Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-02-20
Il he New Baby.

parlors and announced the new arri-
val to the ladies, who were quilting a
quilt to go into the box that they were
getting ready to send to the home
missionary on the frontier, it was not
strange that they were struck dumb
for few minutes.
The silence was soon broken by old
Mrs. Jacobs, laying down her needle
and exclaiming, "Well, did you ever
hear anything to beat that?'
Mrs. Powers, who sat opposite Mrs.
Jacobs, laid down her needle and
said: No, never did"
Then all the ladies began to express
themselves about the new conner in
rather unsatisfactory words. Winter
had Just set in; the mills in town were
running on half time, and that meant
half-pay, for the supply was greater
than the demand. Now that it would
make such difference in Jed Hum
phrey's-the new baby's father
financial condition, for he never work
ed over few days as a time without
stopping to take double amount Of
days to get rested in.
IL there is one misfortune worse
than many others,i It's to be the child
rem of shiftless parents, and Jed Hum
phroy's six children were entitled to
the commiseration Of the whole com
munity, although it is not strange that
just at this point the good women of
Wellingtonville felt that patience and
continuance in well doing, as regards
the Humphrey family had now reach
ed its limit. Sometimes when the
husband is shiftless, the wife is thrifty
and provident, but in this case, Jed
Humphrey and his wife were well
mated. Mary Humphrey was just as
shiftless as Jed was, and the neigh
bors said, eff anything, she was lit
tie more 500
Every year the sewing society of
Wellington, believeing charity begins
at home, had clothed up the Humph-
rey family before they began to sew
for the missionary box. 1t was vex-
ing to find Mary Humphrey trying
out lard in the new dress they had
made for her to wear so she could go
to church respectfully, and to see how
the children were allowed to
be regarding the new hats and shoes
and garments given them. And now
8 new baby had come to that cheer
less, neglected home, and Mrs. Clay
ton, after announcing its arrival, also
made the announcement that it had
not rag of clothes 30 wear except
few things she found in her garrett,
which she put away in trunk when
her last baby outgreW them. 1t was
SO long she had forgotten all about
them until this stern necessity brought
them to mind.
AS the ladies returned to their quilt
ing, it was quite human in them to
speculate some over the providences
Of the Lord. 1t did indeed seem a
strange dispensation that he should
send another baby to the Humphrey
family. Jed Humphrey could not take
care OF the children there, and what
would become Of this little waif Of
humanity who had just come in the
cold December night, TO make it's en-
trance in a world OF care and trouble,
a world SO full of hungerings and
thristings and shiverings with the
cold?
Why was the new baby not sent to
the childless home in the large house
on the hill? There was an empty era
die there, soft and warm, and loving
hands and hearts waiting for just such
4 treasure from the Fathers hand. to
love and cherish and work for Here
and there tear fell on the missionary
quilt, as one and another of the quilt
ers thought of a little grave in the
cemetery and Of the little white souls
that went from their arms up to God.
Why were they taken away and Jed
baby sent? Old theolo-
gians could not solve this problem
and throw light on these questions.
That was one of the mysteries which
God in his wisdom did not see fit to
lnravel for those good women of
Wellington.
1t was soon time for the letter from
he West to be read, and the president
If the sewing society knocked on the
md Of the quilting frames for order.
{ was a very interesting and appre-
.iative letter she read from the poor
Minister and his wife. 1t was labor
engers in that way, and the box