South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-10-02
rHEINTELLlCENCER
FRIDAY. OCTOBER ?. 1891.
BELlNDA'S ADVANTAGES.

There is always some hing.
l can give you no idea of the COM
bination between whine. snarI, and
wall In which Belinda Barton epoke
these words as sbe flung herself into
chair with sidelong, upgraceiul
motion which can only describe by
The word 'fiump'
Well! Would you rather it VS.
slways nothinga sad Mrs. Ada
Strong bright. elegant, little ell
derry lady.
On. you know wba. l mean. Cous-
IN Ada, said Belinda. q we'll. grown
girl OF sixteen. who would have been
very pretty had it not been for the
frown on her forehead aud the way
her mouth turned down a; the corners.
All my aspirations for an education
ere disappointed, and I must live on.
on this poky farm, nothing but druid.
gerry. dru 'gery from morning till
night.
Miss Strong made no reply. She
drew the basket of stock ings toward
her and began 10 darn q big hole in
the heel Of little j sck's sock.
do I'D yearn for the advant tag ca
CT culture, said Belinds. You don't
know, Cousin Ala. how miserable
am.
IL don't, it is not for want OF
your procisiming it, thought Miss
5 rong. hut she said nothing, but
w.rk.d on.
And ,hornhf wboo xou o.. 49,.
", uld sympa,hize with me and under
stand me, said Belinda, beginning to
cry. hut you haven't q word to say 10
me. Well! II is my fate TO meet
with no sympa' hy. and Belinda sob.
bed. Not a word from Miss Strong,
but the hole in jacks s'ocking went
ON growing beautifully less
You might cay something. said
Belinda.
thought that was just what
you were complaining Of, that
here Was always .lhing, said
MISS Strong.
That isn't what I mean, said Belin.
da. incoherentIy. rubbing her eyes
till she looked like the maiden al!
fotlorn' in Tho house that Jack
built
What do you mean thenp said Miss
Strong, strangely unmoved.
wanted you to have some sympa
thy wi b me. said Be!indaJ but You
don't Say word.
NJ SIS Strong went on darniug.
think you sht say something,
Cousin Ad ..saId Belinda, passing from
sentiments to snappishness.
IL | don't, said Miss StTe ng, after
pause. it is because / don't want 10
say TO you what seems to me great
nonsense, and l am pretty sure you
would be angry il talked what seems
10 me sense.
Belinda was not yearning for sense
1t had never occurred To her that she
bad any need of that article. New.
ertheless, the WORT aw oke in her mi d
certain curiosity.
Sense. Cousin Ada 2 she said, in a
hesltatipg way.
Just so.
/ am sure l should not he angry al
that from you, Belinda said, alter o
moments pause. You are so cult
vated-you live among intellectual
people and-snd-all that, she con-
cluded, vaguely.
| suppose you think go because
am assistant ihrarian 10 the A.
library / assure you there is plenty
of what you call drudgery in my
work.
But you must understand how I
long for chance 20 develop my mind 8
higher faculties said Belinda.
i confess never should have guess.
ed from what l have seen of you .ba
you had any such thirst for knowl.
edge. said Mics Strong. coolly.
Why, Cousin Ada, returned Belin
da. astoDished haven't l told you
over and over again how loneed,
literally tbirsted and starved to 20 To
a good school sway from home and
all this miserable farm work, and
can't b cause father thinks he can't
afford it, and tha, l ought to help
notLet. So here ! have TO stay and
wear my heart out over this horrid
drudgery that ] just hate.
Oil You mean you want TO 90 Ia
school, leave home. and sbirk your
part Of the family burden, said Miss
Strong. That's quite another thing
FROM a wish TO improve yourself. II
you really desired Improvement. you d
make use of the advantages you bave
Advantagesl MiDel replied Be-
linda, scornfuIly. I'd like 70 know
what they are
Miss Strong was silent.
do wish, Cousin Ada you would
tell me what you mean, said Belinda
fietfully. thought when father and
mother went TO town this afternoon |
should have . long talk with you and
you'd be so sympathetic and nov
oh-o'o'o, and Belinda trailed of into
dismal vail like puppy whose paw
has been stepped on. What can
study here
Natural history, practical chemis-
try, history, literature, ethics snC
theology. not TO mention the use Of
your bands, tolerably wide field IL
which to develop the mind Of youol
woman one would think.
Belinda stared at her cousin il