Gratia's Trials — page 64: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

GRATIA’S TRIALS, 59 Gratia had taken the little four-year-old creature from the crib and nestled it close to her bosom. ‘* See,” said Gratia, ‘‘she thinks I’m her mother.” ‘«Fiddlestick !” said Mrs. Simmons; ‘‘much she knows about mothers anyhow. Her mother died when she was born, and her father’s got a young wife that don’t want to be both- ered with another woman’s children.” | ‘‘Me got a mamma,” cried little George, triumphantly. ‘‘ Yes, and you might just as well not have any,” said Mrs. Simmons; ‘‘shes a gay woman, going to balls and parties, and glad to get decently rid of you. Aleck, sit up again.” ‘* Me so tired, nurse !” ‘‘Y don’t care whether you are or not. ‘That child is all right enough, Grace—you needn’t fool any longer with her.” ‘‘ But I hke to hold the poor little thin thing,” said Gratia, fondling the claw-like fingers which clasped themselves round her hand. | | : “*T dare say, but you'll soon find this ain’t no place for dawdling. There’s something to do besides humoring cross young ones. Stretch these clothes ready for ironing—these children do dirty such a sight of clothes.” Gratia obeyed, but while she worked the sound of constant moanings reached her ears. ‘‘ What zs that noise?” she asked at length, driven to a sort of desperation. ‘It’s only Flora Elwell,” said Mrs. Simmons, ‘‘the most troublesome child weve got. She tried to run away yester- day, and she’s settling accounts for it now—that’s all.” ‘* How old is she?” ‘«Six, I guess, or thereabouts. ” ‘‘Oh, Mrs. Simmons, she is too young to be so harshly treated,” pleaded Gratia. ‘‘ Let me go to her.” ‘* You just mind your own business till you’re asked to med- » dle with other people’s,” said Mrs, Simmons, roughly. ‘“‘Ive GComicbooks co m