80 skinny in the light and her eyes and teeth beoama very sbin'1. Papa.• a face looked happier in the llghtJ JOU oou1d see haw blue his e19s t1GN. Ben became a llttlo Indian boy uith brotm skin and straight black hair. L1ama beoarae a princess or a queen, but uwma uns alwqs beD.utitul. 1 even out of the light. Tho light made Bae.trice feel wartnJ her cheeks began to burn and aha felt Dice imd.de and tuiLl or love. It happened ovors niaht, like magioJ as soon as the pa light was turned on, she grew v;arm all war and oould feel her face gottin3 reel. · Somatiaea, innma thought it was a fever, but Beatrice voould laugh . . and ,rq it / \'1QO the lieht and mama \-,.ould lnugh, puszled, too. Mama alVIays lett one light burD1ng at night, the one in the hall between the kitchen- e.nd the bathroom. !hat vas in case anyone hacl to go to the toil.Gt or wanted a drink mJd also for papa when ha came home "'917 late. r~ a long time, Beatrice t1ould i'Jake in tho m1c1dle of the night and have to oall mama 1 · frou her bod. J.la-m. fhe T01oe 'llOUld go all the 'lllQ' to ....,., • - She could hear it go vory quio~ all the WB.7 down the hall, through the d1n1na- room and into moma•s ~ But SOl:letimea it waan•t lowl enough to get through the dinine-room into mama.• s badroom and then aha would have · to oall mama again. The house seemed so dark and at.W. at niaht· anq the little eu light nasn•t · sJ.eeping and she would listen for the sound of aama•a bare feet coming dOTln the · hall tO meet her. Sha was 80ft7 that she bad to wake mm up. Mama louked so tired and sleepy-. She uould sit on the ecJee of the bathtub tUl Bea.trica finished, her hair com1 ng doun aver hor n.J.chtgorln in two long braids. And then Beatrice would tell mama she was sorry and that aha oouldn•t help it and mma would kiss hGr goodnight again and say it TIU all right, she wanted hor to call, and then she would tuck Beatrice in next; to Addia and He it Bell oaa all rj,zht and go back to her ot1n bed to sleep. But once when Beatrice wclle up and sat up to call mama, Addie got mad and said she was a U'J'-baby, ao aho ~down ege.in and foll asleep dreaming that abe had t1et the bed and in the · ~ morning she flflS terribq ashamed because it was true. Then mma scolded Addia tor making her keep it in and . Addie said l•m aui-e she did it on purpose, but Ben took her part, saying she's onJ¥ a baby, what do you want, and he ga.ve her a French kiss b-.f piliohil:JB her cheeks. !bough eomotimes she woke up whon she didn•t ba.ve to go, because papa had come in late and maaa naa hollering at h;!m. · Addio and Ben would be giggliDi and uhispering, sa,ing papa was drunk and couldn•t mlk 'by himself. And mm \'Jould bogin to cm . it ms a sbo.ma for a man nith three ohildreA to behave l1ko that, he lookocl like a common Boweq bum, and what t1ould the D8ighbora &a1f · And pa1• uould go on mumhl ing fUnD.V' wOl'ds, aursing and laugldD(b and the7 \'lould hoar him ~or down the hall, trying to get to bis room. · A.Pd th&1 oaal4 hear mm. 1 • CZ71n8 and ocmpJ.a1n1ng tor a long time UlltU paJllL began t.o smn. ~ all Beatrice ooul4 reicer:l»:Jr next - as what M.cl'• bB4 aa1d, that pipa ,... JJ.lm . a bo.1w bocauao m · ~ to WK1NDa b1a aD4 pu.t. hill to w., and 1lhan she - --·· tnaG, aba didn't. know . •hi' '1107 " ba4 la r.t' ..)Ed. !heft ... 16 dA1'k riJlp WJdor l:IBIB~. 8708 amt aha laaka4 · TD1'7 1184 al2d qu.!d, u thousb .. . ~ to cr'T• !ban Boatr1oe Vied to be a goa4 gh-1 BD4 mt bot.bar _. Ix>- . cause she clidn't kDo\1 vhllt ol.ae. to ao. It · was hard . to undantand abau.t papa. ~ Beatdae .., bill ao .neut U4 droaaed att;or his morn1Dg 1 a bath, she oouldn.'t tmg!• be ma the aam papa ot tho Jdg!lt before. li1a amncn- uaa the 1181118 811 usual, b1a walk, ~ ~ b1m \ V 88 baa' nesa-like and ~· tboU£h nobod.J' apoka to h1a GI' looJrecl d1.rectJ.I' at him, least at lll1 mem. It 'OU onli' tJhan Gmmlm !honaa OBL1D t.o · · tho house tor a Tis~~ that . h1a annar oballgecl. !ban be ~okarl a lot, 11atoDe4 .: ' . oaraf'l1l.l¥ to ~ · sbe aaid and ~cd 11ke a pJ4 eon. It r.u hard t.o tbtnk of · papa as aamoone\e little boJ', tho WI' Ben i;u to mama., 'but GS'8adm. ~ talr..ecl to him ~mt aa mrma cU4 to Ben, aa1 J1 ng him 1llJ' 'bo7t rq eon, .., cbiJd, ~Ill" ~llDs· It G1iaadma diclA't like scmeth.i.Dg, llh8 tolc1 papa llO and made ! bpa pram1ae to obey bor, vh'cm rapa cU.d,looJdDB apologetlo 8114 ~ &l.ng na~. lama said Gl'8DdaB \"188 olner, ebrtm4. She llarm't boon married tour tima tor llO'tb1l!g, belian •I Ami tha w:r mama said that, Bcatr!oe coul4 toll mama didn't like Grande ftl7 muoh. De aq ohe tcl:os ccN of honalf', the tnJ.J llhe turu ft81'1boq aroaDd her little ~' and mama shook her head in talao admiration. Bot.b1Df: 1 • too goocl tor her, · milk bntha, apecdol Gl'UalDD tor hat' !Janda an4 ~. the mat · · ezpcms1vo focdo - Who aould. tako her tor a tJOl8D of •~I Bo w. !he •&¥ aha valka, talks • J>ont\ 'WOft'7t I know when bar ~ oomaa firm, I'a not llUCh a foo1 aa po.pa tld nJ;-•. tho 111Q' bo lmigba •' fR8r7 little thi.D8t to -.ta his mother +.hi nk aha• 8 llO &IDU't;. SCID8 . peoplai tbeJ" ban all tho liJOk in tlla TIOZ'l4. Yout4 think his lr.OtbR wa ! don't baa what• that llhe ha4 troa:t. c &J. ~ bim • Oo"/A help 19' cbildran 1t I uaa llka that. An 1roll hand. 'WK18r a llilk glove, tbat•a her. And . papa•• ~ut like MrJ he'• h1a llOthu au~ aptn, to a t and 11111& pinohod. wo t::Lnpn together 1a 1ih8 a.. to Beatrloe, OnndJ:a t1&8 the oaa who llBda her aab bar M r ,Qa DD4 taM 1A 1'1 a speo'al t18if - onae, tu1Ge, tbN8 tJw - Npeatiag 8trlmp tlOl'da aftGzt hare Sha d1cln't know what 8IV' of them meant aoeP' \lm'I; G1'8lldia 1>leaaed bar ai'ter- tlBl'ds and said t1•1; .. bom to -- God. 1ot'e her. Aid • . •tter ., GmnW-. dld 1 Tlha:tber it wu to •t oi- drink or go in ozt wt ot a dooftllQ', aha 111ioppe4 to aa:r a ;.,. aol'da UDdor her breath. filnt waa 'beoauae aha wu a boJ.y' vosm, mma se.1c1. m.t•a that, Beatrioe asked. I oaa'" axpJ,,Jn 1 11818 &nallerecl, ._ ma eduoatecl like a teBohar, and 11SU usod a 8trlmp rmd tbat Bmtrioe acniJdpt\ untlorstaad. Her father hD4 beon a T817 1eamed man and oil1CO be had. no 8aR Ila bad taught her ell the boo1l8 ho Jmea. In a WT• ll&id 111m, 1t•a a piv aha -.m•t a maDJ ahe OODld lJaY8 'becm a lead'"I Nbbl, 11G111e'bod1' great. Babb:L, \bo.t ma an old man with a loDg 'baud, •ear.las a long 'blaok ooe.t &al a 111Df!11 romd 'blaok hat on top ot bis headJ leatr!oe nmer.aberecl aee1ng Oll8 cmae mt tailecl to ' oonneot h1m t1ith Grarv:JEa !beNm. ~' abe WU papa• .. mother. SacJrut:l¥1 Beatrioe pretenred the atorie8 -- told her about her othor p&IK1ia 1 Stella, • ODD vho had SoD8 'baok to lin in Buropa. an -- and. papa were aon ia- portant tbaD either ot tb8lll 'beoauae DO ouo ma m important tbaA mm all4 . papa o a. • Add'• and Ben, and no t1m or pl.nae au m ~'>Ortant thaD the Gll8 am, Beatrioe Barpr, knMle ------- - ~ - - -- - & - _ - :sasas:cs. -•-- __ , __ u _ ., __ ........ ..... .-- es .... 6 .• ;;:::;;:: ... -· • =.=::== ........ rn ---..- . . .... ,.- .. . -· * -·· -- · s;sn:sz .. . i; -.....,. - -, ·- --- J J . I ff I fr t JI I i . l l 1 · 4 JI f = i • · t I t i i i .. l f a gs r: i t t r ~- 1r :. f . ~ . f ~ ~ ~ I I ~ ' I ~ ~ ~ 1 . a 1 1 ..- s: &: fl 1 It ~ t i · I : r 1 1 .. 2 : · t , :.~if~114-rttfr'~ia.e:;t11r .. ~1 s r;. _ 1 ~ ~-o _ r _.._ J · .. Lo. _, 8 ! p fl Clo g M ! ! ~ ~ i ~ i I i ~ I ~ I i I i ~ i i I : II. I ~ .. - II, -1ig-:B.11 ! - it - ~ 2 l i,, 1 t .. I I i. I i f · f ~ ! ~ ! i f i I J ! J ! ! I ~ ~ ~ ; I ( ~ ~ l 1 i 11 • t i 1 i 1 r "' t ~ I ' la. I i I t t!!i" ri:ri rflfri if ~-I J'!~fl ff1'fi.!"'l~B;;1 (••[ft~ ~ft> • ifH,.J~f 1ffl .i'f J~ftElj 5: · ! I r 1 1 I i ~ r J 1 r 1 :; t 1 1 , " 19 Geno a g c od-f'Ol'-nothi.De lo ~ tor. Geo1'89 onq J.auabc4 and sn1d Gena 110• a l'OU• lag stone, • . ban bum. G c. orae t1a.11 a dent1at and sometimes he lot Boo.trioe sit in the big white oheir that. \:ont up and dm'1n and let her road the ~ pipers tlmre. Sha liked GeoraeJ ho r.e.ca vcrr eood looldng. Ba l5k.ecl to tl.1ft w1'th hor and aa14 that ob& would be a hea:rt-bree.kor soma dB¥· He winked at bor, 1Clue&Zo4 hor am and pinohod her· cheek, bllt sinae it was Qeorp, she didn't mind. Sha laugbecl \1han he sbc.lad her his instruments and mcle believe that he was goins to wse · tmm on hors &he squealed but she vaaai•t ~ atra14. !be o~ thing aha kDn about dcmtista ·waa tiw.t her aouain Ooorge TlC8 one. But it ves abal&t Gene thu.t aha thought mostJ.J, all kinda ot dmJgoroua and emiting thinea. Something told her he vaa !luita aitw•e tavorite, 1&1a7ba be- ocuse ho was tbe bab. of the ~ too, 3uot lJ.lte her. Sha oouldn'1; help toel.- :1.ng sorq for Tanta Mutter and wished Gena uoulc1 oome bom ao that she ooul.4 aeo him too. She felt a ~at respect tor the little ol4 J.iWT. !auta Lm.ttor .. alwafO wore Jone dreasoa tied etitfl,y at the neol : . A lona aold chld n hung c1arJn to ber *1st and t:aa pinned to a watch ill bar pooket. It ve.a a looket t1atch that oponecl and showed two pictures, one ot !anta &htter t.1l'len she tJU 70UD£ al\d the other ot hei- husband who ha4 died. Beatrice liked to p1-es1 the little button and see the ti1o sides apriug open 'bu.t she kD0\7 eho had to be oarefUJ. bocnuse it was c ve17 fi;le old watoh and IDGOAt a lot to 'l'cwta tutter. 'nlo aunt-mother was a very small J.adiY to have auch b:f.s sous a.be waen 1 t l!IUOh teller tbe.ll Addio. But thore TiU eoiaet.1>.in£ "fV'1 wOildortul about her, the wq she eat er t:uked o.r held a book• aQybe because 8he was so eduoc.ted. f.Sana hD4 lll1id th t )t. It .rJCCnt that !enta. ?al · t;ter oould apoak French FW1 Gor.l:l&A aa4 Italian nwi do~ otl !. ttr t~a besidoa Pla1' tho pimlo. SAJ9 alwp had a box ot 11\'leets tor the ch"iJdl"eL !bat t1aa another Sundq trea.t •. Soaetima during the ' · I . ------ -=- · - · . .... .. · .. . . .. .,. _ .., - · . .. - ~ ------------- --'-- --- I a. . I • dq, mile tba ohUc1ren "era aittlog around Nadi06 the ooa1o atir1p11 an4 ooloft4 funn7 J.>3GGS . in tho papers, she tzoal.d be eure to oom in with a big tin box 11h1oh · was fol"C>Tf)r and mysteriousi, tuU ot ~. ~trice took a long t1m to p1ok . I hors and then a:~ it TG17 alonq becauao it was rauch 'bGtter than ~ ~ aha ooiaci bur in a owicw atoro • . It uaa at about this time ~t Beatrice nat1oecl the big piotun which ma-. had hw:s itl the mu c.fter the piano oama. It waa a pictun ot a fish in a big golcl f.rome 1 OOft>J.'8ci 1Jith glnse, !he fiah WU in c1aS srean tiQ'ter aDd. look• ed vo17 queer~ at Beatrice. . .._ oooked fish tor clinuer cwoe or tulce a t:oek but thtlt kind ot tiah didn't eeem the aam aa the fish in the pioturo. !his fioh looked ao dD.1'k &D4 smooth and ditterent behind the gl '.. 1MJ aomtima 11hen she olooed hflr e)'eS baa wq, it lMJpn to IDOY9J its l'OWld arble eJN seemed to be l.ooldlJfJ l'ight at her. rJam.a oa1d it live4 deep in tbo ocean. that l!ade her thS nl; of Gem. Someho \1 9 she cODneoted him vi th the picture and when- nor she looked at it sha thought ot the postoards ho sent homo froc b1a tJ.'tlvels. It 1188 hard to understand a\xr.tt traveW.ug. \ ~ hon JOU want upot~ to a train and !'Ode tor a long time to viait ·somoooe, that \i80 travelliDg, and JGt ~t msn•t the same tiling Gene did. · Iou tt---ok a boat 8114 Ol'0311od the ocean, m1:.11a said. 'Like a tiahf res, like a fish., Iou got on a bi« boot al.Id agam aoroBS the \1ater. Beatrice fror;nodJ sbe oouldn 1 t underatand. And t1hell pa.pa took them to tile beach one SatUl"dal &ri.ng a ftr:T hot \:ieek :I.A August, Boa.trice \'108 o.tra.14 tO go into t!lo ocoaa. Addie and Ben ran up and clo\111 tbe 1&11111, abased . by the uawa, and triod to set her to come 1n 1 'but onl¥ wbon mm or papa oar- ried her hieh abon tho oce~ i;ould she oo~aont &lld trum, how ~ olung and . . ,._ • I equeeledl Ber 3lec tl88 mi.cl with tears attppoaing the tiah came along u4 anal.loried her upT She couldn't Ulldorstan4 haw other ohildl'en 111QDDged 1 how th97 . . sta.vocl on top of ta ~uter. She mtohed tbea aplaah and ~ump nround u4 .ven After a p:lo.aic lunch on . the beach, Den tauGht hei- to mka aid pies, a OQ&tl.e with a tUDuel aod mey o1ihol' nice thtnp. But abe wouian•t ai\ mar th• wveaa ha had to bring the · water back in h18 ).>811. fhe s1Be of the Q:oan tr1ghtenecl horJ it went all the va:r up to UJe aky and tar 1 tar out on either aide. Bar did it a~ tba..w-et Supposing it cleo1decl to move, to oome dorm cm>r the beaohT She remembered the time the •ter in the ba.thtub had ovorf'J.cmed. P c. pa ha4 put his h9.D4 "~ dorln to tho bottom, pulled out the stopper and lll!lcle "118 water go back, Sha wonderod if ~re waa a stopper at the bottoa of the ocean and vho · pullocl :l.t out. Cod, mama said, and she told Bea~ic• the ato17 of the e.rk. Bon ae.1d ho kncr.I all about it and aho let hi.a tell her tho ato17 aga1&1 while be OOYcred her vith oand. f.ban aho started to 017 'because the sand waa ao hea17 and eh8 ooul.dn•t me.Te, so Bon pulled hOI' out and let her bur, hill while he ohantod, ti.rat JOU er;, BDd then JOU laUZh aid then JOU uke a boogq taoe. And he mde one ao t 1 ell that sho oouldn•t help kissina hlll flftr'T time• · • Addie · flQt quietl.iy botncen JDBma and pl.par. she didll't lJ.kG to got the 8Blld on her . and aha kept t11pJ.Di 1t off her hands, lliDOJ.DslJ'• She n• £lad when tb.e7 aot lW1d7 to go~-· JZama had to put somethins on her skin booauae 1t vu Tart ftd and Addie aaid it hurt like fire • . .Attor tbtlt ahe henrcl a lot ~N about God' e atorieo. She liked to haft Bea road them . to her f'rom a book. She began to make up storioa of Im' GllDe the 8Wl Uld mooa WGl"8 Goel'• lampa, one for the da7 aD4 one for the .dpt. r.hea it s1 nt'Jd, . 1" meant Goa waa v.ying. When be mt.ea to b1c1a 1 ba mde aloa4a. Tihm someone Oo4 l1ttoc1 c11ed, 118 put aw atuo in the a1q ao that th01' 1JOlll4 . have lampa too. It TJaS ·haftt to - Go4 1 be -. eo bis• JU.a baad reaobccl c1ma I to the bottom ot the ooean~ God t188 wonderf'11, be 001114 mk9 an,thiDa. Sba 1oVe4 Goel. · Ariother Seturd P .,- ma got thm dnaBOd ea.rll' ud told thlm \her were 10iD1 to . Yiai't Cousin 81 1 n1ce. Beatri.oe an14 abe cUdn•t wan\ to lo 1t tbo.r ha4 to ... take a tmin• tr• 1il'a1D. SMl1 made her 11ck. Id ll8m ea1d llhe woul4 haft to be a apeo1aJl7 go~ girl . because Coua1a lun'oe .. .,..,. dok, in bed, ana tlmt the doctor was t.harG an4 naJ.7bodJ 110u.l4 have to · be .,_.,. quiet. And mm•• voice and f'aoe were so 8114 tlie.t IGatl"loe cU.dA't ~ u,tb1aa ..... 21 She entered Cawdn Buniao•a bedJ.'oam 1 on Up.toe, bar.,_ w14e an4 troub1ed b.r so .ma.bl' people ill tbe rocm. Coua1D Lou1a -.a there with 1da 8l'll aroun4 ltoU, ~ &a Ol'Jing. Dam toak her onr to the bod 'beoanee CowdA Ew>nf oe mt.e4 I to see bar. Beatrice oould haS'dl,y talk aboY8 a whiaper. Iler. aoaein 1 a face vu 80 pale, ahe tolt 801"17 tor mr. Bvea. vhen llhe •"' le4 JOU ooul4 - ... a1ak ah8 was. Coua1a Bunioe hacl · two tb'ak broa bl.'81d&s and who&:L ohe J.c.ane&l cmmi \be bed to TCDlit, . Beatrloe ... wOft91od that the bl'dc18 would f'all 1Ato tba basin. Cousin. Paul took her out of the be4l'Call 1nto the Id.tab.en to abotr !Im:' sa:im 1ovel,y' th1np. · !hara 1'l88 a blue glue ellpper llbe lffred nr.r aaah and a1ao soma armill Chinese things. One llhowo4 a boJ' J."inntna aftctli a c11'1 tb&'ouP a pl'Utt:y am'dOD and Boatrioe tUft104 ._.bottle l"OUD4 u4 ftWUd antU ebll ca' t1N4 aD4 wtshecl the s1r111oal4 atan4 st1l1 ilo ~t · the 'boJ' aould oatah her, bit be llb"ftr cll.d. She found ~ 1ih1D88 to pla,)r with 1n the kitoben aa4 Gouda Paul ----------- · - - ------- --- ---- __ .... 22 aboae4 hol- how ti. llton WOl'kocl. Be pl\ ooa1 1ne2m 1iao boles, lltu1iec1 tm tire and than oonred ti. mi. ·w~tb trro ~ 1'on 11U. 18 80\ two bttla9 ot mter on top to bc>2J. It vu cU.ftQftld; f1'0a mm•• pa atcma. She . . tbaush' tb1a cma TIU m tun, but OGl85 D Paul told beJt mt to to110h l't be- . . . . lfal'8 and ID01'8 people -- to tile bouaeJ .. a. ... or tbm. .. llDll Oodsin 1ar1aa; who ma l'lml.•a ldater, ven .,-iDa. !he7 oam 1Dto \he Jd.tobea to pt tlle bot water and Beatr.t.oe aaa bow 1'94 tbe1lt 8189 W81'8e Dad4 WU Gl'JiDI 'tiooJ lie was Ban1oe•a blot.bar. Addia and. Bea 1l81"0 aittilJI 1n \be llTizls mca .. . ' aitb papa.. A tea mn V8l'9 amolr1ng and talldq ~. !be olpr IJllOb ft!DS!d- ecl Boatr!oe ot the tmiA mall aDd m4e her tGG1 a1ot apin 80 • wen ... to Pla¥ ulth her blD8 slD•• lll1ppn- in the ldtohaa. . . WON aba wea\ lala, Ooua1D Paul pn her a baz fl11l Gr . "°1ae In it · 1181'8 the blue gl.888 allpper, two Qhtneae poraolaln 4ol la an4 the toot.hp1ok bottle ebmlng "118 bo7 l'QQDflJ8 after tl:ze girl. Po.pa and m 1ookec1 ftr1' -4 . . 80 aha cU4n't bother thlm about the 'tra1D. Siie kept her .... oloae4 u4 . . . tl1auF' abou.t her n1oe 11811 toJB unt.U. ahe fell asl.oep. It l2B8 A4cU.e wbo told her t.bat Cousill lunloe waa dead. Bea.trioa d1dll 1 t UDdarota.114. But mma and papa Sot dreasad ill bl•ok and aakocl Jira. SiDgar to . . taka oare of the ohUdnn. .A4d1e bD4 to pl.'Qli11ae tO •toh Baatdaa aid Ben. Ben~ vith J8f!f!T, the babJ". and Add1e pia,m bOuae wltb rl.Ol'GllM. • 8-trlae aboaecl Birdie her 'blua glau .Upper and Birdie aried beaau• a a1cm•t mw one ~ust like it. llra. Singer p:n 8'U'7'bo"-r ll1lk and. oaa am tol4 I 1imll to be good or ebe \'IGUl4 tell the1lt pipu beaauae lllJe ._.,, uH4 to haT1na so lllBDJ' oh1l4ren 1n the llauDe at om u.. - - .. .. --· -- - -- · ~- htriaa d1c11l'1i tb1• abou1i Oal:as1A lurd.aa fOZ' a lmJg u., um.u w c1af' mama aaked her to go to the P'OOBrl' t~ aOlll8 "'kins poncJar. Sime mam. 414n•t aa:r to oome back rJ.Ght __,., Baatriaa deoided. to plq a little bop-soot.oh on tJ2li sideaAlk . ill f'ro.ut ot the bouae. Bea14ea, Ura. H1l1 - buBJ' tall:iag to m W01l8D 111 the atol'8. Soon · aha w l"mn' ng, ams outatat.ahad, to CAtoh tba 1d.n4. . lt vae a Jovoq ctan tho aoo1mond.D8au11811 Nfreab1ns. She 'braBthecl ~. feeJtng tl19 atNot leap jnaida her. a.. legs k1cke4 baokJ aha oon]d feel t.baD mov1Dg mMJ.er her, t.oumd ng bar dreaa. Beto.re a.he knew 11i 1 ahe ms at the aomor miJ' 4o\1Jl psst the IW ot p!fll stone houaea an4 a~ hd.lA'DGll• She stoppal, mde ta. Chinamen ~1111pa, and tumacl araund. lt felt 8oo4 to atrotc1' aD4 laugh out loud. Bare was the atoro that ha4 foolecl them. It had boon a ~ ~oket . ""17boAY Jal 11 • JCB OREU mt s comma POR BO'lllnm. . All tbekl4a had run tliare. AD4 then th07 found out. that it maantt l 8CINGll cm the Oomel' tor notld.Dg. She bepA to mUtt through her nose, tint ano s1cle 1 than the .. other, than both together. Pinohing her DOB8 abe faund ahe oould breathe tmoup bar mmth. . lt uas a del ight.tul. di90CmU.7. Could aha hear with her QOST Sha trieclJ there 1:188 a ~ in. her. eara aa her f1ncara pl"eaaed aga' nat tam. Could she aee wlthouti opon' ng her 919aT Sha clo1J84 tbm, peeped 1ih1'ou.sh ths tim1A:Qr ouoe or tuioa, then ahu.t them bard. It m dal'k iJlsidGJ aha aouldn•1i . JllOh. Bow terrible not to eael It llll4a her di•IQ' and atn14. Ber 8J8l14s ti. '· op&DJ tM at.net was atill thes-o and the bowlu on both aidoa. She tried walk- ing vith her eyoa oloaecl. It m queer ~ .. ~ feet Inched aloaq to.l'L'IU4. S<Jt'l80IW told · her to loa?c whe~ ahe _. going. It na a 11omm with a ahopplag bag. . . Bao.trioe am!Jed &ad sa1c1 '8GW18 • 1 then lqMlldppecl baak to 1iba howle • .All the W8f' 1 abs kept t!ri n'dng 1 I au. hnathe with Ill' ll0'1th 1 I Cl8ll 'b.Nathe with 19' mouth, I oan eat v1th rrq nosa, I oan •t with ST DON. ADI! ebe ti~ to l•gi• eatlns soup or o!dokaD • patatoela with her noae aD4 aha 1mwt -' lanshtng, Jmowina that it oouldn•t be dom. But abe d!dn'' baYe a ohanae to 1io1l m abou't :lt 'booauaa -- 11llD ma4 abolit. ho.vq to wait toi- the llak'ng powci. 80 J.ons. So aha uent into' tbe d,1.n2ng 1'00ll to 11\Ud.F henelt 1n the -- ... there 8be found oat •Jw Oowlla Jb 1 n1oe had c1:lec1. It w ftl7 •ieple to cUea all p ha4 to do ma · to at.op bl'eatbillg, almt JOIU' un ...i 9199 Ma 1- ~ · atul. It took qaite a \'i h118 t111 8he aoul4 plnah her ... , °"""°her.,_ 8114 . . almt bo.19 ean all at the. aame Ume~ n8n . • boanm Y017 ~ an4 ..... what aacl. m,,. shoU14 . 8DJODD milt to c11e7 lo a1r 1 DO JJ.dl' 1 DO llCP1Dd 1 ia]OD9 inside vith noth1na - aba nonr wante4 to cU.el Ba11; ahe aouldn 1 t toi-get 11bat ehe IB4 leune4 tha" c1an .. 1lhoDcht ftL-oi- ll&ted her. lb. Jh-ooks, who took OON ot the aand1' at.oft whoD lier lmallaa4 wa ' bua1' 1 aske4 Beatriae to Jll1n4 the ba1v ct8l'riale tW a t• m1mltea. !be 1Bb.r vaa kiaJd ng its au and. leflll about., not aar1ns who mtobecl her. Beatrioe looked at the 'bal>T with interest. I4chtll', ab8 plaoecl her band cmar iu noao, lta mDutb. !be infant gi-ew l'8c1 an4 began to aqu1N aD4 at t.b8 tint~ tw:lit7 bDg&ll to abr1ek an4 IU.7• Ima kaGta a&me l'Ullllf.Dg. leatrJ.oe dood . . th8N mite and tnmhl 'ng mt she ha4 nothins to SQ', nat.JWlg. m. tel' ool4 . . all over. Supposing the babJ' had died! Sha bac1 touohe4 · me tor 1ibe fil'n t1lil8 am found it tarr.t.ble, real. Sha vorr1e4 abo~ 1\ tor a long u.. · Oat ~ tbat apar5anoe aam8 a w Jma\'1ledge. ~ hD4 lta 11118 1 8ha found. there wa dr1Dt ~or th1nrt; 1 food · toi- hvngor, flJD tor laughter, teen tor hurli 1 dlq . tor ~ an4 nlsht !W " sleep, 'Gfll'lllth tor ool4 an4 P.ade tor hao.t, air for breath 8114 lJ.Blx' tor 8188• ~ ha4 it. ue. It ma aJ.i mo von4er.fal. Sha Moame intereated . iD ber bonds. . She mt JJave hacl Uqy' bab¥ Junxta too• onae. Sba atwUecl the tin t1Dpn OD eaoJt. bud. m.t · mda them beft1 Siie .. . klMM1 'UlaJ' were hara, ban dltf81'811\ fl'Oll ~else'•• She looked at \be.,,., hR fiD8an 3o1Dad her pal.ma, haw the Df!1]e fi'bted on top. uama•a hands ~ere ldlJ , 1iba1' vere D1ae '.bMda1 aha 1on4 to kiaa th~ She wondered hem lmndo o>umc- , eel. Jt; Tl&8 hard to 1IBqJ.ne that her Mnds waul4 .._. be cU.t.rerent tl'Ca tba vq tb8J' ware JIOrl. ':J\y'• ahe lmMt her fiDgOl'll Iv' heaftJ 'UloJ' .... like 'bab!aa, eaah with ita O(lll taoe and boc11'· !he7 are~ arm hands, Beatr!oo'•· Siie Jde~- -- t1ngart;1p. Sha atuecl at her 818• in tlla Jld.ftor. !h:lt,.,.. BeaW!oe. She eaw boftH)].f 1 kafKI haneltt. ~ae "'"'1:9 her .,... She 1ookec1 into thaa. fba1' were c1al'k 8308• Were thG7 bloDn or bloald It was hal'd to toll. She - · a bi.a oiNle lllJ1!1'0UDde4 by uhlte. She io\ olo88r to the Jd.ftor, her tonhead almost touoh!ng the sJ,aaa. Ill the micldle ot 'tlJ8 c1al'k o1ftle ahe .. anotbar oiNle, dal'br atW.. It ae:a- 84 to get 'b1ggar aa abe looL.-.1 at lt. It looked c1al'k blue• 'bLlt not blm liko pape. 1 a 8788J h1a \'181'8 m1Jq blue~ D14 81V1bo4J' baYe a spot in the f!Mdle ot t.be1r 8J881 She 11;a ~ little white c1ot8 1D eaah 818• thoJ' 1ookocl like pin points. Sha thought the7 wen in t.h8 rnll'ror and tried to l'U1I thml ott but tha1' stayacl 111 ho1' 818•• Uhat made ayes 1188! Rm did tlJ87 Iman aha was Baatrlaol Sha troa.ned and tbm laughod. Scmmtld:n8 inside hes- mat tell bez- I'• leatrioae It as that 80lll8t.h1ncl that looked Gilt d bolt 8188• Sbe ma 8m'8 her eyaa mul4 .._. obanae• Iba aometb1Ds laaide woal4 all1ap 'be the ... , she nae llllft or tbat.. Evm 1t &ha ao' big, llhe woul4 etil1 be Beatrioe. 1'lbo elaet Sha J.auclJ.04 aD4 l'fll& ...,. lt .. fUll •ldng a am. She 9ta.rl;ed with bis hea4 and then -- his um and legs. It wasn't l'8Bll.J' riahtJ a mn 41clll't look like that. !be ean, eh9 - .. ·- -- - - -- - ·---=-- ----- - ----- --- . 26 fM'{IOt. She P'-'.'t a llttlo loop on each aide of the hmcl. ~she ets.rt.ec1 ovw agd.n. t' ben mam. came to the table and asltad t:hat aha ma ~ ~. aha aarlbblad . . her pencil o.11 aver tl-..a Papm:t and then arumplc4 it; up. l oan•t 4rt.m 1 s h e o:d.d . . an4 tl.us h ed. Sha r.m dcimi to · ~ on the atoop. fb<J abil4ftm aara ~ to see w ho coultl get h is hoad into or.9 of the . epiftla of the il'on nillns. · A tcr.i beal ls kept pa..ld.n3 eTOUDd, · ,elllng, th1a is ~ tum. Bnr:,~ cheeNd vben little S w:tiV" l.cple.ll a~ his head tbftmsh the 11 tm laDp. Atta boJ', bal.a1' 1 tb07 criecl. . Samqr oe.me OU.t ¢nn1ns ~.leosq, pl"OU4 tbat h1s llhaYen hae4 had som w.o. '1lo chi Jdl"en bGg8ll to tl7 harder to get tbeU 1'.ee.&I ~ Sudde~ Dan tr ioe found herselt pinned 1mdm" the ro''' n g , 11113.ble to pt ou\. !ha blood 1\1:1 1 !.0d to . . har t&oe. ~. she n11S84 bold ot the il.'OJL V.:lets on eitbalt aide of h3r head e.nd boge.n to soreem. I CBD.•t pt mt, % can•t mvol !ho cblldre n mn tNor to coo.ch her. !his Tll!1, Bal heh JOllr ear upl Dmtrioe coulcl no AOt!l1!Ja 1:N.t eob, ~line her head cat\;,~t and sepamtod. from the zrost ot here Solaeona ft'.11 to toll Mn. Bercer mid SOOIJ. mama tJU sbou't;ing . and ex.cl n1JJd ng to ~De aroun.cl. She had a cJ1114 go for a crarpenter and ':lhen be oaD 1 he ha4 to SG'.7 t!u."C7113' 1 tho . . 1ron. Baatrioe kept her eyes shut t:!ghtlr, th8 SOUDd ot tJ:io &tlV at hor ear fr!.ghtonect her more than a:::rtJl.A.118 elae. Be 08J.'9ful. 1 be mretuJ. 1 lllEll!IL kept yell- ing, Im' hands proteot1ng !oatrioo•a head. Gee, ho~ aut her h :i ad otr, &u!ml7 said in a wh1::por. ?:ban the ep1nil. vas finally aut and. 1ooseJJ04 1 maoa llttec1 Bee.tr4...oa m.tt and than, r!aht in rront ot anryboc.lJ', ena her a l:l.ol d ~· Did 1011 an!"', mem mp\ 8a7iD8 to the nei8hhon who oom to f:l.D4 out vhat . . . happened, a obi ld bu natb1Dg batter to do tlmn to put hai- head 1n a stoopl % £aY8 it to her, 'bcllan m, a losoon sl-.e wn•t fol'f:et 80 s oon. Ooocl, gaocl. 1 ea1d ltrG. Slngor, it eorna her r1.g14, llbe ha4 it oordna to bar. I--.'' tile onJvr CD\ aob'bod Bea.trioe, all the oh1l4Na -- c1o1Dg 1t. So ,,~, damn&d mam, it 80lllOODe 3umpa ott '1ia J:OC4, mat 101l tolloaf llN. r.eavor ebook m baa4 1D llJllPatiW· Child1'en, uhat do ,_ 8Jll)eft, ...... ~ better p1 •• to plq. God ~Z'b1d, mama 1'8tort.ed, aha m1gh\ haft beOll k''lOPl. You aho1•ld haft Hell hor oholrtna 1711ih tmt 1l'aD OO]Jar GNWld. hor wk. Iha 1IGID9D ha4 to •'la. BeJ.1eva m, 1~18 DO ~aka, the ~ tlat ~ hod to - hR Ol4 Gr 1'te Pooh, I wouldn't ;..,a ii. to happcm to tbe mt q. !bm -.. cU4 JO" Id.' •• pl.pad Beatriao, tJdnlr1Dc hoa ~ ob1ldNn W •tobe4 bore ~ p WOAI\ dD lt nga1a. ti•t•a •• &nlm8rOcl .... !JN. S!Dpr bogan to laugh cut lowl, vneb18 to contain hanel.t azw longer. DoneatJ.y, flra. Berpr, . I oan•t llolp tbinldng d a etmT I onoe ~ A fr1aa4 of m1Da lm4 a little gS.rl, am1 ODO &q ubUe ahe ma plA;fiDg, abo tboueht it voul4 be a good 14aa to •• it lhe ocrlAl.4 get tllo homfle ~an ambfolla ~bu' raout.b. Im taoa, a mn•a umbrolla, 11ka a oane wit.Ii a bis voocJan hnntlle, alll'Nlt u •.Ide .. pur haDll, .bocac1e 1'oll, llO - . V1ecl and V:Lecl, p:ash1ng 1t th1a.,. 8114 that, WltU f'm]17, tb8 daft1 onJ8 ., kDaae boa, ehe got it in. A tbS.ng l1ke that 1a a ahildl a ..th, aaa Jail 1ma£!not wmt tha\ poor mthGr .n t1Jl'OIJ81a un tbo7 '°' • hal'kll9 oal All4 what do JOI' auppoae 1ihe cddld didt IJo llelp •, lt'• ti. '11lth. Bo .oonar d14 thaJ' got the handle · out other lllOd1a • bal1N lt took, p aaa 11mf11m hm '1» bantll a 1'1811 atuak 1Da1de, p1ah1 ns out the oh•~ • t.bell what do Jal tbinJr abe cl1dt nn. 81ngor alappert her mut.1i, apoJ.osl•' ns roz- he lfnzch'or. '~ '119 . mtihm- tlD8 oxp]n1n1ng whut heel Jla1lpenei, '1ie little plplakel up the umbrol1a an4 11814, l1ka w.. And she got it atuak 1naicle her muth ..,wa& 28 • Boatr!ae left· the 1'0Gme m.• a allll' 11"°'1.e girl. m. oonldn•\ w .mt aa ao ~about that . at.Gl7• bt. Jin. Slnpli Bow 1t it h:.4 been BUd1e or I llm.'mloe. Huh& But GJw, U Sa11J117 11114 pt;ten h1a baa4 1A and cm, aciuldn•t abet utOr all, aha ha4 put her baa4 tbi'ough, 80 the hole mat; bnft -- big ' eaougb. !ban wq d1d h8J:' baa4 pt stua.'d Wl\T oouJ.an•t ah9 pill. 1\ 013 aplnT ' r~t, traid.Y-aat, she told baraol.f, that•• •>:wt She atuak oil\ 11ar tangua at hanelf •. Sha didJllt . t1.7 lt aplnJ the Gilt ftU1ng ._. the.re to "'81 nc) her • . ~ abs passed it, abe tboaaght ot the 1Dll>l'ella, sa-., the .. , and qtd.ok'r tul'D84 av&.7 • fliere V81"e other th1np to c1o OD the street. 'fbare .. Bac1 Boni- u4 akip i-opa and tag. !be onq W,ng thG7 lw4 . to •tah out fm- -. a -am or b1ka. am ~ b tq kids pJ.are4 OD tJie av.et ml .. ..a. Beatr.lae at.q on tl!8 u1&malk 1n tJ.-ont ot 1;be llousee Poter' vaa a good pm; the obUdND ] _ tked. lt. ~ uaa4 the slcbralk aquans aa boxes, numbed• -U... \11th ohalk ~ om to a1z. But ona ~, aa Beatriae .. hopping amt Jd.aJdna t.he p1ooe ot '1R before her, Wl1ng to keep lt from BOiDI outa1de the llqual'Oll, aomatb!ag happened. Ber n.npra olutohed. tlJ8 a1r umerta' nJ7 aad bar oheeka 'bl8ll an lJlm ttda bi'lOOD11. m. m111aacl an4 hezi r.l.P' ~ aam doml with a Romp. Do om ran up to take her plroo. All inteNat 1n 'UJa - bad ynni ahe4. !h8D .. - the tao t1gurGa oo~ along the atraet. fhq paaaecl lw' the •taring ohUdNa and stopped 1n tl'OA\ ot a hou8e a few het aaq. It wu the Jaaaae wheN !lmta Ditter lived. Beatrioe oaul4 onl.1 gaap, a.., and ott .. l'BDe .. Imo ba4 ocme bcmel She eat quietJ¥ on bi• lap, DOt dar1na to look 4inatJT at hill ma. at \h8 Indian he ha4 bl'ought baak with hill. B1oh m, poor 1811 1 bogpfl -· thiaf 1 . . I £ E 1 f ·~ ; I f r f ! 1 11 ~ 1 f i Id . j J l I - f ! I t ! i lr ~ l t f ! t' I ( I IS" • I .. · =' . J " g I· i fl, : . . a. II .. Eli ....... . f '~:E11 1 r~~ .. 1; '!lt~irJ·i··. 1 i ~ I ~ ! ! l ~ ~ ~ - : : ! J I .. !.! 11 , l 1 f . • f j I f ( · ~ ~ ~ it ·! i f . ~ i .. -f t 1 I ~ : ~ t. r .. ... .. 11. O' ~ ~ i r s I l r l II .. If · r I ~ 1 ~ • i i l ~ f J 1 ! f i I ~ f ( & r ~ i l ! ; I l I ~ t I i I ~ l . f J i .g tr ~ f ; . . I .. f 1 ifR!i . ~fi!ftJ!I 'I I~ - ~: f ! : l I I~ J - I ~ - If' I I ~ f J f ! g I f J J B I . f I F ! J I v ~ • rd . _ _, p ---- - · --- - ) : --: . l ~ I I J ~ ~ f JI l l·I · & l ~ c e · 1 : : t F r . r i f .. .. I ;!. J e I i 1 · f •· i i ' . · t. f. I!!. dii It r 8 ~ O · I t 8 " l J?. II a ~ ~ I - .. I ! " t I· I I - B'· [ 1 - I I . j fl . " f I! •. 1 1.f . f JI I': i Ii ·· 1if1 Isl . 1 1-! I'' i rt r I 1 a. i J JI f I r i J f I .: : ~ ! ·_ I ! i f ~ 1 ! : l . 1 t i I i . s ( ! i ~ : : i i .i . i i i i ~ J 1~ I j i : · • • 1iJl · i~l~f _ I IJJi 1ij 1J1 ·J11J;1~~11· 1;1 :;i ~ •. 1 ·!I r J f f i r ·i i J J .. ti I 3 1 r; f . . . I ; I Ii: . t 1 ' f I ; _ i ! ~ - i , I I 4 . ~ ~ - · -- ·- -- -- o:r- . - "'"-. •. h l thouaht JOU. 1 d set a kiok out of it. Be'• 8UOh a •ell Ni too. You ousht to aoo the rattler I got ott his tall. fanta thtter wavocl her bands at b1m 1 mot:loniug him outJ ahe'd seen enough ~. Gene•a la11gh beo&Da pusllle4 1 embmT&Ssed. Bis eyea sddght Boatr.toe•aJ there Ra a plea 1n tbelil. Biel lau:zh'tie.r greg confident BW'1"• Look at that k14, I M ahe'• not. aoaredl Come on, Boe, 7ou oan touch it. He TZ&Ted hia beo.d an4 llhe tollor:ecl hia back into the· living-room. For a D'O!Dent, she c.l'Ouohed baok into her boc17 1 broathins ~. Ber llpa vere dratln in betl'leon hGJ.11 teoth. But !mi eyes gllatenect, tollcm1ng the acaled length ot tbe ocd.led up bo"1· Slcm~ 1 she littec1 her am and roaahed out bar fingora. !he skin \'l&8 rough, leatheq. !he tooJJ.Ds was ditrerent from aliJth1ng a~~ touched before. tho little boo.cl lookod so all~, the eyes · stone-like and ahiu.r• She looked around and laughocl sloe- . ~. Isn•t it fa..1DD7 1 sho asked. In the days that f'ollo\'fGd Gene•a nturn, vord 'began to spread that !anta r.m.ttor wao riah · . Deatrioe wonden4 Uthe Indian Chiet 1 11ho had diaBppoarocl tho c1q attar ho arrived, had &DJthing to do -gith 1~. Imllana were tul.l of gold; neryboq Know that. And noa !anta Mlltter 'G'8S go1.q to E"'1l'Ope. !o viait some rele.tivoa and tr1enc!s 1 aa aa1d. D".it v~, Beatrice inaiated. Because there ,_-,co a wa.r and ate wanted to help them. !he idea ehook har world. Lotlv~ ham to travel w e e all ~ht tor Gena, ba.t !anta r.lutter. It meant there uould be DO more Su.nday Tisi ts, no s:>re fwm'1 .P&P81'• in the big white . dentist'• ohdr, no mon canclJ' tree.ta, no locket watch to opon am olooe, no ~"W.ngl · Not nan 1renoh leaaons tor .Addia, with tanta !Cutter ex?].Qin1nc 18 chat, le ah1en, parles-vou frenoe1s1 An4 DO aun~ to watch and llatOll to aa ehe :r.ovod about so dignified. in her b1gii-neokGd 1 laoe-autrect l.0111 ullk 4res:1ea. ~he oouldll 1 t Wlderstaml. SomthiJla \ 'l aa happening to ohmlge her 11orl41 i" woul4 nenr be tm aamo again, nnor. ot that she t:aa IRU'9e . . 