Árdís - 01.01.1953, Page 50

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ÁRDl S
“Uh huh,” Dr. Midfjord said cheerfully. “Couldn’t you make
your home with one of your children? Help with the grandchildren?”
“I have no grandchildren, yet, and my children live in homes
just big enough for themselves. I’ve sometimes thought of selling
my house—but the very thought gives me a lost feeling.”
“You have heard of business men, who on retiring, have lost
interest in everything, and become ill. But believe me, no business
man gives up anything as interesting, and demanding as a mother
who finds herself without a family. A retired mother.”
He rose to his feet, and stepped to the window, and stood there
with his back turned to her, jingling things in his pockets.
“There is something seriously wrong with me,” Grace thought.
“He is reluctant to tell me. I must brace myself for bad news.”
Dr. Midfjord turned, and came back to his desk, and sat down.
“I am happy to say that we can’t find anything wrong with you,
Mrs. Leland. ”He gave her a stern look. “But you will not keep
that health long, unless you find something interesting to do. You
must plan things, keep busy.”
With relief, Grace relaxed in the chair. “I have a degree in
music,” she told him, “and gave music lessons before I married.
But that is long ago. Methods change. “I have . . .”
“That might be a good idea,” he said. “But I have a better one.”
He formed a tepee of his long brown fingers. “A good mother with-
out a job. A retired mother. In working with small children, we
have found that feeding and care, though that is important, is not
enough. Children need love. All human beings need someone to
love them.”
“My children love me,” Grace said defensively.
“I’m certain they do. And you love them. But now your work
for them is finished.” His face broke into that winning smile. “I
know a little mite, an ugly puggly, just begging to be loved. I think
you are the one could give her that love.”
“Are you suggesting that I adopt a child? I refuse.”
“No,” he said, a little harshly, “you couldn’t, even if you wanted
to. Children are given out for adoption only to young married
couples. This is to take care of a little girl for a short time.”
“I thought there were places for such children.”