The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-12-17
BELL BELT.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.
BELL BELT.

That was the name pinned to the
skirt OF the baby found in the basket
at the bakers door, in Fiftieth street
pinned by an old-fashioned cameo
brooch, with "B. B." cut on it's back.
II want the baby called Bell Belt,"
was written in pencil on the paper
"Fm too poor to keep it. God bless
those that will l shall know who
they are"
The bakers old wife had no children,
and the baker let her do as she chose.
She kept the child, and it grew to be a
girl OF Is before the old people died.
They had petted her, had her taught
something, dressed her we'll; but there
was no will. Relations from Germany
trooped down on the property, moth.
ing was thought of Bell, and she found
herself with trunk and a little purse
OF money-very, very little-thrown
upon her own exertions for iveli-
hood.
She was not clever, nor educated,
'on y pretty, and mild. and timid. The
work she found paid i'll, and stopped
at last altogether.
A hard old landlady threatened to
turn her out of half of the bed, in a
little hall bedroom, and her good
clothes went bit by bit to pay her
way.
At last, wearing shoes that chung to
her feet onl " by miracle, her marvel
Gus dark-eyed beauty clothed infaded
garments, patched and frayed and
time worn, she went about asking
work and receiving only denials. She
was SO handsome, so shabby that
they had doubts OF her-the snug peo-
pie sitting in their trim warehouses,
They chose to employ palmer girls in
better clothes.
One hungry Saturday came the
threat OF dismissal from. her poor
nome hanging like the STORED sword
we all know of over her head bv a. sim
gle thread, and she found herself at
the entrance OF q great factory.
She crept in shyly, seeking in vain
the persons who could give or refuse
her work, and turning first to one
door and then to another, finding on
ly an old man who swept up some
scattered rubbish with g. great Bosom.
until suddenly, from a dark passage.
way rushed. q crowd Of girls, of
women, large, small, old and young,
who, IN their hurry took no notice of
her. She was pushed against the
wall, and watched them as thew
ranged themselves in groups and
turned their eyes on a. tall thin, we'll.
dressed woman who carried leather
bag In one hand and ed-account-
book IN the other, until she had
mounted a. high stool before desk,
and opening the book, commenced O.
sort OF roll-call. -.
Bell was too we'll used to factories
not to know that it was pay -day;a and
the hungry eyes watched what went
on with the envy the penniless must
~teel at the sight of money, in a world
where money is so much. The sum
paid to each was small, and as the
signatures were made certain deduct.
IONS were spoken OF. One or two
girls cried over theirs, and were com,
forted by their friends; but the roll.
o''' oAie SlSnabuFeS ana Jne payments
went on very regularly on the whole,
until one lady at the desk called
out. -
"Lizzie Williams
Then girls shrill voice answered:
"she's dead, Miss Alberts; died YES.
'terday." 4
'Dear me!!'' responded Miss Alberts
with the air OF saying what was ex
pected of her. GLOW sudden. In The
midst OF life we are in DEATH; Let us
all remember that. Will some one
notify her relatives that the money
will be paid to them?" !
One after the other the slim lady
called the girls names and mentioned
the amount she gave each aloud, as 6
signature was lhade in the book.