River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-09-13
A FRESH AIR CHILD.
How She Won the Hearts of
Three Old Maids.

shy. embarrassed way at the little
group about her.
She felt dimly. that II was not pleas
ant To be talked about and not
talked 10.
Al the way from the little country
station. as they had driven along the
country roads. she had anted 10 ASK
TO get ont and walk, only she did not
dare The sense of newuess and
strangeuess was too great
She had never seen anything but the
busy. thrO1ged streets of great city.
and she longcd TO climb the fence by
the roadside and dig her feet deep
dow into the clover. and chase the
yellow butterflies across the fields
But she sat up stifilv, by the thin fig
ure al her side, and said nothing. and
perhaps was scarcely conscious herself
Of the longing
The three women who sat surveying
her were distinctly disappointed.
1T wasn't boy said Miss Mariah.
.'No. it's a girl. guess they forgot
] said in ms letter that we wanted a
boy answered Miss sally.
"Weu. | said all along. that the
whole thing was wild goose chase,
and it amt my doin's first nor last, ="
ehimed in Miss DoriRda. the tallest
and thinnest of the three sisters
The little girl fastened her eyes on
a great pin at Miss Dorinda's neck.
and then dare not look away.
1t was a big ~ound breach contain
Ing tiny wreath of hair flowers, of
various shades of brown aud yellow.
set n an oblOng rim of gold. The
fresh air girl thought it a beautiful
pin
.what is your name, child?~ said Miss
Marian.
cynthia Dane" answered the little
girl.
..Well, you can go out and sit on the
stoOp If You want to-"
ibid ycu hear anything about the
child, SalIy2'
Not much, only that She Is a match
girl. and there ain't nobody kin To her
She was run over by a wagon and hurt
somehow. and when she was well the
hospital folks gave her name to the
fresh air committee. and they fixed her
up and sent her. We've got to keep
her for three weeks, poor little thing
She lived i'm "A tenement house with
some other families; there were six of
them in one room. and they let her
STAY in one corner. guess We can
stand IL 20 give her home for three
weeks. ana not grudge it either She
don't look like a street cl,ild. and
Dane amt common Soundin' name
She must have had nice kind of
mother"
I'm glad she's come" said Miss
Mariah, and I'm goin' right 10 work
TO make her a sunbOnnet; there was a
bundle of them ngham scraps left
like mine" nj t-.>s Mariah went off
TO hunt for ne scraps of gingham-
She was different looking from her
sisters. being short and plump, with
smiling blue eyes The other two
were angular and tall and almost as
severe as they looked, but they were
good women and did whatever they
considered their duty.
Cynthia seated herself ON the stoop
obedientlv and gazed about her There
were patches of marigold and mignOn-
cite by the brick walk, and a great
bed of fragrant Glove pinlSs. Down by
the gate were tall swaying holly
kcks. aud the bees and butterflies
S'ere fitting in and out among them
1t was different world; she had
never dreamed of anything like IL
She 81. with claSped hands, hardly
moving for an hour. and here Miss
Marian found her, with her eyes full
of tears.
..rt-t--.. a. ID. -..- .t,;1la-, 10. e,;1
gently, and Cynthia answered: Il
dOn't-know- it's al-sO nice,
and Miss Mariah understood. as Miss
Doriuda could not have done, and in a
little while Cynthia was dancing at
her side, down To see the chickens and
the turkeys, aud in and out of the
paths II the old-fashioned garden.
When they came back Miss Mariah
had made friead for life, and Cynthia
looked like a III ferent child
Miss sally SAL them coming, from
the window. and sAe smiled grimly in
spite OF herself As she said: 1t does
beat all how Marian makes everything
foller her about. from turkeys To chill
dren See that child chatterin like a
magpie, and tried all the way from
the station and never got word from
her but yes and no; but Mariah will
spile her for any use"
This prophecy did not prove {,
however. for as the DAYS went by. the
little girls hands and feet saved them
all many steps; and even Miss D1rinda
acknowledged half reluctantly that
she was a willin'. bidable little thing,
Il
childlilse. and lost the piuched, old
look 81 +, had had when She first came
Mariah was her stauneh friend. FROM
the first. and told the Others all Gym
thia knew about herself.
She remembered her mother. who
hal scwed for living. and who had
died four years before, when Cynthia
was eight. Since then. she had taken
care of herself: she was now almost
twelve.
1t WAS pitiful story, much like
many Others, no doubt. but no other
had come 80 near 10 them. aud Miss
Mariah's voice trembled as she told it.
Even Miss Doriuda got mp hastily. and
began To dust the high mantlepiece
vigorously. when they all knew there
was not the faintest suspicion Of dust
there.
After the sbyneSs wore off. and she
grew accustomed to her surroundings
they found that she could interest
them, in her description of the city
and the stores
Miss Dorinda said that she was a
''right smart talHer for n child" but
deep down in her heart. she never
trusted her. or approved of having her.
The turkeys and chickens we're her
especial care, and she soon grew very
fond of them.
Most Of all. she was interested in a
turkey hen. which was the property OF
Miss Mariah- and was one of broo
raised by hand. as she expressed IL
She had petted il until the turkey had
grown 10 be a real nuisance. and took
liberties that no other turkey d N had
ever been known 20 take IL would
follow Miss Mariah into the house aud
pick up spJols OF thread with lis bill
or other small objects within reach
When Cynthia had been with them tw,
days the turkey wandered off. much
10 Miss Dorindas pleasure. but Gym
thia was never tired OF hearing OF the
funny things it had done and was sorry