1114 uhen the &w tor Tanta. lllltter•a 4e~ oam, abe •t aUen\ an4 a- bapw 1n a room fU1l ot peopl.e 1 1il'UQlm an4 f'laaen. Bo one paid~ attentian to bar until fanta ·r.?u.tter ~sed . her eoodl>Jo md p!'Olllised to 'br1llg her a preoent traa Europe ~ she 081118 baok. Gene wnt with her, the house uaa emptied, Cleol'ge openecl a clentia\'• ott1oe elae\1hal'9 - the dq'a at fanta ?.htter•a vere tiu'lebe4. Beatr1ae felt daSI, Iott behind• Grandma stella, Oell8 1 !ant& !litter, theJ" tmYellod. fbcn -.,be other people d14 too. . ha.'98 . lling, llfe, death, ~. t.odq, long aeo. people, the vorld - •l\T, hm long, where, horr b!g1 8IJe looked at the piotura ill "118 big . . gilt t1'B1ll8 tor an &118\1819• Yaa. took a taxi, mama aald. 'lo_ a boat etat1oaT lea, to a pier. Yw want on the 'boat and oroaaed the oaean u n til JOU got, to Em-ope. It took ttlo . nWc5. hnta 1'.ltter would oana back 1A th1'M mntba. fo Beatrice that \'1&8 a long Um to mit. P~ c1aiJ11 after, llhe ualked up am ckr.m tho atreet, 1ook1ng in at the ~ vlndoua whore ourto1na and plant9 used to 'be. !ban tbe house paint.on oame and Beatrioe stopped mtohtng. She l'Gaantec1 their intlwdan 1 nwr'-"8Cl the fandl tar wall.a tori.rettJ.Dg 1lho lm4 liwcl vbo would ca. to take !ant& Ditter•a plaae • . !ooarde the end of 11n1D1Mr 1 llhe aame 40llll with ~-. She la.y on h 4Bftl\"Pon in the di rd.~ !he peon bl 'Inda wera drmll to abut wt tbe light. . It t1B8 hot and etutf;y under tbeb1.antcet. Uam 11814 aha had to keep oonr- ed 1t alla vanted to sct vell. Aa the t•er wore ott, ahe began to tld nk ot . d1'1ng. She t!Joucht ~Cousin lwd.ae, ~ .... Bziookat balw. In the atSllneoa ahe oauld heal' bar heart; beat. n sa the cmll' 8GUD4. \ I I I . ' tor l.on£ar and lonser counts - eight, Dim, ten. And \7hon. it atopPG(l alto- 33 ptllar, 1011 nere dead. Just lite tlmt, oimpq. Im ~ust sto~ped bftathincJ and then • Sha piotuNd mama oryina, m,:1Dg beca.uoo Bba D11 dead. It 1; aa tei-riblo. { Sha folt overaome by pity. Poor mmaa, poor dead Boa.trioe. ti1Q' darllus, JOU'n crying, t1ha.t 1 s the mttert !&ma fJ 88 beside her, teeune bar bands a.ml teae. Beatrice threi1 her u. around 111&DB•a neo?-t. · Oh ma, I•a 110 glad Jm're hero, I naver \1&nt to J.enve you, nworl Please ll'tay · with• al\ia,sl And after mama m.d. rocked hor back and torth tor a while, bmddns and lov1ng bar, aha~ up amiousl1' and aa14 oh ma, I r.on•t cUe, vill I, I'm ao · ~. fllm:a turned bor hEd and apa.t at the a1r 1 turiowl at the devlla \'lho hac1 pit a\Ch a tbouP' into her dauchter• s head. · Her speech r u al 1 en, hootlle, but it 1-e.de Beatl'ioe feel better. !ban mama began to~ OYer her in loug breathlaaa eentanaea, ~ above a wbisporJ her fingers liOhCl ~ in Deaw!ae• a hair, aoothitlg hor saalp. Aud than mama . itiaaed her and aaid aho uoul.4 hava no mro bad thoughts and that aha woulc1 be all better tomorrow and vhat 1IOl1ld she like to - oatT · Soon it m8 tim tor sohool to bei:ln and Acld1a and Ben bogaD talking abollt . . tba neu thines th&)" would 'b1Jl' nnd JJoo.trioe felt alona. tl hile thoy ve1~ bus7 . . gettin; read1' their naw .note'booka and IOhool lngs and pencil su pr>llos, -she eat around. ttumj ng miserabq that the first dq \tml.4 DOYer como. lb1 abe an- v.lod then tba1r cmsitement abollt Dft olasea and .an toaohetsl Addi.a sa1c1 Uisa 081"91 tlB8 tlle nioest teacher 1A the eahool, ao JOUDC and prt)tty. All the k1da kneu aha VlB8 Ur. IBnstng• a 81180thoart;J be oalled her LW.dred. She ~ ed the pie. n o 1n the nssembl-' room. Her ola8- gave the best p ltlp. - · · · - Sha ahlup pn 'tbam partiaa. .Add·ta oha.tte4 &\18l' happil,y. l&Q'be Ilia Cazo.r tlould ohoo:.a her to be tho o1°G8 monitor. And Addie tol4 Baa.tri.oe vhat ~ r.amtl She uas going to w...r her best dress to aobool. Beatrice thought · .nothina could ·be mare uonderful than to go to aohool. l 1 a goin8 to go to aobool. too . , . She. &IWOUll084. Addie 8DDrted. %ml taw. you're too little, anJ.1' ~uat tour& " .A.ml the r.q she lookec1 &Dd lla14 that, mas Beatrica rad. llov lllfUV'· times had papa. aaicl that ahe had more 118l'M than tho · • otbor two, tbe.t 8V8D aho aon.14 do things better than· tlJ87 cll41 si. \'l&81l•t a . bab-.tl And aha ilBa a1ok and tU8d ot being told abe 1:188 too JOW18 tor thia, too J'OUDI tor thatJ . Addie ahi-ugged her aho ; Jdera aD4 eld.pped llflqe - !he 11q botore IChaol. openetl, papa took Ben · to the bari>Grsbop an4 wha11 thcq' oame 'back Bell tad a D9".:1 ha.il'aut. lt made hi.a luok l.iko a b1a bo7. Be gdzmed. ~o mon 'buater 'bNwa . for ma, lie~· 14d'-e sproad thou..., anr tbe table. Sha had a DOU hair rlbbon 1n hor barrette. they 1oolted 80 n1o£> OU'1'1inf: thah- aohoo1 bags. After 'bre:ikfast D04"t ramniiDg, Beatriaa stood at 'the door t1ith .mana to · watch all the ah1ldren go oft to school. She bee.rd. their Jauchter an tho ateJ.srs, 1;he1r gNG'Uap in the 1m11 s. Bot all iid to the same llOhool. !.here t1aa th9 old c;mhNlae of booa an4 obeora. What a dwilpl Call that a aohoolT It 1 a aa ol4 obioJ;ea ooopl Jira. ue&var oam. out at her aparl:Llant au4 am''°"• ~. I'm sJ.od to got l'1d ot tha at last. JUat lieten to tbeml BelJ.cml •• it td.11 be a l'Oliet, t~ a o.banp. At least 1 knalr the1'n aare. !base oi1¥ atreetsl Awl 10u, Beatrice, when. are · JOU So.ills to aohoolt llam shook bes- head. l'll . . be glad ~ aha can ~o, too, thcin I oan be a tno ladJ' onae more. At noon. 1lhon Addie and l3eD caI!l9 lar.a t~ lunoh, tull ot eohool talk. Boatrioo pretn4ecl not to hear. Sh8 flnS aha1 Mr m11Jt lmftiedq ml left tbe . .. -- ~- - .. ---- --- -- - -- -- - .. · - - - - - = - =· -==--- --'-'-=------=o-- - . - . ~· ~~ I ta.~; mm ue.a too busy 11ith the othcn to notiae. Onoa out ot the house, aha bop to run. Ba.1 hor heart bent ao ah8 headed biL the hill, past tb8 . hospital, under tr..o elentocl trackal Sha ~oined a group of chilc1ron Gl'08Sin6 ' tho a tract and :f'oll.o\lod them. Sha tzoul4 shew Ac1d1e abo t1aa a b3b7. It naa a 35 loi-:g uclk to . the school; oho kept close to a big cirl ninginc her aohool me. . . . t'hen sho ree.ched the school b:iiJd:tng, obe wont up to a biB door and bo;Jocl sorJOOD8 would come D.lol!8 to lot her in. Some toacbers, roturning fl'Olll luaah, saw nor arid .asked whnt she Tl:lB doing tlmre. Ona ot thom laughaci a t her &Wl\lor aud. pioked he.r up, ~' 1'lt>ll whiJ' not, a nioo little girl like 10u, ot oous.•c;a J'011 ocm oomo to our school. She carried .her U!-> tho b1'0&4 flicht ot stain. Boatrioe vas sure · it \1as W.Ss o~. . lour namo ia WJ.dred, aha said. All tho . teachera J.angbed. Beatrice blushod but she \ ; a& ha ; JP7 :1.s;s1rla, hriPW o.nd. a:mtcd. T i ~ aha was oot down in bont of a big mun l:ho put h111 ~sea a.t the eD4 of his nose to look a.t her 1 dOllbt closed in on her. .l man. ~bo it \"; aa Ilr. Iausillg, the principal.. Be turned out 'to be ft17 Dioe. He aat tJ&r on b1a kooemd as~ ·~ she uanted to go to aohoo1. She tol4 bill vb.at mm had an1d and iill about Addie rmd Dem. · He pii.t his hand OYar his 11a11th Giid. nodcled ftl7 ~. And bos1dos, I kDa\'I lots ot poeri18 and songs and bow to apoll G.Dd. C0W1.f and~. So plaa.se oan•t I 001ilO to t1ohoo1 1 toot r.hon Add1o and Ben oamo into.tho ottiae, she sll4 otr Ill ... Lana1Dg 1 a lap aDd ran ~ind his olinir. Ploaae tell them I aan ettl1, pleaae tell them, abo ~!>leaded. l addio and Ben stood. tlU1re, ~ and norriecl. Ur. Lansina .aake4 Add1o tor tz.eir telephone DDm!aer mld she atwi n iOl'ed tlw.t, lt ma t1J8 ~ •toro•s. no DOdd e d and celled it, tuOn mde oomoonD repout the •saBP tor llrs. Ber.fiGr t:::n.t B:..;atrioo \ JU sere in school Bild tbtit Addie uauld bring. bar 36 . . She S!*lt the at'9raoon. in W.ss Cfl1'81''• rocm. It .. fUD a1ttln8 an tba tloor, fixing the , dranen in the teooher' s desk. 8!10 pit all tho penpoints . in one bo:c, all the. rubber 'bonds 111 another - Addio uRft bor tum17 lcoka 1r.1t she didn't mind, the~ . ; and girlo winked at hGr and amlled. She thou~ 1' uas a TOJ:'J nice class. And vhen tu hll rans, m..11 Ca1'8J' k1saed her £OOC1bJo and tban!:ed hor tor being such a good little monitor. !he next dq, papa took hor al.ong vith Ad41e and Bon, to Me ttr. tauaiog. !hey bad a quiet talk on the a1c!e and than th8J' took Beatr.lae to the ~r- ton s-oom so tha.t aha oould S80 tho oh1l4l'en plq. It YIU • areat ble l'OCl!l, tuJ.l of small tables, ohairs and toJB• Sba wns allouocl to pJq la oae ot the gamea. !he too.che Pln1od tbe p!ano and the oh1lc1ren .8k1!;'pa4 around tho l'f41L 1 holdirJE croseed ban4a. It •aa lots · of tun. Aftorgfll'ds, Ill'. ~1.ng aaid she . could come 9ftgBin. Sha felt Te1"J' pzoad an4 ba!>P7 as she walked. bma w ith papa., holding bis hand. And 1. JG.PB ae.id he t 1auld take her back Uthe m1 a T8l7' fPJd girl and thr!t noxt year llhe aould. go nerq 4IQ' to plBJ vith the oh1l4nD. . After that, e l le pisiyecl sohool flft>'!!T aa,. ~1th bar clo118. She mis a.,..,. stnot teacher. !he7 · h *l d to be oleaD, smart and good. It tbe7 didn't elt up _right, she ooolded them. It ttv did ~ R"Ong, ab.e cade thea alt 1n the book 1eo.t OI' eent them to the oftioe 1lhm'e -- we.a prinoipal.. p~ school '11th real ohlldNn aln&J8 em1ed in a fight. Enryam "811te4 to be the teeoher or the ?? rincipal. 'fh9 dolla w e re moh nicer but eomettmes Boetrice got tired or t.al '!d. ng to them. !hero • : ore othor ~ to pla1' '11th fr!ende. !heJ' would watch the 1dc ahil.cb.'8D.,, then so oft by tbemaelwa to cow. !hey oho• dit.terent plao• for d1tfarent pms. !hoJ' played tag 1D the baolqard, B1de and Seek 1n '1:.e 37 allq, Potq on tho aidmlal.1: 1 l'olloa tlia Leader on the Dtaift1~ 1 Puaa ill tho Corner 1n the hall l'.nd mJ17 other games 1n the howlo. Hor friends Ylere Birdie, El3ie and F.dna. T"11e tour ot thom lived 1n tho llllGi8 houae. But uhell the bis chlldren ca.• home · :rroa aahool, Beatrice uoultln•t plzq vith bar fr.ic ild9 . She liked to uatoh Addict and her triaD&!. lla.Jbe tboJ' uoul4 le\ hor be e.n. oxtm-- endor tor the rope. Enn it she oonldn't ~ump, she liked to turn th• ~ hi~ and join the chant. !ill her arm ~and thoy sent hor &\'JQ'• s1ie 4icln•t oaro, she liked to be uith the big cirls. Ac1die oallocl her a !>83t and ooa}l.o.in- od to mama. libl' does abs al.nays bava to . foll(!l!ll • &U'OLIDdT Hone ~the otbar ld.4s bother t..~ bia aistaral SlJela ec>t her O t'I D triomla, lot her Pla7 : ; 1th tbaml Sha and Addie began to haw lote ~ ti(;hta abou\ it. Uuma said A4d1o wu too IJSnou8 and ~. ~ oan•~ two Sisters pl.BT togotaber1 :wok at llird1e and Florenoe, hou nioe th8J get along tosather. Adelle cried and aa1d it wl!Gl'l•t fair. Beatrice tried to pleaaa Addie, to do faYON tor her. ~ ; ium Add1o uanted a favor, aha noul4 promise to take Beatrloe vith her SOD\0\1hore, but uhon tho t1ee ~, she uould run mmJ' on the slJ'• !hen Deatrioo \'IOUl4 017 • Usma got tired _ of 1t; acmetimes she .aw.de A4d1e atD.7 in tbe house to Pl.al' \'11th Beatrioe. Beatrioa would let Aclc11e do~ she wntad, oven ohe!lt, 3ust so tllo7 could be tr1ends. Don't let'• npt ~, Addio, she would plead, \"llLl1tiDg tllala to kiss ~ make up. Adell- coted as though she didn't Jmao uhlt Bea.trio& gas tolld.ng a'botltf abo thoueht Boatriae na •ill1 abotlt ld.oaea a.i&d. promisoo. She v.iauld mako a tlrJ toae and aot 8.llll078d• It rs.49 Beatrice unh.":JW• rungs al: ; qa uau\ vrong and she couldn't undarot::wd w~. __ J . ; .. Addio •s best frioml ~ m.a Pearlie Lincfor who lived oa. '1. top floor. Poorlie r; as a tut blonde girl tlith bis 11pa and .,,,J J eyes. - Sha uaaa aluap J.auahiDg and tel..tdalg end doing slll,J thinur18e " ' \"!hon she and AcldiG Sot togather 1 they started rJhisporina amt g~.; '12D1 al.uap ha4 aoorota. Boo.trice clidn•t .. lllte Pt>::u•lioJ she couldn't see tJq lidtU.e wae triemlJ.y tzith lior. Addie vaa ao scm11 er:d ~ ~t to Poarllo. Dut A.ddie lilted to co to Poarllo'a haaae. PoarlJ.G h:id a room all by herGelt bocauoo she r'4 t1le on:cy eirl in the facl.J.y. She had three brothm.•s. I.h's. L1ndor va.s an u eJ.1 vomn, am:1il u a a duart, and she had red t1tlto17 eyos. She ahlcys lookocl tired. It tl&n Jnrd t~ lien- to alildb the &1ie.1rs, OG!T'Jing hor Bhoppine baa and bundles all' the g117 U.1.> to the fourth floor. BeE:trioe coulcln't ice.Gina hm7 !lddie on.joyod ea.tine in her house. Am tllon .Ac1die ovon a1;art;ed sleopiDa vith Pearlie. 'lh8 tint tm, pGpa uaa 'Y8l'J' . aucr.r when he tcnmd out o.bo u t it~ but -. ox~l; • ioecl ttw.t Ura. Lind3r bad o.akt:d it D.D a £e.~ because she had to go 8011ilfr1bere and didn 1 t mint to loavo Pe u.r lle all alone uith he~ 'bl'Otlmrs. After that, Addie slept in Pearlie's house ~ moro tims. Deatrioo sd.ssod Addlo J e1l8 thought ot thell toll' ng eo.oh othe r otorios aud g 1eelJ.ag all Dicht. She c11.dn't liko rJ.r. Lll : dcr yeq muoi. either. Be alu~ ,.,inJced at her and mde f'\Jmo" ta.cu, tireatiog hor as tbau !i h she nera a doll. !ho onJ.y Qll8 she 11I~il \1611 Pearlie's olcler hrotber,aus. She Jtkod·him a \1holo lot at nnt. Ila nould ~top to tnllt uith her and ask wlw.t abe vaa doing and sin hor ~ auul be vmy kind and . intorostocl in bor gamoa. But 0.iJOQ he took bar into the a.llCJ1' to sbmi her a JMJ\l gatilO and a0Ji18how "1181 got into the bnaerr.ont. It :raa wq du!t in tho.ro Qild the floor \'188 cold. Bocltriaa c11c1D•t l1ke tl~t gamJ 1i; t:asn•t tun. 'lb.on he ~ ava l•r a .niol::el and aa1cl ebe Ji1U8tn.lt 1iell ~~. !Wit mile lier e.frcdd ha had done scmathJ.nB 'bad. .And ho aoted so 110ft'iod ond . , . mac1o her pr01!d.se so hard, tha.t ahe ~·t e ftll ~OJ' tho 1oo 01'G8m oono ha . , . made hor bu)'" \11th the moJtol. And aho stopped lSking b1a from than on. L'YOl7 _Umo sb.e sau him llftor that, aha tqroacl her head am,r and m4o bol1oYO she didn't see h1m. And t~-~ aal.:ed bar on the o14B 1t aha "Gouldn't like to p1q with him sauin, aha told· him. amphat:lcsn'l¥ no • . It bothorad her a uhOla lot that aho bad to keop a seorot tzaa mama. m. was auro it 12aa tl1'0D£ aot to toll, but aha t:aa avon more af'le1d ot tol.JJJlg. Sha cU.dn't Jmoa uq, 'but she 'DBS suro Qua vaa a bad boJ' and that ha mu made her c1o . . oomothing bad, too. bn ona dsq aha aas sitting an o. ohair 1 J.een1n3 aaeJ,nat the entra.noe do~ abon tbe stoop and aingi.ni, "ban Qus cam al.ans vlth his tr1cmd ParcJ7 and stopped in front of bar. Be put h1o bancla against tti..e book ot tile chair al1d t10l~ldnlt let. her get up. Again he naked her t11!7 sbo uouldn•t Pl.a1' rd.th ·him &IQ' more ud ohe got IJSd . . whon ha saic1 someth1ng to P81TQJ' 1n a . flmrW J.aoaua£,"'9 the~t Ben and bis ~ ~QJ.led pig-lo.tin, though she cU.Un•t UDdcrstwtd a word of it, b'J.t aho ooul4 tell it tiaan•t D1oe bemmao Pe1"0J' 011llled &lld h1a face got · red all anr, GYaD 'boldncl hie bJ4 eyeglaa;;;es, aD4 Gus laughed. Cut it out, · Pero) aaicl, aqbe aha kno.is tfte oode. I do, sho axulaim- od, her eyes f'laoJaSna angr1l,y fl'o a ona to the othor. uell than, aa1d Gus, 11ha.t . about it! .\ 1 o' 11 givo JOJ. tno n1ok.ola. She bo L. '8.D to ld.al: and bi to IW1 1 1d alii n;: ah8 OOl1ld ots.uighten tl• al101r so that she could use her banrla mad naiJ.a too.· God, uhat a tdld O!l-t. Oas J8].le4 aild l'Cll1 ott vith P81"0J'• She TIU t11locl vith anger and he.trod, t1antocl to orr and 1u afraid to beaauoe ot mama. It ebe -- - - -- --- - - - --- ·- - - --- - - - - oould onq tell& il~ Gus punishedl Bu.t then waa no om, no cmo c.t all. Sha -wo · 1 : .ld have to k'eop! it to hereelt, alr101s. Often and see.in sbe · .. as on -the TU'SO of teJling MdSeJ the tiorda uera on the tip other ton_,,~. · If'~ aha coul4 get A&Ha to~ re:U friends uitb. her, if" Addie .,.~uJ.4 shat'1 her in some wo.7 that she va~ l'G8l.l1' on her side, be \ a oister uholil aho could truot - Addie had no patience with her uvatoriawl ' I • • _ soniiia:J8ntollsm. tlhonner Beatrioe atart;od talking about aiotora beiDa tho best : ot biend& 1 better and more im .i: lC>rtant than Birdie w Blaie or 8V'OJl Pearlio, Addie r.ol.!J.d: atop uhatever thGJ' t1ere cloi ng and go BU8.1'J aha t1olW1n•t listen to that ~ etutt. PinsJJ.,j, B~trioe gave up. Ac1d1e would Just _ turn tattl.o- tale and stick up ~or her best trlcmd•s brother. So she oa1d notidng and t J aa miserable everi; time Addie n~t up to Pearlie'• house. She began goirJa, tco, to the houses of her frieDdo. .lt first r.~ obJectcd 1 but Boatrioe oricd so hard and said vhat about Addie, JOU let her ao to Pee.rlle•s, that mam had to gtft in, It tJ&S tun pla:ting 1n aomebo~ eloo 1 o hcusoJ it made neryth1Da seem d1tterent, even water. She t1a"3.d dr'lnk it out or the atrS1J69 sJ.asa am tbink boo ditteront it \:a& from dr1n1dnc at hoao. "'8.ter ho.d 8qu&eZJ' little bi\bblo's th!lt tic!dod yo ur mo 1 ~th whon )'OU bl.en on tho · rim ot the glass. Sbo and Birdie la~d, gottine tho1r chins . vet. ihe7 made parties.out~ 8"erything. !he7 took a olioe ot bread, an al'ple' a bar or ohooola.te, uhataYer theJ could. fiJJd or their JaOthON gave thalil; and d1Yidecl them into little iJ1ecea to Jllf.Lke the part7 last longor. Somtir.u tlJ.87 h:ld rai::;ina wlCl nuts oml bouaht a ponl\J' a worth of ~ thq \1'0Ul4 parsde 'bnck and forth in trout ot the sJ.asa ahogcasoa, aaJd ng Ur. Bl"Ot.oks ho\'I C'.81\Y tor a Pel1D7• Thel1 tl1cy- \10Ul4 hUft'7 into the house, aet two plates an4 bocin 1ihoir p:izV. In tho bedrooa tll8J' Would plq J:IDther and abild 1 int.he batbrooll c1oa1;or ~ patient, in the d1nlng-roma r.tr. and 2rB. tho gacea sb1ttoc1 from rooa to r..:m. In. a ainale raort.lL"18 1 tho7 took tuma 'beirJa 1oorr.on 1 gas oollecrtor, in- aun.nae ngent, salesman, teeoher, hauacmite, dootor lllld ~uat DGighbor. De:!.triaa tbough'l; lt \188 fun beiDg 80 1i1111W peopleJ &he enJoyed !mitating tl:oU' YOioes 1 the ~ they t:al.ke4 and. l.oolmd. Tlith Elsio · aha mado a game of look1ng in at store windoaa. !hoy sueasocl vhat object the otllar 'Ds8 looking at, found th1Dga 'belougi.ng to clit.tOA.~ ~· !he fruit store nas nioe, the Tegetablea like flouers. sh&ped like a . stick and J9].l.m1' meant a bnnnna. Bcr.md aa a ball and ~u1c.J' meant oranue it it \1118 sneet and lemon 1t it Tlaa aoar. Just to~ lemoA or think ~ mde Beatrice 1 a JDCT&1th · tmoker and har'1;,oncua\t;at •. ,ha barbol' pole taocinatecl t.bem. Ho matter ho\I JOU · looked et the 1inistec1 .red and whito stripe:. 1 tba7 aeemecl to be mring, D.OVI rwm1na up, D.O\I • doGn. Bari 11ondGrtul enrythiDg uasl l'cll or 1iwg1o oncl surp.rioG. L11re the 1ril;JSea that grw on the wolla and bathroom tiles. .All JOU had to do waa stare and auddenl1' there it uasi ; a f'ooe, ata mdme.1 1 a tree, a. ask. And nan ~JOU mm the sontchos and spots on the tral.l.s, the little white aquares ou'tl 1ned :IA blsok on the tl.:ior, the imgas oamo back and ata,ed r1E!lt in f'ront ot 7f1llr e700. And at dusk, odd sbsdma cl'9pt through tba vibdotla IW4 along the · aoiltng. !lq' ware the vW c1.ressecl in a huDdNd d1sgulaoo, but J'01l ·001Jd D8'fW eee its tuoe or what it ~ lookG4 like. It was tll8 vind and it lilOft4 in a hwldrod '"2P• • It seoaecl olle bad JlBD7 relatives. She aallod OY017QDO aunt or uncle or a0W31n. ot all, sl".a J il r ed Uncle liatbD.n and Aunt Etbol least. TheT lived in a cl1ft7 bou K e tull oE stale ame1' •• the first time she t:ent tbel'e, eh8 aaw oool:roaches 1n the kitoban sink and on the tmll and tl1Ua't7 aa she 11l8 aha vouldn•t take a. drink. Sha almot dropped the glass, and 1"6ft b:1ok to mam . lltor ~ ahe eat~ Aunt Bthel ottered her. She vam•t hul:l6r.r 1 aha I said. Uam eeeliled to unden~J she didn't seem to llke be' ng there eitbar. 11nale He.than tiWI papa•a halt-brotbwJ th87 both Onllacl OrsncJma The.Nao. lfOthar. !he7 cU.dn. 1 t look l.1ka brothers. Unole Nathan \19.8 all'eacV oldJ h1a abauldora stooped and he hardJF talkad. Boatriae waa glad )llp& dnsae4 ao neat]¥ an4 even it he . didn't have mah llalr 1 at least he looked clean abaYGA. As to. Aunt Ethol, she looked wen 'flOftl&J bar Jw1r atuak out all over, her 4"38 was loose 2D4 CJ."88.secl, aha sat vith her feet out am twiddled her tbumbs,hm- wlce •• hoars&J aha lookocl altosether •loPP1'• Sha ha4 a larp ~J mot thaa · were married and had ohildren too. Beatrice oauldn't keep track of all the nameo and taoea she l!i8t at Aunt Ethal.'•• im ODl.J' one eho uas auro of \las Boa, vho vaa the JOWJgest in tho fBm1ll' and about her O\'fJl age. Baa hu4 kS nqr atnv-aolmad hair 1 pale akin BDd \'lELtl317 gre7 eyes. Bea \1B8 qu.i.et, dumb-look·ing end lltel e ao, Just l1ke a big atupicl doll. Beatrice ~ as veq disappointed in har aouidn, r: han mama bad I told her that aha had a cousin who 11&11 about her orm age, ahe hE!d o:;pectocl to t1n4 a real friend, someone with w hOm she could plq and haTe a lot or ttm. Instead, bar cousin · t188 Just a blonde atwp14 doll who 111t .D8U' he mother aD4 · c11dn•t man. Bettie, a sister about Add'e'• &a"8 1 waa llUOh n1o c r. Hettie twas pretty', ~ollJ', tull ot misohief. Bea:trioe ~ *' glG4 to have Jldtie aa her OOU8iD. Sho w ishocl Hottle and Bea ooul4 olwnge p laaea, then she T:OUld be aure to have a friend. Ber next wish ma that Hettie ooulcl taka Pearlie•• ·~ plaoe and be Mdia•a beat triaDd, but Aunt Btbal'• how vu too tar &\18¥ t• that. Sha began to meet fri ands ~ the fam1l,y, too. Ona wu a T&q Pfttt.J' J.eq nho oalled ma-. CSl'OlJ.ne. ~t waa the first time Bea.trice ha8l'd ma-. oaJl eel that. Pq>a alWBJ8 oal led bar la tie and when he w feeling good h8 onJled bar latie-gtr"l and started to aiDg K-1-& Katie, om ot Acldie•a naw songs. Beatrioe thought Carolina uaa a mwm pl'ettier ~ than KatiaJ . it suited .,. · 3ust ~. She aalcecl llB1IB t1lw papa had ol>•ngad her nama. Be up it•a m st.Ylish, aha ansvel'lld, laughing. I.tam aalled the pretty lad¥ TabbJ and 11814 thaJ' wore old friends from ohi.ldboocle . !ab\v waa d.reaaed in a bJ.aak ailk auit . . t11 th a whi ta \1&1at undemm.th and ehe carried a tur aoa.rt anr her ~ r.hen ..- put it around her abonlders, a bush tail oamo down on OD8 aide and a little . . an1 wll a head peeped out on. tbe other. Beatrice wished aama hacl one lilce tha t . She J1.kecl !11bb7•a poalr.etbook and vhite gJ.oyaa, too. Tabby aaid 8ha and 1U&DB used to be ·taken tor aietGn because tbe7 looked ao muah •J1ke. Beatrice look· ed from one to the other, unable to aka up hel' mind. It aria the first t1mo ahe had mat 8.DJ0118 prettier tmn · mama. Slia DOtiaed the gold fillings ill--•• teeth. fabb,r told her that mama had been the prettiest girl in the villap \7heN the7 . had poem up together and that all the girl.a ho4 been jealou vhell mama vaa made Queen ot the Festival.a. I nearJ.y or1ed iDT •188 cut, ehe admi ' li- ... tad goodnaturecll,y. Yea, mama sighed, bl1t t1w mn ohanpdJ I ooul.dll 1 t win a boau~ pr1• ..i at a dog ah.ow toclaJ• !abb7 Jangbe4 and patted her haml. You should talk, look · , wha~ 1011•ve got - I near aha'• the image ~JOU• Olll'OlJ.M. Beatr1oe blnahecl, .' . teei 1 _ ng pl'OWl. - , • • : ·,,. . . . ' .. . Anothor day ahe mt somo ot papa•a old friando. It ogaa ~ ~ them oull each otbor b:t their tirot no.mos. Jbuqr Uarte1 vca a tall sliD mr1J ha jolted a lot and Ln.de papn lo.ugh. So'bocQ' aloe tnlkacl to papa lllce tbo.1;. Jilim\y mast havo euo;;sod nhat aha W8 t.},i.nldng 'beoauae ha elnppecl his Jmoo mid said, SlJ' l:id, I 1am1 him uh.Cal AJMl he ahcn7e4 bor aith hia hand trm.t h1ah from the floor. Dis tdfo Iottio t1ll8 a ldn4 tfl.COC1 Jaq 11lth rpq mvy 1m1r. Sho ·wJ t-ad quietq 'Id.th mm and c11dn •t aeem. to prq li1l2Ch attention to lior hua- bmd1 a jokes • . ~ Jimn\r ::itartod. to teaao her and she turnecl to Beatriae 8114 '-.. . add, bo18 nGVor ~ up, not avon vhon theJ:'re mn,iml•t ~'\ ~, CarollnoT llama adm.tted the7 hadll't alwlgeli mah, tbone 'Wo. Be!atrioe not1aed tbat wbml J!J:m\Y' vas still tor a moment and listan.1Ds to oome one elae, he tav~ h1a ft.Dgen am ko11t crossing and. 1IWS1"08sina h1o l.Gb'11t aa though ha wanted to ~w.ip up end li10V8 around a bit. . . Hooting 'lobb7 eJl4 tho llartels m.• Baatriae GYen more illto!(;sted in mama 1 ca stories abau1; ~t t1m Long Botore, es1l801sll7 uhen there vo.a "°'1P 1 beoa.uaG she didn't like soup end mam he.cl to tel1 hor a s1io17 in ordor tor bor to ont . it. And mum uas pat1ont5 oho lUmcl to remember and tell atorioa. Abollt Grantlpa. .Albert;•a inn t:hsre ~ peopla usocl to otc:,p onmisht on thoir travels, about the bi t; ta1"ll vhere 'bey kept hones and oattlo and obiakena, a.bou.t the nioe little T1J.l.Dce ln Europe \1be~'9 aha had cro= up. And m:um ncWd dmoriba tho viJJ.ace tzith ita white waehcd hausos WJd ~ c11rt atree".;11 and the little aohool tJhore sho had J.eornecl " to reed and t1r1te aud pr- 1; ; . !he peoplo got their u a. tar out ot a big \'iOll. !l1CJ7 ooaked al l ohnroool atone. Tbo1' mcde ~ tbo7 ate Wld vore. fho7 'built their oan hauaes 1 pa1ntod tllOir dirt; floors, TIOYO their ootten and uoo1 aloth, G1'00bete4 QUl'ta1na and 11uana, c114 ~ tbmaaolvos. An4 tl1811 r:ama. \-:ould tell about GftndPJ,, ha.i bjg be tla8 am strong, and such a good~ mn, the.,. ha l.aroc1. animle and tr.tad people with l."8Upeot 1 OYen ohUdran. Be t:aa .D8V8J:' too buaJ' to atop tor a uor4 Oil a pat Oil ~ head, mJd give a holpillg hand. Ewers'bod1' lavacl him, Ood blena h1m. And me.r:a 1 s 919s teured as she liJl1ftlLU."8C, mB1' hi8 aaul rost in po.ace. Boo:tziioe mde mama tell the storr nbout his dog wor agninJ aha 1an4 that mm best . ot ell. Awl mama told e.bout uhat a mndertul dog Bosh gu, ao big and . . . ' amart, aod hc:m ha la9'0d QJ.'mldpa and uont nth lWit vllerot'Or he r.ont; an4 has am cla7 Grandpa tiod bil:I u, in the barn 1Job1nc) the houao bocanae ho ms going on a nrr lo!J8 trip aod couldn't take t:• dog w1:th bim, am hair tbs dog JOl.I>Od and or!ed a uhole dq and night after Grandpa. left, and tbanal'&Ddma took pitq on hia end let him out ot the barn, 'bemmae aha thought it \l8.8 aato bJ then to let him loose~ i:ell, that dog boge.n to l'W1 1 I•a tolllDg JOUi like a tJild t:olt. Dut what vaa the use! Grandm kna1 that Grandpa ma alreuJ.y tar, ~ a~. So aila ~the dog 17ouJ.d . come back acoJ,n soon. But ha cWln•t. Bo ran and ran, amellod this __,. and that Tm.1'• Imagsne, Grandpa ha4 taken a horso, then a . trein 1 t1Ien another horaaJ ha ha4 Ol'Oascd a bi6 rivor. ~' it uaa l1ko to tba . . othe r end of t\18 worldl An4 otlll tha:t c1og tolloaod 1 tollooad 1 tollouoc1 1 uithout atopp1nc, t1ithou.t eating, ai~t sleeping, until. ha caught up Tlith Gmndpa.I For n '1hil.G 1 Gmnd ~ :ia oould lJBl'dl.y 'belleve h1a eyes. Bow aoul4 tbia . . be Bosh, his doc7 A aiolc, o!:imw, cl1rt1' dog, it ms impoaai'blol And ao far • ~ home. rou.r c1avs ha b3d tmYollecl to tllD.t pl.Qoo, baoll thare tt;o, tw4 me . jumping . . ~ to 50 bo.o!. i: home. And D0\1 bore wna this do~ · 11 him, liokj ng his .lwmla .• - -- .. ---- · - - -- ·- - - - -- -- -~ -- ... -----·---·---=-=-·_..:::.:.-·~··.;;._• - ·'---- -·- ---=-- .. ·- - - ·-· -- ~·- ~ and te.oe, borkinal .. mio olae COl:a.14 it be but Boaht I• II tell' D£ iou, Qftndpa alJ;aotit ~ _ Bo took tha clog iD. his ams and oried. witbout llham. !o tidnk that a dOfS should lave him so amalil ~'1\Y had ha loft hill bGhiDl11 . A b1c otrong boautifDl doe lllco th::.t to becom llka this. llama had. to at.op1 aho h14 bar tnoa behind a comer of her a ~ Ol'On till she foun4 her~. ?:hen eba . ' . ~keel up, hor noso .. red, and neatrioo ma aobh'ng quiruq tm:oueh opono4 llOtl~ !Ila solip plate ilea OLlpi'q, forgotten, tll8 l"8st of the meal poatponed. l:o err bore, rillilcxlt t:.enty ye a rs la.tar. So Jail oan imltS• bow ~pa felt. After all, nha.t 1a a clor:,'I A dumb M1ml. Ba'a not llllP,PODacl to have mah llODSO, a heart like a poroon, a soul. Ha•a a bt-ute, a besll't,n-a orea.turG, vith tour legs aDd a. · taill Can he think, taJkt IJov oaA tlG lmmi uhat•e so1Dg on 1rulic1o a dog's head, hO\t he f'eolst Ym eeo, w do1:1•t Jmoa. Grandpa tbaught bo voulcl lDCJk him up for a dlly or too and them, t1hen he omao bo.cl:, ha tloal4 vbiatle and the dog \-:oul.4 l'Wl to him. But the dog, . did ho tM nk tbatt BO\l oould be Ulldar- atand that it l188 on:q a trip, . that Grandpa 't1Bll oolld.rls baak! Ba rrml Ba follouedl Timre h1s mnstor '\188 1 tbat 1 a where be had to be. Ami ao ha got oiok and thin and before Grandpa oould pt bis baolc to the house OD bis horso 1 he died. Ia it arv tlOW!ozf !ho.t he l.oato4 till he found Grand.;•, 09CZ' rivers mid mountaina and nho bm:8 vlmt ol.sol .l m1mole and DDth1ng also. He cU.od, repented Bea.trice 1na.roib1louaJ¥ 1 her 'tbl'oa.t tight with tean llD4 re1>resse4 v~. · Poor Grandpa, poor dogl And for a la111 '7hUo aftozi the aA'uOr'J 1 she kept; asking questions, iiPJi»a to cH flOOTU' whm.'8 the m1staka had ~ mao. It ~ust hap:r,»1184 tlmt tJO¥, that• a all, Sim conolncla4 1 and td.sc1om wu1 80ft'0\1 mot 1n a oigh. But; not all ot ~ • atoriea vere r.ad boco.uae aha ~ JilU\Y' htlpP.f 47 . hm~, and tho time she anenkod out ot tbe bauso to go to a donoa vhan tllaro we.a a b1a fQ1r 1n tbo vW.aco, and tibEi.t f'wl aha had a.t :the lllBl'd1 gl'QO tostivala 1n honor ot the ~, Cat"lllBll s11w, and hem rdoa it wna to go on lone ftCD.tion Yls1ts to be tlith hor niarried a1stor11 ond brothers, mid also to t.118 hom of a ve17 rich cunt nho had no ohildron and t:snt.Gd to o.dopt bor. An4 t1m 11ml4 noede into a 'Iea·~ that ma long Ago tor Beatr!ao Bid tor r.1WlB and tor all thoBO batore thms, tor the JDElD1' liv.lr:lg mJ4 the IClZW clat':d 1 tor trlacD Bild nnmoa and pla.oes and ln_>pODings remembm.-ed and l'O. ~ ~, and a.trice knfn7 'tlJm:a uao no end to the lll1fV' storios ot tba mflD1' lives ahe had not 11ftd. And oluap am a.sl:Dd tor more, bar mind full of queaUana of tbio ao Ide, aa tar, ao 1ona 8fSO t1ri18 ~ llvilJg. Beoauao mamu bad bocn a little girl like Bontr.Loe, tb&m 111m A&U.o, e.nd Gramlpe. had been a little bol' l1ko Ben, thell 11ke rain, am1 tl10re uoro still more mamas Gild · ll8PBD, unoloa and aunts, oous1Da mKl friends, oiston Bild 'brotllers, all aana and daughten tlho had been ohildraD onoa, then the DEIR\& ~ . and papas of thei.19 al~~ and tl18D the grondl'08 and cmn4.:.JG8 of 'libo~ ohi]cl.. l'Oll•s ~ Boatrioe vondBred About lt tor a long tiao, till one iJD¥ aha ukod m:a hou · aha had OOl:IO to m.rq ;!llpBe Tihan did tho7 meat' Did abe r:.3ft7 h1a rizht atm17 And then mm tol.4 ·her hem tbs7 all gl'8rl up aa ohi.ldron, 8110 and. 2abb7 and Jil.m\Y and papa ·llll4 Iottio and rJBD7 other 'bo7o and tiirla, aD4 bcv t1l07 \1llDt . to oal100l and ~ together 11114 tl01"8 triomls, 8lld than nalted ea.ch otbor . OV'Gll ~r tba7 aaved mlBI' vith thoir frudlioa and boanma aoparatod~ Im see, · pap:i becmJa a salesman end \7holuwar he pasaed throuch a · tcmn nea.i- o~ villago, ho cw.:r.e to risit us for a c1.fq' or too. I dicln 1 t knoll I tJOG go i nz to cnrq - him,. than. _I w.a ~ust a JOUD1 r::Lrl, ai:teen, llOYOlltoon, Cftllldpc va.a ot1ll alivo, I T ! D.D the anI¥ ollild lott, I didn't even arem:i ot gE>tting cm.-r1ed. \'Jv' sboul.c1 I'l r:1w.i uc.a rq burr.yt I had a 8QOcl homo, plant:y to ea, n1ae olothou. \ihat 111>ro doeo a eirl need, t1han she ms bar pGl"8llta to look o.ttor bar! Am - such p:urontsl I.! s ma Pf • USGd to romemher tbom ~ : ncl a sort l.izht oame into bar eyes. She took a deep b ~z.th. An4 JOU haard uhat !abb7 ao.14, hou pretty l tlCS• I could have had D.rfT bo:f 1n the oghoJa v1llago lu:Jt bJ' l.itting 11W littlo J finger. You think papa '1EW tho onl,7 onol And frolil mmaa•a T01.oe and the look cm hor taoe, BontrioQ ooul.d toll pupa vaa not, but mnm a:Wl tlia.t w.a another ator.Y' to~ another tiao. Boatriao never stopped think1Dg about mma •u 8'toriea and oi'ton wiohocl aha could ht.-ve bean there, a part of them. But Cl8m& md4 she bod, 1n a Tll\l', be- "cause she \';e.& ~ .:a.rt or horsel.t and pc.pa, crandr.a and / gr:;mdpQ, gNat ~ Dllll grent grandpa, o.nd all the other granrlza and erandpaa i;; n 'both aidoa. And De&trioe tJauld olosa hl:Jr eyes and trJr to hmeine hog averJtbi.ng had reulJ,J hnp~JODOd to her, but it ma ftl7' hal'd boom•ao thol"8 wore eo JllD.Dl' people in ao raan.y placoa o.nd it as all oo long f130 and . far a:aq nod she ..-1as ~ a littlo Bil·l. 'hon tlro. Siugor had a noa ~ and Beatrice .aa allot;ed to com 1n and see b:1m and aha thought it \ " .U Ye17 ~ · to ha so amll, all aurlod up lJko a b ~~ u and nmppod in c ~cet. lire. Sitiger lot her oomo over to the be4 to seo hilil; lie ·1:1aa · ~ under the uhite OCJWer. It '008 a ~ urinkled bal>:f 1 TeJ.7 pink, uith red spots on bis h~nd, and bis e)'ea wore t~ - olosod. Bmtrioe ho .. XICl Dr. Bausch hadn't made a tda"".,eke, bacmuoe ~· 'baby didn't look l1ka ttr- Singe!" or u m. Sil:Jaar or Birdie ~ Floranaa or J9ft7. kt llrs. S izle 81' 49 looked . vei,r he.p!