Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-11-17

away, and her eyes gave CLEAN OF
hope. Unless you'd take me, ma'am."
"I-I-I'm too poor" demonstrated the
Bondlady. Hard enough t. feed one
mouth
ooh, ma'am-I can help-I'm work
er, 1 am. 1 won't be any trouble-and
and I know you'll be good to me,
cause you have red hair. You'll take
me, won't you, ma'am"
She was far, very far, from being
pretty, but in spite of tears, in spite
of dirt, there was something irresist
ible about her as she now looked i'm
ploringly, hopefully, into the coarse
face of the Bondlady.
"Well-we might try it-but''-
The little girl would listen to no
'buts." Childish glee took possession
of her. She seemed like another being.
Lets go home right now!' she eX-
claimed, taking her half reluctant ben
efactress by the hands. "My names
Ruth" she added.
The Bondlady was literally carried
away in spite of herself-away from
the scene of her labors, back to what
she called home.
Its very dirty" said the little girl
ruefully.
$50 are ye," retorted the Bondlady.
Ruth took the hint cheerfully.
where's the soap, ma'am?'
Soap" Like tears, soap seemed
dim recollection. "Soap-yes, ye'd bet
ter get some soap; We need soap"
And she counted out five pennies.
Ruth brought back one of them The
Bondlady put it in her purse.
There's some big sticks of pepper
mint
eve don't eat candy here"
Ruth showed her temperament was
| quite as sunny as her hair, swallowing
her disappointment instead of the pep
| permint. Then, having used the soap
upon herself, she attacked the floor.
| Her cleanliness was contagious. Next
morning the Bondlady used soap too
Still more surprising, she bought Ruth
a stick of peppermint
The Bondlady ceased to ply her IN
pleasant trade merely because of her
i'll luck, for the money sense was still
strong in her. While the court was
taking away her "hereinbefore men
! toned dwellings, she found consola-
ton in the glittering gold concealed in
| an old chest of drawers. One day
Ruth saw her with a stockingful Of
coin. After that she would no longer
listen to pleas of poverty; her entreat-
les for goodies and pretty things to
wear became quite as irresistible as
had been her plea in the courtyard.
Slowly but surely the kinship due to
that fiery touch of nature grew into
love. Then one day in early spring
Ruth asked the Bondlady, "How much
money have you got, mother?"
81 don't know-eXactly."
But how much-about?"
about But why 90 We want t.
know, Ruth?"
Because l thought if you only had
enough to get away from here, to get
out into one of the new parts, to start
little store"
She was talking business. The Bond
lady's ears opened. That's not a bad
plan, Ruth. I'll go count my money
I'll think about it,
Not long since the two former clients
of the Bondlady who had seen her and
Ruth in the courtyard having been as
signed by the political masters to light
labor with a street paving gang in the
suburbs, stopped for refreshments at g
neat little corner grocery. A bright
faced, red haired lass waited on them
Behind the counter was a woman will
hair of the same shade. She wore
glasses and was reading a newspaper
upside down. Mother and daughter
were clean as the little shop, so clear
that the dirt stained political serf'
were awed into silence till they re
turned to the pavement
BLESSED if it isn't tn Bondlady an(
her kidv'
"Hiven must a-helped 'em both SURE
enough