as most of her money was in bonds that still paid in- terest. She had become a close friend so mother talk- ed over with her what could be done. They decided the best thing was to look for a housekeepers position where she could keep me with her, and to rent the house to some good tenant. So mother advertised and answered ads. There was nothing very suitable till she saw an ad in the paper from Mrs. Taylors city "Wanted a housekeeper for single lady. Must be able to type. No objection to one school age child". Mother answered that she had taken a commercial course and still had her typewriter. The reply came from a lady that Mrs. Taylor had met and whom she said was very nice and should be easy to get on with. The lady was middle-aged, had written some books, and now reviewed books and wrote for magazines. She wrote mother that her qualifications seemed satisfact- ory, but of course would want a personal interview, and for the present could she send a picture of her- self and daughter. She went on "You did not mention sex, but I am taking it for granted she is a girl for I do not want boys at all. She is of an age she should be no bother".

In great distress mother took the letter to Mrs. Taylor who said she could explain the objection to boys. This Miss Elliott had been born and raised in a poor and very rough part of the city. Her parents were well educated but somehow had lost all of their money and had to take a very run down house belonging to some relative. The boys in the vicinity were rough and formed gangs and fought and it was not safe for a girl to go out alone. Likely it had given her a last- ing dislike for all boys.

Mother almost cried for she had built her hopes on this position, and from what Mrs. Taylor said there would be no chance at all with me, and she would not consider leaving me with others. Mrs. Taylor did some thinking then said, "Well you have the picture she wants anyway. Send that one I took last week of you and Jack and Harold and mark which one is your daugh- ter". Mother replied, "What is the use. I would have to explain that Jack was a boy in a dress". "Just this, that it is easy for Jack to be a girl. You know that

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