>7 mid . cnJ led hhl her darllng h-i.by 1 her oamw ~' hor Al a-lile. ne otbm- ohildrcn thought it \;BO 'YOJ.7 fmllv' tho m:I' abo tocl tho bcbJ' lidJ.k and the7 kept looJdna c.t 820h other and g.1eg.Ung. bl one tJq, rJ.oieenaa and Birdie ea' led Boatrioe into t!Je di:Wlg•l"OCD to aho\7 her a aml l o~ tubo th9J' bed found in the top c1mwer ot tho buffet, and tbeJ' openccl it alld nstco4 l m;• to tBste the pink st1ak inside~ . lt ma a n1oe neat t.asta and she asked tlhat it nas. !lw.t ~a to llCke the babJ' uant to food a lot 8114 to eot fat, th01' vhispei-ud, J.aueh:LDg bollind their lmndo. Beatr.loe told tlaa tbo7 wen be.a to plt\y nith it, because abe lmau where Ura. SiDgor usa4 it, and t1107 not aonro4 and put it baok i. n tho · dmtler, beBBiDg hor mt. to toll on t1wa. Alld then time's whaol """18 to a ~nldcm haltJ !ant.a l!autter•a tl4'eo mntha 111 Europe had pcosod B11ll ODO dlJ:I &he VBS back, but oh, DO obaDgedl J1ow oJ4 she lA>olmdl Uor hair had turned 001.1 ) lo~ fl1!97 and nm vhan obe mt OZ' wl 1 m there ms a roimd stoop belli.Jd hor slJOUldem. Boatr1oo l'CCOzn;l.zc4 bor with a shack. Ii1ma 9.d.c1 fan.ta r.1lttar ha4 been VGJ.7 a1ok. ~ aunt-Bother or1c4 ad troDbled uh.on aha 1eane4 c1omi to kiss hor. Beatrico aa.t atiffl.1 1 umble to mve. Uoxt to bor, a big doll vith 1oDg blA'1de ourle loanod back iwJ!de a Bh1IV' black ~' her.a. It t.as tbD present 'le.nta UUtter bacl tll'Omisocl to bring her i' roa airope. Dcit aho cJarc4 not l.coYa tho roam, fool'ns it '7oulcl not be r.taht to make '6nta lilttor th'nk she md forgotten "nl.1 r .bout hor. So ahO aa·;; amt lookoc1 at the doll out of a OOftlOI' ot hor eyo and llatened as !anta tbtter tEJ.ked about her flud.q and tr1cmda in Europo and about. the troublD Bho bed como ha. to because of Gcorao. I baven•t tho ho:irt; to . llvo DIV' .mnro, aha aa1d. I v1ah I had died with JfAr • I I I i I I trmle Henr:r. But I mntcd to DGO tho old aountr.y OllDB mro. tlhllt tort ~ norld I lm!ro and. belonged to 1o gone, aono. !bq•w ld]Jed. it ott, c1eotroJecl i'iie !b · .:. • se poor su!'fm.~ peoplo 1 ah JOU da11•t Jmaa, Jail don't lmao. F1"8DCh and Go1'fa13ll ?hraaea Dlipped f1"0ll bar ~ and tadec1 into ananoe. · \loi- 1 add lllBIDB• Yes, v.ie.r, ropeatecl ~ &tter, and not: George t1ith tbia sirl. Ia that obat I've l1w4 to aaot 1'Jama voul.cln't lot bei- talk llka that. A voma llke J'OU. nho htla knorm tba l>Odt ot 11te1 . ~ti.on, travol. 1 1'I08l.th 1 m' aea l1x children. Iou•re just tued, thE:.t~a all. 'rant& mittor &milmi u tbaup frm · a. clistanoe and her 919s grou u1atfUJ.. KaDB ea 1 1ad hor to talk about. 1.- T1s11' to the Hol,y Land, to toll vlrnt it na like, !anta Oittar•a peos1m:iom vra.1lp0d Palosti.tlo in her gloom. Better ~ tbe Deel So0. ha4 ll\'l8lloaocl WI all up. Do'ttoil' U all our peor>le liad diaappaazrod. ~ 1ma, the ohoaen ahildrell ot God. So that uo ct'.n be the last to dio! . \11lf' must we ua1t ao l.oll{!T Like mo 1 I•ra old, used up, ODd ~till - rJam sent Dea~ out ot tho room with~ doll csarriago. It · \ :ll8 the '.bime&t and most boautitUl 4oll &lie had evo.r soo 0 • It uaa ~or t1w.n Mrs. Sir.iaer•a ma 'bel>J'. s i .o 1m0 afl"Bid to take it. out~ tho doll oanrlzgo, to hold it in h (-- .J." IU'lilS. Sudden'I'• aho tolt unha i. >PI'• It ma so bea.utuu:J.. ah8 didn't Jmaa r.hat. to do with it. All hor otbor dolls lookocl shabb y 8lld un~ taut next to it, lil:e the Beatrioe she bad been up to tl1at ~. J'or aha tolt th.Qt a ohango ha4 aoma onr her, that sho ~ biepr, older. She aouldA't Plol' llith he r littlo cJolla 81\JD01'9• J'or li01'0 than an hour, aha ~ust •t and loak- od at her nmv solf 1 w; · derins it she hnd chP.n~ as muah u !ant& lhltter. T:hat tmS it, t1hat bod happened, vJv , ,.,. fanta r.titter a o aadt It uaa aa thauah her benrt had sbrivallod and m'ied, l1ko a leaf l'8adl' to bl.au a;;nq. Dc 11 tr1co tbo~t about tbo long pansos bo t:1 een bro : ~. tilO aloa allonae and &.u.\mosa \1ithin, and sho tho · · ght y-eo, that :Ls hon Y'OU dio, alone inside with notlling. And she looked at her b$9.Utii'ul nen doll~ tbonght ot the tired ol4 J.ad1' 1n the next room and fierce]¥, pass~oiw.te11, ohe clutched the doll in h~r ams am lJ£ted it to hor O\lll Y'OUD8 beating beart. ~anta. Mutter had mov:ed out other strcot 0-1. 'ld out of her life. Her teai.•s had been oo :i lfirmeda it \10Uld never ' be the same ago.in, never. Someuhere . in hor mind, someday :I.nu time tile, she lmoo that Tanta r . ~utter \1ould die • . But coming ao it would, that Clark sil.enoe, to an old til·ed ~' it nas intellicible. 51 ShG named hor dol~Texiu,, keeping . it a secret that the doll was named tor Tanta Mutter, because mama had said people never named their ahildren after t.~ - i. living but alTIB7S ai'te1· those they loved who had died so that tliq could go on :µ.viDB at""uer tra.1-dse Beatrice thought TSlilU was a ve17 pretty name and tha.t hBr . · ' doll \'las a voey nice vJay for ~anta Mutter to be remer.1bered. She ~;ould tako very good care ot i·t alu~, so that 'lanta r.futtor could go on living even e.t'ter she died~ In Twnu, an old tired lady would find fl neu life, .rorover 101.UJB l t:l!ld benutif'ul, uitbont te9.r!l or sadness~ it would be a doll's . life, dolicate and ,'.!:. . . . . - . ' changeless, cared for and kind. · Tanm, TerJU. 1 TtmU 1 she nhl.apered, thrilling to the name, the nEm identity, their bond already iutimte and secr e t betr:oon ' tJ1em. She bcceJae very serious. A smnll frarm settled botnecn her eyos. 'rhoy grCTJ durli: v i ith queotioni.ng, tuo black orbs pierced by pinpoints of light. Thoy t Z Gl"e her ent17 po~ to th ::: norld. Small ports. She frowned. She , · ms an island su.ri'Ounded by a sea ot lives, stretchina over an area no m ~ p could clla1-t. . Like a lighthouse t1atchina the t 1 ater 1v' dq' 1 tJ asll:l 03 its beacon lights by night, sea.re~ the horizon for passing ships, sending ------ ' .: . .' I .. . · . si~~ to tu.idB them in, Beatrice looked o ut on her norld. 'lime's whool stood on the shore 1 drat1ing tbe tiaves 1 revolv-ln[!. Hore t/8.S home, . git~ mama and papa and Addie and Bon. Connected nith it t1as a house on a street in a nei5hborh~ f'ulJ. or othol' people's homes and houaes.. Ilouse had back and · f'ront, street ~d tno oides, com.era led to other s"Greots. U c::ra ~nt all . tlw.t t: as closes s~, hall, roof and stoop, tho tbird floor, the alloy, t1l8 bac!~ yard, the storeoJ and even mol' closo, the k:!:'°hen, the bathroom, the rocking chair, the table. Kllot11ng the Pa li{!bt, S2 t !m fish o n tho ua.11, the hoight of' the sink and the shapes in the uindow:-.. Auaro ot the oound, smell,. taste and touahl mama si n .gi!ie, siglU1lg, lrusyJ Ben 014ttina ... up papers 1 making a boat; Addie e.t the piano or tr-~ing on olothesJ papa dozing . . or comi·i:,ing up bills. . . . This tho familiar, the ever.,"day, the ~1a.ya Birdio fUl.l of freckles, her eyes deep sot; Edna squinting when she chei;1ed her m.ilsJ Ed I.indor's lisp, Poter Ili. . _ 1 1 s gi35len 1 the dainty primne s s of pk'1in Elsie Sto.no. Then the sneet potato cart, the policeman's r1bistle 1 tho milk \"lS(;on•s rumble and the horses' clop.. clop, the ice raan'o truck and t~. rasp-splitting pie!:, the gas ~tor man, the insurance c~llcotor, the .frui-tman's oall and the '#2d4ka I Oash Clothes, the otroet cleanor•s bri..ish nnd the . doctor•3 satchel, the firo eneine•s scream, th e ambulance c 1.ruig, tho nurses co~ nnd going tt1ioe a ~ • Aud tllc1""0 and tllat1 w be1' tho train goea up or the train goos do-r1n, wllero the storos ru.•o for tv.r.ili:;;w.-a and h;J.ts and shoes 1 1.1he1•e the boillevard 1o t1ith not 30 rua rw ho u ses, e.nd many: peoplo tmll:i.~ and movie a and restaurai"'lts' t100!"0 the .. -~k is for ~ios aild acroso the wq the school, r:J19~:e Geor ge llas h1a office t 1 1th the big tooth a11tside 1 nhe1"9 Aunt Eth.E>l lives and JJSa1' her the 53 Broolcys 1 ~ t1her c. -ver she hns be e n and Tihatever she has seen and anything at ell th e t ahe re hl eBb ~ r.i, even pl2.0es she basn• t been but knot 1 s about and faces slla lll:.sn' t seen . but ex p octs to f'lnd, and the whole of time Before when aho v1asn•t ther.e, . eJ'ld all: the livos · she hasn't lived and tha many other worlds uith- And horo ru i d. this and there e.nd that and it's such a big, big world . and sho' s so lit t le. And She frot7ns 1 perturbed. , · 1'hon the i.:;e n ther cl i. ! nses, not always the same. Sometimes it rains, some- times it s hmes. The hatlSe is bright, thon dark and still. v : hen 19u go to bed, it's like tl~t " to · o. And then you ~ ~e your c1othes next ~, There n~ s pecial cJ . o·ii h es for holidays ruid mama says it•s cold. Swoa ,, ti~~ co a t, \'100len scarf 1 rub b ers, and u.'lde!. • neath, the flannel dra:rJers that button to your shirt. ~11d 7ou ljJ;:e the morning air e.11d t h e s :. roet posts at night. It sno w s, and the ll ih t f v .lla sortl.J"; it r.cl::es a ring around the lamps o u tside. Ben bas a alod and he takes y.>t'!. tor a ride e.nd you t7D.tch him run and ~ dcmn the hill; than · he co m es up pant:Lne and goes down again and 7ou t1ava and jlmp end shout for j~J. And th e re ru.'O dn¥s and t1eoks and mo r • ths and it's bard to keop them strai3ht, but 7ou lll :: e it b e st nhen the chlldre.n are at hallo. And sometimes the. -e 81'9 holi d ays u i t h s p ecial titl.ngs to eat l:!D(l candles on the to.blo Md m ama d t 'Ossed up t u :.d pap : : \ ch~in1dzia nine. Then one day it•s uarm and u ama lets you out wi th- out a eo n t and yo u •ro dra a sed in r1hite t1ith a bis hair ri b bon. There's a man and n pony. 'r. ouJ.d you like to have a picturo1 And the man ,:>uta 70u 0n the poey- an ti you're not s u re it•s right, than he StJ¥S 1 see the birdie, but. ., there•s nothing ther e but a box :tn the nir. But anyt1q, JDEUm1 likes t..lie picture aud she gives th e ma n somo money. Bea t rice uith a frown .. foravar - all dressed in \ · : hito v .nil sit · tia z o n a poey, and nou she \1iohes she bad s~cl on the poq and taL cm. a rido up the strcot, e iddAI'• Easter co.me w.ith a big bouquet ot f1cmcrs, thoug11 mama said it Tias a wuote ot money and . papa said never mind, I t1ant 1ou to have them, and mama t1aa ver:r proud to b!l.ve them on the table when coralXlDiY cane in to visit. Doatrioe loved her pinlt taffeta coat and hut that mr:oma made with daisies on the CJ.'IOTin and on the two pockets. Even Addie oaid ohe looked beautii"Ul bocauso pa.pa had bo~teI1t A dllie a blue velvet outtit tJith a uhlte err-J.ne pocketbook. Ben grinnecl flbon 54 he caoe in wearing his rum 001'"ge suit nith the pants belou his kneos ha looked likO a big boy and he \'JeS vo17 hall.PY'. ~: : pa looked him aver. Te':cy cnretul.q ~ tl"'T'.c 1 e not to SLlile, but all he said was thero uasn•t another to.tbor ll1c.e hia and he ho p ed Bon nas 11orth it. Tlw.t ma.de Bc.:n•s mouth tt1:1.st sidcn-1ayaJ he didn't like to be told such things. It m a de hiL1 feel like a sissy. lle \i ould have to w atch out not to tenr bis stockings or get dirt on bis clothes. Se> . he sat doTin and sucked his thu; . :b, holding tho end of his tie aver his mouth. ~ I , It ~1ss n veey n:lco Ea::riior. Evur/bodif uGl1t around shoiling ott thoir D8\1 clothes nnd there were lots of good things to ea~ :tn every~• s house. Tb at night,. OOira he.cl a big holiday dinner and Bea.trice tzas e.ll01:4ed . to atc.v up until the . aJ.Jgel came in . to drink somo r1ine.. Then she \1ont to bed, tr~ii.ue to dooido t1hat present she \lould ask papa for 1 because she had hidden the p1"ayer bread • . • . And Addie v.nd Don nero home from school a whole ueek and the str~ets \ · 1e1~ tLll.l ot ohil (; ren all . day long and Beatrice hated to loave the street and go up stairs, tho~ Birdie ~ Floronae and Elsie and Edna oarue to visit her and she t79llt to visit them :tn their hou 13 ea, too. Then the cleys got longer and the sunnas unmer and the air aoolled efeen and Addie said thoro was go na to be a big r.tq Party tor all tho children on the strccrti. Francine Goodman . as going to be the queen. She m 1a one ot the . ~ 55 very big girls, 1"oa.J.l3 a yo~ lady because she went 11a1kine uith boya and tlas veq gror1n UI>• It \'lWJ she 'l'lho 1 started the idea. by aa.ying, nh)r shouldn't no have . · a ~ Part7, some of the other noighborhoods are, and aho got allot· her frlends to halp. The:r nont around and b'<>t all the mothers to proaise coBtumes for _ their children and contributions for the May Day pionic. ~7 even collocted enough mo 11 ey to have a band. Ever"Jbody became interested and excited • . ~hero \'laG a May Pole 'l'li th streamers for a big dame, and flogs and bruu 1 ers to march nith, o.nd best ot _ e.ll a big rloat for the tTay Queen, decorated with oolorod paper fl0\1ers. Each house w:is given a numbared place in tbe ~line-up and the children uere to ~h in sized groups. llama made Addie a Gypsy . costume. She had a red blouse . and a blue skirt; and a yell01.1 sash and a scru;~ around her head to lil!ltch the sash. 'lo look like a real Gy · , } sy 1 she .\-;oro be~s an ~ bracelets and earrinea, nnd she car-.!"ied a castanet in her hand to shake when she ualked. Bentric~ TJas a flooer girl. She had a er rd- . board cro,1n trim:ned with flowers and f'lcners sened to hor dress and shoes. Tho fl cm or girls TJ c ro to nalk in front of the Queen's noa.t aud<'rop paper p ~ ir...J.s all . tho ney t ... the park. Ben ~~t had o. paper hat and a boll pinned c .. n his sl!irt bocausa none or the boys uanted to\-mir costu m es like the girls did. It nas a lovely dD.y and by eleven o•oloclc the y-4ade got s·w.rtod. Francine sat in the f'loa:L Wld smilad and vaved to eve.cybod1'• With her rud hair and green eyes 1 she looked veY:y beauti:t'ul. The band uaa up front and uhon . it b a;; an pl.ayillg, t !'i..e bie °bo'JS llfted the £loot on thoir shouldora and cve.eyboo_y oheo : ed. . . ~ sraall children carched in rouo of four behind the band. The big childs.'OJl ' marched bGhind the tloat. The Day Pole came lnstJ it r1 as very- tall Blld the stre :m ers he.d to be hold u p by the rear trnttic guard. All t h o mothers nall ~ od fhe walk took a long tilae l>Gcause thei~ were m~ strcota to oross and there . . \7 '1 S a lons hill to go u p a.ml da.-in. Vlhen . the7 got to the park, wc17~ ran · over the · big la':Jn \1hore the F !' iay Po~e wna to bo put. Then the float waa set donn and Francine mt:de a speech. VJhen shG tiuislled, all the mothora laughed nlld clap 9 ed, \ ' J hile the cbiliL.-on yelled hooray~ Af'tor that.,· the girls did a oanoe around tho t'iey" Pole o.nd sang some songo. ~ boys vient ott to play in the park; they had ~s and contests. Iator, ovorybody oat do'«ln under tho troea to have their piouic lunch. But soon the boys started rtmnitig w:ound l'lith cw.terp·i J J.CJ.•s and the girls screamed "t1benover they carue n£ar and thon a fight began and one ot the little boys tell do<-:n and lru.rt hi.I!isalf. Babioo c1~ied and mothors yelled and it r;o·t; noiaior by the minute 'W1til the par t .y bagan to break up. Wl2IllQ had to call Ben r, fet1 timos before he izoul.d come, but at last ha did end the family started home with some of the neighbors. ~ .:ams. told Ura. Goo&iaD. she ~m s glad tna1 didn't have a party evor-J day and Mrs. Goodman la"1l3hod good- naturedly, oaying it uaa a lot of work and vsry tiring but ettor all, the kids had enjoyed ihemsolv:as. lli?ma atop?;>ed oft on the way to have p ictures taken or U Beatrice and Addie 1 so tlla.t papa could see hov nice the7 lookod in 'their cos- tumes. Everybody said it tias a vro.ndertul party and tha.t the7 would havo another . . . ooo next yeo.r and they didn't stop talldne about it tor days. It was SOll!O ' i:aling to romamber. . then, ono So.tu.rday,mama s c. ~d Addie could toke Boe.trice to the .covies 'booauaa she and papa. h t: d to co so~neu h e.re and Ben said, wlw.t abo u t me, &::ad maaa said, 70u too~ and it , \"Jas tun get·t;inc money to spend 011 the movies and ice cream &fte : ~ur da. It \IE.3 t : · !G first time ~1.e7 were goina to the movies and tho7 woro all o:xoited. ~hoy "'al ;: ed vory fa.st, Beatrice bold ing Addie and Don b,y · the he.M, and evol"ftime they crossed a street they rnised her of't the ground and ran to · . tho opI)osi te curb because they were v1orried they wight e;et to tho movies too l u. te. Thon nhen th#got thorc, the ticket seller so.id Ac1d1e t1as too YOllDC to. buy the tickets and they didn't know what to do because they had the mono7 and mama and papa nouldn•t be home and thoy didn't want to go back. But a ~ co.me along an\i oaid she tzould take them in and she looked so nice and bad such a f'ri~ ad.le that Addie gave her all the money oho ha.cl, till Ben t1h1apet'Cd, \1hat about our ice crotir.1 1 and then ~e looked scared, but the ~ gave hor chango and they S.U · went in to ~: ether and it v1as all ri3ht. . At firiJ't . it Tla& lieht inside and 'tl"ley could see all the erupty eoats. A man \7CJ.S sitting up tron·~ behind a piano and wer:r once in a while he looked around~ ~here was a lot of' tal ld ng and laughing and alrilost everyone was ea.ting popcom and i)ea.uUtD. A boy in o. nhito hat and apron went up and dcr.1n the / . . . aisles t1ith . a basket, se1J.in8 · · things. Children stood on their scats and oe.lied to him,holdinrf up their coins. · W hon he oame near their rou Bon t1lrl.spair"ed; . let's buy sorae, Addig 1 and f'or a nickal thoy got a big box ot po ~; corn with a little ring inside w hich ex..cictly fitted Beatrice's f'il'Jger~ Thay sat ·_ ~icht in tho middle of' the · middle roll because the lady told Addie those we ~ -oe the best seats. A fat man stuck his head out of' a aide curtain . l on the st,age and the children began to whistle, stamp SJld olap; ha vaved at ' ? thom and shoutod o. K. to someone ln the back. Then the llehta went out and it ' . . ·got vecy dark. That made everybody yell and boo and Beatrice slipped her hand into Adclie•s. Sucldon1. ~i a big t1hite light flashed on the stage and the : J piano begc.n to ploy. P.fter the.t · cruae the tlOV"leaJ tbe7 tlickored and cba11god very i'aat and \1hen t.lwre was print tu read Addie 11hiaperod what it said to Beo.t1~ice and De n . I-t, _ v1as a nestern thriller, fUll ~r horses and shooting. The children cheGred and hissed and ~en joined in, expl.a1111ug who \'las the good~ and uho the bad g~.- Arid then, just r .t the b::ist part, the lll0'9'1e sto p ped and the lights came on. It w e s a mean surprise .and every~ sho\1ad their diaappoint r .iont, but it vJa.s a serie.l and thor uoul.d have to gait till next tJeek tor t!1e story to co11tinue. Beatrice said they v1ould have to como back and Ben said, eoe I hoPo so. After that came . a very fwm1' picture that mnde overyl>ody la.ugh. . . . Beatrice thought . the act~ss in that picture \1as ve"r<J pretty, th,ou ~ ~ the tat man and the sidnn7 one took up most of the time doiJia silly things. Tihsn tho7 came out or the movies, the street looked very strange and cllt- fo~t. It nas ha.rd to believe it \ias da y time and their eyes squinted. 'lh91 kopt tal!dng &bo u t the raovies nil t!J.e time · the7 sat in the ice cream }.Brlol'. ·Th a y had big sodas at the counter and Ben made a lot or noise \1.ith his straws, . . j though Addie told him to stop or she r;ouldn•t take him to the movies again. Sha a~t&?d very gronn up, as though s;;1e uere mama, o..ud Beatrice told Iler so. A4,die tossod her head and oaid Tiell, they'd have to be good and obey' her or she wo t ll.dn•t take the1;i e.n :y -morG. rf .ania \"la& Waiting for them When tl1e7 Cot home and she seer:ied glad to see them. She asked if they had 'be3n good o.nd Addio gave them a s pe cial look as thoueh she couldn't make up her mind, so Ban said, sure, we ha d a ~mall time, and e.s k ed it t h ey could fO next Sc.turcta_y and ne17 week, and m.aca smiled Beatrice thought about the movies all week. l.Ye.rythi.ne became black and uhite in her mi n d. She tha .; ght o.bout t..1-ie actress and how she acted and mavod• 59 and soon she began acting, too. WhenAddie played the piano, she acted something to go uith the mllSic. Then she started acting her songs, mek1ng her hands and face go nith the words. And when she dnnced, she tried to make a picture by imagining she was somebody doing something. Addie laughed at her. tzho do you think you are, she asked, but Beatrice could tell Addie was 3ealoua. Let me see JOU . . do it, ii' you think you're so smart, ohe answered, but Addie couldn't because she t1as so stiff and auk\"1ard. And Beatrice kept on ~ting and dancing and singing the ne\'7 tl83 • And once uhen there was company ~ mama said, hon about some entertainment, ·Beatrice fixed up a program 'ilith Addie. She wanted to wear a costUDe but papa said, never mind, so she went into mama's room, pull.ad the green portiarea together to make ~t look like a .real act, found a sh.aul to put around her shoulders, then eave Addie the signal to begin. Addie was to play the intro- duction twice, then Beatrice uas to S\1ing open the portieres and bor1, and aftor the third introduction .. After, ahe cried, stamping her toot because Addie started the song before. And she shut the portieres and made Addie start aver, oalJ:ing,, t~e times, don•t forget nous Then she came out and boned again and th~ time ~ey started togeth~r right. W.okq was the first number because . that Vlas mama's favorite. t! ijih zour hp1r I axen•1 hue• y11;h your smiling sq Jmr;u.!.ling, j;hgre• s a ;ere · tti balarnex. wettx killarngx tqo ... • she spread her . . . - hair over her hand, smiled her prettiest, sh ~ : ok her finger teaoingq. Childhood, .o..ut i,n the \'1ildyrood 1 lilse &JOOuntain fl0V1or xou c;m .... she called through cupped hands, ran a fm1 steps, bent dcmnand grew. Do xou blpme AAYAA' f'or falljnf! in love vith vou - I dol ... Sbe finished pertly, adding the last two TlOrda . . -· 60 for surprise. Everyone clapped and mama bugged her, sey1ng ahe \"la& hor ot1n pretty llickey. That reminded Mrs. Singer of Abie's Irish Rose nnd she started ta.J king about the p~. Bea.trice disappeared behind the portieres to ~ot ready tor her second D.Ur:lbeS'. It W"-s · a dance sho had made up tor onB of t4die•a piano lesson r>ieces and she ,.;aved the sba\'rl as she t1hirled around, shook her head and stamped her feet.. Papa chuckled, saying he didn't know where she got it trom, e.nd it made Beatrice proud because papa ha~ never aeen her dance bs- for 0 . l.'.irs. Singer sat back and .nodded politely, hor mouth tuitc~1 nobo~ else made a fuss aver their children in rro11.t of compaq, oncy- the Bergors. All soon as she could, she took up tho convers~tionwhere she bad left ott1 that Abie's Irish Rose ~;as some plq, suoh talent! It was hard tor Bee.t1'ice to decide out loud whom she loved more, papa or mmna. l ~henovor anyone asked her, sl~ answered, both the aai,:a 1 becauso she krum she should and thr ~ t nas the right anm1er. And even to herself she didn't v:ant to admit it y;as mama she lo~·ed more because sh$ telt it was t1ro.iJ6. She told • herself she loved papa just as much as me.ma, but in a ditfero.nt TI~. ThGn she . . uasn•t rooll.y lying or being bad, and evel"1Jbod1' was satisfied. Just as much, but di.tterent, because she \las afraid o:t papa.. He didn 1 t like to kiss and pl.ay r , ith her lilte . mama did. Ho -,:ea al~aya too busy or :q1ng dO\ ii n or Just getting . up or just roo.dy' to eat or something else. Unless t ;- ~ ere was companr in tha hauso, he nantod it quiota durillG meals, while he nappod, \'1hilo he re::.d the pa. p er, uhile he \'lorked - it bad to be quiet. Ho uas very strict, Beatrioo d.ecidod. lfot onl,y \11th her, but t 1 ith Addia and Ben, too. r o looked at their home :: ;ork o.nd school pa1xira evers night, and ------ 1 • 61 soIUetii-a.es he mo.de them. do - their lessons over 1 abm-11.ng them their mistakes. He we.s voey smart. Ho lmeo just hoi'l the teachers liked ohildron•a tiork to look. ri ritinB had to be neat and clear and even, the spelling pei~ect. Numbers had to be s .. c.raight, the arithmotio exam~">les !.n ruled-ott boxos. llothing leas than 10~ was good. U they didn 1 t get A's on their report; oarda, be uent to school to f'ind out wb1'. He made thom st-'1~ hard. The7 hod to pre.ctice their lllU31o . . lessons every day, too, and once a ueek he asked thoir music teachers hon sen uas doing on the violin, ho\1 Addie uas getting along on the piano~ 1.lo.ma had to tako Ban 1 s pa~ Bild se:r half an hour a dtl1' was enough becauso he didn• t ~7o.nt to tako aey- violin lessons at dl. Addio had to practice an hourJ she did, with the clock in f'ront of' her. Beatrice sighed; she couldn't unde1~stand papa•s lOV'e. In some ways, hG uas so good t.o thema bought them nlce preso!lts, gave them spending moue7, took a great deal ot intorest in their clothes. And yet. She nevor knou TJhat to ~tpect. Sometimes she guossed t1rong and then tho surpriae and the disa p pointment would". get all milted up inaide of hor and slie would bo [! in to choke. Sucldar~, a gasp uould uell up fro m hear throat in a tlcod of tears. It happened so quickly that m v .ma would Jump up startled, saying, tJha.t•o the matter, nhnt did you say to her, llaxt And papa would get nner.r or exas!:iere.tad or shr'Jg his shou.lders, not knouing ~1J1: she uas oeying or nhat she Tianted .from him OJ\Yh<m. She might be chatting to him about hor doll or asking him something about what Addie said or Ben, or come .running tooard him with an idea in her eye~, nhen he '7ould say, all right no'. ' i ' go ruid play, or, will J"OU pleaae leave ma alone, or simply uith a nave ot his band se:r, shl And each time, bis look or hio --- - ~~~-------------------------------------------~ . · 62 voice or uhat she tianted the.t wasu•t there vould stop hor breath, till hor 11ith ~o.nf'Usion, and bring on a eystorioal splutter of coughs, hiccups and sobs. /wd she couldn't elq>llU,n it to mama or make papa understand hou hurt sho uas. It b3gan to happen so orten, that he tinaJ.l7 threatened to eive her a real excuse tor criJing. r.Iama triod to soothe her, to scold hor. She mnde Boatrico stand still and catch hGr breath, then told her to ask papa•s pc.rd.on and 00'1 oho ' uas sorry. Because it loo!i:ed as ~ueh she had no· reaspn for crying at all. But attar all the tears and tho tuss and the quaft"el that souetimas stnrtocl between papa a nd llllWB because ot her, v1ith eveeythi.ne having cone wrong, the apology and . make-up kiss twre no good. The;y didn't mean aeythine after all the hurt \'l a s done. · She tried not to Cr"J• 'lhen, uhen she couldn't k eep it back aiv more, the tl"Jing not-to me.de the crying so much worse. She bocamo trouble and unhappyJ it she loved papa as much as mama, then \1]W did she have to cry! She rehearaod what she would sa;y next time it happened and thon torgot,stancH 1 1g wordless and unhappy ba:fore him. At l ~ ~t he could boar it no 1011ge - · . He held her 'bJ' the olbous, made her control her sobs, ~en forced her to tell him \'Jh,y ohe alnays ct-ied. Because you never let me sit on yo:.'-'! l.apl she blubborod and started to c~ again. But nm1 hGr Cr""J'ing r:as c. t a c:Utre . · ont kind, not because· of her er.in hurt and not be- cause she y,as a.f'1'Uid. It Tias papa's hurt that made her cry. He Just looked at mama, bit ·u.s bottom lip and didn't kn.ow vihat to say. r.ere those tears in papn•s eyes? He started to stroke her hair, could think ot nothing in ro p~ 1 then got up and mll.lced auay. l .\ nd. from tho quiet ws:r ho ilalked, nith his back I . • 63 tot1ardo her, Bet ? tr1ce could toll ha \ias &01"17, that he couldn't help it. Did he lovo her? She didn't know. ~be in his O\-:n vey, too. It \1Bs no one's f a ult. It just haiJ to be that nay. A nd sho couldn't understand. It •;ea a terrible wo. y. li.'UllEl assured her th a t papa loved herJ the child 1 o \lor17 u ::~ s J\;ot one anw ng st e.ll. themrrics ohe bad; she put it u side, too busy with thing :-; she had to do to bot ~ or v1ith those she couldn't. Pa p a o o s papa j u st a s tax 11D.S triax and th.ore ila:J nothing ~ne could do abo11t it. Didn't .ibi l:' ..no\1t Then iihat use w as it tor a child to trouble her little he ad aboti . t him and cry her beart out? It 113.8 like . teying to fight City H a ll, to chnu ge pnpo.. Iou mi g ht es "t:ell ~ yo · .:.r h ead nge.irist the wall, tor all the go ,-; d it tt ould do. On a Fl.'id.lly evening, the f3lllil y oat around the di n ing-room table, finishing an e~J.¥ dinner. P~pn looked at his _ iiatch and told me.ma to hurrf the demi- tasse because t11ey oue h t to e;et stnrtad. Tboy'll wait, mruna said, and beenn to cloar the t<. 1 ble. Be a trice otif ' fened in her cbnir, sooine mr. wdlo \"1 1 s r ~ ce le o r- ~at her out of t ~ "! e bread plateJ she shivor c d as bis hantls ran ovor her chest _ . . . and bac k . She dre \'1 back from the table. I 1 m not going - her words me. de a small scnznd in the room. Pa i .a looked up doubtiUlly 1 8.s thoueh so o eone h n d tap ~) ed him on tl ~ e shoulder. I.iaaa oamo in tJith t r ,o s r : :o ll c u ps of black coi'f'oe. Pv.pa lii'ted his cup, \7 a& about to Sfq' 3 om ething, t h en ble w on the brim i.t. nd took a si p . Ha drank it slo tJ ~, lot.ting tho silenc e acttl c his ia cal. ~ : hen he finished, he p u 9hed bnak hia chair ~ "id got up. All right, children, g et dressed. I'm rooc\Y, .. 'lltio. Ile l o oked c.t hie \'1utch a gcl.n, c o refUll. y . And you, miss, he called, pointing bis wo.tch at Beatrice, • I don't take too long, I \vnnt to be there by oight sharp. ' . She stalked out, her lips compressod. Addie went to the bathroom to wash, ' Ben started to undress, n:Blll-!\ rinsed of'£ the last ot the dishes, Beatrice re- minod in tho dool'\1q of her bearoom, shaking. She 11ould•t go, that's all, she didn't care - sho ran to the kitchen. Please, ma, I don't want to gol Her voice \"las shrill, desperate. Papa looked in, his race stern. Oh ma, don•t let . . him rr.ake ml She threw . her arms at.'ound mama's apron and hid her head- In- stillative~,mama pressed her close. I Ifo\"1 look here~ K~ti~, I'm in no mood tor jokesl There was a v;arning in bis voice. All right, ~ exclaimed, don•t got so excitecll Como, Beatrice dai·li.Dg, \•1e•ve got an appointraent, go get c"lressed like a good girl. Beatrico raised her head qu..i.ckly 1 her oyes frantic Gith tear. Even mama didn't understand. Ho, she cried fierce~, I won•t gol I rather be hitl I don 1 t carcl I knew you'd hit me it I didn't go, but I rather be hit, I rather& I - von•t • go - She stagge1~d tam:irds papa, and bending hor be~ over, offered hersolt for punishoent. He seized her anddiook her. Are you 3oing to obey me and got dressed, or aren't you7 His w ords w hip pe d ofr his tong ,i c 1 angrily. t 1 aca rushed to ae p urate thoCJ and u as pushed e gninst the uall. No : : Katie keep out of this or oo help mo I u on•t be responsibl e l He unloosened his belt and forced Beatrice .:..nto the bedroom. Addie alld Bon hurried out. The door shut. One more chance, he shouted, e.ro you or are you not goin g to get C resaedT fho tip or the bolt flicked her wrist. Max, lm, mam:i screamed, pu shing the door open, wait, she'll gol fhe belt out the air and landed behind her on the floor. ... . . • All right, he yelled, tal:e her and to hell wlth )"oul Not even five yeara olcl and 21.rett . a_y she dares to disobey mel ';'i bat am I to GJcpect ton years fl"OL1 non7 'f ou cs.ll yourself' l_ler mother! All rieht, then let h s r stay bomel But aha stays al.one, do yqu he ~ r7 Trembling and turioua, he grabbed mma . and took her out of the room, · slamming the door beb·ind them. Beatri~e threw herself' on her plllow, reeling its coolness age.inst her hot, wet race. Spasms of relief uaved over her . . . body 1 brineing co c:i f'ort inside. 65 Uhen her b~ath returned to long er intorvals of'evenness,she was utterly exhausted. The door opened timidly. Mn sent me with \" ! ater, Ben whiopered. Don•t 7011 uorry, I 1 ll give yo u a big ride on my bike tomorrcm, see it I won•t. He patted hei- he a d as she drank. I•ts all riGfit 1 ue•ll bo home soon, don't be e.fraid. I'm not, . I•m not afmidl Oh mal And she turned ba . ck to hor pill.0\1 1 too tirocl to find Ja10re tears for her hurt. Sho r~ ai'"d them le a ving, D"iSUli. · •s find pa p a's v o ices, sounding bac k and forth, and them the dooi:- shut. She was alone . . She grew f'rightonod. ~e house , waa so dark and quiet. Cui~, she took ott her clothea 1 pulled out her 1li3htgo\1Jl trom under the l'>illow and climbed .:. nto it v.gainst tho t1all, then crouched doun nith the cover over her . horul. Sha heard strange noises, squenks, rustJ.ine sounds. 