The Forrest City times., 1894-09-07
A FRESH AIR CHILD.
How She Won tho Hearts of
 Three Old Maids.

The fresh air" girl stood in the middle of the room and twisted the strings of her hat as she glanced in a shy, embarrassed way at the little group about her.
 She felt dimly that it was not pleas ant to be talked about and not talked to.
 All the way from the little country station, as they had driven along the country roads. she had wanted to ask to get out and walk, only she did not dare The sense of newness and strangeness was too great.
 She had never seen anything but the busy, thronged streets of great city, and she longed to climb the fence by the roadside and dig her feet deep down into the clover, and chase the yellow butterflies across the fields. But she sat up stiffly, by the thin fig ure at her side, and said nothing, and perhaps was scarcely conscious herself of the longing
 The three women who sat surveying her were distinctly disappointed.
 .'lt wasn't a boy" said Miss Marian.
 No. it's girl. guess they forgot I said ill my letter that we wanted a boy" answered Miss Sally.
 Well, I said all along, that the whole thing was wild goose chase, and it aint my doin's first nor last" chimed in Miss Dorinda, the tallest and thinnest of the three sisters.
 The little girl fastened her eyes on
 1at. and then dared not look away.
 It was big round broach contain ing tiny wreath of hair flowers, of various shades of brown and yellow, set in an oblong rim of gold. The fresh air girl thought it beautiful pin.
 What is your name, child?" said Miss Mariah
 Cynthia Dane," answered the little girl.
 Well. you can go out and sit on the stoop if you want to-"
 Did ycu hear anything about the child, Sally?"
 Not much; only that she is match girl, and there ain't nobody kin to her. She was run over by wagon and hurt somehow, and when she was we'll 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 in tenement house with some other families: there were six of them in one room, and they let her stay in one corner. l guess We can stand it to give her home for three weeks, and not grudge it either She don't look like street child. and Dane ain. common soundin' name. She must have had nice kind of mother"
 .sFm glad she's come," said Miss Mariah. and I'm goin' right to work to make her sunbonnet; there was bundle of them gingham scraps left like mine," and Miss Mariah went off to hunt for the 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 obediently and gazed about her. There were patches of marigold and mlgnon- cite by the brick walk, and a great bed of fragrant cloye pinks. Down by the gate were tall swaying i-olly- hooks. and the bees and butterflies were fitting in and out among them.
 It was a different world; she had never dreamed of anything like it.
 She sat with clasped hands. hardly moving for an hour. and here Miss Mariah found her, with her eyes full of tears.
 "What's the matter. child?' she said,