Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-10-19
he is wrong. It isn't idols that keeps

he is wrong. 1t isn't idols that keeps
me from doing my"
Again she stopped, She had almost
said duty. A week before letter had
come from little town in Kansas to
Mr., BuSby. Tha letter contained news
of the death of Mrs. Emma Hale, n
distant cousin of Joseph's. Mrs. Hale
was n widow aud left one child, a boy,
two years old. The writer, II neigh
Dor OF the dead woman, went on to
say she could care for the child no
longer, and if his relatives did not
come for him he would be sent to the
poorhouse. Joseph ponderel the mat
ter day and night. He then coolly
proposed sending for the child, and
adopting it. His wife fatty refused.
What-a twoyeOr.old baby, to make
litter on her clean floors and upset
her orderly plan of life?
"You must be crazy, Joseph" she
said, severely. "lf it was girl now,
and big enough TO De out from under
foot, might think Of it. But there
hain't any use talking about it,"
Joseph Busby rarely opposed his
wife, even in SO small matter as talk.
ing, when she bade him be silent.
However, this time he said:
ave air grower old, Mirandy. The
baby would be something to love us. !"
These words came back to Mrs
Busby as she bent over the wash tub.
Did she and Joseph need something to
love them? she thought Of the ram
bling old house with its many rooms,
of the fertile acres surrounding it,,
and of the comfortable bank account.
Then her mind wandered to the dis.
tant cemetery where n white marble
crosa marked her baby's grave.
81 couldn't give Leah's place to
another" she whispered. "And yet he
might make place for himself. Oh,
my baby, / miss her still"
Withdrawing her hands from the
suds, Mrs. Busby crossed the sitting
room and entered the parlor. No one
knew, not even her husband, how
many Troublesome questions the
mother settled before her child's pic
ture.
She opened tho blinds and looked
long and earnestly at the laughing
baby face.
"Do you want me to, dear?" she
asked tearfully. "Do you want me to
take % noisy, troublesome boy into
this home? Is it an idol, Leah, my
wanting everything so quiet and or
derly?'
Ten minutes later she was back at
her washing. The parlor blinds were
closed and all things we're as they had
been excepting Mrs. Busby's eyes !;
there was a new light in their gray
depths. At half past nine the last
clothes were on the line. Returning
from hanging them out, Mrs. Busby
found neighbor, Mr.. Vance, at the
door.
I've been down to the station" he
said, "and the s o'clock train brought
baby for you, or Busby, rather"
"a what?" demanded Mrs. Busby,
catching her breath.
IA baby" 1t was plain to see that
Mr.. Vance was enjoying the situation.
"a woman who was going East on a
visit brought it from Kansas. Said it
belonged to some of Busby's folks.
She left it in care of the ticket agent,
and he sent it over by me. It's down
to the road in my wagon, and a trunk,
too. The little fellow has cried most
ever since the woman left him"
Mrs Busby took down her green
Bingham sunbonnet and prepared to
follow him out to the wagon without
word.
"Wasyou expecting it," Mr.. Vance
asked, somewhat disappointed at her
quietness.
"Not to-day" she replied briefly.
1t was a plump, but tear stained
little face that met her eager gaze.
There were great blue eyes, rosy
mouth, and closely curling yellow
hair. But the child was Enthusiastically
dirty and began crying again in pite-
GUS fashion.
| Mrs. Busby held up her arms.
"Come to auntie, DEAR" she said
coaxingly. "You want some bread
and milk, don't you, and to see the
dear little chickens?"