1 1.ii'ted a corner or her cov~r to see it she was still in her ow n bed in her own rooa, ~aw lights across the alloy fi~m the op p osite houso, heard J.a.uchter and voices, woii.dered who ilSS upstairs, ne:t&t door, across the tray, liatonod for burel.urs creepine ci n the fire-oscapo, saw s ha doos ~ eerlng at her from the clothes ba nger and \7.i ndo ~i c u rtains, imagined someone under her bed., in the closet - sho \1 aited, p e rs p iring, l.mtil she tell aoloep, thinking it tm s wrong to hato papn, tho.t she sboU1cln't h<- . ve . civen mama so much trouble, th a t abe was a bad girl Blld had sinned, that God \iould p . Ulish her when she \1a8 thirteen. But ~ . . hou could she have eono7 She lu: , dn•t mennt to be badJ it w:is junt that t1t07 didn't undcrs~~. Grndu~·,. all doubts and misgivings disappeared. She be- came a heroine. How brave she \1 D. s to t~lke o. licking and s'ts1' at home all b)" herselt! Evon pap~•s stro.p hndn't scared her. , And she hadn't gonel Nobo ... J' bad helped her; she bad done it all by herself~ And at tho Ludlou 1 s 1 a few blocks away, the talk was all or her, Addie thinking, knor;ine she Tiouldn•t have daiTed, Ben scowling, grinninc, tzbat a eirl, 3ust like a boy, let BJlYOne call him sissy tcmorrcm tor taking Bee on hi.a bike ho.ndlos, he'd sho t 1•em, nith his f'istsl 66 Wh.y,ga..'dLord,, don•t 70u knou,, I .. I could have taken har &lone in a second, . . . ot course• ' But can you i m aeine, a b::.by like that! Papa chuckl.eu, catching mnro.•s · anxious eye. · All riaht, · Katie, relax. You see ho\1 she t1anta to spoil her ldd7 Le· -. her feol scared, it•u · _ do ~er good! Daring to, can you im ::o. eine, at th !t t _ age, uey good Lordi And be shbok his head, i'eeJ.intl his po \ ;er intact. Plaaaa, Ma.X, the children are tired, let•s go home, m!ililll r c 11 oated, v1a.tchi1~ hirit finish his fo1 ~ 1 · th el.as a uf r;ine. It had be en a h .:.: rd day; thare t ;a s DO I snt:I.sfaction ~r ret 1 ard at tho end. • ~hey found Daatrice asleep~ wisps or hor hair pe e ping up abovo the cover. ~ The cM J dren u c t'"e ca u tion e d to go to bed quiotl,y. f ~ hon thG7 he.d finished t h eir mill~, 1· . - .. .a · tucked them i! .: anug l y, cleaned up t h e us.sh basin, thonroar~ t oo k w hersel.'t to bed. Papa rnlS already asleep. Sha ii &S glad. , l For a long \-;bile after th · t evening, Beatrice was sure ahe heard creepy ~ noiseo, mm m oving s h ado\1Se Es 1J ecially at night. Even rJith tho tc.mi:Lsr sitting 67 around her. She signa.lled to maraa, poi11ted dcron t i- '8 ball, tried to w hispar. P ap a 1 o lau duri11 g m oal tiraos had bacomes w hen you eat, you don't tnlk, you · can't do both. She gre w rest l ess, b e gan to fidget in her cbair. At le.at mWll!l und e rst c od. rr l&J:, please take a look in the children's b e droom. B eatrice hea.ro footsteps. It \1on 1 t take a mimlto. .Llama turned to get the diah ot potatoes. I'll go, ma! BE'.ln volunto . red. Boogey mn, huh1 A gla D a or \l ater . ti pp e d o ver on t he bread p late, as he r u s h ed out. .Aclclio•a eyes £la3hed m:o · ~ the table, then came to rest on Beatrice•s face in ..: inuatincl,y. ! ' raic1.y c a tl Nothing there! v; b n t a b a by! . Ben anung into his se nt marn"Ully, prou~, and sa u the cverturned glass. Daon it all, papa said,otrildng the table and tlingillg hiB na ~, kin n oross it; he got up e.nd left the room, bis ste p s heavy rJith anger. 'lhey all be g an to c1!f 1 first Addie, then tlD.lil0. 1 then Beatrice, then Den. Sh, cbildren, please, said mama tShanl8d 1 you know pnpa doesn't like to bo · upset when he eats. Clean up, ge t another plate or b~ d and everything Tiill be all right again. She · went out to pl a c a te him. ll y God. 1 Katie, can~t they sit still at the table! This one starts to cho k e, tbt ;_ t one spills t . ater, the ot h er one doesn't WO. h t to eat - ho n es tly , I can•t stand itl Once a day, a man oits donn with his family; he's tired; · he w nuts some qu ie·li, so m e pea.col t' ama•s v o ice in terrupted, Eentle, a po lo get ic, persuasive. ~he children u aited, listenod, unmoving. In a fe \ 1 minu t es, mwno. came in, ma de a m otion uith her fineer, _ o.nd p apa tollcmed. He took his s ea t a t t he head c t the table, stalWl at his p lnte, clucked his to ngu e, rai s ed his ' eyobrorta and cleared b.:s throat. !he meal t1as continued in :slle14ce, as one bJ" one the ~ J.ates t'lore set do1 : 1 n tor the next course. SometiDos, howev e r, papE'• · s mood w ~ s dirforent. He might come back, sit do'r;n, t~J to loo~ at ease, bogin to feel foolish instead, ~ meeting a \1atch- tul eye stnt-t to chucklo. Then everyone r:oulcl heavo a sigh and finish the meal in g ~ .. od~irits. · Beatrice. might . even n~est a stoey or chance a ten cute remarks 1 aa t he baby of the f'a u d.'.cy'. 68 He r.as a strange man, papa, it was hard to make h1:m out. Not at all like ma m a, who m: · s oo.s:,r and simple and always the same, with her nice f'ace and w a 1"Jn body o.nd plensan~ voice J and able to do SO JDaD¥ things J.1ke Cook, 88\l 1 bake I knit, crochet, besides being_gcod to eveeyboey 1 loving her children, and being the best mnrua in the nhole world. Beatrice nover bad any doubts about mama. Even if OOEB. didn't kn0\7 so mu.ch as papa nnd Tiasn•t ar:iart like him, she moro than lilllde it up nitll a smile and k iss and hug. Not that mama never lost her te m per; she did. But as mama he1·self said oo many timec, she wns ollJ.¥ made of flesh and blood, orlJ.3 lmman. And in spite or ever,rthine, abe \'Ja& still mwua and you never hed any doubts about that. Pupo., on the ot h er h:md, \"l'1B only partly p a pa and mostly somebody else. And it wnan•t beo i:1u se par.1n \ :.i o.a a man. f.bma snid tl:or e wasn't another husband or father like him. on the \1 hole street, and she \73.S crying an; : rily when she said that. It mennt that he v ms _ ditterent trom other papaa. It bed something to do with the way he cot all dressed up and then came home very le.to at night. Sometimes, he didn't como home until the r.cxt day or the day attor that. So you• re dolling 1P o.zainl I suppose they• re having a bakers' ball tbis morning! And mer.a t:ould s1.ift as he p a tted a v u de cologne on his head and tace. She resented t l: :at hollda.7 look of his on an unex p ~ cted tzeek-cla1' mornings tho white silk shirt, " bright tie, diamond stick pin 0.nd cuttlinks, the tlourloh- ing handkerchief. She kn . B\7 there uould be a taxi waiting. A boy• s got to h o ve some tun, Ka.tie old girl, be _:gould say, and give her a plqf'ul pinch on the cho~. ?Jam \70uld turn a.nay angriq and st.art. her usual . . til'S.4e. She~illed the coffee, forgot the sugar, threw the rolls on the tablo, talked and tallced in helpless indigmtion, until pa ~ a left the house. He uas alwa.ys lmving a dato uith the · boys in a place called doun-tcmn. It meant that i;w.ma b:ld to be alone those niehts because she nouldn't leave the chil<h""OD to go ~ · 1J:iero else nor did she want comPflJ\Y to visit when papa v1asn' t thGi"e• Pretonding she \'IB.S thirsty; Beatrice would often find her sitting in the ki tcllen, dozing ovei- a De\vspaper or doing some mending. She i ... oked .,ery loneq • Don•t · be sad, mama, she r1ould: say, not kncminz \7hat elae to say, end she -r 1ould give mama a s p ecial sq u eeze and another bunch of good night kissos. And later_, she TIOuld be auakened 1 knowing it nas papa come home and it \ ' ;a s hard to im , 1 gine that he was the same papa she had seen that morning nll dressed up and so d i f'ferent. This papa wna someone she didn't knor 1 at aJ.1 1 who laughed ' and cursed and talked to himseltJ nhen he tripped and tell in the hall, so.ma- thil:lg r1ent darlt inside her and she couldn't unclerstand it at all. But vorst ot all was the way mama carried on, weeping and screaming until she \las hoarse. Then Beatrice shut ho r eyes and stopped her ears \7ith her fingers and b i.:r ied herself under the oOYor till Addie and Ben stopped giegling and whisporing. And the next day, mama r1ould look ao tired and pale, that Bee.trice tolt sick 11ith pain when oaraa got ll¥'stericel over some little thing gone wrong. Mama, please JllULla, she cried1 sitting on the fl o or, clutc h ing mawa. 1 s legs, don't cry, please do~t · c;ryl . -. e•ll bo so good, \7e•ll never fia-ll t ab rninl ~ -; e•u 70 . . make you happy, you' 11 seo - and mama v1ould rook hor ~by 1n hor arms, wot cheek to cheek, br .: , ath to breath. Sh, darling, sh. I can't llelp it. It hurts n• in bore. I have to ory to get rid or it. If rrw mother were only here, everything would be so ml : oh easier. God knows what ~Jill become ot me, wbat vsill become ot rq ix>or ch.lldren. And if there r 1 0.s a sP,ecie.l dessert that drly, Boa.trice mmted me.ma to h ~ ve . I hers bt~c au se sho lmm ·; mama. never bothered to make one for herself, clividiJlG all there nns . among tho children. But if' there was any extras 1 Addio put in hor bid tor a second helping anti.Beatrice got hopping L'!ad. Iou selfish old thingl she exclaimed, can't you see I tlant mama to have mino7 Don't you think I like it just as much as you doT And she would snatch back her <>rill portion t1hila mama proteste~ eentl.y thnt she uasn•t hungey, that she could heve made more had she ·nanted any. Addie sneered victorious'.cy- with a look tll ~ t meant see smru"t;y and Bon scr'1tched _ his hoad, p uzzlod, not k.no ·.- 11ng 'iJhnt it wa.a oll about o::r:cept th at all girls tlare Cl'fl.Z1' 1 daffy, and he circled his tineer ngninst his elll'. Mama \1nrnod theza not to tell their private tcm:tly affairs to aD¥body. \ '; h ~ t goes on here is nobody'a business, you understand? And slle was ao insistont on the iaportanca or keepine the eoono of the nieht boi'ore a G ecret, sa y ing th.at it uould be a great sin if they oven mentioned it to an.: t one - 1t t he y ask whe.t the tieht v1 a s all about, say y-ou. cbn•t know aeything about a fight, that you didn't hear &?JVthing - thnt Beatrice oame to realize there tras another r ..; ason. r&una was ashar , JOd of ghat people miuht think. Beatrice kept qu i et. ~ · S L e kne'.1 evcribow looked up to p apa. Ho hod an h1;orto.nt t h ink · called pull. C Peo ~ ' le troc all over tho neighborhood, even strangers, came to bim for help uh en they- had trouble. Pc.po. \ 'l &S t L e or J.y one Tiho co.lled the polioeoon Pat and one · , 70 time Be n trice Bafl papa give Pa.t some dollar bills. And Pat a1nays tipped bia hat and smiled n hen ho . snn papa; he would tzave his stick and say, good morning, lir. Berger, or e;ood night, sir. It meant papa vas an import- .J. nt mc . n. Once a neck, Beatrice uould sit o.t the dining room table o.tter the dishea ~d been cleared and uo.toh p apa sort o. bas fUll or money. Firot l~e uould so- ps.rate ~l t h e difi'e~nt k - nds of bills, t L o on e s, t h e ifJOs, the tiv~ ,the ta n. s, tho t 1 : 1cntios, a fe w fifties and hundrElds, arid then ho \70uJ.d take each stack, faoo the bills the swno tmy · in front ot him, and bo g in to count them with his " . . ; ingcrs. He tied them into bundlos ·: .i th a · . t zrappor around each, ~.de a m . : rlt on to p nith his rount~in pen and lnid them aside~ Then ho 'beean sorting the silv er s pennies, nic :-: el.G, dimao, quarters . , half-dollar pieces~ until ~hey, t o o, tiero stacked a..Y!d rolled ill.to TirB. ~l pers and m.:ir J :ecl,. Tho pa!JU she saw then t1aa a dif'- . . ferent papa, one \'1ho t 1 orked qu-etly 1 s ~ rio"t:sly', · tiith his glasses on. And as · . "' she liotsnad to mm count in Cj\:.ick undertones and Tiatchcd him stucJ.y the col umna of fi L 1.1res that he [ ~ded on long shoots of pa p er 1 slw thought him the smartest and greatest man in tlla uorld. People w ore · toeev e r coming to the house to see him about soYthinc. I rJ ould like to ask Mr. B0r3eT• a advice 1 they would tell mama and sq it r 10Uld ba a bi t:t favor. And it papa uo.sn•t home, she would tell them when to come back. She didn't mind~ You sea, she yould say to Bcatrico, even stran g e people .kncu \ · 1hat a g c o d b t<S inoss mn he iol Fur coats, diamonds, f"urniture, insUl'WlCo 1 eovern n en t bo n ds - for everJthing they c o mo to p a pal And she am-LJ ed knonin e ly because even ohe li k ed to lw.ve papa along tihcn she wont out to b u. 7 aeything · good th a. t cost a lot 0 1 money. JJi.lt Beatrice could tind out no more about his b us iness t h &n that he t1 P. B the mnager of a wholesale ba k ery concern. ~o Be a t r ice 71 l tha.t mean · t; a store '!ith crullers, ~ared doughnuts, brends and fanc7 pastries, end y' e t she had never seen pnpa bake anything! What hasn't he donel · mama said whon Beatrice as k ed w hat papa did. Ha was . . ' tile manager of a big oomp~. - He had a stable with horses and w ~ ons that went around to all the stores and lll8de deliveries. Ies 1 bakeq rolls and . cakes. Then n}W don't Tie get some, Beatrice as k ed. \'J h: : , t•s the matter, don't 7ou llke Dl1 baking arrr more, mnma B.llS\'lered $nd then she said she wouldn't eat that stuff' tor~ 111 the world. B0 \'1 do I know nhat they put in? ~ : hen I bake, I uae tho boat of everything, the best milk, buttor, e~s, flour, c r eam, cheese, ev a rything, then I'm sure. I . . . . I , I J It seemed very strange to Beatrice, about pap a •a ~ ork. Tha u one day she waa ualld.ng in the stroet and th8 sidewalk opened · .uid a man ca m e u p w ith a big tre.7 full of cakesJ he was wearing a white chimney bat and his h c. nds u e re covered with flour. llama · said see, that•o where the7 bake, in a big kitchen in the basoment. Then Boa.trice knen that papa wasn't a baker because she couldn't ima3ine him wearing such a f'uney bat and apron; pa.po. w as so short and had a round bally. Addie said, silly, of course not, and she said that pa.r..a ti as a boss w ho bad his o r: n office and bookkeeper end that he was in charge or the w hole business and paid wages to everyone who wor k ed for him, and she said a lot of other things to prove t h at pa p a Tl&S a vecy important man, and thenBea'trice wa s satisfied because she kne\1 p a pa was veey &cart and Teey 1 Teey rich. Pay day at home was o.l 1J ays lots ot tun. It came o:ioe a w e ek and it i:te a.n t t h a t papa gave them each so me money. Beatrice c ame firs t because s h e \-: a s th e baby ot the fa m ily; she n o u ld run to him and ~, all t h e pennies I And she 72 could pibk out all the psnnies that COJll8 up the first three tiaoo p-pa pul l ed . I his f i ~rt. o : , . t of his pocke t . She nould ma : i;: e him shake his pocket ao t h a ;~ he coill.dn 1 t . ch.eat. He a:!..tm.yB had o. poc k et f'ull ot change on p u y da y arid it wm de a nice · jingly noise \/h en he shook it. Bis fiot tlas full each tiw> and D eatrlco se 8 .rcl!od for her pannies ve ry caref'tllll to make sure nGna stayed hidden undor- neat~. Ben cu p ped : . is hal '?.tl s to oo:t,ch anything t ha t foll, saylng, rin.di ue • s kee p ings, bv.t p apa juct J.a i; .i:;bed because h o c a ve .h ddie and Ben t h eir tui·ns la'ii&·. It t he y chose n ic k els or di m as, they had tO ni::, r.ea o n hm1 lilEllWi and . ! then they W Qre allo\1ed to p ick tho nev1est and s h iniest ones. Atter ma 'Cia 1 lllWilll came - and held o ut :. er hE1lll : , saying, I'll 'balce nl.l you have in t he ot h or p oc !t o t, because the.t u hs tihore papn ke p t tb.e dollar billo. And t h o y · al ua Ji a J o ked and quarrelled nbout bow i LEJ.ny bills she could hnve that TJ ock. Papa w ould ta k e o ut a f' a. t roll tied Tt i th a rubb e r bo.r , d nnd si;art peeJ.ine them ott one by one, but no matter ho n rr.al\V he g o. ve tJama. 1 ahe aluays as !~ ed tor more. He \1as vo ry eo cd r. bot;.t mone y , \ 'J' G B papaJ llObody could call him ?.'Ir. S tinQ' . Too good, r::ania v J o uld m.y. It he didn't drill: and gatlble halt ot it aTioy 1 your f a ther would be a great man. If I nasn•t alive, I'd be dead, ho'd awawer, and t he n ad d , bes i d e s, I do n 't sLloke, don•t f'or a et that. And it ro<lo Beatr-t-00 T o ry h a p 11 y to se e th em togotllor li! c o tl ie t, joking nnd laughing a nd having a good time. Pupa. m.l.gh t evCll a ive ruar1 :a a sp acial hug nnd kiss a n d roll his eyes an d uink and then the children bl us hed and looked ••bru:-ras s od because it ha pp ouod so aol O. om o.n d seemed so strange to oee pa r .a and mama kiss ing . lle g as wry e ood abo L \ t pl"f:)sentn, t .... o, espocinl.ly af'tor one ot his doon- to t-i n de.tao. It mi g ht bo n . pack a 30 fu ll ot opeoial thin g s to c at, like hlavah or Tw.idsh candy, or a tin ot Chinese tea i.1 i t h li ttle f"lcmors amo ng ' • 73 the leavos, and iaported cans of caviar, pimontoo, herr!Jl8, ~s, or bottles of olivos and pickles and dirferent kinds of cheese. Sometimes it \'12.S a b ~;. sket ci' impo1·~d fruits blood oranges, ties, dates, prio~ pe0.rs, pomegranates - many ot them stuti'ed nith nuts aid rolled in p:.mclered suear. . . Or it might be silk stockings aud pocketbooks and lacy underwear and a feo dresses f'or Ii1!Uil8. and Addie. The children would eatbor around the tablo ex- ci teclly, begging mama to come and opon the packages rieht avia1. But mama vznsn•t in a hl11'17 to torglve papa) the last time he bud gone ott on a holidq · . . sproe, he h~d stay~ away two nights and she hadn't SIJoken to him tor almost a week. · Pocketbooks, she \Vould ~ &nl'OaStical.ly, what do I need so ~ pocket- books · f'or'l I just got a new one the other da7. And thesol Sha beld up a nightgown. Vlliat do you think I am, a brideT tq God, it I were to start m,ar- ing ranoy panties and J.e.ce bmssiems and chemisesl The children kept exclaim- ing ns she \'Jent through the merchandise while papa Juot stood there quietq, not at all fooled by mama, because he kno\7 sho tlt\S a \1oman at heart and that all nomen lilted the frilly stuff'. Must have bed a good night for a chanee, mama said to no one in particular. ,:. \'~hen he \1ins 1 it's pr.esents. ~ ~ : hen hG loses, it•s a nice fat check to so and so. I kncm. And either t1a.y, it's a big blowout atten1ards \'lith wine, women and song. sure. r:hile I have to at!l1 home alone and mind the children. A . suell arrangement. I don't think·. And b .. - tllon, she w r; • mad without being up- sot and papa knew thG worst was av :.. r f'or tho time being. Do I uant you to stey' home, hB would josh her. HO\'I DJ8J11 titoos have you retusod to havo a servant to help 70uT And if I ask you out, JOU srq w~ 74 spend the money or 7ou start kicking about taxis and shO\'la and restaurants - G'wv.n, you're ~n old fashioned girl, Katie. And mama couldn't sq~ . . more to him becauso it was 13lways the same and tho7 could nGver agree and she \"Jou.ld have [;One on with a weekly braul and daily heartache for aver, 1f papa hadn~t broueht the scandal of it risht to her doorstep. It nae the time Janey moved in. Beatrice thought she we.a a homely looking woman and ve17 plain. People said she must b e near:cy ttienty-eieht, an old.- maid, a grecmhom, probabq an orphan. JeDJ11 took the small apartment e n tbo second floor r ear~ She left the house earl~ / in the morni.n8 and returned at l o . . nieht, ~ some bags of eroceries. Beatrice otton sa'\7 her and tzoudered wey she didn't speak to aeylJOOJ. She didn't seem to have fl1lJ' friends. She siL1pq came and went, e.lnays in the same (fork clothes 1 carrying a shabby hand- bag under her arm. It went on like . that tor a long time, till people b eg an to talk. At fir-st, mama wouldn't believe it. Papa and that dumb-bell upstairs! Ridiculousl But Beatrice hee: 'l. rd her asking papa questions. fJhat 1 a she do~ here liv-.lng e.lone, an w1marricd girl uith an t!. ~ent all to hcrseln JerllJI' - did you ever, I don't even knon her la.st namel A girl without parents or family relations · or friends, who works and eo.ts and keeps all to herself. And such an w~l,y e;irl 1 who oan•t even open her mouth decently to 821 eood-sorning to anyone. Fool I don•t think there's a person in the \7hole neighborhood t1ho likes her. She reminds me of a \1itch. Papa said something nbOllt women and t : . lk e.nc1. talk and let it go at that. And then Jew . y stopped going to \7ork in the mornings. But her ront was p ::~ id in full at the first ot the month. By whomT Mrs. Sampson, the landlady", dret1 her thin :lips tights it Tl [ : sn•t her business, sll.G only collected t h e rent. 75 . fbon JenD3' bage.n to appear in nev: clothos. The old blac!c bee disappeared and in ita place Jenll1 non carried a nice rum a11i.ey one. Beatrice overheard a re11 remarks end frowned. l!ama. ts faco looked more strained than usual. Papa nent out for nalks more of-Lven ~ his \70.lks took longer. Or he · \7ould join mama tor a cup or tea in lira. Singer's apartment on tho third floor, then after some talk, yawn and say he 11as going to bed, but that mama could stay it :Jhe li k ed. His visits downtot1n came to an earlier finish; he came hoL.10 srailine, nithout being dr'2llk, and said he'd like some supper. Beatrice bogan to get used to seeir,~ him every night, sitting in the dining-room, hel1)1rLg Addie rulCl Ben with their school lessons. lbma we.i.'lted to believe he was got tine sensible at last, that he TIE18 be- ginning to think less of himself and more of . her and the children; she wanted to believe that very much. But there was the te.llt and she kept her eyes on the lookout. And one day t1hen he bi..td excused ! : imselt early i'ro a a tea visit on the third floor, she found a reason to follow him short]¥ aftor and as she passed : by' JcnnJ's door on the second floor she paused to see it she had caught the hem of hGr skirt 011 her hoel. Sha lladn•t, but Beatrice saw o. look on ms . re's !'a.co she didn't like. rr as th..~t r..a.pa's voice and laugh she hear~'Z Sho didn't do.re ask. Nor did i:;iama stop to find out that dq. But it uasn•t long atter that mama caught him coming out ot Jenn_y•a door. It was the v1orst scene Beatrice ~d ever witnessed. But this tirJB it vies a new mama she~o. Papa didn't have a cbBACo. She r.01. i ldn't even listen. Be got mad, Sfiore he tms innocent, snid he had met Je~ by f!Ccide~t on the stairs just a.a she trippe:d and sprained her ankle, th a t ho bnd o~ h0l.pad her into the house and called tho dc.ctor, tll!\t oama coi.J.d go and seo ror herso.i.f" - 76 It t h a.t womai.'l isn't gono b ;; · tomorrow, I'll breo.k down her door and JDBke h er i 1ish s ll e ba d n e ver been born! Hair, eyes, clotheo, nook, I tell you, Liax 1 there uon•t be a.eything left or herl It tbat•s wh ut 1ou want, a p .- blic scandal, you 1 11 e; G t itl Let t h e wholo world hear about itl i ·; e•ll see who geta the best of thia 1 this ti:s, you or mel And it . was matJa uith all he r \' icn. 1.ntla , • f!Bhting, fighting like mndo to get revenge. A11d 1 ~pa know a he meant eveey tzord she sai~. He v ;alked auay, po.le, angry, o.shamou, k c . ov;ing he had lost. Jonny coved ar1ay, not t h at neJct day, but very soon afte r . She lei't during the ni3ht, secretl¥, and mama kn8T1 papa h r. d arranged 1t that way. For a few do.yo, Beatrice sensed mamn•s n.e- ~1 ncso. and kept out of the klt- chen. She w as e. lit · ~ l e afraid or mama. r.u.a•s n.mnesa re m inµed her of pupa, ot Urs. Singer, the -r1ay she r;o.J.ked, her voice sharp, the sorious loo k on he:r face. Beatrice left her alono. She p layed w i th Birdie moat of tho time. Th 1,;; re uere no storic;a, no dressmaking tor the dolla, no ha p py ga lil es in tho stores. "? :hen mama sto p pG d to tall;: uith t h e nei e hbors, she sent Beatrice off some- . 1 h ero. It was atraneo seoing maua like th a t. She couldn't get used t . o it. It \":as like ma1ll8 .· bei.: 1 g sick. S he waited, oishing maiaa nould get well soon. She didn't have to r:ai t lon e; . 'bma was ot.i.ll niaca, af't • ;) r all, still · Ka.tie old girl. For if pup a T1as more ce.refUl about his dates dom1tc w n uith the boys for a while, it r; e s only for a little while, and tlWl1ll knew th a t, tlUOh as she tried to keep lDr now role firm mi d co r 1vinci.ng. You can•t teach an old dog new tricks, he told hor eoJ,q, as soon a s he thought it vm s safe to dock himself out in bis holidq f:1.I1ery o nce more, and when mama dreo her~elt up to t ~ pb.raid him, something in his smlo and look c u t he r short and she realized she "t'l llS no match for him, stc-ulding barefoot a n d in her nightgor;n before a papa already combed and groOllled and cologned and set to go, Tl It 1 s a \'ionder you dor.:.' t realize how old a dog 1ou a.re, she said, 7ou, a man of forty, with three children and one almost a young l.adyl Getting dressed like a dandy' and carrying on like a tiild 7oung buck without 8Jl1' responsibilitiesl A man has to have his · tun, he chuckled and gave her an extra ten spot to go out nnd buy herself something and be a good girl. Then there was a big event in the neighborhood and everybody torgot about J'e.DD1• Even the children tc.ok to betting. Some said a girl, aome said. . ' a boy. The v1omen gossiped about nothing else. Uhen it's that oig in front and nothing showing in the back, all right, you'll see. Beatrice tried to find out what it was all about, but even Ben chased her away-. Now Bee, y1e•re talking secrets, just for boys, you can•t stay. And then one day- eveeybocq · crowded in front ot the brownstone house across the street, tall:ing in ~:xcited . . whispers and waiting, and Beatrice knew it had something to do with Mrs. F'ey .. . . nolds, the new lady VJ ho had moved inC>o that house about a month ago and whoa she had seen many times and . thought very nice. 'l'he people t1ho lived in the row of private, two-storied houses across the street were considered rich and Beatrice often woadered why papa and mama didn't live on that side. . . fhe;y were nice to look at,T1ii· : J:l ". tt:ieir high stoops, tall win a o\1s, pointed roots . . and basement areasJ some hci.d gardens both front and baok and i1; waa nice to see trees sticking up behind the houses. It was like having a private park right at your back-door. · She walked across tl!e street and stood on tiptoe, tryir~ to see over people's heads i nto the windO\'I on the first noor. S~denl.7 a short,crippled old man ap,earcd nnd someone so.id, the doctor, and the crcmd made "' fq tor him on ~he sidm-Jalk and tha £Jt&irs, lllld aomeona oalled,good luck, doctor, and spoke to him o.s ho passed and then llughed 1 and after he Tient inside everyucdf bocams quiet a~a.in nnd kopt looking and \ 'i &itins until tho door opened and someone came out. Tuins. The \70rd spread q~ckly, loudly5 t ~ :. • ohildren jumped up and dovrn; a v1oman screnood f~ith luughter; friends kissed and hu t med each othor. The cror1d coved c.ris:y from tLo house, looking relieved nnd ba : J PY'• T\ · rins. That me~t two children. A boy and a cirl,mama oaid. Bo a. trice could hardly wait to see them. She had never seen t\1ins bo£oro. A brotbor her onn ago, who looked just like herJ \1~ didn•t 7ou have t\1ins, she asked. I d:i.d, l.mima. snici, · bei'ore Addie. They dled right after they were born. Bc!l.trioc ga:Zed, her mouth wide open \'lith sstoniabt48nt. 'l'wins, ?::.ame , s he repeated, unable to grasp this new thoucht, they diecl1 Tr:o boys; mama ·snld ~ adl;: - , auch st1eet li · t;tle babies, thq came too soon. ~'.~~at do you mean? Bee.trice asked, froVlnillB• You woul d n't understcnd, rr~ auid and turned a~ay. ( T\'lins, ~nw., two boya, tuo brothers, before Addie - She ran ufter mamri to ask how old they n o u ld be now. tet•s seeJ ma.i:na began f.i..£.tllrine years, moi:.ths, anniversaries. Bea.trice izai ted J . mp · : tiently • Fourteen, t i hy t:amai And l'ilbe felt cheated, s .. lddeuly, c.a tl1ouch aha b a d Juot. been ro b b:)d ot tno big brothero. And she l o oked so hurt, so c r ; nfused and . . s u r r ,rised and iildi 6 .nsnt - h~ she would have loved them, ha• they v:ould have playod tiit,h her - that mama blld to la ·1.4gh . \' ?9 You \'Jouldn•t be here 1t tbey had lived, she said, and maybe Ben neither. Again, Beat1 .. ice lco k ed ctu~~ound.Gd.• W hat do you mean? she st2111n 1 ered. • I mean, began rrLWllS. with an exasperated sigh, then laughed beartil,y 1 seeing Beatrice's ta.co. · lfovor · mind, wait till you're a mother. Beliove me, three•a enough& . And she eave Beatrice a playful . slap behind and sent her en an orra.nd. But t1hen Bea~rice saw Mrs. P..e~ ,r nolds ti heeling a double carria g e a few ' weeks l.El.ter, sh~ know at last t1bat ell the secret ~ste17 w u s .: .:. bout. She ran up the stairs and · into the house, brimming with discovery. l b. ma 17& ~ talking to Addie i n the dining-room. Mama, I know where the ttlins came from, she · sang• M!: ' tla and Addie looked at her in aiJS.zement. From. l trs. Reynold•s bolly 1 she yelled a.ml cla.pped he1 ~ ht\!Wa. l i l ama bit her lip, trying not to emllo, teoling ~ dciie•s oyes searching her face. Is tMt · so, s h e said, and r :h a t makes you think so? Beatrice tossed her head, proud or being BO 8 4 1 1.Elrt. Bece. u se bef'o1 ~ e she \·ms rat and nO'.-: she's s~, that's uhyl JJama bogCLn to laugh and .Addie and Be a trice joined her. Attar a mo m ent, L" ..ama sto1Jped to v;ipe the . tears rrom her eyes. You foolish child, th a t•s because she's we a ring a neu oorsetl And aw .ma · started t o la u gh lauder and harder tbrui ever• Of course B~ a trice ~ ouldn't believe it, ea p eoiall.1 w hen Addie m ade believe she mis gro ':7 n-up, too, and sai d , you foolish child, don•t you knotf the. stork brings b 3. bies? Sure, sa.id ms.ma, you onv the doctor carrying his eatohell But the7 • 80 couldn't fool herl Non she knew it \'lasn•t true abou1; Dr. Rausch aDd &le waa Ver"/ ha ; .. py that she had come from inside mama because that made her macs.• a for real, and that•s all she oared about. They nere cuta babies nith cute names, Paul and Pol.JJ', and Be&trice liked to walk ne:ct. to Mrs. Reynold~, holding one ot the carriac;e }lall(Ues. She ,1atched them breathe anxiousl.1', and rthon they tell asleep, ahe grew ttorried. Are P r. .ul and Polly ell right! she as k ed and Ura. Reynolds would m:dle and 111- sure her . they w~re. She told mama it was wonderful how rruch Bee.trice loved the tnins, and VJhen she sot re a dy to take thet11 to the countcy" for the summer, she asl-=od if Bea·irioe could come along tJi th them. 'i J ould you like to go? DJllr.18. asked, but Beatrice kneTI she could never loave ms.ma, even to be with tho t\rins. · L hy can•t we aU go'l suggested Urs. Reynolds, then it \'1ould he perfect. It would be so good tor you as 'Well aa the children, 7ou could use a rest, and cs for the expense, it wouldn't be Jr.Ore than stayiDg at home in the bot city. Ploase think it over G.lld talk to l'ir. Berger, wontt 70U't Baatrico is so good with tho twinsJ they'll miss her, and I'll miss her, too. And ':Jhen p apg, car 1 1e home, Beatrice repeated eveeytl11ng Mrs. Reynolds had said irnd ttore. Pa p a, · you h r::. ve no idea how benu"c;iful it iGI They have a barn and cm-;s and chickens and treas and eveeythinel And 1t 1 s so cheap tl11d good for us. ?.'lama needs a rest. And look ho\1 skinl'J1' Addie is. And I still have a lot to Bro.1. And the t-;;ins aro so cute. r.trs. Reynolds asked ma to come but I said no, didn't I, n.ama'l So tie c a n all go, can•t we, papa? -. - A lauyer,. by Ood, he said and pinched her clloo!t. And ahe vaa ao happ7 thut bis answer meant yes, tr.at she hugged his neck tight and kissed hia cheek all over, then danced ell around the room, singing I lmaw, I knew it, t1e•re all going to the counteyl Sl And they did, m&tilB. bavi~ decided she ~d baon Katie old girl lons enoueh. · Ir I don•t S!)end it.t he will, she said, halt-arguing to heraeli. · ua ga;ublea ' andd.'"inks when I•a home, aeyway-, so wh7 Ghould I worcy when I'm am•y'l ~ nay~ at least, the children can get some good out ot 1t. But she wasn't able to lee.vs \1ith Urs. Reynolds bocaWJe Ben and Addie etill h~d another VJeak of school and there nere many things to bu7 and do to get the house in order and - Bentrice grew restless, countJ.nc the do.ys. She became S'J.eh a psst thu:t. mwaa asked it pa p a couid take her to the office tor a day. I 1 ve got to finish tlis shopping and get the trunk packed or it'll nevor go otf 1 she said irritabl,J. Uhat•ll I do with her1 papa demanded at the door • . · She can see the stablesJ you can get someoAe to take her aro~l It made Beatrice feol very 1.Dportant to be walklng to businesa · ~ith papa. I She took long steps to keep up ui th him, forcing her teat to count tno to every pavement square. Ste p!) ing on c llne was bad luak and she crossed. her fineers every time she did bece.uae she was walking too fast to be caretul. It nas euly in the morning ~d there t:as still the SI38ll of l ~ st night's rain . . . in the air. The streets wore an after-bath brir;htnesa and cleanness and sho felt ha~ -~ py to be\'l\lking with papa. '.rhey didn't talk, t h ey Just moved aloug at c. quick stride and before she k..'le\1 it they were there. 