Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-11-17

would not provide for the orphans. But
they said they wasn't bound to, the
brakeman being in some sort responsible
for the accident. Some thought going
to law would compel them to pay, and
that they could not prove he was to
blame; but instead of setting dozen
lawyers to settle it Miss Halidane did
it herself. | don't call her an impulsive
person; but she goes straight up to
thing without any hanging round it, and
SO it was in this case-they were strang-
ers, and she took them in.
.It was not long before she regularly
adopted them. Rob and Annie Halidane
they are called now; and it was then, [
think, that Mary Halidane began to see
for her to do.
"She did not set about it deliberately,
as you might say, nor make any plan
for herself, but she was ready for the
Lords leading, and SO she was led.
From this time she seemed to see her
/ way clear.
.It was not six months after the
Square died when she had these three to
love and care for.
'.She stopped at my garden wall one
morning that spring, I remember. [
was setting out my early tomatuses, and
she drove up in her rockaway with the
three children. we are going a-Maying
Mrs. Beebe,' they called out full of ex-
citement; and, sure enough, they all
had baskets to bring home stuff from the
woods.
81 said to her: 'Ain't your hands
about full?'
), ".No,' said she, nor my heart, mol
my house.
) "Nor the carriage, either, Auntie,
spoke up Jennie. There's plenty o
e room for another on this seat
e "That pleased me for Jennie hat
G been a selfish, spoiled little thing for
: merly.
".Yes, said Miss Halidane, lookin
e at them all as fond and proud as
). mother, the more the better
a $50 see the idea she's worked o
e since had come to her then.
+ but might have forgotten what sh
e said if it hadn't been for the baby con
ing so soon after-that chubby lit
le fve-year old you saw. Well, that chill
D. was left at her door in a basket Ju
h like stray. want it? l suppose son
OF poor creature knew Miss Halidal
W wouldn't let it suffer.
'She was a little dashed at first,
he reckon. She sent down for me early
o, the morning.
d, ".Mrs. Beebe,' says she, l want y
to teach me how to handle and dress tt
id little thing.
lie "Now the Lord knows I amt hal
as hearted, yet [ could not help sayir
BE you going to keep it 2
hit "She laughed. unless you want
ter Mrs. Beebe,' says she. You are bet
;he fitted than | am to take care of it,
iss "'But,' says I, think what it n
Dor grow up to be It's an heir of wick
ere ness-no doubt about that. Amt J
YER afraid, being boy, it'll turn out b
ere spite of its bringing up? Inherited t
rht denotes
me- "But she stopped me right there.
or amt responsible for them she S;
le's and the Lord will not hold me so,
uel only for what can do; and that | l
do ~
ler- "Some says he'll give her tror
any some day, and mebbe he will but trO
her lie comes in one way or another to all
and us. We can't shirk that even if
: shirk responsibility.
OFT "There are seven of 'em now in
ook Halidane's family. You only saw
lne at meetin' one is cripple, and ra
Tor a peevish. irritable boy. poor fell
him but it's pretty to see how all the OF
her. wait on him and amuse him.
she Il was up there, the day before
come, to get Miss Halidane's rule
'py, loaf-cakc, and | was sitting awhile
her was after tea, and somehow it made
call think of the evening after the So
Miss dled), said, Your house want
girl desolate long, was it 2
GIN "She smiled. and stopped minu
listen to the children outside; for it
the early and they were all out in the
'e at chard, even the littlest. He was bl
was ing his fat little hands full of flower
ren, Jimmie, whose rolling chair they
peak wheeled out under an apple-tree
their shouts and laughing come
athy through the open windows.
Grip There isn't house in the
1t. world that need be desolate,' said
and while there are still hundreds of
folks dren's voices whose weeping nigh
mean turned into laughter to cheer and fiji
mes, vacant rooms and hearts. 4
hus- "She'n have hers full as long as
m lives. [ reckon when these grow
louse he'll take more in, and the Lord
seful he-knows how many men and W
thaV x,or bo.oo,,oJ h,, l;voo of Gin and 6