Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-11-18
GETTING
READY TO co

Miss Belinda's sister Catherine, and
Bess, Miss Belinda's niece, were help
ing Miss Belinda close her country
home for the winter.
you must have that lavender silk
waist made over, Belinda" said styl-
ish Catherine, as her sister laid out
her wearing apparel in preparation for
packing. tits handsome material, but
it's quite out of date"
II don't believe I'll have it altered
for myself" demurred her sister. "I'd
rather give it to old Brita."
u 4Who is old Brita?"
+, eWhy. mother" said Bess, don't
you know old Brita? She's Aunt Be-
linda's pet. Last Monday afternoon,
while you were driving with Uncle
Ben, actually found Aunt Belinda
playing the piano to old Brita, who
was folding and sprinkling the clothes.
And I'm quite certain that the change
of the dinner hour on Mondays is for
Brita's sake.''
= Nov, don't laugh. Catherine, at
Bessie's teasing said Miss Belinda,
laughing herself My laundress,
Brfta, is a dear little old woman who
insists on earning her own living
around here. She cannot stay for
our usual evening dinner, because she
has to go home early to milk her COW,
SOL have dinner at noon on Mondays,
and tell Nora to give Sher the best
of everything. She can work SO much
better If she is we'll nourished''
Yes, of course" agreed Catherine,
smilingly, for she knew her sisters
ways.
Come, mother, this Is Monday, and
Rita is here" said Bess. Lets you
and have the fun of giving her the
silk blouse" -
They went into the laundry, where
bent. apple-cheeked old woman
looked up from a blueing tub with
eyes as azure as the water into which
she was dipping the. snowy clothes.
Here, Brita, is something for you"
said Bess.
Brita smiled broadly and, drying her
hand, offered 1t to Bess. '.Tell Miss
Belinda tank" she said. Then after
the little handshake she held the
blouse at arms length and murmured
rapturously, "Style!"
AS they went back into the house
Bess said, laughing: "And you, foolish
mother, thought the waist out of date,
Did you notice that she said Tank
Miss Belinda?', She thinks Aunt Be-
linda is the only generous person in
the world"
Two days later Nora, the cook, hav-
ing departed, the three members Of
the household went into the kitchen
to prepare their last meal of the sea-
son in the country nome.
Don't you think coffee would taste
pretty good this rainy day." asked
Bess.
"Oh, I'm sorry, dear, but we can't
have coffee" said Miss Belinda. 81
gave the few pounds that were left to
Sammy Nelson this morning when he
was helping me dig up my dahlia
roots. His mother is not we'll and |
thought some good coffee might help
her."
We'll. can make chocolate" said
Bess.
mo, we can't have chocolate"
Miss Belinda looked little embar-
rassed II let Sammy have the last
cake OF chocolate. The poor little
chap doesn't have much candy"
Il suppose there's no tea, either p"
remarked Bess, in mock despair. "You
doubtless gave that away, too?"
Yes, but saved enough out for
LUNCH" answered Miss Belinda bright.
ly.
Il can make some hot biscuits to
eat with the tea" said Catherine, roll
ing up her sleeves.
"Oh, I'm sorry didn't realize that
you'd be enterprising enough to want
to make biscuits" apolegized Miss Be.