82 !rhe office iiSS on a street full of trees and lioode n houaos. There were horses a nd v a gona ~ined up against tho sidewe.lk in front of the stable and there gas a nice fresh smo ::.. 1 co~ from it. T\11ce, papa ato_-:ped to po.t a horse and Bea ti•ice ~u him take some lumps of sugar troa his poc lte t &nd put them, palm-up, to the horse's mouth. Itff1Ve her a tuney teollng to see papa pat the horses and put his hand u p t · . : · their m o uths. Sr.ie wished she could do ~hat but ~he felt afraid to, they were so big, throueh their eyes were ge~tle and she likOd the was their taila suished from aide to side. !hen papa too~ hor illside the st.able e.nd thex•o were many moro horses t-..nd nngons and . . she sa.u _ a man in overalls washing the floor Tlith a lons brush that he dipped into a pail or w a ter. Papa called him Mike and tli.kG sb c c.k her band very nlcoly. He h~'4 ~ Jolly round f'ace v lith pink che e ks and blue eyea and ha laugLecl a lot. · ; : hen she left she stlid goodbye, Mike, and he laughed so1r&& more and said co L~ e back and, seo me again, I•m alway _, here, that right, tlr • .Berg e r' . ' And p ape. w aved hi3 h~ ~ said, right on the Job o.J.l the time, and then thq went up a flight of t1ood.Sn steps alongside the stable and ca.me into papa• s of'i'ioe. There tJere a few rooms there and papa unlooked. one of them that ha.cl a little wiudcm c e go you could look through. lie let Beatrice sit on a high . stool in front of a slanting tr , bl~ so that ahe could see out the cage. '.i:hen he took oft . his ja.c k at, rolled up hia sleeves and sat down at a big desk. After a \7hile, he g i ve h~r sollle .Pu1- or and a nice neu yellow . pencil which he sharpened \11th hia pocketknife to a neat ~mooth point and told her ahe could do ~; h c. tov a r sho liked because ~~ ht , d a lot of wor~ to do, o.nd then he opened a big book and began hwnr:tlng ov o r . a paee. She tried to start tti th a pioture ot the horse and wia~o n o n the s · i;ro e t but it didn't come out right, ao she erased the ~ . -- ·-··. linos, then put the paper underneath the others when papa nasn•t ]...old.ng be- cause it w as Ol .. oe.aed and~. and then ohe started OYer on a nice cl.eon she e t to :.: rite all t he v 1 ords and numbers she ltner1. Papa car&lf) over to eee uhat she ';JC13 doing and sa.i.d she waii dolrls tine, but the:t. she could do bettor if she stayed on the lines, and he showed her how. B7 then, llisa Scott, the . . 83 bookkeeper, C&le in, and after shakiriebD.nds and saying n {J od-morning; papa shewed her the (~ aper Beatrice bad written on. lli.s Scott seemed surprised and said, she m us~ be a very S i. i C.rt little 51rl, and asked if s b e \;as eoing to be a bookkeeper, t : · o, when she urew up. Beatrice blushed and oa.id obe didn't knou. Then Lli~s Scott hu113 her bat near a small Jllirror at t~ vind0\1 1 put a smock over her ~ s s and rolled some paper around h e 1· nrists with rubber bands. She smiled at Beatrice as she v1alked to a smaller desk neur papa's and aat do 1 Jn. The desk rolled back and there vas a typewriter on it. Beatrice w atchod tlias Scott•s i"i ~ · : ers jum,t; up and down as the typev 1 riter tic k ed tro m s ide to side, Then sbo s·tarte.d o n the llext sheot to ma : : e her words and numbers sit on the lines the way po.pa had shc. · 1e cl her. Iato1·, p apa ss k ecl Miss Scott to bring Beatrice a glass ot milk and it uas tun drinld.na out or a strau in papa• s of'f'ice. A fm7 driver::; oa.'!tG in to ask p~pa about delive1 .. y orclers and they all loo ~ :ed a: li hor ot triousq. M iss Scott said she \7ilS .Llr. i3e rgor• a little Eirl and OOLlO ot them said oh. Dea'b·ico wo r i.dered w 'h y r ~ u oa Scott• s voicE"J clw.nged when s h e tal k ed into the tolephoneJ soaetimes s h e held h er hand over it aud talked to pa pa, then chaneed Iler volce t1hen she took h o r hand a w ay• Her voico nas di i 'fere.at \1hen she spoke to tho drivers, too • . Beatrice ke pt s t aring at her and when lliss S cott loo k ed b u c k &lld smiled, De c. trice u:a ae believe sh e w a s loo!d.ng at the wall, feeling ombarre.s- - ---- - I I \· : \ ! And when p2pa tco ~t her in to moot tlr. Schumnn, s u e noticed tl.nt hia T o ~ co VJ ~ B dif'l"erent, t •, o, end ohe know pn pa wanted her to make a good ippreso1on bo- on.use Mr• S chuPann r.'as the boao. So she put on h o r Ter~ best smilo, mde a curtoy 'f?ho t1a:1 i ~ ddie h ::i d tu.ught her to do and said, how do 7ou do, Mr. Sohucaann, I•m very glad to fl!cet 70u. ?Ar. Schu.-:ai:in•s face wrlnklecl all around hio 91e~, . his eyobrotcs t,;cnt up and hca nodded tu papa a fou times, so Bhe knn it waa all rieht. Thc11 hG sci.id he w~ sor.1.·~ · ha hadn't kncrun &l i e WGUi coming or he would havo some .: i;,hing llice to give her. 'lhen he rominded biraselt and oa1d oh )'ea, and hG too '. . a ~ckel out of l d.a pocket, b\4t Beatrioe oaid no, thnnk 7ou, I'm not nllow e d to take money from .Jtr::4lger3. And p a. pa chucklad and got rod in tbe i'ace und t:ir. : ;chum..vi.n lean3cl back in hia chair cmd laug h ed and oaid, thc.t•a richt, I'L1 sor-::y, l>l<:ase oxcuse me, nnd he put t!1e nickel back in hia poclrot right th.in ~ and gavo bar t w o nickel~, ill!!tead, and ho · 1ooked vory .Jlea3ed a.nd she nes clad. It \ias r :i ike who took her over to the · bakery building. It waa on the s aae street, a fe11 doora a wa y. P ~ pn seid ho tJc..d sono wcr k to cio and cculdn't go with her and told I: iiite to toke cere ot h er lunch. It • : l1a a bi.j p l.nee 1 tull ot nloe ar..olls, a11d ovc: cy body r i as very nice to her. B ike said a u e :.s a triond or llis, one of M . n.•s kids, end e h e liked the r;ay tao7 wiped the flour oft their handG au.d ge.vo hG>r a rrie~ ~shake. They t. ·· ok her ~ round an d shcr;led her T1hcre tho bread ~., as made and i -:.a.v the cakes Ct\Lle out of t he OTeD. sholve~. Th ~ ro wore lo n e ta~les tull ot tlour and doue h nnd boxes ataakod tJith tins. Ono of t h o b:i..k~ ~ rs bro u ght her a roll apread w ith bu tter, a J co o !tio o.u.d a bie altis :a o f mlk. l :i. ko lift,ad bor up on a ta " 1 l• lUld a S::c d h o-:t ohe lit r ed her lunch, It '<. ne1 a very nice lunc h a rul s "i 1 0 ll!;ed beil15 tllo ro. 85 'lb.en she gre·: ; hot aud said sr · . e would like to go now and 1t was nice coming out into tho Street azein and feeli~ tho f're~h air a ~ ainst her WlU"lll cbeek8e · Pe.pa took hC:Jr home esrly and the first thing aha did was to go to tbl b a throom, glad to see the white sent again. li.1aJDa said he should hnvo taken her to the ·toilet in the office but paEJa said hed i forgotten beCD.l:lS• a man couldn't think ti.bout such things. Then . he m e de B& ~ · t.rice l1a 4.or1n to rest and he did the same thing. Tlw.t df11' vJas something to think about and it J.i;sted her till the time came to go to the oount17. . . Then everything happened so fast that she didn't have time to think about . . anyth ;:. ng. Addie a.nd Ben te.lked about their tests and promotions o.nd roport cards and presents .f'< r their teachers. Mama \"las bus1 pack1118 1 oamphor1ng . . the draisers ~ closeta,coverµig/turniture, tryillS to get the trun k otr,. I wish I'd nev e r started this buainess, she so.id. Tbe country~ What's tho mtter with the ci tyt Haven• t ne managed to s · ttl1 home e"fer:/ sum: .: er until nou? By the time I get to the country, I'll need a vacation& 'l'hen papa bogan to oooplain. Whose idea was it in· the first place! Did die thi.Dk it was goiJls to be ~ picnic £or him) eating his meal.a out, being alone in the house, and all . th ... tT But finally the da.y crime and t h ey all got into a to.xi and drovo to the . . railuay st a tion. Beatrice wns quiet all the way. It Tlas all so new and stral'l8e th e. t. she didn't Jcnoo whether ehe liked it or not. She bet;an to miss th~ house and the street rieht awey. She \1ouldn • t have l1Jl1' Birdie or Elsie or EW:la t o play \11th any mo?"e. Her bed would be all alone. The kitchen would be elilpty, the stove; the icebox. 'l'hen, too, trains meant 'bei.qg sick and eettins tired, r.iud hot1 t r. i.r vas it to the country nnyt1nt1 It Tl!l.S a different °kind ot train, she aaw that at once. It T i as bigaer I \ ·1 and the seats were nice and sort, red, ar.d you sat aidc\Jaya to the wil'ldoa. They sa.t in the train at the station a 10113 time and a man came lr/ to see their tiokets. Me r.1B looked worried · ancl her f'aoe nas all pink e nd 'lot. P a pa · nas dressed in a _ ilhite shirt and . knic ;co rs and socks and s r ;Ort; sboeoJ he didn't seam to mind the hoat or anytl.dng. W hen the cond ~ otor pa3seci 1 papa t.old mmaa to relax nou, bu.t s h o snid, you can ta.llt, and she ooul.dn•t stop wondorin8 if she h ::! d forgotten an ;: tb103 at home and she fussed over the lunch bag and the children's coe.ts and looked in h o r pocketbook to oeo it everythinc was there and V1hen the conductor passed a g ain she asked if 1t t: as the ri e ht train to the rieht station. · Then the trair . started and there uere many tracks ari d it u as ~light once more and it t i C.G tun seeing evar yt l line run sideways o.ud bac lw ards. Until the tunnel c w; 10 and t h e re -.: a s o. terrible smell, much. norse than t he subtzay, e.nd the ears ba.ug0d s hu t e.u d :i.t v ; as dark o u tside the •1i 14 d0 \7 and the train roared. Then she and Den chanced se .::.. ts n ith p tt pa beca.u~e L!W1IQ said i t · : 1 oul.c1 be better tor t ]1. em to ride fori r. a.rds and Ben put hi ~ arm around he x ·, and s!le roll a s le e p leaning against him. ';~ ho n s h e auoke it w as time to e a t c.nd t he train m us · stiµ goinf! v m . .. y fast, only · non there -.; ere fields or erass and tre e s ellli hill• outside t h e uiudow a1 1 d sae :knEn7 t h ey w e re cod : ig into the country• S he could b.erc:1l3 w ait to soe t he ·t w ins and war.ia. talked abo ut the co w s and chic k ens and fresh fruits end va e ota b les. Then 4i ddie s a id t h ere must be a rming in the orchard or at l eas t ~ ham m ock and Be r 1 said he clilln• t o e .re so lol'l6 as there w a s a p :i .aco to pl a y ball and a place to swia.e · And they c; ot all excited ago.in ,. and c ama s m il ~d and said t h ere u e. s no p l.s ee like t h e country for children and hot1 gla d s he t1as to h a ve a rest. Then tho7 as k ed v: ha t abo u t pa pa , mu st he e o back, and pn pa said, \ 7 h o •s g o i ng to pa.y tor t h is if I don't nor k , and mama -~ ·- - - -- ----c- ... . ' 87 said he didn't oa.ll t:hn.t he did \1ork, a.nd beaides, be wo.,. cooing up fl'I0%7 t r eel~end. So they were all talkl.ne and laughing and enjoying the acenert whan their station came e.nd it looked as though they wero going to bnve o. wonder- :f'",2l: time tor a change. They had to take t\·10 rooms in the annex been.use the main bouoe \7aa f\lll• Papa \~as aunoyed about that. The rooms in the a.ruwx seeced small e.nd drab to him but JDalllS. • tdd 1 what's the differonce, we•re only goine to sleep 1n theme, So the;r had the auitco.ses sent up and the ~ thing tha'b \1orried ar.ama vaa what to do 'flith the ~>:.when it oamo becauee there r.o.s hard]: , room to tln"n around . . and the trunk. s:l.mply nouldn~t . tit anynhere. Be E. trice wao dis ~ }loted. The wall pa!)er was cracked and faded, the floor uas baro, the coiling ge.a stained o.nd creepy looking and she didn•t like having a sink in the same ro o m with the beds. The main. house \'las much better thnn this dump. The dining-room n n s the1•a and the ., · playroom and tre parlor end there was a gre t: t big porch around it c:nd the grounds trera full of trees and grass and flor;er:i. Dump, 8he r ev eated after papa, just s!!l: ) ll rooms f'ull of strange people awl nc : t · even a pri~.te toil.at nnd b a th. P a pa v:a.s rizhtt wey eo a-.. • zay it you oan 1 t get oomething as good a.a hose at least? But the t\1ins were t h ere and outiug in the dining-roon ta-aa tun and 1 t t1aa · nice havir.g a ,· . ai ter bring in eJJJthi,ng iou t:1anted. S he J.il:ed being vi th . th• erm1n-upsJ a. li e was h:..ngry t ha t firot meal and ato c.-vor-Jthing, thon mana snid sh9 could begin eating in tlla children's dining rvoa tooorrcm and Addie snickered behind her no.pl::in. That made Bee.trice madJ she 'f i aan•t goiJJg to eat vdth a lot or babiool She wna just u.s good as Addie any- tiael rhere Wtla ! '. . . . . ' · . . ~ 88 some trouble about going to bed, too. wq couldn*t she a~ up 1t Addie could? Because I'm six yee.rs older than 70u, that's whyl ~t•a no reason, it's not i'airl Scat-soat-scat sUd Addie, clawing the air, you're just a jealous cat. Then they ha~ a fie;ht and papa aaiO., all right, the.t• s enough, all of 7ou, 8.lld he ~ent the three of them to bed. lhma had a hard tim, with Addie crying and sayiDg it 11aa all that little inseot•s fault, then mara whispared something in hor ear and Addie stopped crying and said, prvmiseT And mama winked and shook her head. Aftonardo- Beatrice got in Ben•a bed bocause Addie kept calling h e1• names and being menn, and thon tlle7sw tl11nga flying and creeping all aver the room and Ben ao.id, what are you scared on Huh, girl.al And he Jumped up on tho beds and uen~ leaping about with a tcmal, whacking at the bUBs, while . . Addie . hid unde1'" the eheet and soreawcd. · Be R trice thought Ben v1as wonderful, ao bravel The next daf . was beautiful and Deatrice had a eood tim& pl.eying uith the twina. She m u <le lots of friends in the children•a dining-room arJd the7 wellt . romping in the orchard. It was tull or apple trees. You could see little green balls through the leaveo. There tiere some big ones on tho cround but the • seeds r1Eiro still r:hite and they- tasted bitter. Later,a bsll rang and ev e rybodi' ran to the mcd r. ~ porch to get some cilk. It was in a bi i cari and the noman poured it into gl c ssca sa~ ~ in · ;;t ft \7as fresh i'rom t l: e co ; -: e.nd a· ~ i 2 .l r ! aN• Boetrice ho.d three glasses .tull; it nas awee:t end vary good. ~ho.n the children too !i; turns swiilGi!1g in the lul~ock and using the seesaw. Ot course the big children got the1"e firat, but Dary had a ted~ bear and Beatrice bad ber toy d~shea, oo the tuo of them played house most ot the morning. Addie shoTled 'Li.p , with a dairy chain around l!er head and neck. She and Dott7 and mldrcd had - -- .... ~--- - 4 .. _____ .....__. -· .~. been in tho f'ield. She 'Danted to give mama a chain but mam a:iid, wey not give it to Beatrice, bit Be e. trice didn't want it ~cause Dotty was going to show her hoVI to make one herself. ~hen lunch tiae came, Be n triee wasn't reeling walls she didn't nant anything to eat. "Addie said, she's onl,y saying the-.t because she wants to oit with WI in the big dining-room, but it wr.sn•t true bscause Beatrice really looked sick and even though mama let hor sit nith the grown-upa and it \";QB a special dinner \11th lots ot extra courses and good thinBs to eat, Bentrice just ant there .f'eoling sick all over. ?~r.19. said it nas the apples or too tn10h milk. Papa said it was the change from tho cit1. Addie said castor oil would be good. Thon filrs. Reyn o lds · and soiile other ladies c~ma over to the table aud the7 looked at B ~ atrice and be~n a .; vis~ ilh at to do. And richt after lunch, rmoa took ber into Mrs. Rose ts room uhich was next to tbe din1 ng-room facing the porch and Be a trice b ~g an crying because she didn't want ma.tila t o undresa her in . front . of everybod1' nith tl~e \;indow Tl1de open. And the wonen had to hold hor while ma.ma gave her an enema mid sho Tias never so W.serable i!i all her lii~e. She heard the children laughing behind tl:e dra u n curtains and she was sure they wera laughing at her. The v;omen ke p t hushing and talkill8 to her, s sying she t1as too big to cry and thc.t they were on4r trying to h~p h t; r tor her own good and toot it didn't re~lly hurt, and loo ~ ~, the bag 1a almost empty. Sho hated them, bated thoir make-believe voices while she was hurtina so badJ.v ·. Only ma.ma who loved her kn&\'l hov; she f'olt 1 e.n.d she foll asleep, aobbiDg against mamt•a sort, ltind breast. Pepa kissed them goodbye earl.y in the morninc 'llhile the1 were atiil 1n bed and told them to be gc:od children. He rian ted to bear llJ.co things about I them when he or·me back ne>..-t week. It seemed strange to ~ve h1a 181' goodbfeJ at home he never c~ to their bedroom to kiss them goodbye in the moming. Tb6n Bea.trice remembered it was tor a nholo ueek and went back to sloop again. Beatrice lik~d the countey. Th~ ground \las soft, all cove1·ed with grass and earth. It \'188 much nicor than a streot. Here• 70\1 could aee the sky wherever you looked. It Tias · a bigger s)q than the aslq 1:n the city and it hed a much prettier pbape, eu.t . out ot curved hills and to.ll trees on one side and ave~ trimmed on the other side b7 straight wide tiolds. And 70\1 - . could make o.ll kinds of pictw.·es out of the clouds, anir;ials and houses and • people, and the air v:as Ml of different colors. In the mornin8 the air was · gro.y and yelloo, from very ~ark to very light. ~he c;rass was tull ot tiq bubbles ~ when 7ou touched them your tiug~rs got wet and the bubbles diaap- pearod. Addie said it vms dew, but she couldn't e}:plain it. LbnB said the7 were fai.rT beads a.~d not to walk on them till tle fairies had col ~ ectod tbom or t!:i.e beads would be broken • . Iou couldn't seo the fa.irieputlesa 7ou had verr good oyes~ but sometimes, whon Bea.trice closed her eyes half'-tvay 1 she could see them moving around bahind the tlcmers. She wondered what it '\'1a.s l.1ko to be a f'airy and live in thQ country all the t!Iue. Afternoons wore nhite, al- most silver. Leave3 1 rooks, w~ter, houses, people's arma and fa:es - everything had a white shino. Unless it rained and then everything chongcd t o green, from pale like apple to al.1110 ;.;; t black like rock. But b : . at of all was when the . . da)T \1ent to sleep and before .nieht came. It began slOT1l,y with a sort blue haze that deepened and changed to pink, then become orange, thon brown, then a light IJUI'.Ple mixed with nll the other colors, and the air fell like a thin curtain '7S.Ving before your eyes. It had r1.u1ning lines and ~dots thnt ~ -- - ,.. · - · . . . , 91 70ur eyes couldn 1 t follc;:w beca~e they fell so tast. But it tzaa da7 going to sleop under veils and veils of color, and then it was cool'and nothi?lg r1aa lort but the . shad<>y1s of the t:ind dancing into the nieht. Dusk. She l0'1e4 the ~1hispering softness ot it. Dusk, . like dust. Sabb. And the whole sq falling · through · the air. And all the ani m:;ils and . people ·in the sky folloriine the sun, going behind tlle curved hills to sleeps the sheep, tba gia.nt snake, the old man ni"lih . tJ 1 e long beard, the bia bear, the ehapes without names be- cause she could not give them aey. Her sky world diaa p pesred and the atara came out, like lights in houses far awq when 70u couldn't see tho uilld0'.1s. Then it nas hard to go indoors, to sit on ~ chair at a table in a ro -. 11 closed by walls with a roof and a floor, to heur ordinar;y voices of people talking and see them moving around 3ust as alwq~, to go to sleep in a small bed - and all the · \" : orld outside. But 70u could close your eyes and fly out \ the uind0t1 and be r;hatevcr 7ou r,anted, wherever. It was lovely the wa1 it happened. She }?.ugged her secret close. One minute ~ou nerc there, getting ~ashed and undressed; 10u saw m~ma and Addie, heard Ben•s goodnicht. Then 7ou waited til;L luidie stopped moving around and pulU118 the blanket. The door is closed, ma.ma bas g one, the sounds are those i.J f people movine and talk:l.ne inside the ho u se. And then. Outside there• s · a lf\YSterious silence. The strange world of night has come. Thure \ · 1111 be ge.y sones and de.noes, fairies dressed . in colors. Fire uill be there like tips or go.a light and the faces ot the u tars and the laughter ot f'10t1ers. Fis h \7ill come out ol the aoa. Birds Y:ill f'l.1' doun from the trees. From all over the world, beautiful peopJ.e and animals t:ill come. And now Beatrice is getting re ~ : d¥ to leave, too. And-nor:. Good- bye 1 Addie, goodbye, room. .·. , I ,. . ~ 92 And one minute she TZD.S there. And then ohe wasn•t. And just when 1\ ~ pp enad, she couldn•t romeober the next morning. It ~°'' a secret. She tried to find out what the 3ocrot was. She T:ouJ.d make be l ieve a..li.e we.a sleep- ' iD£h then peelc. Be !l. trice, watch~.ng he 1 self, one eye open, one closed, wanting to be there rihen she went awq and there when she came ba.ok,not knc w ing haw it hE:.ppened, remembering onl3 that ahe hC!d been there wniting 1 thinldng, now I . 1 JD asleep, ncr.'1 I•m going away, ~ then tailing asleep without knowing when. or It bacame a game. In the morning, when she woke, 1he tried to go baok, to be there. t'~hat ha . d happened? \lhere had she beont How I'm sleep1ng, now I 1 m coming back. And she d1dn 1 t nant it to be morning yet, with Addie pushing her and ~on tJhiatliqg an '.1 mama ccming in to help them dress. And sometimes she \·1ould lie thero with her eyos shut tight, not v 1anting to h~nr or see or be e.v1ake in &V r:a.y, trying to ao bac :: , co11centmt1ne, last night, just borore. And somethins in her dream that she uould rememb e r s~ddenly made hor uonder if tho.t had re1; 1 U, h a ppened or not. fhe monke7, of course& And ahe 'llould spring out of bed to see 1t ho \'1as &till there. It was diaa p pointing to find him gone. She hoped ho would climl9 bac k , · And mama, seeing hor smile, would ask what she was thinlri~ about, but she would shake her · head and laugh. It was a secret. J:.nd shs coulcln't holp thinking th ~ t papa m13bt bring ' har the mo11lte7 the ne~~ ti.mo he came up from t h e city, and she thoueht how the;y would \ 7 alk and play ball er.d eat peanuts together just as th07 had in her dream, It nas .f\Ull\Y how dif'~ c rent nerybodJ" was axoopt Paul and Po J. ly , . , ho were the samo because they were 'ti?ina. Mrs. Rooe had oranza colored ha .:i. r alld though sho . as te.t she 't'l asn•t tat like tirs. r. eaver vho had black hair tied in 93 a knot on top cf her head. And i t waan•t because their names wore different. There ttas ~r-:cy t.."ie maid and ~ Josephson with 11hcm sbe played and they r;eren•t the se. m o ~ 1 e.ey. No, it t ~ as because the7 were made dif'ferent that the7 ·; ere different. Tall, short, te.'t• sk~, atraight nose, · cr--::o k ecl nose, small eyes, big oyes, c u r~ hair, brat1n hair, ways of ~alking, \'70.ys ot ta.lking - ahe beenn to notice · the diti'erences. Then oue day, t"i:o men ca.me into the dinine-room to play and the one at tl:e piano was blind. He sang and pl.a¥ed at tho same tillo and everyone said how marvelous it TJas. Boatriao wobdercd h • A7 he cot i lcl find the right piano rwtos it he couldn't ace ar.d she wont war to ti&tch him. Re sr.rl.led at her and his eyes were open blind and then slie aaw t1ie mail v;ho was playiDg the violin .looking at her and sho f'olt a~bamod and went back to her table 1 and af·~rmlrdS when the two men left 1 she g aw tho blind Jiia.i1 holding the other man's arm. Then she l~new there tmre even more dit!'e~nces between peo r •le sn . .i she thouzht it w ws terrible to be blind. Ui:.m said, be- . it lievo m~, \18 don•t lt'..now v1hen we•ro v1ell off ,/I gave him o.ll -iq monoJ, I 1 d still be rioh. And she told the ohildron never to laugh at such poor people beca.uae you nover could tell, and it was better to be good to them. Beatrice felt veey sad about the blind man and she couldn't understand horz the people wero able to enjoy his nones, even thoui;h he had l:!Elde them sound lively and ~. She thought it v e 'f:'1 s·iirange. Then papa cmno back for the next week-end and they were 1111 glad to aee him · though ha v1as hot and sticky and could hardly bear to kiss them bec a use · 1 t he.d been such an unco:ntortable train ride and the ci t7 hrui been a11f'..il. The first thing I , . ,ant is a r.iim 1 he so.id, so he oha .. 'J.Bed into his be.thing suit 6nd. thay r1 ent d011n to the stream to watch him. He didn't filim; he just stood in the uater and spJ.a3hed it aYer. bis area and face and chest, then cU. LJ ped ·- 94 down to his Bhouldars a teu times and turned ovar c, n bis back tofloa.t. It uaa ~ to see his bel.J3 ride on topJ it looked like · a big rubber ball. .. Papa's being t h ere gave them something to talk e.boutJ they didn't run ~o~ so auch or make so much noise. llama got thom all dressed up tor him because she wanted thom to look their b t: at. Don't you think they've eatned? isho said, She sat v 0 ry tall at the table, lookins proud. All the le.dies came r . ver to sn.1 hello and to ask bow thewoather nas·in the cit y beca.use their husbands cou.ldn' t come up till the next dtq' • They thought it was w onder- • tul that papa could get away 01~ Friday and told him he was luclcy' 1 though he pretended it was nothing at eJ.l. It w a s a ciuiet ueek-ond except .tor Saturday nieht whon there vaa soma entertainment tor the graan-ups. None o.t the children were ~1od · to a~ up and A ddie co m plained tb.o.t she wa3 missing everything. W.sa who.t, mama ex- olaLoed, you kl!.01'1 w e don•t dance& Papa ' 1 ill look for a game ot pim1oohle o.nd. I'll probabJ.T nit with t h e wornen and toll oome stupid jokes. I 1 d rather go to bed, ni, y se~. And the next da7 milm3 . complained about the way papa was btul d in:; drinks out to ever'".fbod1' • , . . As though it w a a water. A t · evocy meal, he has to sho w otf. Such a sport. Ooenc-:c, l!onnesael', wine, wpat not. Vi by must. you bring it to tho tablo 1 just to be popular? . All right, I have it ~d they don•t, he ans r ;ered and beckoned to someon e \1ith his bottle. But mama didn't show anybody how she f'eltJ she .nodded and smiled a.nd e.t eve r y toast . soJ.d, here•s health, or, drink heartil.y. Tlm.t t1aa to be sociable, Be ~ trice decided. Evocyboey lilted pe.pa because ho \ -; as so soci a ble. ~hen her birthday came and r a ma made a party tor th• children. and Boat . rice 9; t1aS _ happy to be five year s Old. llama got hor all dressed in Wbitel a Yl hite silk dress t11th puf'fed sleeves and a ~ucked blouse, white silk soc ks and ber n<:m nhite kicl shoes that buttoned all the w~ up to the ankle, and a fresh \'fhite taffeta hair ribbon to clip on hor head. She sang songs and recited for the children and thoy all cla.pped and enjo ~ ,: ed themselves. there wo.e le m onade and ice cre &.m and everyone got a piece of her choco~ate bi:rthda7 co.ke. After- w a rds they pl ay ed the victrola and Beatrice picked out the recorda on the tloor and h.anded them up to a tall boy one by one. She ~as havi.Dg such a good time that · she tried to keep it in because she t1as afraid that ii' she lo!t the room the party w ould be over and she t:ould have to g · o to bod. So sbe eat on the heel oi' her shoe very hB . rd and soon it wu too late. W hen she walked av:ay 1 sho noticed that her shoe w as all green. Then s 0 moone saw the w et circle on the car- p et and tbe children began to laugh and run around to see who it was and \ihen th e y saw Ben trice's shoe thoy 70lled and teased her but she insi:;rted l · it was the le1ri.0nade and that aho had spilled it rieht there in front ot the . 'Vlictrola, hersolt. But mama falllld out differently because her draY J Cll'S were stiµ. net and Beatrice begned her not to tell anybody because she was so ashaui.ed and ri 3 ht at her oon party; and she loo k od so vorried lll'1c1 spoke in such a low serious voice that mama promi s ed to keep it a secret ju ~ t between the two ot them. So v ; hen they came . back t o the bedroom, not h ing t1 aa said to Addie or Den abo u t it, and Beatrice went to bed thinking it \las the best birth~ she had ev e r had. The crass erer1 tell .c.nd :Jocn the children wex·e pla y ing hide-snd-seek in. the fields. It uas fun to go into the g rass and got lost• Bet\ trice liked to hide thoreJ she could arouch tia y d0tm 1 and aeo the top ot tho e rass overh e ad 96 o.nd no one could evar find her• She c~ 1 ld h<:iar them !'luir : ina past her and oho h~ to put ~er. he.nds ov e r her t\01.tth so that they r. o~ldn't hear her lc.ugh!ne. It '10.s like beioz a b ird or a erasshopper or mn.)"be a tai17. Then the one n ho • I . was Ji would call, come er.it.; come out, whorever yoii are, and she \ · ; ot t ld Jump up with 001' e.1"1.nS over her head a.nd shout, here I al&l 1 :pm last1 Dut one ~a1 I she w ent ve1~ far ou.t in tho f'ie~ e.nd even cl'ter thet called Road¥, they l 1 co u l<.tn•t see her bcica.u s e tho erase nas so hieh and sv:CIC.en4" she saw sol'lething very big, then tno of_ the · m, e.nd t h ere · : i aS a twlnJ' ~~se Teey- close to her ears and the c rass moved in front ot her and shQ -: -: ao so scared th£.t she couldn't run e.war e.nd then sho fell down (>r naa knocked dovin and so r : e~ r i cnt over her an4 atterr 1 e.1'.4s she j.ust lay there, trying to CUT• And when the cbil<lren found her, they said 1 t · t 1 as onl~ r a cov: 1 but by then she \'ia& ree.11.f crying and she coiud berdly tmit to get out of _ the f'leld and she rJO'.!ldn't e;o back to play there After that she kept loo k ing under ever;thing to see . it anythiDfi m 1s th e re . ' and she counted the legs under the tabl«i to see t ' 1hose they 1 1 ere and she made m v .ma. take the valises out from under the bed and 'o p en them to make sure. In- sects hidine in da i sies bothend her a lot, t.oo. S ~e o.luays looked tor then "! before she \1ould pick t!'1e petals off to find out if it was yes or no, la-1es me, laves me not. · She t o ok a lone time to get all her petals otr; she ll a d to . . oxe.mine each one t o see if' it waa all rieht to touch. Insects mde her shiverJ sho bltm at the.!ll., sb c ok them of f£, and if t h ere wore too ~ n 7 she threw the fli:r.-1er e.\ 1 ay in dis gu st. It u as a fi ~ ..e sum m orJ she liked the co ~ n't1'7 and ~hen the time cwne to go home she did.ri•t ~: aut to l e ave. But mama said it was ge t ting t r . 1 0 cold at ni e hts - . . and t h era was rain almost every dEly 1 and p a:pa iw.id ha • ;as tired of eatina ou\ . ~ ii I ' .I 97 and ridine back and f'orth every W 1". ok 1 and Addie said, vhat• o the use or ate.v- ine it ever"/boey• s going home, and Ben said none of' the kids knew ho w to l ' lq and tha1i it t o ok a city team to beat the band. Beatrice thoueht about Birdie and Elsie and Edna and ha.-; ditf'erent 1 t \ ; as to pl !\;t· in the house or tlie ' street, on tho stairs or the stoop e r in the backyard and she said she t1 antcd to etay, ~ay. But of course Bhe couldn 1 t 1 all al.One, and i:; he couldn't leave me.ma, so she h t .:. d to aey goodbye to ~l t h e things alle lo;redJ the sky 1 the or- chard, t h eit!atl10ock 1 the porcht the barn, the stream, the p~room, t h e trees, and she \ 'l alked all · arollDll and touched everything, oven the earth on the a round, to say goodbye, and she v 1 as very unhe. py when the horse l1tld t ; a.zon came to take them e.J.l to the station to go homo. ~hen school started and ohe w as i;(l.ken to kindergarten tor ro u l ~ ahe wa s • El.llo · i: ed to sit ne.."\.