Theres One In Every Faintly There s In Every Family By Frances Eisenberg Illustrated l y Peggy Bacon J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PHILADELPHIA LONDON NEW YORK Contents ROOF SITTER o FATHER AND THE BIRDS 32 THE PINK SHIRT 49 REMEMBER MOTHER 68 RECITAL go A DAUGHTER OF THE CONFEDERACY 103 AUNT BESSIE AND THE SPIRIT WORLD 128 LIGHT BEARER 146 BAD WORD 164 A FRIEND TO ANIMALS 177 GOOD CITIZEN 203 PRINCESS THE RUNAWAY CAT 222 THE INDIAN ROOT EXIRACT 243 MUMPS 260 JOEY BLOWS THE TRUMPET 279 Theres One In Every Family ROOF SITTER .. ROM THE VERY BEGINNING there were two things wrong with my brother Joe. He was shy and he was stubborn. This is the way he did. If somebody tried to make him not shy, then he got stub born. Like the time when he was only four years old and he was supposed to be a butterfly in the Sunday school entertainment, and Miss Wilson tried and tried to push Joe out on the stage and make him flutter his wings, but he lay down on the floor and wouldn f t get up no matter how much the other butterflies stepped on him. And when he started to kindergarten and his teacher kept asking him to come up in front and tell the other children about his pets, Joe ran out of the room and hid downstairs in the boys toilet until they had to call the janitor to get him out. My mother had tried her best to make Joe not like he was, but when he was six years old she had to give up. She said she hoped he would outgrow it And she asked Joes teacher please not to try to draw Joe out any more because of the way it made him act So after that every body left him alone 10 THERES ONE IN EVERY FAMILY One morning in June just after school was out we got a telegram from Nashville saying that my fathers Aunt Sadie was in a dying condition, and for them to come quick. At first my mother didnt know what to do, because He was shy she knew they wouldnt want any children there, and there wasnt anybody to leave us with. But she thought a while, and then all of a sudden she said, Sarah Blcvins Who is that I asked. I was standing there watching my mother. She is a college student said my mother. She is Mrs, White down the streets niece, and she is staying with her and earning her way through college by taking caie of children and things like that this summer So my mother hurried down to Mrs, Whites house, and I went too, and Mrs. White was out in the yard, and ROOF SETTER n she said that Sarah Blevins would be glad to take care of us while my mother and father were gone. She is very good with children Mrs. White said. She has had some courses in child training at the university and she Sarah Blevins was a tall, skinny girl with glasses on and a serious look knows all about them. She will try out some new ideas on your children Then Mrs. White called Sarah Blevins out and she was a tall skinny girl with glasses on and a serious look. She told my mother that she would be glad to stay with us, and would give us the best of care. How old are these children Sarah Blevins asked, looking at me, and stretch ing her mouth a little like a smile. This is Helen my mother said. She is nine. And Joe, her little brother, is nearly six Oh, thats very fortunate, Sarah Blevins said, be cause I have just finished a cpurse in the child from six to 12 THERES ONE IN EVERY FAMILY twelve years, and that includes both of your children. Yes my mother said. But please be careful with little Joe. He is a very shy child, and doesnt like to be noticed. As long as hes left alone though, hes very nice. Just so you dont try to draw him into the limelight. Sarah Blevins looked interested. Im very good on be havior problems she said. I will try to adjust your little boy. I have done a lot of field work on problem children My mother looked worried. Oh, theres nothing wrong with Joe she said. Hes just a little young for his age. If you let him alone hell be all nght. Im sure well get along splendidly together, said Sarah Blevins, stretching her mouth at me again...