The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1898-08-16
MISS RUTHIE'S 6HHRGE.
LOO. YOU see. Miss Paul. 1 came

rou;,. - find out how many you
would take" said good Mrs. Manly, the
plump, matronly minister's wife, and
she smiled reassuringly at Miss Ruth's
grim face.
why, Mrs. Manly, don't know any
more about children than a cat does
about Sunday" was her dry answer.
"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, big garden, chickens, ducks,
everything child loves You might
take three or four"
"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! would
as soon go 10 the asylum and be done
with it, Mrs Manly"
"'Inasmuch as We have done it unto
one of the least of these, We have done
it unto me-" murmured Mrs. Manly,
softly.
Mrs. Manly rose TO go, with dis
appointed air.
Then you will not take even one,
Miss Ruth?"
Not even one, Mrs. Manly" returned
the grim spinster.
"Well, / am sorry, but you are the
best judge, of course"
I'D like to oblige you, Mrs. Manly.
But what to do with young one /
wouldn't know, I'm sure. couldn't do
it,"
Then 1 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"
AL, right. But 'tisn't at all likely
shall change my mind" said Miss Ruth,
grim as ever.
Miss Ruth had plenty of means, and
not soul to fill that great clubhouse ex-
cepting herself, her stout maid, Betty,
and the co!ored boy who acted as gen.
eral factotum.
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
from the relief committee, and Betty
thought it was so nice to have the dar-
Inns running around to keep a body
from getting lonesome.
Then, worst of all, in the afternoon
Betty required a 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 garnet for piece out of which
to make another bag. And so she |
CHANGED to open n certain trunk in the |
garnet, 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.
1t seemed as If, while she sat on the
floor in the garnet, she could see Tilly's
blue eyes looking up into her face, and
hear Tilly's tender voice saying: isis
ter, remember the time when we played
together, and do it for my sake" Miss
Ruthie 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 il burn"
Next morning Miss Ruth walked de-
liberately into the Office of the ladies'
relief committee.
I'll take one!" she said, sternly.
"All right. Miss Haskins, put down |
one for Miss Paul" said the lady in
charge.
ASK her If she wishes boy or girl"
said Miss Haskins, as she wrote the
name.
"A girl" replied Miss Ruth, promptly.
'Lord knows what I'll do with her,
though; DON'T"
The ladies exchanged glances, which