-t to Madeline and she for g ot o.11 about the count17. Zv'e ry one \ '; anted to sit next to &.dellne but lass ~u ffe t t and M i s s ·.: il s on said on]3 the tv ;o best, and Beatrice tried b~d so that they would pick her. f{a deliwr u as a big girl nith a. big head and she sat in a big ob.air with wheels. She had a nice taco, aof't and pale, and she had long curly eyelashes and l ight b1"0'• 2 n ey&s. Everybody liked to touch f.:adol~, to stroke her short brot1 1 i hair th a t t7 as cut like a boy•a, or pnt h e: r hand, or put t : eir t:l.ucers o~ h e r face. She didn't mi n d; she alt1e.yaaniled at them and her eyee . looked T<U'1 quiet. Ma deline didn't move around like the other children; she jwt aat in her big ohait- and looked at them. Her mother brought her to •school in the chair and the11 1 . · r1heoled h e r aue;y T 1hen the first bell rang. Baa.trice liked to sit next to M adeline. '"'h& liked ~ sho \1 hor ho \Y to make p aper h a ts and chains and little bask e ts. E very d a y s h e m ade somt !: ~ tor mB.m& and so m ething tor ?Jadcllne. --- ·-- - ~ l ----- • • 98 ~ hen the7 had a _ pa1-ty, all the chilclren•a choina . nere hUl:lfi across the ro o m and they \Jore their own ps.por hats and ate out ot their a; 1 11 l·-a per baskets . . <..·n a little paper ~ c bl~clo.th \~itb a .oap!tin to match. lt wa.s a nice big rooa '7ith a · piano nnd little tables and chairs and 0J1 the windov sills there wore plants and boo! :: s and pratty toys tor the ahildnm to plq- with as a rev uu 'd • . Thoy played games eUd danced while W.ss r:Usvn. sang at the piano a.nd W.sa Uufi'et clapped her hands. Bea·~riq~ liked kindergarten. She· came to school with Addie and Bon in the morning and then mama mot them in the yard tor lunch. Sometililes tho7 r1 ent home to lunch but sr.G.ma said it \1113 too much for thelil to tzalk back and forth twice a day 1 so papa bought them a big thermos boM~le and mama tixad their lunch and told .Addio to divide evuryt;bing and to see tha.t the7 ate slo w ll' an.-1 Ciirsi'ully. They had Ganduiahes and fi.~ t and oak.a aud a glaoa or milk each and A o die had · to tell if they ate evcrythi?lfl or not. 'l!hen Beat.rice co'.lld atey in school for the afternoon and come back with Addie and B~n. Thora w a s Gllo·liner kindorgarten class in the afternoon. but B~atrice didn't like it as mu.ell as the one in 'Iha morning because n!&de~ wasn•t thero. So W.a~ Muffett let her 30 on messa.ges for t h e of.f'ice er help fix the closata and desk dcauors and Beatrice kept Ve?:7 busy till three o'clock. · She li h:a d to do homework 1 too. It mo.de hor teel very grown-up to sit · with Addie nn.d Ben . at. the diuing-r,:,om ta b le and do hom.owork. She h · d her own book and pencil and tlley gave hor numbers to \~rite and words to spell all bl h e roelf • She liked to look a :'' their school booksJ tho" wore aioe pictures :i.n them, but the w o?'L 1 s nere ha rd a ld printed in ve1·y small letters. The children 111 kinder- garten didn't h2. ve any bo o ks bi;.t t h e to a chers read them stories tJVery d.af. Bea- trice kne r 1 somo ot them and she loved to hear them read. !he7 were stories from tl ! e Bible and fairy tales and ~: c thor Qooae r~ e s and sbo kne-a mny of them by heart. It \'las t u n to listen and kno,1 ;- .b a t m:1a co :r iinf; at the same ti.mo. Bee.trice told m ama about t '. a.d.Gline and maD& shoot he:- head and sielled. · Poor obild 1 to h a ve to go through lite like th e. t, she said, and so young. I'm glad you're aood to her, darling, she necch1 goodness. And it mdo Be a - trice reel verJ sorry about U&.deline because it m :.: an.t that so1Lething was \7ronr;. VJ as she sic;c? But mama said she was bor11like tha/i;, not like ether children. Beatrice wantad to know nhy. God knows, mama said, it ~uat ba.c>pons liko that somatimes 1 and then 6he added, ho · ;. that poor mothor muat ha.vo surteredl Attar tha : t, Bea.trice th6ught a l::>t about God. God could mDJ;e &eytbi.Di happen.- H e could move mountains, draan the ghole world, dri/ a l.""Oad acro3a a r~ver, save lives, make sick i:>eople -r:ell, help good people out or their troubles, aeyt~. If yau t1ant somathing from God, uha.t should JOU · d.,, she asked. Pr a y to llim, mama said, juot close your eyes and talk to B1I1, b.it JOU h a. VG to be a very uood ~irl or He won•t listen. Beetriae thou&ht about that a v1hile. /,nd th a. t•s all.7 Ies, mama smiled, tht -i t•s all. But t:hat do you w ant to ask God ror? B ea- trice thought a ll·Gtlo more and then decided no, she \Joultln 1 t tell. God's very bWJy 1 my durling, can't you tell ma nluit 7ou TJant7 CW.ldren shouldn 1 t bother Him for t l d.nga the1' can ~et from thoir ta.thors and mothers. Boat1•ie a 1 s face lit . up, Onl,y God: could do what she mmtedl And she TJBllt :n : ay- to thinlt about what s he uas go i ng to ~· That night she preyed for ?.bdelino. V: o~ld · God please ~e Liadelino like other childron.7 Sha kept her eyos closed and talkod to Him tor a lolig timD 1 " 100 telling Him whs.~ a good girl Uadellne ~ns, hov eve1')'bodl' loved her, how f.hdeline had to sit in a chair all the time beeause eho couldn't plq with the other children, how TJOL!.derf'ul. it t1ould be it God made her iloll. She could . hard]¥ f'all asleep, thinking how "onderi"Ul. She became excited and happ7. Tomorrow nhen she came to school, Madeline -:iOUld run in and 7eU, look, I•a all bettor1 Thon Beatrice uould tell her hot1 she had prayod to God because He could do eeything. And she l.auzhed into her pillor1, thinl:ing how wondertul. it ue.s t; oing to be tomorro-.1 1 and she wished it would hlln7 i;.p ar.d come. Something mu.st have gone wrong. She c0".ildn 1 t belleva her oyes. t J h ~ · , Madeline ·nas just the samel Beatrice . stared at the wheel chair co~ tcmnrds her, grew flushed '\'1hen W.sa Wilson took her °h'J the ar;:n and led her arJay 1 and then she \"~ent off to sit in the corner by h9rselt. It t:or1•ied her all dq long. t~ybe she \1Bs not a good girl. ?Jeybe that's wey God r.o ~ ldn•t listen. llaybo because she had 1.€.ugbed and God t'.hougbt she was ~o.Jdng. ?&lybe she wasn't supposed to laugh and God got mad . because Ba :t11ou.sht she didn't renll.1 beilon / . He could make Madeline better. Maybe - She thour;ht and worried about God till night. Oh, please God, listen. ?Jadeline•s such a eood girl. Wey shouldn't she \ be like me'l I' 11 bo good to her alweys, I promise, good to ev~rybodl • Onlf please m .!~ e her all bettor by tomorroi7 1 please God. Look, I 1 m not laughi n g, I mean it, I•m crying, And I do believe you can, deo.r kind Ood. 1 I know JOU can mnke her play Wld mtlk and everything. I'm sure, honost. And she kissed hsr pinkie f'inger to Him s.nd croosed her arms OTer hor chest o.nd sobbed quiotl,J so that Addie rroulcln't know whe.t she was doing. . . l. . · · : I ,. l . I 101 r.Iaybe it would take tiDie. l.taybe C-od WE..nted proof tbat she was ~ good girl, th u t she believed li Him. Ma.1~ Be wanted to see it she would atop prayin8 after two· tisl1es. Sh" didn't toll . :rama about it, exactly, . but ahe tried to find out what waa .,rong. liiama. looked D.t her in a ~trange puaBled way. She . teased her tor having secrets from mama. Then she got angry because Beatrice remained obstinate end silent~ A baby like you, 11hat do 'IOU "1ant f'rom GodT And she scolded her and sent har ott, sayiiig · she didn't want to be bothered aey more with such ore.2J7 ideas, lllltil Beatrice began to err and said it wasn•t tor her but tor somebocl.1 else, and she looked so miserable and helpless that ll)am& became really worried. What do )'OU want from God 1 she repeated anxiousl,y 1 a bab7 like yout Tell me, darling, I•m 10ur mother, I won•t tell anybody, I 8\1ear. I . can't, Beatrice gulped, I promised God, it's a secret • But your 0\1ll mother, darling., God doesn•t Tie.nt you to keep secreta from me. Mo.ma stood there, \'iorried and sad. She didn't know ~1hat to do with the child. You're too yow.1g to think ab~ut such things, Beatrice. Don•t JOU kn.ow J01l mean more to ·me than 1ftT eyes-Z .W hat vzouldn't I do tor 1J1 ohildrent God to?'Bive me but even I don•t know much about rellgiOA. So what do JOU \'lWlt me to so.Tl Forget about it 1 darling, wait till you're older. ~be 7ou'll be smarter than mo. t'!aybe someday' you'll undoi•stand about God and religion better, who . . knows? And mama turned anq because life was such a myste17, a_h• co.uldn 1 t even · understand mr own bab7. Then one day fJa.deline didn't come to school and Beatrice kept tbtnkir>.g that it bud ha p pened. ~e ?: iadellne \1as lo ~rning to walk this minutel Oh God, 70U 1 re wonderf'ul, her heart cried, thank 70u, thank J0111 dear dear Godl And . - · - - -- - - - - - - · -- ~ - -= - --- - 102 even the next day she didn•t se:r anything to Yiss JJutrett becauae ahe ke p t thinking tl mt f!adeline ho.d to get used to walking and that her ~ was so excited th a t the7 didn't uant to lot t!e.deline out ot the house right amq and that t1adelino v:ould have to praotice at home tor a ttm day& b~ore she oama to . . ~ . school again. And D~trice remembered to pray to Ced eve17 night, promisin(; to be oh so good and tha.i."lking Him over and over again. But one atternoon U' iadeline's mother oame to. school to got ?.!ndeline•a ~a and Beatrice heard her tell t11ss W ilson that Madeline vas 1n the hospital again and tlmt the doctors Tiere going to oper :;;. te on her head and Miss Uilson aa14 ahe was terl'ibl.y sorry but not to give up hope. And after Madeline's mother went awa:i, W.ss \'Iilson and Miss •iuftett shook their heads at each other quic~, looking sad. Then Bea.trice knev she Tiould never see &deline aeain and 8be r ran into the l 1 at'drobe clo::iet and cried in tho . dark, her hand buried in the children's coats. It God could do anythillg, wey did H e have to let Madeline dieT Mama e : : ,. .. ls.ined that there was a h c. · aven ?there all good pe ;; ple and cbildron went. Sometimes, it•o better that way, d&rllng, they-•re happier there tban hare, she said, stroking Beatrice's head. But w1'f couldn't God make Uadeline bGtter so that she could be happy alive! She nae too young to understand. Sho uould havo to ba• lieve and wait. It w r .s the hardest thing she ever had to do. * U intor that ~ear brought torror, Jack the Ripper w as its .name a nd cq. In eve17 houaehold and on eve17 street there w as col d tear and sa an dali ze d indi g na- tion. The pa p ers were f'tlll of pornoeraphic report; e a ch dq a dd e d a ne w victim· L . to the crime. He was reported seen 1n eve17 neighborhood - a black cloak~ black . . gloves, a long beard, a lame "~ • suspicion clotbecl him in a hundred clioguises. fbe legend stalked into classrooms; childrenwer& atraid to go alone to the toilet, to be le.rt alone 1n the playground, to walk through the atreet:J, to pl.Eq' in the park. Chalk marks appeared on doors and blackboardaa a altull and crossbones, an X sign with arrows. Notes were found ln shirt pockets and book bagst Beuere the black hand. Papa went to school to investigate. Mr. Lansing assured him it naa a prdllk and that definite steps l1ere be~ taken . to f'1nd and ~sh the offenders. Severe talks were given in the assembly; teachers set up a guard a.go.inst chalk carriers; Vigilante committees were assigned to w.riou:a po~ta during reaesa periods. ffiama narned Addie not to lose s~t ot Ben or Beatrice for a moment, thought she ~' t dare to keep thom. truant from school. She tried not to let 1 them know how worri13d sho waa. Pc:.pa said, nonsense,. but Je..c ~ t the Ripper con- tinued to evode the police. To Beatrice it all seeaed somehow connected with Hallom~•en. Boys uith spooky m a sks went e.round swinging black socks full of chalk dust. Stories nore ~ i told or ghosts wh9 came at night out of their grav:eyards. E•rie pumpkilia smiled .r out of candle lit sockets. There were uitches and anls and black cats. Child- .~ ren in erawn up costUJilOs wiil.ked about beg~ing tor alms. Jack Frost camo ridi.DG by on the wind and left marks on the llindow pnnes. Jack the Ripper monnt all of that to her; it was only a me.ke-bellevo sea.re. You shivered but 70u never so.w anything real to be scared ot. So whon she bed to go to the toilet one morning betueen ~es3 periods, th• · 1 toacher gave her the wooden piss and she skipped out of ~ building across the ----- - - - -- --------------------------- . - · - . . . . -- -· - - --- 4 104 school yard. · At the door she stopped, looked in and listened. There was no ono in siP.)lt. Tho first aisle of toilet bootha waa 8Clpt7. Sha walked along slouly., looking for a leg, a dress, a familiar form. !ha second a1tlle had · higher sea.ta. She turned and walked dcmn that one, looldng from one aide to the other. Suddenly 1 a boy . 3umpod out of a booth, said, hello, kid, and ran oft laughing. She r1as tou plea.sod to see someone to be frightened, though ahe knew boys v1ere not eJ.lotied to use the girls• toilet. Sh;e wished ho bad waited tor her. There Tia& nobod¥ else in the second aisle and she decided not to look th:rough the last one because it was too tar from the door and it ae0L1ec1 more closed in at the back. So ske skipped buck to the first aisle and took a seat near the open dcor in. order to watch tor ~bod¥ who might come in. Just aa she started to button her drawers age.in, she saw something slip around the wflll. ot the entrance - one, tr!o 1 three, tour, five - a black handl for a mo r .:.ant, she t1as p9.ra.1Jz~, hor'eyes like stones, then she turned and fled, unscreaming, . to hide uhE>re the boy had stood. She almost allpped as she climbed up on the high eeat and backod herself intO the corner of t..rie booth. Three big girls came running in a tew minutes later, laughing and shouting. They foWld her standing there, motionless with tear, and wordless, clutcidng her dross. It ~as hard to get her to talk. She sil?lpl.J l:l.tted herso . lf into thearms of one ot tho girls and held on tight. They- took her to the office, where Miss Dawson, the tall gray-haired prinoipal•s asoistant, took charge. But Miss Dawson could le~-n no more than, I saw a black band. f.U.ss Dawson wns a tall WOtlllA with a harsh voice, a sharp nose, thin lips, a ge.unt t.rame, and cold blue e7oa tn.mecl behind a pince n~z. Her manner was as severe as her looks and the children 105 ' ... avoided her J.ith awe. Thia t1as different.. Sha could detect a genuino case of shock. '.Che Boreer children were not given to mock exaggeration. So she took oft hor glnsoes, softened her voice and adopting a gentle nenoar, tried to soothe the chilcl. . F~ naJ ly she eent for Addie rind Ben and sent tho threo ct them home with a note sum~est.ing tlw.t Beatrice be kept out ot school tor a tew days. Her fever il1creased towards even111g and mama sent tor Dr. Rausch. Be advised that she be removed from the children•o bedroom. It was diphtheria. Vague~, she knew ohe was being carried, tho.t she uas in mama' a bed. She smiled and toll asleep. The dragons av!oke berJ the7 were fiery monsters with flaming eyes, their tails locked and tt1isted in lashing fllrf· Smoke pitched from their nostrilsJ their teeth were triple rows of tented stones1 huge scaleo foll from their burning hides. Fire burned in her brain, b~ding her eyeballs; her chest wao a • . f'.irnaoe ll ~ hted by coals in her t~t. Green, orange. !ell.on, rud. They were coming tc\ ~ ards her• Ti here baby 1 what do you see? Writhing, snorting - e a oh flame a tongue dry-licking her. She tried to back awe.7 trom the rov . ghening heatJ her skin was parched, thirst7. Then under her the ground cra.cked.J out ot a thousand tiey cells water bubbled up. She foll back ey.,ho . ~ted, cool. It~ . • the . lleht, she \1ants it out. The dragons slinked away into darkness. Dlue and y.irple trees came out of the rorest. She was se.f'e nouJ t h o7 vtould watch her. It lo.sted a tot. 1 days and at the end she we.S weak, pale. Mama brought her hot · broth, a ch~oken winS and a nice pineapple pudding. The bed was scattered t1ith. 106 ' cut out pa.per dolls but her e7os were too heavy to watch the scissors. Dr. Ro.usch came every day. She wasn't afloaid ot him. Be bo.d a nice amUe, a cheertul voice and cool gentle ~s. He made a taoe when ahe ~ :. ok hat- medioineJ be knou how te · rible it r18s. !hen the1 shook hands and •miled be- causo the nnsty aturr Y:as down and v1as go ... Jl8 to make her 'lell again. lte..rJa pl.nyed a dirtoront game with her; she made believe the medicine was the most apec~u.l kind ot dessert. She measured the teaspoon oaretul.lJr, Uck1ng her llpa o.nd rolling her eyea. But the . t wasn•t such a good game because it coultln•t J.cSt. The ciedioine wo.s bitter, smelly. Dr. Rausch said she was the beat p~tient in the neighborhood, even better than the gro\7D.•ups 1 because she dldn(t m9.!!:e a .tuss and !mew what Tiaa good tor her. It made her teel sJ!l\rt 1 responsible. During hor UlnesB 1 the neighbors c~ in to help. Thor watched br her bed.- aide while Ille.ma wcmt shopping and thmi stayed to talk · a while vhen she got back. In this na7, Beatrice learned much that she wouldn't have l ~ :; nrned in school~ It seemed that Ura. l'~eaver•s son, Hell17 1 T:BB giving her a lot ot trou.ble. &ma asked \"!ho the girl we.sand Mrs. Weaver said . she dia.li•t kno"n, but vhoever it \'fas, she wanted hor son to do the right thing, though how he could get mar- ried on his job 1 she was afraid to think · . Than mama ea.id the sace thing ~d happenod to .a ~Y' she knew• a dentist. And from such a good tsmil.Y 1 too. Ha ·had broken his mother's heart. JJld Beatrice knG\'I she was talking about George and it aeeruad it tms his re.ult that Te.nta fs.'1tter had died. Did he r;;arey the girl? ?lo, but they made some kind of settlement. She wasn•t l'G&ll1 hia kind. These young foolish girls. Men, ot course, \1hat could you expeotT And we.a there a baby? But mru:ia sttid fil be c ause she noticed th r. t Bea.trice was not . vn . eleeping and ~ whispered so m ething to IL~. ~eavor and they both went in.to the kitchen to 1'111ish what the1 were waying • . Another day, mama•s Cousin Jeannette, who was MN. Broml.q, came to see be 1 · and the,- started talking about Ter17 who was the oldest daughter and Tory boau- tifUl, and it seemed shG was having a lot ot trouble, too. Terl"f was ma::"riod and had a baby- girl, but Cousin Jeannette said it could never be right tlhen it started wrong. ~ ha.t business had a kid ot seventeen to run oft like that! It must have been golng . cm tor two months botore anyone knew anything about it. How could a mother watch a biB girl and check up on everything! Nat~, she trusted Torq. v : asn 1 t she her own child? But there, 70U see' · 70u never could tell. It happened in tho ~est or families. Of course, it ael"Yed Ter17 right. \ She r.ould r.ave to leave that loafer eventuallJJ things couldn't go on aa the7 hed been go:f.ng, not much longer. And then !erq would have to coma back hoMJe 1 i with hor babJ'. Cousin Jeannette sighad and shook her head at mama,. saying, I guess you think I 1 m a fool, but what•s a mother tor"l ' · And it seemed to Beatrice there was a lot ot trouble in the t1orld and dle couldn't understand wb1' it was so hard for things to be right. P- :: pa and mama, she and Addie, papa and Ben, Henry \leaver, Goorge and Tanta aitter, Cousin f~rry - \'1ey couldn't the1 all be happy and friendly and atop having trouble? llama kept her home f'rom kindergarten the rest ot the term. fbere v1 ere r:w.ny school holidays, so Addie and Ben were home a good deal. 1 too. It was a Teq · cold winter and mama kept theJ& indoors, thoUfh Ben ~ . ent sleJ.shing when ther e , waa snow. Addie taught hatrice a new gameJ it w as called Society. !hey took ' turns bcd.ng Mrs. Vt:nderbilt, Mrs. Astor, 1'l"s. Morgan and Mrs. Rooketeller. !he7 108 wore rich, famous ].adj.es sud ' the;r bad parties in front of the Prcnch mirror. ! ~'lama gave them c o okies and mil!t _. : and the~ each sat on one side t1f the dresser, Addie sh• .> wilig BE=>..atrice how to ~et her 'table' tor tea. EY ' "" rything ~ to be vor;/ clfinty und fancy, the -r:ay thq talked, whatthe:r B !i id, how thc:iy sat, nhat the~ nerved, hcr.1 they ate - everything bud to bo di!terent. First, Urs. Vnndoi-- bilt . i r: vited ~s. A~tor to t.ca ~then Mrs. Astor invited t. 'frs. Vo.nderbilt to . ten. It A ddie played h o atess tfut, Beatrice had a hard time tM nklng of a new . and bat ·t er trensf'or-~.tion tor the cookies and milk when it came her turn to servo. Ir she . was first, which \faa rare, then Addie took advante.go of beillg socond by mcldng it seem somehow more important and special to be last. Addio often cheatod, too. Sometimes, she stopped the game ba.t'ore Beatrice h~ a chance to shott of'r - she was too tired, she ea.id, or she found somo f'ault uith BGntrica e.:id vJould.ll't continue, beoause, she said, sho T1as on:t, doing Beat:-ico a ft'.vor in play.ins ~1 :1.th h e r at all and she would toss her bead and go . ott 1 leaving l;lcw.- trioe to .rum.a and ~a: 1 e. She t!"iod to b~ cautious, to let Addia have her o r1 n nay but so111otimea she got mad. i~ ~ couldn't she ha\te some good ideas, too? Did .t'\.ddie have to take all the cred1t'l That's not fair, she TZO'.ild err an ::; ril.1 and snatch th~ aoart whleh ahe bad p lanned to use ca a table cover a. uq i'!"oa A ddi e r:ho wanted to use it tirst. Of' cour3e it meant that tho gruae hwi to stop ri&}lt them and thero, but Beatrice didn't care. It wasn't right and Addie 'knew it wasn't& But Addie simply put her tongue in her cheek, lifted her eyebrows and prissy-walked out of the room. Then Beatrice sulkod, feeling rlghteoua and abused. Now sh e had r.:.o one to play Sooiet7 nith. But ahe w ouldn't l'Un aft3 r Addie or ap olo c ize, either. \'W, 1 hem do you do, l!:r a. Vanderbilt? Such a ohaminS place 8Dd w hat clarllng cups • wy- doar 1 wh erever did you get the11? And did you aoet IQ rd f a untle~J ·~ e:li the races to.iaY? . But d G sit dov1u and tell me all bout it. 1\y such luscious chicken salad and ho\11evcr did you make this retreohing boverasoT 'Iou e.re a , YJo:wdar 1 dear lady - . Addie L·.ew 3ust haw . to make it right. Beatrice t1·ied to play Soaiet.7 with Birdie; it v;asn•t tho same at all. BirdiG just nod.dad her head, _ repeated everythlllg that Beatrice said and waited till tbe cookios and · milk tzere gone. · b.ddie, please don'~ let• s :tight. Sisters should love each other. r q can•\ \?e play nioo and friendl.y7 Please promise, Addie, will 7ou'I But Addie ouq looked e.t her quee1•J.y, tuis~d her lips and refused ~ talk about such things. Bentrice sir:;hed; she worLdered '1}\y Addie was so different trorn her. l.lamo. se.id ' bece.use .Allele bud always bean a sick and na1"Voua child ~ tor Bee.trioo not to bother her. It made Beatrice feel very hurtJ ahe always tried to love Addie, but Addie uouldn't let her. It made bar unhappf to see stupid Pearlie make Adelia laugh. She couldn't understand t1q Addie preforred to pla7 with Pearlie and be a follower, instead of being looked lip to as a leeder by her. Addie said she was just Jealous. You want to ba as big ae me, wear all rq nice olothaa, be in 6A, play r1ith m., friends and everything! But you're oriJ¥ a bsb7 . ·and a post, llko your ne i1e , bzzzzl That made Beatrice cry bocause Adc11e nus trying to hurt her on p111i>oao. It beo!J.rae a Mbit; there Tias no de.y without, tenra. Something soemed to eo wrong each time. Umn11 said she was getting cre.nlq boaauae ehe had nothing to do. Beatrioe shook her heE'.d and sobbodJ it wasn't ao. She knew whf ahu oried. Something always ha. : 'p enet' that shouldn't. It was meNmess mosti,. T: h.J' s n oult l ruwone want to hurt anyo n e else? It uas hard to figure out. B7 accident her finger got into Addie' 9 glass. Addie re.fused to drink troa it. Then, atter mema 110 he.d changed it, P. ddie · kept edging her fingers along the table towards Beatrice, to touch her soup bo \' tl, her glass, her plate. It spoiled the w hole meal. Finally, there was.a fight and mama lost her patience. Or Ben uould run in late tor dinner, his stockings torn, his hands dirt7, his hair wild and papa would give him a terrible licking, a811ng, is thllt bow I bro u ght you up, to be a bum and hang around lotst And Ben noul.d run around the table and i"rom room to roo~, tr"Ji!ig to get away, and he looked ao · : scar e d · . . . and w orried, that Beatrice oolildn't bear it. - ., . - Please, papa, don't hit him :. he's not a bum - he w as just pl.ayingl And mama would get in the way and then thera w aa another tight and atterr 1 ards, w hen it was all over, the whole day nas f'Ull or pnin and her pillcm w et a g ain. Even when it started out right, it ended 1w rong. r., ike the ~ mam. dre s sed hClr in the pretty flO'.'\'ered dress that she had alTiays loved and Elsie s aid, d t 1 but I never got my sister• s old dresses, iook at this new one I 3ust got. f ind even though · ; it wasn't nearly so pretty as Addie•a, it made B ea trice er,. Atter ,~ that; she never wanted anything of Addie's,, she w a n ted acm things .ot her ami. Sho gave mama a lot ot trouble about it and then spoke to pa~a a b out it, too. W ey- should Addie have oveeything? And then s h e surprised 18pa b7 ~' I never see ye>u give anything to Ben! W hich w asn't tl"Ue because papa had ~ust bought bir.i a tricycle, but she knen tthat she meant • .But Addie's the oldest, mnma saili, so she comes tirst. W ell, then I'm the yo~gest and Ben's the onl.11>01 1 eo we should all b e the . same. P n pa started to smilo,.tb.on shook :1ds head and turned au ny 1 because mama gave him a certain look tl hicb meant, now ta ho 1 s . spoiling her! · there w ere other things that b o thered her, W hen aey- ot the ohildron oa ce to her house to pl a y, . she alwqa brought out all her toys and let thell plaJ' . , ll.l "-:ith them, bt..it· 11han me.ma 101# her ao to their .houses the~ kept weryt.l:U.ng to theill3elVeS and acted VfJr:f show-of£• Tha7 would D01 th ~ t their toys t1ere batter than hers and cost more, which we.a · a lie and a terrible thing, becaUBe none of them knB'.'1 how much the toys coat a.nd they kept cha'-leit"lg tho prices to ir.ake ~ higher each -time. Than they- began to rLzht e.bo"..it whose tnthGr waa riohcr and though Beatrice \'?anted to tell them about all the money she saw pape. count. on the dining-room table t!JVer:f week, ahe knen it was e. tardl.y secret EUld that ehe bud to keep it to · herselt. But she wno sure that papa was the richest beci.iuae they- were the only ones who hr~d e piano and a victrola and now ~ was buying new turniture tor the house. She started to boost Just a.s the1 did, 'though it grew very tiring and she felt it was wror.g 1 . because what dift e 1'ence did it Dake who had more money and why should she make i:.nyone cry? It was bad to lie; it T1as a sin. And yet, she was sl\ie.ys discovori!lg u~. It seem t ' d that everyboa.y lied, even mDma 1 though ma.ms. said t he re uere white ilea that God forgave. V l hen children lied, mama said, their po.rents h a d to be punished because God knett that children couldn't sin. But Boatrice sald slla didn't want r11ama to be punished beco.use or l!er and she vzoul<ln' t lie. 5 ~1 e \li~lled she had someone to to.lk to about lies because .Addie noulcln•t ruld Ben o.:U.f aaicl, who's lying, show me. And he rubbed his thumb agP.inst his nose and started to box in the air. . · Then one day she tound Edna in a l:e and she uantod to leflve the housct beaause Edna had put a sin on her mother, but her big brot he r , Eddie 1 was thare and he stopped the fight by say1n~ 1 it JOU arosa 7our fillc.; o: · o and say~ under your brae.th, then it's all rieht, 7ou•re not l:rilli• Doa tr ie e looked at him t ll oughti'ully tor a moment, wo n deriiig it he wwa Jo king , bat si r ce ha looked very serious and she saw that bis tingers \? ere not cros~od, all• be· lievod him. ll2 Promises meant even more• To promise was to billd J'C)Urself as thoueh to God. ?romises were holy. And yet, how lightq the7 \'lere broken. Awe, ahame, corJi\'lsion robbed . of her speech. To promise soc.ething • it meant t~ be sure, . . absolute! Nothing could or c!ared to 1ntorferel tou promiaod - there waa no worse ch:i!'go, no greater accusation. She could hardly bring herself to utter the sacred phrase, I 1>romise. She had to stop and consider 1 towaigh the lmportanco of tl'~e projeot at hand. Uill you be n:o.d it I can•t, · it I try ai:id nothing h~ppens? She had to · be guaranteed a release. She bGgan to exact all kinda of terI!\S and reser'VClt~ons ror : her promise. Her friends became impatient; anything to agree and get on with the nGXt thing. Broken promises shatte i -od tho _ &1 into wounded 1 broken pieces. Trying to put the pieces together left h0r cut and bruised. How coi1ld anyone mako a promise and break it? On a Sat,..trday whon mama took Addie and Ben to sh ~ . p on the blulevat"d and left b ar e.t home with pa.pa, he told her that if she was a gocd girl e.it da.y, he would get bar somothlng nice. What, she teased. Oh, you knot1 1 sometll:Lng specia.1 1 just leave it to me. And he uinked knowingJ.7 aa though t1 1 ore ue::e e. ~ secret between them. A little dog, maybe, she asked, alread1' delighted nith havtng · one. · ne waved his head in a non coiillilitte.l r.ay. She waited to give him time to consider. He onl1' smiled. Pro· .. mi.so, s b e sucgested ce.retully, not wanti11g to catch him unrairi,. H~ 1 h1 The smile exploded. He knew his customer·. A pronds~ wao a promise - ha remembered how man.y t.i.II:esJ prett7 emart, aren't 7cr.J.'l ~ . ell, we'll soe what mama as.ya first. She broath ed a si g h ot rclie~ e . nd a rush or joy and re s pect w eut ·throl1 g h her. Papa understood ~ it meant mor~ to her than getting his premise. She ran CRer and kisoed his h and tervcmtly 1 then left hill1 alone while sllo started to bo a g o od girl in her ~ 11 • -- - -- -~ - ri hen t ll e wngon luai o'l ~v' turniiiuro &rrived and tho moving men oema in to take 'Ghe old furn.Ltl.U'O OU"c7., Ber:..trice relt that a maJor want 'J&.3 taking pl c ce iu hel..• lif\l. HevQr to see her donr old hQuse - againl lier eyes J:'laslled. from object to 01.>ject as the lilifil be;,gwi to t~ ropes e.rouud heavy pieces and t c • get things re i:. ey to relllOVe. Thero uere her ll~ns on the buti'e'\i drawe;rs 1 tile Cai"Ved legs 0 11 the diuiJle-r c; om table, the lE:ather J.nuugo ~1here ahe bad lain with measles, the French trdrror in front of wh::.oh she played so JllEU11 ti.mos, mama•a . bed wJ:\ih the white poaturs, the scaroCl"0\1 clothes hanger, the fueled bl\ : .e rug on whio ahe ht> . d lei't hov1 ~ clanc:iJlt steps, the st\.rdy' chni.rs with tJooden figures and. lea:liher se c ts ' - ehe ruu into the batlu•oorii, lockod the door and sobbed as t,hoqtJ1 her heart were like to bl · ewc. Dear 1 dea1.. house • and ~he anw the . wo n de1•ing whe1~e tbay would go and hotJ the houso cu -..: ld ever bo the, tlWl8 tiithout, them. Cnl.7 the children ts b e droom f°"11'nit,ure bad not been raplaoed bec a use, Uli1m& said, it ~as t c o saall e. . rcoa to tix even it she wanted to - if thoJ e·,er Jiloved, she promised, she i1ould buy a net ; sat for the girls' bedroon and give Bun a room. to himself'. The l.ancilord made e ome cl:mnges, too. Tile gas light futures _ \';ere re m ~ed and in their place electric lights clicked on and of f' . The bulbs ware not nea r ly so nice e.s the viitid colored gns f'lames, but mw;i& sild. she waa gle.d because she w ouldn • - 1; have to \'lor17 a::.Out danger ~ more - Inven·tiona 1 she mar- vel.led - \' .iha t a r or : deri'ul world. I ce.n reu.814\ber r.idir.ig on a trolley car pulled by hot"s es . An d mama "i J ould b ug in te .i. J.L~ Tzhat a 1i1 oud~tul place Ame1 ... ica. was , hon the V1or ld ttas ehar ig ing evCJry day and v : ho kneu what it w ould be like in another hundred ye a rs'? Then Ben would start ohanti11g, "wa 1 l l be pushiug u p the daisies in a hundred years from now. And mama laU6hed say1ug look who's to.J.ki ug . t~ c:. ~;bci I wo n':t _ ba hoi " l31 but you, the thi"'":J ~,,, 1 . . . ·"'-' .,v- ·· see, 3ust 11ait - Amerioa, in- v or.r tiorul, G:id knows w hat. . ! · I; 11 : ~0 e st.range plaoa tor the next f9'!1 dayss her room as it hn .d been NO\i aud tor a Lo u{; Ti ! ne, then the rent ot tho house as it was Toda)", Yc s te~. She . tvzmdt.:J..