The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-11
THE NEW BABY.

II came at a most inopportune time
that new baby at the old brown house
down IN the hollow. When Mrs. Clayton
came into the church parlors and an
nounced the new arrival to the ladies'.
who were quilting a quilt TO go into the
box that they were getting ready TO SEND
10 the home missionary on the frontier.
81 was not strange that they were struck
dumb for few moments.
The silence was soon broken by old Mrs.
Jacobs. laying down her needle and ex-
claiming, "Well, did you ever near any
thing to beat that?''
Mrs. Powers, who sat opposite Mrs.
Jacobs. laid down her needle and laid:
mo, 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.
Not that Il would make such a difference
In Jed Humphrey's-the new ba5y's
father-fnancial condition, for he never
worked over a few days at a time with
out stopping to take double amount of
days to get rested in.
II there is one misfortune worse than
many others. IL is to be the children OF
shftless parents, and Jed Humphreys
six children were entitled TO the commits
Grafton of the whole community, although
Il 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 reached 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 neighbors
said, IF anything, she was a little more
so"
Every year the Sewing Society OF We'll
lingtonville, believing that charity begins
at home, had clothed up the Humphrey
family before they began TO sew for the
missionary box. 1t was vexing TO their
souls to find Mary Humphrey frying out
lard In the new dress they had made for
her to wear so she could go TO church
respectfully, and see how careless the
children were allowed 10 be regarding the
new hats and shoes and garments given
them. And now a new baby had come to
that cheerless, neglected home. and Mrs.
Clayton, after announcing Its arrival. also
made the announcement that II had not
q rag OF clothes TO wear except a few
things she had found in her garnet, which
she put away In a trunk when her last
baby outgrew them. II was so long ago
she had forgotten all about them until
this stern necessity brought them to mind.
As the ladies returned to their quilting
II was quite human In them 10 speculate
some over the proyidences OF the Lord.
II did indeed seem strange dispense
ton that he should send another baby
20 the Humphrey family. Jed Humphrey
could not take care OF the children al
ready there, and what would become of
this little waif of humanity who had just
come In the cold December night, TO make
it's entrance In a world of care and trou-
BILE. a world 80 full OF hungerings and
thirstings and shiyerings with the cold.
Why was the new baby not sent 70 the
chIldless home In the large house on the
hill? There was an empty cradle there,
soft and warm. and loving hands and
hearts waiting for just such a treasure
from the Fathers hand, to love and
cherish and work for? Here and there a
tear fell on the missionary quilt, as one
and another OF the quilters 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 Humphreys baby sent?
Old theologiaDs could not solve this
problem and throw light on these ques-
tons. That was one OF the mysteries
which God In his wisdom did not see fit
20 unravel for those good women Of We'll
ungtonvtile.
u uss soon tins Ter the letter freu the