The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-07-31
BEL1NpA,s NEW YEAR.
BY KATE NELLY NIL.


age that day, and little Mrs. Oldham, the
minister's wife, was moving about from
one group to another, with her baby in
her arms. Busy as they were, both with
needles and tongues, the ladies all
stopped to admire the parsonage baby"
who was always brought in on these oc-
casions to receive the eager homage of
the feminine portion of the parish, who
were present
GLOW he has grown!" ''What splen-
did boy for only four monthsl" "Look
at him! l do really believe the little fell
low is smiling at me!''
These, and similar EXPLANATIONS,
sounded in every direction, and brought
glow of fond pride to the fair young
mothers cheek.
AS it subsidized a. little, the business-like
voice of the president of the society was
heard inquiring:
do you know, Mrs. Oldham, what has
become of that roll of check gingham
aprons, orphan asylum aprons, you know
that were cut out at the last meeting?
Miss Skureman's girl is here; she could
not come herself, to-day, on account of
her rheumatism; but she says if Wen
send couple of those aprons to her,
she'll try to make them up at home"
ga couple of those little things! and
there are over fifty of 'em to be madel
Mother and | are going to take dozen
of them home" whispered one of the
ladies to another.
Don't say word. It's next to mir
acle to get anything out of Miss Skure-
man, you know"
''Hush!" warned a third speaker, "the
girl will hear you"
''Well. guess she'll agree with me if
she does. She doesn't look as if she got
much out of her." she said, with glance
at the small, pinched-looking creature of
about thirteen, who stood in the door
way in her faded frock and shawl, watch
ing the scene before her with timid but
curious glances.
81 think it must have been put in the
lower drawer of this cabinet" said Mrs.
Oldham, after a little consideration.
who'll hold my baby while look?'
"Oh, let me, please, ma'am," begged
the girl" starting forward with sud.
den, eager impulse.
She had been gazing with fascinated
eyes at the beautiful little creature in its
dainty white embroidered robe, and now
as she held out her hands to him, some
thing in her bright entreating look APP
pealed to his little majesty, and he gra-
ciously extended his arms and permitted
her to take him.
'Well! isn't that sweet of him?' ex-
claimed his mother. ''That's quite
compliment to you, Belinda-your name
is Belinda, isn't it? 1t isn't every stran-
ger that he will 60 to-
Belinda beamed all over her thin,
freckled face.
"Yes'm," she said, shyly, and then she
began to coo softly to the baby, and toss
him gently, and otherwise disport with
him in way that pleased him nightly,
and brought forth succession of little
bird-like cooings and crowings in reply.
Isn't he just too bright and cunning
for anything?" exclaimed the ladies in a
chorus of admiration.
'Any teeth yet, Mrs. Oldham?'
mot yet, but starring, we think" re-
piled the minister's wife, coming forward
with the roll of aprons in her hand. "Oh,
Miss Bounderly!" as she squeezed past a
large table where sat an elderly spinster,
spectacles on nose, and shears in hand.
81 hope didn't jostle you? How nicely
you are cutting out those little trousers!n
"Um-yes. But the cloth is bad
width for this size. I'm making lot of
big scraps, and that's wasteful."
"Oh, no!' laughed the minister's wife.
"Just leave the pieces, please, and I'll
use them to make irOn-holders. L de-
clare, think my Jane is perfect moth
for iron-holders, and holders of all sorts.
She's always scorching them out and
wanting new ones, and really am at my
wits end for wooden pieces. / haven't
been housekeeping long enough to have
much for piece-bag yet"
"Well, it S pity that the parsonage
kitchen shouldn' have holders enough"
cried one of the ladies, laughing. 1.-THE
parish will have to take it in hand. I'll
make you a couple for Christmas gift,
Mrs. Oldham"
''Sowill l." land l." cried half dozen
voices, and Mrs. Oldham put up her
hands in pretended dismay.
"Why, shall be smothered under an
avalanche of iron-hOlders, ladies' Never
mind; l accept gladly; I'll be saved from
James opportunities, at leastl"
miss Skureman's grip could not help
hearing all this, though she was playing
with the baby all the time, and queer
little thrill ran through her as she lis
tened.
blessed baby's sweet mother being ''put
to it, for such thing as thatl Why,
she could make irOn-holders; she had
seen Miss Skureman make 'em many
time, and she had something of her right
own that would make a real pretty one.
A little petticoat of scarlet cloth which
one of the ladies her mother used to wash
for had given her before she died, to
make over for Belinda.
1t was quite too small for her now, and
there were several badly worn places in
it; but she was sure she could get enough
out that was good; and she would rip it
up and wash and iron it that very after
noon, if she could get a chance, and
make an iron-holder herself for Mrs. Old
ham. She would just loUe to do some
thing for her; she was so pretty and so
sweet, and always spoke SO kindly to the
Sunday-school girls whenever she met
them. Hadn't she remembered her name
only just now? She never would have
thought she could have the courage to
offer gift to the minister's wife; but if
she tDdnted iron-holders-
She had settled it all in her own mind,
while she stood handling and cooling to
the baby, and she lifted such beaming
look to the baby's mother when she came
to take him that the thought came invol-
UNFAIRLY to her:
'How nice it would be to have some
one like that to help me to take care of
him."
you've managed him very nicely,
thank YOU" she said, with her own kind
smile. "Here are the aprons, and you
must tell Miss Skureman we hope she'll
feel better tomorrow Shake dada to
the little girl, baby"
Belinda said, "fes'm," and stopped to