St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-10-23
HISS RU1nIE'S 6HARGE.

no. YOU zee, Miss Paul, came
round to find out how many you
Ind take" said good Mrs. Manly, the
80. matronly minister's wife. and
y smiled reassuringly 1t Miss Ruth'a
s1n face.
Why, Mrs. Manly. I don't know any
- about children than 4 cat does
1T Sunday!" was her dry answer.
Never mind that. Miss Ruthie; you
I'D learn. And this is just the place
- poor, tired. hungry little child
Hoa have big, empty house, a great
ecjoa, shady yard, plenty of fresh milk,
zoSulf. I big garden, chickens, ducks
perything q child loves! You might
1nke three or four"
And they would chase the ducks,
6oery the chickens. pull the flowers,
i Svnnte the fruit, spill the milk and rack
g and upset all over the house! Iwould
soon 90 to the asylum and be done
I'M 1t, Mrs Manly"
= sInasmuch ~ We have done it unto
! - Of the least Of these, ye have done
S lt INTO me-" murmured Mrs. Manly.
1oftly.
Nh. Manly rose to go. with q dis
pointed air.
Then you will not take even one.
H. Ruth ?"
Not even one, Mrs. Manly" returned
~ grim spinster.
Well, I am sorry. but you are the
] 1est judge, of course"
ssPd like to oblige you, Mrs. Manly.
Dat what to do with young one !
s0uuldn't know, I'm sure. couldn't do
Then will not urge it, Miss Ruth.
o. course, il you change your mind be
fWesn now and the time the children
eene you can let the committee know.
There 10 always ROOM"
All right. But 'tisn't at all likely !
nkall change my mind." !" said Miss Ruth,
0sim g ever.
lfias Ruth had plenty of means, and
not Z soul to fill that great old house ex-
cepting herself. her stout maid. Betty,
and the cosored boy who acted as gen.
esol factotum.
81 went into the kitchen. and the
: 0rat 4hiag Betty had to say was that the
enf1Ahors On both sides were going t.
4oko one or two children for . month
nom the relief committee, and Betty
thought It was SO nice to have the dar'
HIS running around to keep . body
1ton getting lonesome.
Then, worst of all, in the afternoon
Detty required certain muslin bag fo1
e1ealning jelly, and it could not b
aound, strange to say, in that method
ical household. Miss Ruth had to 60 NJ
% tie garnet for piece out Of which
% @ahe another bag. And so shs
chancod to open certain trunk in thu
eaf1et, by the side of which she sa
do6n and sighed.
- there, preserved in camphor ans
lasender, through 80 many years. wer'
the garments belonging to the being
Iiss Ruth had most loved on earth. thu
3iktlo aister who died when she was only
den years old. and was buried dowr
tAefe IN the old graveyard. under tn.
willow trees.
II seemed as il, while she sat on thu
1oor IN the garnet, she could see Tlly'.
&aue eyes looking up into her face, and
1enr Tillys tender voice saying: isis
4ef, remember the time when we played
foGether, and do it for my SAKE" Mis-.
Kuthie got her muslin. shut the trunl
ard marched downstairs to the kitchen
Betty" sai& ,ahe, do you thinl
- ought to tie one of those chill
1renr
Law, YES, Miss Ruth! Why dom
yer said Betty, her plain face light
Ing.
~But children are nuisances, Betty
~Yes. Miss Ruth. but they're kind o
eoufortin' after all"
wen, make your jelly. Betty. Mind
ard don't let It burn
Next morning Miss Ruth walked de
Hberafely into the ofIice Of the ladies
srefe1 COMMITTEE.
I'm take one!" she said, sternly.
An right. Miss Haskins, put dowr
ono IT. Miss Paul." said the lady il
c1aroe.
Ask her IL she wishes boy or girl,
81 Mr. Haskins, as she wrote tn,
MnxlA
girl, !" replied Miss Ruth, promptly
ssLoe4 knows what I'll do with her
th6ngA; I don't!"
IT ladies exchanged glances, which
x1p not lost on Miss Ruth.
- at the depot Tuesday morning
1el4 week, to receive your charge
I'll NJ Haslkins.
eywell." Miss Ruth turned rouns
81 Wnlked out. ''They think I'll ea
II Shild!" she muttered to herself
GtI won't!"
- 1aeeday morning the people whs
- omised to take children were a,
eQeot. So were = great many others
<ted by curiosity. and, when tn,
nlAme in, Wellsyille had never seer
S<re crowd.
- were called and places as
% fast NJ the efficient committe,
- could do It.
- Ruth PauEone girlhere!'
- last. And Miss Ruth marched
- platform to receive her charge
thing Of eight. with yellow curl
i 1oe eyes and white face, dresse<
he calico dress, wearing . ha
! 1ad evidently been the propert.
: yenng lady. was assigned +
3 1tb, With ticket No. -.
= onls said Miss Ruth. LEADING
8 10 ler carriage. She had driver
q - tie depot. simply because sh'
not Be seen in the village viii
z ND following her. Not yet a