The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-08-28

here we have more rooms than we know
what to do with N there's Aunt Eunice
with no home at all"
"That's the way with life," rejoined
her mother as she wrung out the dish
cloth, hung it on a nail over the sink, and
then left the room. She came back again
presently with her thick cloak ON, and a
black worsted hood in her hand. "Tm
goin' over ter see Mis- Hail." she said
81 want ter get her ter show me about
that stitch for the border of my bed
spread. 1 won't be gone long"
When she was outside the gate, in the
road, she turned around and looked back
at the house moment. 1t was a large
red brick house, with wide porch in
front, and rooms on both side of the
hall. There were evergreen trees in the
front yard, and graveled walk led
down to the gate. Along the fence was
a row of lilac bushes. People always
said that Mrs. Pond hadn't anything to
complain of about her house, and she
thought so her herself. 1t gave her
pleasure to look back at it now, thinking
of old Eunice and the poorhouse. What
a comfortable feeling it gave one to have
settled home.
Mrs. Hall lived in brown stone house
nearly mile away. There was large
yard in front and two children were rae
ing around in the snow. When they saw
Mrs. Pond coming they ran to the gate
and climbed upon it. One was stout,
rosy checked boy about ten years old;
the other little girl, whose perpetual
smile and vacant eyes told their own
story to all who looked at her. Both
children got down from the gate when
Mrs. Pond stopped before it.
MAS in the Kitchen" said the boy.
''You can go round that way" pointing
to brick walk leading around the side
of the house.
A thin, delicate-looking girl of about
thirteen years of age opened the kitchen
door in answer to Mrs. Ponds knock.
Mrs. Hall was sitting in chair by the
fire, rocking child which had just fallen
aleep. There were traces of tears on his
chubby cheeks, aud a sob escaped his
| lips at regular intervals.
"What child is thatr' asked Ms.
Pond, taking the chair the little girl
brought forward for her.
cts little Benny Price; his mother
died yesterday" answered Mrs. Hall.
"You mean the woman who went out
sewing in Long Centre?"
Eyes"
"You haven't taken him, hope?''
Eyes, have"
mot to raise?"
eyes"
Eliza HALL"
"There wasn't any one else to take
him. They were going to send him to
the poorhouse. Think of it! Such a
pretty litrle fellow, too. Mrs. Price did
not have any relations except an aunt
over in West Penfield, and she's an old
maid, an can't endure children. She
said out m out she wouldn't take the
child. So 1 just picked him up this
morning and brought him over here"
GAS if you didn't have enough al
readyr'
'Oh, he won't be in the way; he can
play round with Ned and Sissy. It's
about as easy to take care of half dozen
children as one"
"That's what you said when you took
Lizzie and Sissy"
''Oh, Lizzie's a real help'-with an
affectionate look at the girl, who was
washing some pans at the sink. 81
couldn't get along without her now.
And Ned couldn't get along without Sis
sy He can't bear her out of his sight,
m he's as fond of her as if she was really
his own sister"
'Well, there's Jake, too"
Mrs. Hall laughed. She had thin,
sallow face, which had never been pretty;
but when she laughed she showed set
of perfect teeth.
"Mr. Hall would be just lost if he did
not have jake" she said. "He says
Jake belongs to him. He's got so big
we don't have to hire man at all.
Jake's just the best boy, too"
"And you really mean to keep this
child?'
"Of course do. Why, 1 love him
already. It's because he's so little and
helpless, I guess"
He'll cost you sight Boys are aw-
full hard on Clothes"
"Oh, We'll manage to fix him somehow.
amt goin' to worry none about that"
and Mrs Hall bent to kiss the flushed
face on her breast.
''What does Mr.. Hall say?'
"About takin' Benny? Oh, he's as
fond of children as 1 am. He said it was
shame to talk O. sending child like
this to Howe's. I'm glad his mother
didn't hear any talk of it. She'd been
just wild. But she was in a stupor from
the first"
81 s'spose you couldn't show me about
that stitch for my bedspread this after
noon?'
'Why, of course 1 could! What's to
hinder? Lizzie, you bring my work
basket out of that top drawer in the ia
BILE in the west ROOM. guess I'll lay
Benny right here on the lounge; he's
good for an hours sleep yet, poor little
soulr