•'ZJd l:aok and forth, teying to m.:i! = e the time One,· and soon, she KW tho nn aa it we.a Y..es.!!t to be 1 vacy nG'il and GJq>onaive and beautifUl. There was a long tabla in the dining-room noi1, 11ith tour sides. It was made ot a dark, s~ · m- l:. :ga ny th ~ t Lie . t . ahcd the piano, niee to look at, to touch, like a smooth wooden mirror. Evecy'thing was ver:r plain e.n.d simple, with straight leBs and wen sur- tacass t h e tabl~, the lru.ttet, the china closet, the semng 11agon, the obaira. No more lions cir carved desiens. Pape. said fine rich-looking things didn't bave to be £c-moy. Ha said tr.e beauty ot t~e furniture ma in the wood, the finish, tho clee.n-cut outlines. He told mmr.a that a lot of ornament and decorati ~ n show- ed poor, cheap teste., A bem.:.tiful ~omen doesn't need 8111' trimmiri..gs 1 he 16.id, e.rld \ ~ i::J::etl vJith one uide or hie fa.ce. !!act\ didn't ansr;er but 7ou could aee that f .he th~ >ueh t pe.pa · Ut;'.S ve:.""J smart. She i:m. o e new cn.l!'t.ains tor the \'findoi1a and hr .;L .vy brccacle drapes; the new dishe~ nnd silver and. cut . el.ass t1e!"e set out ao yr.u coal.d seo them nt their best; the nan oriontal rugs 'lfent dcmn on the .rd.oora. . J. A s to~ m u uin ' s bedroom, it lo · :' ked like a movie eet. Adc;lie said it uas grand, but s he 11119'.f.ed thoy ,1e ra li~ in a rdce ne ; , house to. so with the turniture. Thon mar:. a 3aid o ; . nf'identially, you just wait, you'll soo. And she described ho s he \'i ould fix up a l:'..Vi !lG .. room, what the girls' bedroom w ould be like, awl tile . . kind or bi~, m odern kitchen and up-to-d11te .b a throom thel" ~O'..tld have • . It ai.de A ddie very e't.eitcd and she said she could ha rdly wait till tlle7 got out 0£ th:1.a duc.p 1 and r.oulc'h '1. 't ill the neighborG be Jealous7 P apa so.id not wer7 father was so good to bi 3 .taLlily, and it we.a true. None ot the neiehbora bad such a ........ ll5 nice bcme, \Vith a p i:."L'l.CI & Viotrola and non t l .. even a e ephono. Though mama thou i; ht the phone ~ : ao a. waate or money• l'i'hat• B the use of ho.viug a telepi:looe 1 4'_ I c ~ "''t co.11 Wl'J'bo· 1 ~·? B · Llt ri!" -t pa • • :;&.&.. • "t1 r- sa.i.u, neve~ Ld.nd 1 )"OU owi alw~s call the o:!fice, bccv.uce he wnntcd to keep -u p 't'.::t'· ~i. - le.~ · . .. st 1 .. · ·• - -.3 • · · . ... u ~ ..... ctena anu "4U\.l,ern l.l!Ven- t! c: · ns. ~·t~ r children ru:-en•t go~ t:i s · !iay bohind, ho said, no airl And he oelled in e nf1. · : p iano te~lle1- to give Addie lessons because the first ono t:as a quiet . J2.dy ~1?:20 charged v~ little~ he didn't think she •; , as a very good teache1 : . Mr. Er.:iest rias an Itc.J.iun w ho had studied music in E\u•ope and was veey :l.m- porlant loo~ing. Addie waa aotu."ed of' him right av.ay. lie tias a tall man w:J:~ lone bror;n l1.o.1r and almost grey e~"es. lie had ver._.,. big f'ingers ~ d when he pl.ayld, his hands covered the w hole board as he 11eilt up BJ:.d down nU tho k6ya, both the bl!'.ek notes and the white.. Pape. sat back aild listened to him ":lell-aa.tisfieci; hJ.s head nodded and his shoe kopt t&p1liog softl.¥ on the rug &nd he smiled, . . looki!1g at ·mama and Addie im ) resaive ~ y, because ha apprl.ioie.ted good music and knew a eood thing \'Jhen. ho heard it, though he we.sn•t a musiciall hlmselt. ThBA 11r. Ernest looked at Addie's old lesson books and n:adc. a aour fa.oe. Papa sho'(Jed h9 agr3od by sueldae in his cheeks auC:. u.oddinG his h~. Tlw.t made Llr. Ernes·~ se .l r they \'!ottld nood new bqoks and ~~a said, re s , air, a~,g ,ou 881 1 I w ant 'fD.'7 d::mghter to h :.>. ve the b~st. So M:o. Ernest wrote down the names ot t'iJO boo ks he "a.n ted o.nd told p::?.pa. · ,;h~ro he could bU1 them. Addie was so nervou3 1 sl::.e played ov e r.,rt!ling ba.<il.T; oven what she knew b.Y heart ne.s f'rlll or .trJ.stn k Qa. Mr. Ern~at stopped her evury glnt..ite w1til he had heard abot1t te1! different pieces, then he said, ~ : ~ight, t.hut•s onougb, w e'll sco r!he.t ne can do. D~fore he lctt, ~ pinched Beatrico•s ol.l.sak, r.nd papa &aid, it non•t be lo ng b~rore w~ eta...-t thls Y~Wl8 l.E.dy, too, and Jar. Erneat shook his - --· .. ! l I I I ! I ' I ll6 to practice vecy hard ~.nd st• 1 dy h~ less!)nq fl'!' ::.. · I?J· ae.y. · Ft'Jr the first time' Bot>..trice r.as r;lac :i. she ~ ~ o ~r\)~:; she dldn' t like the idea of it at ~l.. She pr.Jf'r:rrt'd to si."lu and tl~nceJ th e n she u aa fl'ee to do what she li~ed i."J. be~ ortn T1a:;. She die! not shnrc r;ur.iu'o enthu.si.D.sm for the opera recoi"ds, either. Some or..o else did th.a sir13ir1g ai • cl the Tiorde \'1ere UDfa.ui- lisr to her. She hated be.v:tnc to keep still at!d iisten tlloucll :.;be eL.Jc~-ed vmtch:i . ng pe.pa listeninc. Thia wns e. C.t"EW.tly p& pa, Tiho hen'Ci and .f<Jlt t:hat no one else seemed to. How te loved the nn~io sounds ot a human vo1ce1 Like a hird, he :::o·v.lcl say end told l:j . s fincrer u p to tht t-l'..ld. or a lor ~ g held note. Scales arid trills moved him c1eep].J'J he shoo~ his head and st9.red at the o~illug. Ce.rus• :- !md Ga.ll.1-Curci '1-91'9 his t t . vorites, Al~o, ~ loved religi\)ua ite lcdicaJ old, pre . yer.tui ones. The muaic was mo\'\r. n t: . tla sclemo. 1 llturgio. 3 om~t:L:;.o.:;, · he tell asle~p, listecl.nrn h13 eye gl ~ ~3es a n d ne . /Sf·flFer foll to t.i.e rloor as hili> he . nd slipped silently dou~, his he~d rolled eentJ.7 to u cide end h · s b " ey e ... J 6 d into the slow ~hytlm ot a q'Jiet slumber. Be a trice would smil e 1 not lm · :>v i~ VihyJ she res!> e cted his p 98co, his prive.07 . .. r, nood • .Y..arna ".'las less discerni • .gj she otten dist u rb3d b.111 with hor oll&ttoJ.·. Or she would hum as ehe r.iovod about, rustling the sil'ITe~:~re, etacking ·~he plAtoo. Sh e couldn 1 t seem to reme m be!" aboi1t the m usie ar id th~ . t ho w aa tr y ~ tt> lioten to . iti only rarely did ehe sit dcmn to he a r soBe reaord a nd th1Jn her attention we s short. Papa could onl.1 shnko t is head and :fniiae.to by a a~h th::t.t ah3 wa.s spo i ling . I I I !· \ . . • . -1... -- · · --· · - - -- - · - - --· -· ·-··- ·- - :- -- - - - " " bis enjoyment ot a gl!eat thing. Uruua would look back at him 1m1ocontJ.y, bar race sim p le with apology; shtl meant no hal"lil. 11'7 But it mama !mer no ear for fine musio, she had heart and f'eellng ibt' th9 souga she sang when they came to hor. They- were old, familiar tunea, those she had alv1ays sung. Some were gay, livel,y songs. She would flirt with the words, · make eyes nt Beatrice and sometimes, lift her skirt and ate.rt dancing about the kitchen. They had some good t.imes alone. But mostJ.:r, mama's songs were aed, the words full of lamentation and remorses parents deserted by their aucceosf'ul. child- ren, \'1iVes recalling the fair da19 of courtship _ - old tales and folk litories; the1 remained · t1ith mamaJ she never forgot them. Beatrice couldn't bear to listea to them; their grief overwhelmed her and she thought ehe would die. r ; aa tho grief in the songs themselves? Or in the singer! '?hat 111a11a should contain so much • no, she wouldn't, she couldn't hear more. Please 1 mama 1 something else 1 somethirig different - And even \1hen mama oblige4 her v1ith something light, Eeatrioe knn that mazue.•s mood remo.ined, apart, and un- changed. And at le.st, Beatrice would have to leave mama alone, a stranger to . ever.rthing outside, aware only of the grief 11~thin. J.iama, papa, Addie, Ben • she dren circles around ea.ch one aad tried to mo1 · ge them into a hoop \'Jhich would f'it her just right. Either 11ba \"Jaa poor at juggling or the circles refused ·l;o come togetherJ they kept rolling av1ay from the boundaq she had defined with herself as oenterJ they- turned and sprmvlod on their · separate orbits, defying the laws ot a single v11ll. She decided to spin h~ra tov J ai'ds theirs, illatead. She decided - how oongeniall Mow fiiating herself to one, now to anotller - shouldn't that make . it right! And when it didn 1 t, each ot them spinning separately and apart .rrora herself, she wondel"ed llbat waa wrong 6Jld u117 it couldn't be. • Ii ll8 It seemed t t at nothing f'it together; everyone and eveeyt.hing ir.aioted on baillg separate. Her mind was a 8 •i t · e ... ~ es o vexations, Etr~ryone should be eood, , ehould love. But there was bickering and spite, hostility and oav~. Ri€ht, · \ wrong' mine' yours ,. her mind raood f'rom one 'Yi.aw to another, un!i . ble to c o nnect i: . I True,good, happy-, she rejected the deeds, prer~rrinfI the wo~s. The nords nor.a -' . I beautif'ul. · She ~ v ved t °t !eil' beautiful meanings. Thf37 spoke to her of a baau .. ~i- i £ul world where everytbi~ and eve1"fone \las goo4. Hem well s~e understood pc.b a•a sense of p ride and respect, of dir,ni ty. How supgr!o~ he seem3d to th~se who : la.eked the.t sense. She c~mpared him with !Ar. W eave~, l~. !!a~~'!la..rt., Uncle Zl:?.thin, ! \7ith all the men she kn.en, and alw~ys they seemsd d'tlll or rne ,, 1 ~ , :;:> c:ltt:,r or ro o l~sh, or merely ordinary and somehow unimportant. Pepe. mieht be can. ; p s oplo, b'.lt el~ 1\ ot them, she felt, had interest: had character, had somo inde!'inublo q,UPJ.ity 't1liftch I set him· apart and lifted him above the unill'.aginat~.ve, everydiiy norld of oonm : on ! I men and just plain _ misters. But than, she saufl there was a difference betvreen hs.vinrr a qualit1 and u~ing it1 papa. in the pl'esence of Mr. Schumann at the oft!ee and po.pa in the oo :~ r:u~ ot visitors at home were not proud, respeottul and di~nitled in the SP. m e \ · : ay. !lama once called him a show-off' 1 and anot~er time, Boe.trice he a rd te neighbors so.y the same thing of solileone they-uer.-e talking about; it must have been p~pa bemluse they wouldn't m.ontion his name while> she ·was there, pleyine nearby. It maant that ~.pa looked up to fiir. Schumann and not to the ot he rs. W hy-, bcce.uso r:~. Scbuwmn ·was better and more important th a n the others7 Pnpa must h av e ~ thou g ht sOJ he liked auoc~saf'Ul. meu, men who we!'9 ambitious, ::m~t. !h~n wl?1' didn't he have fi'tiends li.'Lte that, visitors like that7 F. e.s · he asho.med ot !lis homo, h:i.s f'amiJ..y? It puzzled Ber.trice, made her T!O!l.der abo1.1t this pc.z>a nh cm she couldn t t aeem to understand. Dates vi th the boys dcmntown. • · was it there thl'l.t . . - ~ - ~ ~ ---- .......... ... ZSllillll 1 Mftfiiil@•f~ ' - ~ ~ , .7rMW~ ' .. " %Mt• ~ ~ a~ • I I I . i pa.pa found men like himself? Pride, respect, dignity _ and then, pa.po. drunk. fhe words i.. nd the pict\11"e refused to come together. ll9 And the V J ay he tl-ec::.tod mama., was tlw.t honor like honor t~ . father and mother! VJ hen they began to fight, to talk and look mean, she nanted to sink throt.gh the J.'loor so all& \1ouldn 1 t have to see and hear them tha.t way-. Didn 1 t thef . know 11' · I ti as wrong? And y~t they u antcd her to bo good, and ~betl!ent. and nice a t a:i..1 times. U hen she told wama about it, JllWila said, don't be silly, w e•re oni, Joldng, ~ i I : · bu.t from ·i;he look on mwna•e face ~ the things she remc : mer od , Bea.trice kn ~t1 it \Vasll It SO and she fitiS diaaat:.:.sfied. And if you \'10!'9 SU!>PO fJed to be nice to evor y body 1 as God said, then wey did people mke run of each otl1er'l I t 1; 0. s meana he's a Y1op, what does he know •leave it to the Irish .. Juut like a Je\ · 1 .. tnlka like a Greek - niugers, Tilmt can you expect .. "1ght aa a Scotchman - Io.nkc o, greenhorn, common laborer, stuck-u p German, booris h Russian, pig-heruiod D i.:. ~ h mD.11 • there VJero names, descriptions, and criticisms for each ant\ an. Than t h er e wasn't one st~d, one way or living. Did God know that? B e o.t:-ico loo faod ,. lia·i;ened, frowned, And she w~t on learning beautif\ll worda ond lQVing tho s e. fhe ch i ldren w cra no better. ~he7 Tiouldn't ahow her how to jum ~ , no mo.J.J tcr ho w long she kep·~ turnJ.ng the ropes, and uhon soaeone final.1¥ sv.id, giw Bea.trice a chanoe, she imliledie.taly loat it by trippill8 on t h e f'ir a t count. S he stood th cr~, ~ash e d, bor taoe to.nae uith the hour's e xpec ta t io n and mo :I:o11 t 1 a defeat. ~& ie o•Dauiel e ave her a push and J.au g lierlJ ;t h ere was co n tem p t and mookory in hor voice, h or eyes. Beatrico grw · red with hurt, anger, hate. Y o u stop thu t l I w o u •t be pu s iledl ~ie turned; saT1 a taae. Auto m tic al ~ · , bor hend tJ eut up aud out. Tn ei" e \1 '1.&J a sharp sti~iug bl cr.1 ~ Boatrico r- .i.ahe d to 1 ' m rds · h e: r blJ.ndly 1 t 1. ; ars in her nose &nd. throat. She triod to b i"'~e 1 to kic k 1 to s eize so rr ~t l dng in her hands A tew more slaps 1 them the t no w e re separated, the others crying, aluune, r . ~ ie, ld.tt~ aomeone half your aisol UBgt; ie•a ..... black curls S\"1W\S backa she was healthJ, scornflll, eelt-con.tident. Aw, go -, I'd r a ther L'lo.Y' ..-;ith the boys, 8.l.l.}'ho\ ' S iUld h tu-.. ..... 1 • s e ·~ and t1alked auq, while & chorus begun, tom-girl, ~girl, but they all so~ttered and tled before her. .... t .. So you l e t ~i~e ie beat you, buh1 It w ae Ben; he had heard. His face WWI dark witb resent~t. If' llaggie we.re onlf a boyl rl ell, what are )'Oll going to l <lo about it,, let her set away nith iti Beatrice shook her head, ~-ing r.ot · l;o · 1 cey again. He took her into the outside hall, squa:..,ed oft bf four apartment doors. W e' 11 · sho\11 tllll:'.; l'.7aagle a thing or two, come onl It tJaB her tirat boxing l1:;saon. Den ohowed her how to Jn!ike a fist, how to hold her arms, how to circle and. to atrike. mm give it to lilt> - harder - bu.rderl He l~t her u ... ....... l:J.e back . ~ ' his solid shoulder. It hurt her hands, especially t h e lef't one, but it £Jr.de her laugh. Ikm she loved her big brotherl Aud he vas stroll! .; , loJU].. Ha told her · not I to say ~·t,lling to lilW'.lla. 1 to make believe the1 were only playing, and o.t the end, • 1 he cautioned hor to stand up and fight for her rights. But he looked doubtrul.~ \7orriad .. ~ - 1.;e .£ · all, . sbe \'J&S snlal.l, aud a girl, his eieter, lie was quite diaturbed. It only made her ne>..1:. hum-tliation the worseJ r.iageie loW:ed tlstonJ.slmd, t.llan I I sl&p p ed hElr an~m.y. The other children laughedJ Beatrice clutobing he r tiata, : rolling he r arms, circling. I \ " Hmt to tieht, she kopt saying, the teera rt1Jll 1 ing dorm. her che e ks• The chil<lren led her &\'lcl.1' 1 tr-1ing to comfort her• Shs went b o. ck to playing with nirdie and Edna and Elsie, on the sto.irs, iu the allo;r,iit the house. The street ,1e.s too rough, too hostile - sile would have to uait. lior ' " as she the onl;r one who thought so. Th e re were · pa.renta ,·,ho ordered even older children, both t;i17."lB e.ud bo y s, to !ind other play u.rea&j too ~ fi ght ;:; end a cci den ts wG ru b r; sirluing to mar!t the 1tr c et Wl$uf'e £or f'wl. It became c~ m."il on report th'1t nice children didn't p lay on the street. f l~ o u·i:.J:oe " ~ mean t Oai-l'tnn avenue. And Ct.rlton Avenue meant six difforont territorie.J. All on one .1 . I · 1 1 t ; 7 m m rzm ro bcrolt;fxw , · L 121 blook, · - :hiah r~aciled f ron the bottom of the 1:.iU, whe.n> tho elevated tr~ and troller crosoed Lanae.star Avenue, all tho WG¥ to Eagle Avenue, nhich COD! l ec+..ed \1i-t.h <."til1er ::i·la'eoti1 t~ · ~ led. to tiovies, boalevard shops, and the ~crld outside. A long b~ock \'Jith t:":o sides. Fro:n the ho~pital. to the Center \ 1 as tlnc to~itoey. The six new ap~ant houses fronting the Cant3r wns ~th~. The old hou!les raaehir!g to the corner ~de a third. Jl .. nd across ths street, s et b ~ ck f'rom tho O,f.i .;. "'OSite curb Were the three tsrritories determined by 't&'w private hoUs88t , tho59 brown' ~nd gray stlllle houses that lc~a11ed a.guinst ~ach othsr a.croos ~0\1 broaZ0\18'111• ' I:rter.rel; a ti c. ns ncre discoiirag~dJ on.li r~ly did t.lie children make trierub l!itJl those \-:ho lived 'outside' 1 ~h~ther tr.at meant . •acro:Js the wey• or 'up t~ st1·eet' or 'dm ~ n4!' Wi t!lin each ter1"i tory Tias tho turther restricti· : n cal led famil.1 fri~nds. For not all of the .t'amilies within a g~ven territory balon.;ed to it in the sutie \1ay. There were £1'0Upa -within groups., divided bf age, ~.tercs~, rfJligion, nationalitf - eo.ch sougllt ita ow n level, oecurcd its c ri n b~.rriers · o.guinst non-menibers. Lena Cohan, the tall pimpl7 girl with thick gJ.aasea, had no ti•ionrls; sho ~ !l S a . Cl}liet 1 studious airl, who pls.~-od tr.e piano. Uusia did not 3~e her ualiness; it res . ponded to her touch, which wa3 beautitul. Behind the dt!or ot the oea01td floor rear apartment i:2b.ere the unga~ Lena lived with .her old sick not hc r the gates of heaven .or ~ n9d and the voice o f angelo arose, tloo11:l!: t h e ear w ith hrJ.rmonic melody., Sometimeo 1 a door was left ajar ~d a pessin3 toot paU.3Cd. \': om o n ahoo!c their hands and sighed; it tms a pity. They f'elt sorry for Lena.. '.': hi le in · i;ho a.t>e.rt.me.. 11 t nerl t.o Lane.' a Uved Etta end MF. y Gol d r- 0 .n \fho •ero a tt~c t ive looki!l[!, ·we 1. 1 bi.tilt and cero.tully dre s sed. But abo u t thora th ~: "O -: cs an air ot something th!!.t T1aa not quite right, perhaps e. divorce, _ : JGrhaps so :: e- thing worse, who knOTZs2 I1oda were polite, few words exchanged. ~~ <o visitors Id I l : ' l 122 ca1a~, · uo 1.nv.li-~ ~·t; loslS ext.andod, B · ll · I; a. fe\t months later, a yollllg marrieci cou.1,:;.le moved l.llt,o tho r,;.~ighborho<>U ·anu. wc,irvhru · l.. . • . .. • • ,,. . ., --v Bcu.u. 'W'..a wue \"J U e. :t:orattr .tt. ' Jdel l.)r shou girl, you. could eaaiJ.1 tell that kiwi. A taal; · l;Jpe, tliey aaid, .m ·.:au iug a ~ill-co.ir~ veraion of a new Jc.ovia a·t;ar or the face and fieure on a ~.lgc.tziue co·ie.i. ~ • lier llilr:1e ~as Saily I besides. ~pdrt \1lth hair bleach and t4a use 0£ ovs:aet.io.s, her beaut1 duz~led. ~he mia a silk blonde tilth 1"0cl tinted nails aud blu.e vollod eytJa; blaok set. 0££ her m.i.J.k .-;bite skill, eomcthing tu,iol.~u Lrig ... a bel · ii, · · a larse je ~ Jelled ril~, u st1•iug of pearls, a bracele·ii. ~Uy -in tha tI:i;;.m .t ~s·~ alliJor hose ou s·i;ilted .sotin pumps made eyes bulge. ;,nd ~aUV . ~eoilLle · t, !i e friol:K\ of the two YOl.UlU wolllell., It ~aa o·w.Lous that, the1 d.i.dn•t belong. the :i.r l W:C:ld w~a alien · t;o tile OOI4C;.lf.rli.i.c one oD. Carlton AYe.uue o£ ooold&lg, olee.ning 1 .. l c . :tmde1-.ing, beget Ling nnd min~ eililclren. Thero waa aomet,lu.ng aboll\ these Gto~!;:illg'a w l'iilklod over s\1olle : 1 aulaes f:illd varicose veins, with r ;ee.sant .i'aces and them by mmr.o and lo·~ hei' hand Nst in the:U·s. Aud t.he1 a:i.wa.ys had a smile ror h01· nn d c. look t1i t was free 1 wriM.•cwel~U. Xhoy \l f .:re like · hu1· Coutjin ~e1 .. 1-;r 1 she ac.. . 1 1 ruid ohe deciQ.od &ua -. i o"i.U.d be J.iko them when alle g.rew 1.1.p, beoauDe ti10 oldaiir ~.~o.itt:l:' gli · ls were .,o plnill r.alll sarious enci the older Stone gi:d.a wld cv · e :c ybod¥ :fl r .:i::r.n\":hile, she h;.l-d her c~ ; n ;;~ terl'itoq oar~~13 mapped o~.t for her by a dilie;ant ..:u.:ma. She \:as allc\":cd to JIWlfilo oilJ.i- wi·~b the nice boys ancl D.ioe eirls of tae nice .fru ; lille3 - aad ~ £ipOOii"ied which , with ii..i'&.:..lible in:;. t.iucte l ~OW ·t,h _ t Be::.: t; rice 14 a:J c,f scllo .. l aae, oho could irlClude some boys awl girl.a \7h<> li'Vl e d i.'l houaes ad jo ining 6~o . Hot many, ~wt a fe\7 1 ond then onl3 witJlin closo range. . I She was still confined to tho centor of the b, __ ,_ tbi MNA , on a aide ot it. • I fhough mama continued to look tor hor and call • h . .i.or er periodically when she was ottt of sight.. But one time Tom Rankin tell down and hurt hi~ hip and Be a- . trice helped him home. And then she stayed and played soldiero with him a and V!h.at/spanld.ng she got from mama that day! Mrs. ~in ~ust stood there . I . and couldn · t say a word. Because ma.ma hnd been :bold ng all over for her; she bad gone from house to house, cliJ:ib l ng stairs . and queationing the othor chiid- ren, and no one kne w whe1•e Beatrice was. And mama. \"J aa almo s t crazy with won:r, an out of breath and ne l.' .rly crying. She even C).UL!!'reled w i th nrs. Banldn. How . ' cou l d ~u let a child sta;y so long"l VJ bJ didn't 70u let me kno w she w as beret It Tom did that, how vzoul~ you, his mothor 1 f'e e ~? Beatrice · -.: as ahar..en, dra se ed nnd scolded all the TI &.7 back and got a licking in the end, beoidea. Hover to do that ngain, it was a promioe extracted b , : a mama determined to enforce the lesson. B ut a1ono in bed, a.ttorwards, Beatrice tolt, aore4', how unjust and llll:fGasonable mama had been. If illQ had lost so m ething and then found it ag a in, Jlh2 rz ould have been haPW• RJam should have hugged and kissed her, I .·i laughed to~ joy. It was a atrange w a7 to act after being so worried and . . frightened • . \' ~ bat it socething had really ha :_:i pened to her! She saw herselr dead and mama being sorry she bnd ever said or done any unld.11'1 thing to he r • It made her hurt less and she fell asleep, having . forgiven mama and ma de t . 1 e score even between them • .. . ' A n other time, the children •iere playil.g follow ~he Leader 1n Csrl 1 s hall.J th.ey follo w ed him u p and · dcr o n the stairs, im1 : t E : tins clrum:J, bugles~ ani mal : ' . cries) the1 ho p ped, wal.kec1 sidewqs, too1f. t. . o etepa at a time. And th en t ha. 1 nere on the root. Everyone gi gg ledJ the7 had been. warned. The1 felt daring 1 nervous. Carl ca ug ht their e1esJ he protondod not to aee and w ent on skJ.: · ting thet ro o t u c.11,lettiDB bis hand beat time to marching fe e t. crho at reot wa a far belo w t h ea and a soft w i n d bl.Em. The y d u c k ed und ci r clothesline s , feelin g tho t1ot clcrui smell ot soap a u d starch and bleachinga. Suddenl.1 a cat started out trom the top ~ the root ladderJ it looked at them and blinked, read1' to run. I Carl dabsed towards it. i'o..11 executed an arc and four logs springs the oat landed l sottly on th8 lmie i- root ledge and remained there, tour stories above the street. ; l · Cries of hurrahs pursued Carl. !hare was no way ~or the oat to escape, e=cept tbrougl I the ho.11 window below the root. The chlldren ruahcd down the atnirwa.y, ooroaming and Siouting. Hands tlew to the wil.dow, urains, lifti.DG. Tho oat stood outaide, eyeing tl.tem blankq. · Here, pas, pss 1 here - hands and voicea pleaded at the window. ~he cat. pawed where it stood, made e : lliptioal strides alone the narrow ledge, and mewed. Carl forced a clearingJ the children crowded back from the t1ii1dor..; strainiug in corners and aeeJ.nat the steps. Beatrice bit her tin;.:e:-tips, wanting it to be over •. After a moment, Carl held the catJ he waa tense with excitement. Did you seo him JW!lp7 A c i ~ t alwaJS lands on · hl.a f'eetl Cats have nine livesl I bet it can i'all all the wq down to the streetl Go on; Carl, drop himl Beatrice g~ taut, trembled• thoir vo i ces bamillered agains~ her ear&J her eyes burned; her logs quivered. The oat 11aa the Y.'88.k dread within mu·, helpless 1n playful. hands. Her alarm became cat's claws, the wriggling sba~ 011tside the windo11. Blindly, olle pushed her way down the stairs. She tiaa running, crying amall mews in her throat, Yoicaless with terror. And the h aha was para- lyzeds the cat falling, landing 1u the 7ard, running through the bo.soraent into the ball, seeking revenge, meeting her. And ita ayea angry slits ot claaa balls, its p&\'78 torn e.nd bleeding, its mouth terrible with •pitting ollrie k a aiid ahD.rp ripping teeth • How she got donn the f'o u. r tlighta, reached 650 and up to t.lie first floor, inside tile door, she never knew. fmt Ple.1 oould be so oruel, so ·1 125 terrifying • no, she couldn 1 t understand, couldn't imagine. 1:hat ohildrcm ho.cl - done that to a ~att She cmll.d see it mounted on the ladder~ poised on the wall • · oat, o a t. She had never lilted catsJ they caught mice. t.taggie' ~ brothers kept a cat in the butcher shopJ sometimss, she saw it - slee 1 ,1n 6 in the window t;lfter the mes.t bnd been taken out an~ the store was closecl. She nover ·wanted to stroke a cat like some children did. And \'lhat if the ca~ had ~ landed on its toet, \1bat if' it had dropped and clied • the bones broken, the tur split open, th8 tooth and eyes all bloody - ~n the . ground? She couldn't go to the \1indcm, lo '-' k doT1n. liow they had laughed, their taceo close and whispering, their eyea evil and theizi hearts mean - How . couJ.d nice Carl do auch a wicked thing! ~hen danger wasn't or~ on the street; it ttas everY\vhere. It waa a frightening aecretJ ahe didn't dare speak of it to ~ne. But it made her i:io.re anxious than bef'oreJ ahe studied faces, noticed sounds ot laughter, listened to tones of v:ords, wa · Lohed the raean- · lng of eyes, saw the V1a7 hands moved. It robbed her or most ot her playtime, · too1lmost ot the tun out of the playing. Sticks and atones oao. break rq bones · but - mi.mes CM never harm met The children chBnted the words over and over, but saying them didn't ma!Je them true, because what the7 didn 1 t say spoke even l~dcr. And they did feel themselves harmad because the nEll!lea did hurt. Beatrioe saw . th.at I ki:ieri that• . For a while, she stopped playing with . the other children. She had bar big doll, Tamu. MB.ma kept it on the new dres s er 1!1 her bedroom be&.use it was so beautiful, with lone, sort, light-colored curls and prett7 blue eyes. It even ho.d teeth \ihich alioued in a smile and there were dimples on either side. 1'.lwr.a dressed Tew in real clothes and changed them f'rom time to time. Bea.trice loved the blue outfit best~ th~ one with the little £e:i.ther in tho hat and the sep~te Jacket over the dress. . Now she wanted to play wlth t!le doll. B7 rqselt, she ' I , f 126 told ma.ma, knm11ng how oare.tuJ. ~he \1ould ba•• to be It · ,,,..., • · was bard tor her to con- vince ~ma. She ehoned mama hov1 she wouJ.d hold the dollJ it made her happ7 Juat to hold it. It filled both her and th . arms e face nas right next to hers, cool e. g~inst her ~heok and _smooth. She could see mama was tliinldng about it and \70.t"rJing, although the doll was renJ4r hors. But she know it was a special pri- vilege because there wasn't another doll like hers in the whole world. Me.ma · kept sayine, I know it•a four doll and I want you to enjo1 having herl but don't you think she's bettor ctr just sitting up there! Besides, ahe'a so big a.nd · · heavy for :fOU right noo, WhJ ~ot Wait till 70ulre a itioe big girl and then JOU Call pla7 nith her all JO"ll like? But Beatrice shook her head and her eyoa tilled with tearss she bad no one else to play withl Couldn't she put the doll in the car- riage and just wheel it around, please? Mama g ave in at last, but aha aaid 1 if anything happens, you•µ be so~17. She and Tamu had a good time and it wa s tun playing in the house again. She wheeled the carriage up and down the to7er and when mama wasn't bus7 in her room, they played in thore. Tam was very good and amartJ aha did nerytlling Beatrice told her to. 1'he7 played nurse and baby, Society, school, girl t~ ·iends , . mama and daughter • they never quarrelled or did mean things. . When aho told Tamu stories, Taw 3ust folded her hands, looked at her and listened with a dimp- led smile. TaniU was veey dainty and clean., too, and Beatrice tried to imitate her when she ate. But when the brieht 8UDD1 dqs of Spring arrived, mma got annoyed with her. A dark toyer and a closed-in bedroom, wh!'.t kind ot plnoe 1a that1br a child to play inT Vi ~ oan•t you p~ with Birdie ar:.l Elsie dounstairs'l _ Mruna 6ave her some apples and cookies and told her to share in the children's games. 5he hated to leave Tmuu., Birdie and Elsie were so dullJ the1 never looked or said or did a~bing n8\1, ditter~t, iriterosting. And it \:las no tun ! I ., I 32.7 shcming them now things because · they couJ.dn•t _,,_ b n1 ... .+.i.. ' IMlOW el' -..j ~Ilg D0\1 in return. She left · them to go shopping 1n the s t ores with~. At loas\ she could look at many things and hear the hie people te.J.k. But people were not Tory ditrerent trom c~ldren. She studied their fo.oes, eyos, ~, T~icea • gosturea - until . they, too, began to weaey her. Always the same. Once JOU le '1 rned that the loud voice with the singson,g rhythm belonged to · the wo~ with the baak c. t hair and shitting eyes, it didn't matter what she said. Evon when it vaa aupr.iOsed to be someth~ new, an event - gueas ttho I sau last night, whore cto 10l1 think I waa this morning, did you hear v;hat happened to Ura • . Crane reste~ thatever it was, it took on the dullness and sameness or the speaker and ao lost its novoltif. Only her do~ "r i as - always ne\'l anc i . exciting. Todq you're t.lie Princes• r .oreen • a namo never b~f ore spoken or heard slipped out of her mouth, and tor a morning o r an afternoon, the Princess Moreen had a strange and beautiful existence. Thq tlent to a f~ · away place, met IDti1ny people and he.d nonder1!ul thillga happen to them. It was all veey • ~ crot and mystoriousJ only the t\"10 ot them knn about it. Finall,y maoa. consented to let her take the doll outdoors. r fow abe could plq ' in the sunshine and have hmu., too. She wheeled the oarrie.ze oarefUUT i t: to the . . . . hal.1 1 hoping toore was nobo~ to see her and tient quletl.y d0t1n to the door. On , the stoop she pa . . sed, deciding. The street · was too open, big - there TJere women in the s'l.ores, the janitor wo.s cleani n g the sidewalk, loud \:·ac;ons were going by. Bee.trice walked on to t r..e ulley, set the carriae;e to ono aide andsuns the g a te open. There t1ere ~our· steps down from tho street. She wheeled the carria~e ~re fUl.l.y into the alley, then returned to close the gale. It waa a narrcr.i yard, betT ; eezi tho walls ot t 9 adjo · tning houses. ~-mat She loo k ed u p to the w i ?td ous on the fir s t floor. f{;ama was in the kitchenJ she navod back and smiled, i10ok, I have soccthing ror you. A bl"O\" z n ba!; was let do r ;n trom a ball of strinc. Bea- trice co uld hardl y stand still. r. hat tt:nl H e r b.9.nds re~ 1 ched u p 1mpatient4r . i I I . ! I . I I t I I ~ I .,I 128 as tho bag floated slonl.y nbove he~ · . · In ide a , she found a sand: ;1 ich of cream cheese and jellyJ it ,·as her favorite • 3 omet1-..;,._ to 9 · ... t 1 ~t..- tl . . ·~ .a • .,,u :ire11 mama· a kiss. !lo one but mama could~ ot such~ ®rliug game. She wished a~ bad something to tie on the string for tnamJ it looked 80 lone]¥ creeping back up through the air • \ Tamu seemed very p~eased to be outdoors; in the aun her 1'air looked like spun corn si~ aad her eyes were bright aa ~G'i'Jel.B. Boo.trice threw back the oar- ~iage cover; it uas too warm and besides, the dress would got all wr1nkl.ed • ' . Tamtl was telling her how much she liked to be ou·tdoors. Tho7 couldn't decide right away nhat to play first. Th e re waa too muoh noise coming down trom the . . street and from the bnck lot. Some boyp were J."11nning after a ball, their sohool books hanging from loose straps. They wore playing 'hookey• - Beatrice bit her lip, thi nJ;iug, if Ben were to do that& From a window high nbove someone · emptied a pitcher of water into the yard; the plant in the wiudow box had had enough. It landed in a broad plash near the carriage. Beatrice stared up at the roa1s. and lines of uindous, wondering who might do the next atraIJie tbillg. She wished there were no one els!! 1n · the yard but she and mama and Te.mu. It made her WOf'17• Sup ) osing the water hrui fallen closer! She oould see the carriage ruined and ~amu : . drenched from shoe to bonnet. r:iiere could she goT Qrq wnlla and tJindow frnmes looked dor;n at her, 11nsns':'.1ering from a lnne ot slq and pavement. She atayecl t1here she was, within herself', and <Nw Tamu closer. • I . In the count17, Te.mu, we'll have a big gardon 1 with trees and tlcmera and birds and we'll go to the fairies• parties. An~ they talked aoout what they vollld wear and whom they would mett and about all the lovely things they would see and do. Before Ta.mu could w&-n her, thore y;as a f'lurr.r of running forms. A dog rushed Ylildly by, lea.pi n g and chasing a sti~ tied to its ~all. liirer:;thing l · 1 I . I i .. .. f . ' I whirled, tipped. T~ tha1 were gone. Beatrice lifted her · head and sat up, crying. Ho :· hands were SLlearcd and her knees scratched. It bad happened 80 q~ckly, she . coulcln.'t und 1:: rstand why she v1as sitting on the ground. Awl thon. . her heart sto~ped and her blood seemed to lea~ outside. Tamul No, it couldn't be, no..