Saturday's Child

nvited a dozen friends to their Oakland house for dinner;

want to give thanks. Anna and Conrad and the O'Connors have promised, Jinny will be here, and I'm only waiting to hear from you three to write and ask Phil and Mary and Pillsey and the baby. So DO come--for next year Anna says that it's her turn, and by the year after we may be so prosper

things, like having a baby, that you have to DO to appreciate. It's old-fashioned, and homelike, and friendly. Perhaps I have a commonplace, middle-class mind, but I do love all this! I love the idea of everyone arriving, and a big

er the table, where hasps had been absorbing his attention, "you'll be

k he's a little of both, myself!--and a new sun-room built off my dining-room,--why, then there's an unexpected amount of happiness in this world! In me--a plain woman, sir, with my hands still odorous of onion dress

y together!" said the dusty

long!" answered his

ntent, Sue," Anna said to

ily's arrival for the six o'clock dinner. The doctor's wife reached the gate in her own handsome little

on," said Susan. "Woman--it is th

ast,--we go after Christmas," Anna s

kin coat, had taken her guest upstairs, to share the scuffle that preceded the boys' naps, and hold Jos

her sleepy little daughter in the curve of her arm, Anna in a dee

ning from morning until night. As for getting up in the dead of night, to feed the baby, Billy says I look like desolation--'like something the cat dragge

dollars," Anna said, half-wistfully, half-curiously. "Everything

and beautiful, she has a good husband,--to me he's rather tame, but probably she thinks of Billy as a cave-man, so that doesn't count!--she has everything money can buy,

smiling, "so gravely wise and considera

heir baths, and feeding them their lunches, and finally she said, 'I'd like to do that for Alan, but I never do!' 'Why don't you?' I said. Well, she explained that in the first place there was a splendid experienced woman paid twenty-five dollars a week to do it, and that she herself didn't know how to do it half as well. She said that when she went into the nursery there was a general smoothing out of her way before her, one maid handing her the talcum, another running with towels, and Miss Louise, as

ought, "for that's Conrad's free time. We drive nearly every day, and half the time dine somewhere out of town. And his having to operate at night so much makes him want to sl

t their very sweetest when they get their clothes off, and run about before thei

Doesn't that give her a chance for self-development, and a chance to make herself a real companion to her husband?" "Well, the problems of the world aren't answered in books, Na

comes, and I put i

eaching up, as there are people at the top reaching down, there'll be no more trouble between capital and labor! And last week he had statistics, he showed them how many thousands of rich people are trying--in their entirely unintelligent ways!--to reach down, and--my

to a mothers' meeting the other day, about simple dressing and simple clothes for children, and they knew I had three children and no more money than they. And they know that my husband began his business career as a puddler,

fe, Susan!" Anna sa

ea-hen at the Saunders', and I've eaten liver-and-bacon and rice pudding here, and I like this bes

ou and Billy?"

ruck me, mum, and that's more than some can say! No, but this was really quite exciting," Susan resumed, seriously. "Let me see how it began--oh, yes!--Isabel Wallace's father aske

him up, Sue---" An

d into them; he said he had started life pretty humbly himself; he said that he wanted some way of reaching his men just now, and he thought that the 'Protest' was the way to do it. He said that it was good as far as it went, but that it didn't go far enough. He proposed to work its circulation up into hundreds of thousands, to buy it at Billy's figure, and to pay him a handsome salary,--six thousand was hinted, I believe,--as editor, under a five-year contract! Billy asked if the policy of the paper was

lly would be in charge--there would be a contract--nobody could cal

ahys--you remember that magnificent old person you and Conrad met here? That's Clem. And h

nna exclaime

aid, where would Billy be the minute they questioned an article of his, or gave him something for i

," mourned Anna rebelliously, "and my goodness, S

Of course I wept and wailed, at the time, but I love greatness, Nance, and I truly believe Billy is great!"

or had to mend his shirts!" she added with a rueful laugh. "But, Sue, shall you be content t

Clem assured me seriously that they'd have him Mayor of San Francisco yet!--However," she laughed, "that's way ahead! But next year Billy is going east for two months, to study the situation in different cities, and if he makes up

you for yourself, and sometimes I think that she loves you

ce from a talk with her stands out clearest! I was moping in the kitchen one day, I forget what the especial grievance was,

idered it

gh of her

u know that they had a little girl? And Mary Lou just divides her capaci

elf, and you always do me good!" Anna said laughing. "I share with Mother the

ephine carefully on the little pillow. "Best--girl--her--mudder--ever--did--HAB!" said Susan tenderly as

elike rooms, to cut grape-fruit and taste cranberry sauce, to fill va

he filled little dishes with nuts and raisins

ty in that dress, Sue," he went on, contentedly, "and the kids are so good, and it seems dandy to be able to

, they stood looking out

illy--and sitting up nights with Mart

-bill came in for five months--whe

ll! But isn't it wonderful to--to

's wonderful," agreed

mily. She tightened his arm about her and spoke half aloud,