“A what?”
“A new mother. Here is a letter from Papa telling us about it.”
The expression on Austin’s face would be hard to describe, while his sisters were laughing at him. But what else could he expect? His father had been homeless for a long time.
“I should like to see her. I have always wanted a mother. I should like to live with them,” announced Doyle, to the astonishment of the whole family.
“Are you not happy here, Doyle? Is this not a good home for you?” asked Austin, who felt hurt at what the child had said.
“Oh, this is all right. But I want a father and a mother,” said Doyle.
There is a longing in the heart of a child for the love and protection of parents that no amount of sacrifice and devotion on the part of another can fill. Doyle could not remember his mother, and had little close association with his father. He loved Austin, but he could not get away from his longing for his parents.
Austin’s brow clouded as he heard Doyle’s wish, and saw the expression on the boy’s face. It did not seem fair after the sacrifice he had made all these years, the way he had given his youth for them, that the boy should care more for his father and this unknown mother than he did for his home and the one who had made it possible.
Lila saw the look of pain on her brother’s face and, slipping her hand into his, whispered, “I would never leave you, Austin. You are more to me than any one else. I wouldn’t have any home but this.”
Tears came to his eyes as he turned and gave the child a caress. He had not realized how his heart did yearn for such words.