Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-10-15
! MISS RUTHIE'S CHARCE,


pump, matronly minister's wife, and
she smiled reassuringly at Miss Ruths
grim face.
Why, Mrs Manly, don't know my
more about children than cat does
about Sunday!" was her dry answer I
Never mind that, Miss Ruthie; you
could learn. And this is just the place
for poor, tired, hungry little child.
You have big, empty house, great,
COOL shady yard, plenty of fresh milk,
fruit, a big garden, chickens, ducks,
everything child loves! You might
take three or four" s''.Vt
"And they would chase the ducks,
worry the chickens, pull the flowers,
waste the fruit, spill the milk and rack
ct and upset all over the house! Iwould
as soon go to the asylum and be done
with it, Mrs Manly" ,at
"Inasmuch as ye have done 1t unto
one of the least of these, we have done
1T unto me-" murmured Mrs. Manly,
softly.
Mrs. Manly rose to go, with dis
appointed air.
"Then you will not take even one,
Miss Ruth?" 4
"Not even one, Mrs. Manly" returned
the grim spinstcr. i
well, l am sorry, but you are the
best judge, of course"
I'D like to oblige you, Mrs. Manly.
But what to do with a young one !
wouldn't know, I'm sure. couldn't do
It,"
Then will not urge it, Miss Ruth
OF course, If you change your mind be-
tween now and the time the children
come you can let the committee know.
There is always ROOM"
"All right. But 'tisn't at all likely
shall change my mind" said Miss Ruth,
grim as ever. e
Miss Ruth had plenty of means, and
not soul to fill that great old house ex-
cepting herself, her stout maid, Betty,
and the co.ored boy who acted as gen.
eral factotum. Hltf
She went into the kitchen, and the
first thing Betty had to say was that the
neighbors on both sides were going to
take one or two children for a month
s from the relief committee, and Betty
thought it was so nice to have the dar-
Inns running around to keep body
from getting lonesome. I'D
Then, worst of all, in the afternoon
Betty required certain muslin bag for
straining jelly, and it could not be
found, strange to say, in that method
ical household. Miss Ruth had to go up
TO the garret for piece out of which
TO make another bag. And SO she
chanced to open certain trunk in the
garret, by the side of which she sat
down and sighed
For there, preserved in camphor and
lavender, through so many years, were
the garments belonging to the being
Miss Ruth had most loved on earth, the
little sister who died when she was only
ten years old, and was buried down
there in the old graveyard, under the
willow trees.
It seemed as If, while she sat on the
floor in the garrett she could see Tilly's
blue eyes looking up into her face, and
hear Tilly's tender voice saying: isis
tSI, tHC tiii't NhNn We Pids th
together and do it for my sake" Miss
Ruthic got her muslin, shut the trunk
and marched downstairs to the kitchen.
"Betty," said she, do you think
we ought to take one of those chill
dren?"
"Law, yes, Miss Ruth! Why don't
YEP" said Betty, her plain face light
ing.
"But children are nuisances, Betty"
"Yes, Miss Ruth, but they're kind O
comfortin' after ALL"
"well, make your jelly, Betty. Mind
and don't let it burn" ~.
Next morning Miss Ruth walked de-
liberately into the office of the ladies'
relief committee.
"Ill take one" she said, sternly.
"All right Miss Haslins, put down
one for Miss Paul." said the lady in
charge.
"Ask her IL she wishes boy or girl "
said Miss Haskins, as she wrote the
name.
"a girl" replied Miss Ruth, promptly
"Lord knows what III do with her,
though; don't!"
The ladies exchanged glances, which
were not lost on Miss Ruth.
"Be at the depot Tuesday morning,
next week, to receive your charge
said Miss Haskins.
"yery we'll" Miss Ruth turned round
and walked out "They think I'll eat
the childi" she muttered to herself
'But won't!"
On Tuesday morning the people who
had promised to take children were at
the depot So were great many others,
prompted by curiosity, and, when the
train came in, Wellsville had never seen
such crowd.
Names were called and places as
signed as fast as the efficient committee
Of ladies' could do it.
"Miss Ruth Paul-one girl-here!''
= me at last. And Miss Ruth marched
- I'm to the platform to receive her charge.
Alittle thing of eight, with yellow curls
and blue eyes and white face, dressed
in a blue calico dress, wearing hat
which had evidently been the property
Of some young lady, was assigned to
Miss Ruth, with ticket No. A.
"Come on!" said Miss Ruth, leading
the way to her carriage. She had driven
herself to the depot, simply because she
would not be seen in the village with
The child following her. Not yet, at
least!
"Climb in!v she said, loosening the
oonv's straps. The little one was inside
directly. So
"Ob. what pretty carriugel" she
va;d patting the soft cushions. rs 1t