The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-25

Minnie and Tom were twins; they
were also orphans and lived with
farmer and his wife out on the Great
Plains. These farmer folk had lived
neighbors to the chlldren's parents be-
fore the death of the latter.
Baker was the name of the farmer
and his good wife who had opened their
hearts and poor little home to the two
bereaved orphans
The fall Just passed had been a sickly
time for the settlers" and the parents
of Minnie and Tom had died of typhoid
fever within a few days of each other,
leaving their little ones almost desti-
tute; and had it not been for the kind
ness of the neighbors the lot of the little
twins would have been a sorry one, in
deed, for they must have become "coun-
ty charges and been sent to the county
poorhouse.
The Bakers were young married peo-
pie who had come from the East to win
a home for themselves on the wild, new
prairies and until Minnie and Tom be-
came inmates of their home it had been
childless place. But this had been
no cause for mourning. rather a reason
for rejoicing for they felt too poor in
Il6 WOIlQ 6pOuS " AoAA6 ~ 81
to share their poverty and the accom-
panying hardships.
when we get our land decided, good
crops growing, a new house. and the
place well-stocked-then we will pray
our Creator to send some little ones to
make our happiness complete, said
Mrs. Baker one day when the subject
of children was being discussed.
But Providence had seen fit to send a
pair of seven-year-old tots to them long
hafnra the farm theirs bit OF
legal paper, and when the meager two
room, sod-covered stone house was yet
their only abode To be sure there were
few comforts-in a small way-which
the good, light-hearted young couple
made the most of. During the summer
e e Mr.. Baker cuItivating the corn,
cane and potato crops, while his wife
looked after the garden, the chickens
and cows With butter and eggs she
had almost kept up the running ex-
penses of the house, bought feed for her
milk cows till the corn was gathered
and the hay and fodder cut and stacked /;
and while plenty did not abound, their
thrift and economy kept them comfort
ably clad and fed, besides allowing them
to begin laying away provision for the
next year when their fields should be
broader and more machinery would be
needed to carry on the work,
And then it was that they had found
two homeless little ones knocking at
their house and hearts for admittance.
The Bakers had talked the matter all
over when the parents of Minnie and
Tom became dangerously i'll, with no
possible chance of recovery. And they
agreed that whatever the new RESPONSE
bility and extra expense might be in
taking the children they would willingly
do the best in their power to make the
orphans happy and try &c fill, in a. meas
ure at least. the place left vacant by
their parents.
Thus it came about that after the
death of their parents Minnie and Tom
found themselves installed as members
in the Baker household. For weeks and
weeks the two little sorrowing orphans
grieved heartbrokenly over the loss of
their loved mamma and papa, weeping
against the breast of their new mother,
who gently caressed them, telling them
In a sympathetic voice, often choking
with emotion. of that landau glorious
where some day they would go to be
received into the arms of those two dear
one who would await their coming.
Thus lovingly she lightened the burden
on their hearts, and as the fall slipped
into winter, and the days glided swiftly
toward Christmas, the children began to
take an interest in the new life about
them.
Until the very cold weather of De-
cember set in Minnie and Tom had gone
regularly to the district school. some
two miles distant from their home, but
with the first billiards. from the frozen
North they. were obliged to do their
lessons at home with the ever willing
assistance of their fostermother.
One evening after the children had
been put to bed in the front room
(Which served as bedroom for them alb
the Bakers sat chatting awhile by the
kitchen fire. Mr.. Baker had been read
ing aloud from the county seat weekly
newspaper and. as that sheet was ex-
way of big-line advertisements, inserted
by the merchants of the town. Mr.. Ba-
ker was set thinking.
Say. Matte" he remarked, after a