-no-no-nol ~erritied whines clogged her . throat, her chost seemed to somersnult under hor dress. Nobody must seel She grabbed the head, the. arm tha piece ot toot, and cowered over the fallen carriage, trying to put them all toaether aa tha7 bad been a minute before. ~hen daspe rate~, she wheeled the oarriaee into the bnsemant, not .knof:ing whe~e else to hide. For long minutes ~he stood there, till the shock slov1ly trembled through her, leav!n« her quiv~rina. Her bands grew wet at her mouth, her f'e.ce loosened, her eyes began to blink. !am under the coverlet, inside the carriage, hidden, still. The head tuisted from lta neck, dangling from a cord. The arm severed. The toot cracked and chipped. famu 1 hor beautiful, wonderful doU. She threw herse~ across the carriage not daring ~ ·· 1 look, to see. Alld into her pain crept her mother's t1arning and the bliml tear I ·· ot th$ thillg done and still another pain. Tanta Li'Utter. · So that those they loved who bad died could so on living afterwards. No, it couldn't be, it \iasn•t 10, \ it hadn't ha.pponedl Her hauda tn1sted the coverlet,arguing denial, hor llpa pro- . tested. And nhen she could no longer sustain the lie, sh• litted hersolt alowJ.¥ and stood there, gl'..led to the darkness, vith the liaht co!Jing through the door .. behind her. It could nev0r be the samo againJ the thing done was the thing lost and gone for ever. Hothing could bring back the time before or undo what had been done an d was tirdshed. Pale, her eyes dark with the sorrow now i'lor1ing gontJ..y within her, she said, noe fhis. i/as not Ta.mu nor Deena nor Suaette nor the Princess t.1oroen nor r I t I f I l . , . I ·1 I ;I , . ., I 130 .. mr one she knew or ever had known mh1 ,,_..,, . • "' • was a broken doll. She looked o.t tho porcehin haad with the painted glass eyes and artificial hair and kmm. She would not he.ve it to play with aeain. Sho told pa.pa not to h ~ ve it fixed, ~ put it away. She stammered OYer saying 'thrcm it &\'181' 1 1 but bf no other si{lD did ~e betrq the aecret loss she lw.d suffered. t'rema fussed over the doll a long timeJ it she could just put 1 t . . together ~o that it might wear a disguise and sit on her dresser ~. She thought or a Spanish oostume, with a long mantilla coming down over the hair awl covering part ?f the face. F1nally, she gave up. ~folk about the doll stopped and the inoidont nas allowed to be forgotten. Except on occa.sion, wbon mm.11. thought it nocessarr to remind her to listen and obe7, it she didn't want to be oorq again. And each time she ninced, as she did when piolting on a soar, till a . . tough skin developed. It y;iaa h~r own Uo Trespassing sign. ~ had nothing to do with th r : .;f(. Her judgment rei'.ised to admit that one mistake, houever grave, condemned her to a lifetime or failure. She r.ould have to go on without Tamu. She was back where she started, with herself. But center \'las onlf a trash starting point. MD.ma, papa, Addie, Ben, the house, the street, her playmates, the neighbors, the stores • she !mew those directions, where they le4 and how tnr. . . . And nor1 she was ready for a new direction. · Center whirled, r~iated, eddied out and returned. Center was sate harbor. Caretul. Rothing on the horiBODe outside was ohartless, unexplored. She knew the pe.oes around the deck, the close distance to shore. But someb4~re was a ne11 iidvonture. Sur{:ly sometime she could t ... st the . . outer rim. She l::.stened and looked, anare ot the - ~ at the anchor and the raat- loos sails in tho breese • . !hen one day she hcru. .. d Mrs. Singer tell mama about her husband's brothctr11. It seemed they nero rich. Life had be en 1r ..4 oh kinder, much be t ter to thom tba.n to Herman. ltrs. Si.near sighed, vexed. Four brothers • and I had to mD.rrJ the " -- - - - .. - -. - · ... JJl unlucky one! How they l~:veJ You ought to see Ruby and Frances. Like queens. They huve everythilig. Honestq., I'm ashamed to have thom visit me. Anci she v 1 ent on to describe t he neiehborhcoci where they lived, the palat~ homes, VJhere sorvants di~ t h e uork and gover.nes3ea tcok caro or the children. It we.a a life of ease end lmn117. ' RulJ¥ and J'ranoes belonaed. to clubs. They trnvelod. · And . f !trs. Singer described their clothas. ! . ! Bes.trice thought of fat, untia, Aunt Ethe.l . ot the smelly, dark house her , f cous~ lived 1n, and a flicker of compassion 01~ssed her f'a.ce - she knew "U9t , I • what tirs. Singer meant and how she telt. Tsk, to tbiuk that plvJ.21, dull Birdie r . he.d aunts like tbs.ti But she put aside petty Jeo.lotJ . sy _to hear what tJa& being said. As she listened, her imagination begrui to sta. Maybe they wou.\d eome to ,:I visit Mrs, . Singer. Then she \'IOt'\ld see them, too, because mama was Ura. Singer' a best triend and was · al\•mys inv1 ted into her house when there we.a compal\1 or e.nyw th:tna special. !Jn.ma h e lped her to bake co.kes, and 1f there was a dinner 1 she shovmd her hon to cook certain things 1 and it papa came, he brought a handaome bottle for toaa~s and drinks. She ran tO tell Birdie ubout the cooing visit~ Eirdie grew vecy pleased about having such •wonderful cousins; it m?.de her tool pro~ and iuportant. w he tnlkod about. he,,: Aunt Ruby and •. Aunt · Frances and told Beatrice that .&hi wou l d have to call them by their lo.st name, Singer, because• wasn't their _ niece. Be R trice agreed, swellowing ho.rd; it she could just .m them.I Sbo pictured thoir beeutitul house on a riverJ it was ~n'OUnded b1 trees and flowers and had broad entrances ~1th marble stail'\1ays. Inside, it waa like a hotel, with elen:tors nnd thiok . nes and guards in uniform - she had nevor seen a hotel but she was sure it y:as a little bit like the main house in thecountrr, ~ much : J .. r ' ~ I I . i I . ' '• 132 • bi g ger and more wonderful~ And .t~ all tho children had their ~n private bed· rooms, each one b, himself, with extra playrooms. and nurseries and . eveeythi113 • She ~ould see tho furniture, the silver, the exquisite dishoe on the le.re~ dining-room table, the linens, the curtains, the glans bathroom and the elect. r !o kitchen. She fancied . herself ~ving in all the.t spcaious lovslineso, with mama g ra:peful and aluaya chari!ling, Addie kind end tr1enc3J¥ 1 Ben a little eentleman, bis goodnatura unchanged, and papa at his best, a dignified, and cultured boot. It t:e.s an ideal picture, a goal ~ she10Wad to make it come trac. It was some- where in the futureJ she could see it like a light coming towards her. Ituleed, lif'o l7ould be glorious, difi'erent trom all this. The eager:cy a\1aited visit came on a Saturday atternoonJ Beatrice BD.W an auto- mobile pulling up to the curb. From the driver• s seat, a le.dr kept glancing out at the street, looking for a house. Be n trice hurried alol'..gside. Is this l~o. 650, the lady called, her gloved hand on t h e window f1'8DIO. Beatrice to c.) k a deep breath. Yes ma•am, she aaid and wondered it this were R'.l\>7 o r : . Frances. ~he ladT gathered up her bag and some · pacJtaeea and looked the car. I live here, ma•em, I can tell you if you want somebody'. 'lhrough a blue veil she caueht a glimpse ot beaut71 it w :a a the right taoe. Can you, dear? I'd be so glad. I'm looking tor a Mrs. Singer who lives . . at No. 650• but I can't see the number voq uell. Ies, m•am, it's not a veq nice house. But my mother is a very cood tri e nd ot Mrs. Singer's• She llvos on the third floor, we liTe on the first. I'll take 70u there, it you like. The lacy laughed and thanked her, askiDB her .bame. It was thrilling to lnTe ' . . I ·I ' . I f .1 I l 133 the lady all to herself; she felt as though she were cheatina Birdie• By the title they arr~ved on the third floor, s~ had told her all about herselts her o.ge 1 school oaraer, hopes • She nanted to add I nant to be a lady just like you, bUt there wasn't time. Ruby~ whnt a surprisel And look at me . · oh, ·x1 111 80 aslmmed. Wb1' didn't you let me know - tsk, the house! O~ in, please come in. Childrml, get washed, your Aunt Rub1 is here& Mrs. Singer bu~tlod towards the bathroom, cai ling behind hor, take 10111" things ·orr, Rub7, the bedroom. is . right there - I'll be right in. Ruby laid her packages on one ot the beds, folded her gloves into hor bag, and elanced around unoertaiuly • I 1 ll take your hat and coat, Beatrice oaid 1 I know where the closet is. Such a nice h5.t and ooat - she bore them ott proud4', teeJ.il'.lg privileeed and res p onsible. : ·1 Oh, it's Beatrice, I didn't see you~ Mrs. Singer saw her stepping out of the ~ closet in the toyer. Thanks, darling, you're a g<?od girl. And Bea.trice, do me a favor 1 go tell maoa to come up. I have company• Tell hor it she can b~ me some nice calr..e, we'll have tea. Hurcy, darling. The lsst was whispe-iEld at the door, · then she turned beck to sho11t, quiet, ch.i.ldrenl Remember, I "ant JOU to behave yourselves in front of Aunt Ruby! Beatrice hurried doun the atairs as to.st as she oO"M and then bad to climb back one flight because she had gone too tar dorm. She was breathless as she banged on the door. Uo. 1 Birdie's aunt Just came; in a great big Cl].r, ma, and I tool£ her upstairs f I J . I lJ4 J:lYSOlf and J.'lrs. Singer an.id to come ri o ht awnv ..... ,, to 1 b....t .... - . "' ....., t.Mw. p ease ... .o.MQ some cake. T l e're going to have a partyl She c~ppod her handa together and lookod at her mother, wide-eyed aud smlling brightly. All r~ght, all right, don•t be so excited. I still have to get dressed, you know. · And you stay here until I'm rencJr to take JOU up. Bea.trice followed her into the bedroom.' She tasten~d mama's stookinza to . . the garters tJhile mama jerked and pulled at the corset. miat to 'Oee.r " the . blue wes stained, the black ~ opened along the ar11 seam - She decided on the Jersq. She uent. into tho bathroom to fix her hair and put some powder on her face. Beatrice . , . 7ou wake papa. Ask hil(l it he wants to come, too. Saturday attar-- noon and he 1 s asleep. I never saw suah a man. Sleeping, always sleeping. \ 'l ell. 1 go on. aJa, you know papa gets mo.d when anyone wakes him up. She didn't want to wait tor i ;apaJ she fwd be en gone long e.nough. And gets .mad it he misses aeythiDg. Go~ you know how. De a. trice hesitated tor a moment, then went irito the kitchen, fillod t\'lO gl:!sses wiJiih very cold water, put each on a plate and added a lump ot sugar ne:t to each glass. She carried them in' carafUll.7 and set themdown on the dres- . . oer near the bed. She picked up his newspaper frora the tloor and rustled it a few times. It had no et.i'ect. She held her breath, reached up and tui:med his shirt sleeve, then quickly' turned to get one or the pl.a.tea holding the glass ot water and lump of sugar. Pa, didn't you call me tor a drink? t:ell, here it is. I didn't call you, he muttered, gazing at her atupidlyJ his lips felt dry. All right, g ive it to me. Tba..nks. He sat up, placed tlie lump of au ga r on his l I I i l I ,. : '• I " ' 135 toncue and drank the cold water slotily. Uhen he had finished the first gl a ss, Baa · : ·. rice ht>.Dded ~the second and began telling him about the visitor • . Mama camein during the account. Well~ come on, if you're coming. or, )'OU ~an moot me there. By the time 70u wash, comb and perfume YoUraolf - ahe cave him a curt nod and left. Boa.trice . t'.aited until he stood up and stretched his arms. Good, be nas auake. How d~>n•t forget to come U;:.J 1 pa. A grunt tl~t \1&8 '1es• sent hor tl.y1rJs after ri:iama. Oh yes, the babe's quite clever. ~he 1 d make a good little o.cizress, no doubt. \'il\Y 1 good Lor~, 70u ought to see her dance and sing with all the trim!nngs! Papa lolled his head and waved his hando into the ail'. As he leaned be.ck, his aristocratic belly.swelled forruard. Ruby' nodded, smiled, and set dor1n her cup. She v i e.a plea.aantl.3" awaro or the ds.r.k b . J:o w n eyes which tollowed her every movement. " [ I don•t seG Tley not, sha replied, Q'veryboa_,•a taking it up thooe ~. TJ\y husb3.Dd's been after me for months. He . thinks I ouaht to ~e If( two kidcliea out to the Fox Studios, in New Jersey. He lw.s a friond thore who ke<Jpa asking me to give the movies a tey. She dug in her bae and handed him a card. He pursad his lips, read\ng it. Bm, that so1 1 :~ hat do JOU sfq, ohick, :would you like to go? He pinched his nose, loo.king ovor at Dae.trice. Oh pa, can I really - She could gat tip nor1; ehe ran to the sids ot his chair nnd lifted a kiss to the bald top ot his head. He pattod her shoulder liBbtl.1 • Oh, I guess it's all rizht with me, but how ~bout .,our mot.hart !oo old fc.sh.loned, eh, Ke.tie girl? His lips wri3gled derisively and a taint'suge a stioA ot scorn cam~ t.rom his nostrils. Beatrice. looked at JllWD8. anxiously, tin 3e ra &\:eating the armchair. =- - - -: · - . I . . '· . I . . . I . ! J :.' I ·• i • . . 136 But, !!nl. Singer, please emuse lilO for n ... ?,.4n... h h ---.-g, 0\1 can s e go? Iou ceo, I dQn•t Jmcr.J aeything ~bout malting pictures. You know flbat a oother•a like. I'd like to have ~ore intorm~tion. I I . Ot cours~. didn't expect yo~ to !lot Beatrice go alone. ~ ~ q not come along th<:r i'irst tirlle and see whut it•a like? It thio card moa.na what I think it docs, Tie oueht to be paid tor the experience. r.ho knm 1 a1 At leaot vo can try and see, Beutrice•o . face glowed. !:amc. 1 a ahoillder lifted helplessly llild she nodded aa the appointment was ma.do tor the follouing r&>n~ momirig. Aunt Ruby would call tor them in her car and briug her two cW.ldron, &lso. Papa and Ruby laughed a'I:, the idE)e. ot ~~ all becoming .famous stars and Bub1 made up namea tho7 woulcl uso in the movies. Gyps1 Dar - Beatrice could see her name and picture on eveq bill-boa.rd. Co.!?ing in a new picture soon. Birdie and Florence &at around loe>ltinc doletul and unhappy. Then the1 jumped up and ~ to their mother, cryiog, we ;;B.l4t to go, too - Aunt Ruby isn•t lmr aunt; e.ny'i1a1 - 11' Bea. t rice ean ao, why can't iieY Mrs. SitiBer gave them a slap in reply. Not my- children, no, sirl She sa.t ba.ck in her cho.ir firml1 1 and the child- ren ran Cl""JinfI intr J their bedroom. ~ stirred unccrafortabl.J under J1er oorsat, t•hile papa gave Aunt Rub7 11 m~ . wink. C~q Birdie and Florence llere neither · pretty nor . ta.lented. Beatrice sat qu .!. etly, afraid to show her happiness, lest it bo taken a w ay tor ~ 1 0 sake or tho others. Hor re3tr&nt le.otod i n to the evenir.lt: o.nd tlu"Ougb the next dnJ • tlingled with the hope ~as the tear, and time till Uonda.1 dra L ged in anxious auaponee. Ben looked at her in a bra.-id nevi wey; be J.o.ughsd 1 then stopped, surprised and uncertain. Adelle• s eyes narro\ · ;ed and her taco thinned. I bot it you nere going to o~hool pap:l -nouldn't let 70u be in the 50vies. - ·- - ·- . -- --- -- - ... - ~- - ! ,• , 1 ·I I I I I I . I ' . ! I ! . bz 137 ~asides, you aren•t in tha movi~a yet. fi ait and seeJ they eight not OYen take you. She ran ott to pla.r Tlith Pearlie, making a lot ot noise. · r.truAa had to be trca~d with 1J.k lo s g iYea, too; aha aeomed. to have a lllillion things to do su.dclenJ.:,-. She movecf about irritably. As it aho didn't have onough to bo~er withl Ot all things, becoming an actr.s at her agel It was ridic~, crazy, the whole bua~esa. Now she would ·have to arrange with Mabel s~or to take care ot Ben and Addie for the day. Though Addie could, tor cnoe, · IllWltlge the lunch and supper if everything uas prepared in advance. ·:~~did everything , ha.ve to happen to herl Mabel was smart, and said no,and put an end to it. But then, li~111Dall. Singer wasn 1 t I.Sax Berger, and Beatrice :.. well, even R\1by Sinaer had agreed she was a. remarkable ohild. Now she woa practicing, aitiaina and dancing all by hers . elf. Mama began runL"'ilQeing throuah their alothea clos~~:t to see what they- could t1ear~ lilo.wiey mo!'lli.ug cwne ear~J Bcntrice was the first one up. Sho rient into the ki·i;oheu to set the· table tor breakfast, wislJiue Addie and Ben would hurry • .. nothing must t!O wrong, plee.se Codi ~he he:i.ped mama with the beds and dishea, then nept the . kitchen floor to 'get rid ot a.u7 dust or crwnt>a that mama ini t ht see s.t the la.st minulie. Alone, she - kissed the mirror and admired: horselt in her best · party ch•ess. · T~ big white silk hair ribbon made her look tcl.1 1 almo:st like a big girl. Papa advised her ho• to behaVe. · 'lhon ha eave JJmma an eJi."tra bill for spending •ey, and kissed them both goodbye and soodluck. Uama sat with Aunt Ruby in frc>nt. l.iuriel and r~ eat on either aide ot Boatrice in the back. They we1 ~ a nice ishildren, very gaY_ and goodnaturad. She wouldn't let them. see she telt sey or strange. To size each other up they resorted to the usual test, Murray boo.sting that ~ had a cer. Undaunted, Beatrice replied that her f <:> thor bad not yet made up hi• mind whioh ne.s ~he • ' I .. I l ,. : I I •I I I J I lJ8 be~t co.r to b~•••.• Vi' oll, they had tt10 mD.ids and a eovernei;;a ogho gave th.ea lons~ns ••• oh, but children 0' :.4 ght to holp their mothers take co.re of a houao, enu :..§ for a gov~rne;.;s I ~ i lly' lidcl1~ end Ben ~ : ant to. tho b e st t::Ohool thero na• c-.ncl no:tt term, ohe '7 a s go~JB bo.ck to the l~~ z · garten. In the end, tiler tioN accie.l eqlll!ls. Both mothora :Ll.sten~t omueodJ it \';as s r\ ticfying to knou thnt their offs~ring bacl rwt be en t1•a1ned 111 vain. Com 011, kiddies I you 1 11 mmt to be na:i-:t to me when 170 crc;sa on 1iha ferr"J. ~he ~ur stopped at the Fort Lae ent ~ ·ance Md mama exchanged senta with the children • tie.tor! liar stomach !'lipped. Ao thG car moved into line, Beatrice gras r.>e d the coat rack Wld started to her teot. I don't \18llt to gol Stop, I•m of'raidl Stop 1 ploase, I don•t t i ant to gol Po.nio flooded her mouth, Tho children turned to stnre at her e.n4 laugh?d. h1oma leaned to~ard protectively'. \11bat• a the matter7 Ssh, eveeybod.}r• s looking, fell mama, darling, what ie it? Aeail1 the oar lurched torwo.rd and eased to r:aiting, the motor rea~. Stop, stop - I • don't • \:ant • to • go& We*l'G eoiJJB to drOilnl Stop • oh - ma& In trcmt, the g:iles ot l.Bughter mounted. Hero we go 1 Be a trice, right into the w aterl t!a tch all the can so into tho Tiater& Here goeol Pl t.rl aGe; don•t do thut. t:ama to 1 1 k her on h er lap, embraced hDr olosoJ.r . . so thut he1• ey e s nero hidden, and bent dcrou. Novi· stop that, silly 8~1. r.oul <.l all the peoplo go on the bee. t it ~ knei1 the7 t;ore going to dr0'. ·; n1 Iou aren't stv.pid. Li " Jten. 'lho ferr-f', tlle boat goes ovor tho t;ater, not the c~. The ~s · are iooicle the boat, way up ~h. The rerrr oa.rrics them -- -- -- . , ~ · ~--------------mllll l.39 f1'"0m one side of the Tiater to the other. Look tor 10ursel.t. Come on; . •haw I , iuriel and Li"llr~ that ~ a.rtlli•t af'mid. Wq, she's a big cirl, she ..- :aa onl.1 pJ.ayinel The explanation quieted her. She lifted her head, looked behind, and saw the boat gliding along Sl?lOothl,y. - A smile 1:J.t throuch the te6l'S. fha children eat huddled up tront, BoatriCe se.v the baol:a of their hoado, whisper- . ing together. 5he didn•t say anyth:Lng, but b7 the - time the _ferJ.7 had croosocl and moved into its slip, she nas readj • to go back. It was f'un. She lookocl roruard to the return trip. file country \w.s beautiful with Spring over the·'!'.Ddin£ riverside. Tho oar purred amootl~ _ e.s it tollcmed tho course ot tho l'Oad~ Large lnnd~rks moTecl baok u ard, i'l8l1 past; · e. . ~UDe slid dot1n the hill and out ot e1Bht. It was . . . f"uD.oy to natch the world run a.way. Tho sweet tlooci, nir had a taste of fresh greennoss 1 good to ~ll, to b't1allow. You grew diziq seoing the trees JIUah sideuays · one after the otherJ you couldn't tollou thom, they vent so taat. ; ... i After a while the cc.r stoppod e.t a restnurant at the side ot the road. It w a a a strange thine to 'Oe sitting so tar from hoI11G, to m: i ve someone aok 7ou what 70u tzould like, to see . JDWlla chstting a t a strange table• But best of all was the big ice croam soda which came in a paper cone instead of a round glaosJ ., at the bottom uoro small pieces ot fruit which seemed to taste much better tor beina lii'ted out or the sloping _ point on the end ot th• strav. t1ama took out a to n -dollar bill to pay for the treat, though AWlt Ruby said she · real.11' shouldn't. Beatrice was glad the children saw, i.>ecause it ITAde up tor ri.dintl in their cer. Ai'ter thut, it t1asn•t tar to the studio. ~hay rode thrOU".)i a 'ten amll . I " i l . I ! I . I . • I . 1.,., . . . .. I ' .:• , , vUJ.aees and then camo to ~ big lot \lhich was enclosod b7 a hich wall and a g a te. . Lo.nt;: lines. or cars were p: ~ rked outaide and tiler had to drive al.most to the end or the wall to !'ind PD.l.'king space. ~hen the 1 had to \":alk back to the ge.te. It didn•t look like movie land a.t all and Beo.trico hoped it waa dif'ferent inside. She was disappointed not ~ seo the actors and actreaaea around• And tlhere ne~ the lovoly gardena and mountnina and donorta . she ha.cl aeen1 The t\10 day exoiteaent and tho long trip seemed \,a ateds .,be felt tired and suddenly indirrerent. Aunt Ruby showed the man at the gate a oa.rd ancl ha let thai r througll. Mot everyboc1:f \ill& allowed to come inJ people at<Jod about• t1e.iting. · Inside looked cur1ousJ.1 ompt7 and drab 1 onl,y aome wooden build1Dsa here and there. The1 entored the largest ono where a ~ flight ot stairll took them to an office. Crowds of people stood or sat about, waiting and talk- ing. They see m~ d to know one anotberJ there r.are gi-oetings, calla. Oocasion- n l.ly1 a door opened and fl girl beckoned, next. Finnll y , Aunt Ruby oo.ught the g:I.rl•s attontion and aol.c:od her to take a note inside. The girl looked alll'pl'isocl; she beoa.me respectfUl. In a f'on minuto3 1 the four ot them woro summoned through a door marked Private. Beatrice brightened up. 'lb~ i~ D111St have been a W.stalt9. or course, it col;J.dn•t have boen tho rlzbt pl.nae. Those people dicln 1 t look like actresses • Priv a te \1e.s an office w here a man in rolled u p sleovea aat at a cle3k .t'Ull ot papers. It nas d1rt,y nnd sselled ot cigar emoke. He got up when be saw Aunt Ruby and shook iiands. H~ l73S soorl and pudgy, not at e.ll important look- - iDg. The brightness vanis h ed again. It was taking a long tillia to get started. Gypa7 Dey, eh? ~he man tried to be tr.1endlf 1 to mal::e then teol o t home And 10u can dance. t ell, ue•ll let you do the Russian Ca s otsky& Everyone . . ' · . . ! ,· ., . · . · . bz . · - ·---- -- ·· = ............. -=- ............. .. - - -- ............. __ _ Ii laughed. 1'hen ha 'tlrote out t\·Jo slips, one for Aunt Rub7 and the other tor me.r:ia, 1'he;r - uere not going to be toeo · i· . hel-. B ::. atrice bit her llpJ she 1 . antcd. to ask uby. Just . follow the . crcmd down the be.ck stairs to the dreso""' .. rooms someone . ~ I r~ill ohou yau nhere to go. The man opened the door and said goodbye, again shaki~ bt.mds nith Aunt Rub7. Everything waa going wrong. ~would mama knou \1ha.t to do, where to go? Without help, how could she act G;ypq Dl17f ~ur!l q and Muriel didn 1 t eV-en notice her vhen the7 went ottJ t~7 were having too much tun. llama shoued the written slip to a doorman. Mob aeons 1 be said and pointed to a staircase. ~hey came into a bis dressing room almost like tha one at the beach where tho7 h :.:: d changed into their suits. A woman in. a striped <Wess took their slin t:t.nd shotred them to a closet. . - Put your thinss !n here. You'll find aost~o on the taale out tront. Something r1ill fit 70u, I guoss. I'll trr to tiDd something ama.J.l for th• little girl, myself • . She marked the number ot the closet 1n her book and loft them. lJema looked around in t101ldar 1 not sure s~ wanted to 1 · ~rt undresa- ing. Craey-, honestlyJ To colil8 all this 'flElTi 'bJ' oar, mind 70u, to got pushod, # questioned and shOV'ed dor.n bore. A movie ctU'ecr 1 some Jol:ol ~boy undressed in oilence. The dismalness ot tbe r1holo thing t1as insultine. Doe.trico hid .~ · bshind. the door uhen the ~tron returned with hor costume. It was a rough cotton gor1n, once 'tlhite. rias that all she uas to cover bar ruikedn.ess with'l She tolt tears rising. Well, Beatrice, hon do 1ou like your costumet Hara looked at her -·- . ~ I . I . . ••t, I ' I ' " I I •· I . ' . . . . in . dismay, then shru~~ed her ehoiiJ.dero' walked out 1n her undel'\vee.r and n- turn~d with the same cotton gmJn, sizes l.araer. A colored bolt dn.Dglod on one loop. She tied .it around her disdninful.J.y. &i, fancy I ?Jama, do 70u ~ltink I couJ.d have a bolt, too1 At loast it vol.ll.d help a little. Y~s, thero are lots of them 1Jing aroutld. ht the lady aaicl we must hurJ.WY'• Come, Bentrice. 1'li.am locked the ol:°aot and reCOYed the ke1• Barofoot, · they walked . into an adjoining room bordered by lODg tables and lilirrors. AU the t:omen w01•e dressed alike in rough cotton gonns, soma blue, some tan, with cU.tterent colored belt{J. Tliey were bus1 with make-up, comba aud ootton ahmlla. From . the talk it o.ppoared it t":as to be a Russian piottire. It had '"'70 '1ell knO\'In s~-ro in the lead. Beatrice tugged mama's arm - her 'bGlt,. don•t tori;et. i'here \10.s a robe on the table nith a broad sash. r~ removed the oaah and tied it tv:ioe around Beatrice, then made a big bow where it tied in front. For a minute thq lookod nt oaoh other, then started to laugh. Mama, ,., J u look so funnl'l n!e.ma stared donn at herself and begaa to llW:lble • Leave it to %aabel .S.i.nger to knO\I when she was well ort. Vax should soe thool sm ~ rt ideas ... A man nent around with a make-up box. He stoppod to paint mama.•a taca1 eyobrotts, ohoel:st lips. Beatrice could hardly restrain herselt. She gi.~led, poutod, _ squi~ed, worried that her p:1n mieht loosen and ~tpose her to him. And at l.G.nt hor f'nce telt lll~ a mask; A sbl!ill voice called ccrosa the room, road¥, line upl ~hare wna a general m.avement. towards the exit. &ma stayed in tho roar. A )"Oung womn. . ' • I : . , '. .. · l/J ge.vo hor a friendly amile • So, look at this one, 1sn•t she cutet She took Bee.trice by the hand • .And you r:re going to clance? Oh, do not lloten to biml It r.ill tal:e plenty ot time yet. Here, let•s practice a little, fes'Z She dl'8\f them a~ to a lesa croi. 1 ded area. Hor arms crosoed hieh, hor head began to nod in obedie>nce to her t c ot, her voice tra-la-ed strong accented muDic and S<. i on,. Beatrice waa f'ollo'\7ing her. This is v:~t she lovelll Their eyes flashed, oatchinc •ienals from each otherJ their ll1,s pai~d for dooper, fUller brontho. Ah, at"Jeet, 70u are adorable! Como, again, ~ And tboy started once ~ore, It \'ient qu:I.c!cor this time. The7 whirlod, atwapod, clapped and sided, . . . nou to tne right, now to the lo.rt, back to be.ck, am 1n arm, out to the side, the opposite m11, thoy pa.rted, met, bowed a1l4 finished. Hoo~l ThGre wu applause, cheers. Bea.trice looked nroun:l onrapturod. And nill ne do thnt in the movieo? she a.eked. • rq, yesJ You and I togethor.., hm7 Such· a ooaet child, ohe said to mama. )' . . ·. - l."ia.."?a shook he l· bead inditforently. Evon the big ones we.re children. Didn 1 t they hnve acythiJle better·to do, didn't thoy bo.ve ~homes and familic:J7 .l sigh escaped her. Well, it w ould soon be over. The shouts Cl"e'.7 louder as orders t1ere rep e ated and at last tho c1.v.1d moved o~t of tho dressing-room. The,y came into an opon field on one aide of a boarded tallCe. I:.'vecyono hurried to Mr1S8 them~elvea against it and to look throi.1gh the sewns. Beatrice found a ore.ck lower doon end flottened horaelt to peep through. tJa. 1 na. 1 look, it• a ., here she isl \' i hispcrs caut.ioned ter not to m..lte &111' noise or the awi...rd w o u ld ta!:e he.t: ar;ay • There tiaa a curious ctilll t ess of s·llSponao, or co.: i oentrated interest. Even mama ca m e to look. Suddonly, a · I j '. I ' . . · . .. · : .. : ., . . 1 1 •v1 • I . • .. l ., . I ···1 cavc.ll7 ot ho~oa ariept -nto Viet:I handsome ~asts . in colorful trappings~ ridden by Ooosacks, dark and vUJ.dnoua looking, v1ith imo.rda tlasl'dJle in air and hoad- s ear gal.loping across the sey. 'lhe Oa.rth resounded to flying_f'eet ln a mi~J.od tumul.t of duat-, noise and motion. A real pogrom, someone oried, it nas like thatl Soldiers driving the peasants bei"ore them, kiJ Hng theti. Talc, h0\1 rool it looks, hoa terriblel Bootr.ioe cl u tched mama•s ~ hard, looking around trom time to time to assure herself cf the tenoe, the people tho eatety. Safety- edged the horror with de- light. Cruel, ~al 1 uonderf'ul. 9 T.he ocone was ropoated after more abouts, more orders. Actionl Beatrice suppoeod the movie \18.9 being made, ~.i\ nhere . or how sho coul.d.n.'t see. Sho roma1ned where she was, trying to look pa.at the crack in the f'enco and. tar to oithor side. It \"las over; t r.~ dust lay quiet on the ground. Alob acene nextl The phrase . · , was caught and p assed around. Everyone began to run down the field iJl th8 di1 .. ection ot tho booming vo t ce. The young woman ato p pod tor Beatrice, this nay, follo;-t me! A tmi more shouts cU:sbursed the orowd into a'Clal.l er .. ups. Aotionl fhe danee r1 as ready to be ~ ir:L. H e r pm.wt.nor motionodt three clap3 1 three stamps, three nods. Beatrice tolloued her as before, aw are onlJ ot the accented tune, the rhythmic steps. V.' hen. the1 fi n ished, she sa.w a oirole to~d around them. There wao stamping, l.D.UWUnB 1 cheering. All ri(Iht 1 cutl They TJere moving ott to iiak e l'Oo ra tor the next abot. T hq w e re returning to the dressing-rcom. That was all, Beatrice l. : arno d ~ti m t w wa an. : : o more, t.illi.shed, go i n+s bom. r f o•re only extras 7ou knoul The \'Jho1:9 dq tor five Dinutes, th:l t 1 s ho w i t io. Ah , 7 8 11, it pays. The JOUlJ8 w oman had a tired saile JlO\'lf 1he loo k ed · - -- . ' ~ , ., ' . . • ~ I : ·I · - I I ' ) I older eoineh0tt• Sho waved her. hnnd and disappeared. Aa they tiled . back 1n, their costumes we1-e inspected, then exc"'m"-ed "'' tt..- :t. ~ w/ ~ma: ron for numbored kqa • At the long tables, they . found cold cream. and absorbent cotten. P1ngera reached ooLlpetitivoly into the cans, snatching wbe.t thfJ1 could. Shoulders vied for space in tron~ ot mirrors. i'here was a rush to clean-up, to cloi:u.e- out. ~ cream had a sickening smell, a thin ereo.sy foelJ Beatrice ~ o.s gl.acl to have mama nash her fo.ae t1i th water; tho stu:i"t on the cotton ha.cl . l.ookff antul. \ . She rubbed her band over her face to make sure. Hor OWD. Bld.n, her own mouth • . B~ the time the,- hadcressed and were reo.cly to leave, the room seemed deserted. . . The retro~ stood wilting e.t the door 1 hat and bag 1ri ban4. Please, where do I go now? mama said. Got your slip! Mol?•soene, tbat•s right, She directed them to the pq- . .. J office. Aunt Ruby' and the two ohildron wero ·waiting tor them outside. · , ,,. ' " .. . t~ ' b I'vo been looking all over for you two, Aunt RuJ:v snid, I tho'1l3ht \i9 would never meetl Uell, how did 70u like it? Lfu.ma' s i'ace cade he.r laUf.)l. Ev'ident~, the others he.ii not fared so poor~J Mur1117was eager to tell all about 1\. . You should have soen our mama. She loo!ted beautiful.I She w as a court la~ and ; <: e v 1 ere pases. Hi.a voice travelled on, thrilled by all it reported on • Be a trice didn't care aey moreJ she uas t o o tired to pretend. And when maaa . ,. show ad her the tt10 f:i:ve..cloll.ar bills the7 had e !l rned, she smiled tainti, • Vr'hen they were seated 1n the oar once . more, she noticed how dark it bad become. ?lo, she 11 asn•t hung17 •••• she heard mama sq aleePJ •••• when th91 g ot home •••• Then tho house was there, the same street, the atoNs. Sbe bl.inked up at the lamp post and t."18 liuhted wil'ldoua. She was tired, oarsiak, dioo.p- pointed. The groat event y;as over. ·In the deys that tollO\'led, the shock remained insi ~ • her, quiet in its [Document text truncated for crawler view.]