The Mena weekly star., 1910-02-10
GETTING READY TO GO

Miss BelindaL -ister Catherine, and Bcss, Miss Delilldss niece, were help ing Mss Bel nta close her country home for inc ~inter.
 You muss ca ve that lavender silk waist mads oce Belinda" said styl. tsh Gather inc, as her sister laid out aer wearing al p' rel in preparation for packins ~tt's ha ,dsome material, but it's quite oLt ot date"
 "I don't belleI I'll have 1t altered for myself" denurred her sister "Id Iather give 1t t. old Brita"
 w ho is old Brita?'
 "N hy, uotL et said Bess, don't you kno' ols 8 ita? She's Aunt Be. linda's bet. La Monday afternoon. while you were driving with Uncle Ben, I actually folnd Aunt Belinda playing the piaio to old Brita, who was folding and nprlnkliug the clothes. And I'm quite certain tha. the change of the dinner hour on Mondays is for Brita's sake"
 Now. don't laugh, Catherine. at Bessie's teasing" said Mss Belinda laughing herself. My laundress. Brita, is dear little old woman who insists on earning hev own living around here She cannot stay for our usual evening dinner, because she has to go home carly to milk her COW, so have dinner at noon on Mondays. anS <sn Nora to give her the best of everything. She can work so much better If shs 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. Let's you and l have the ful 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 it 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 thought the waist out of date.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 he world"
 Two days later Nora, the cook, hay ing departed. the three members of the household went into the kitchen to prepare their last meal of the sea- son in the country home.
 Don't you think coffee would taste pretty good this rainy day?" asked Ress.
 "Oh, I'm sorry, dear. but we can't have coffee" said Miss Belinda. 'T 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 well and I thought some good coffee might help her"
 Well, can make chocolate" said Bess.
 No. we can't have chocolate. '' Miss Belinda looked a little embar. rassed. ''I let Sammy have the last cake of chocolate. The poor little chap doesn't have much candy"
 T suppose there's no tea, either?' remarked Bess. in mock despair. You doubtless gave that away, too?"
 Yes, but l saved enough out for lunch,s" answered Miss Belinda bright ly
 T can make some hot biscuits to eat with the tea" said Catherine. roll. ing up her sleeves.
 "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't realize that you'd be enterprising enough to want to make biscuits" apologized Miss Be. linda. laughing. ''I told Norah to take the flour and the baking powder to her grandmother with the tea and some preserves. But we have some crackers and fruit"