The Montgomery tribune., 1910-11-25
TRYING TO
BE OBLIGING

summer home. Miss Belinda, smiling
little wistfully at her own thoughts.
watched the leaping flames.
Ben" she said, without being the
least cynical, I've come to tie conclu.
sion that gratuitous helpfulness isn't
well. isn't appreciated"
"Oh, did you just find that out?" in.
CURED her brother. How have you
gained this long-deferred knowledge?"
This morning" began Miss Belin.
d., when ! was putting so many OF
our things away for the winter, it oc.
Cured to me that several of our be-
longings might be enjoyed by some OF
our neighbors, who seem to have so
little to make their lives bright. II
seemed to me, for instance, that It
would be a pity to leave my reading
LAMP locked up here all winter when
1t might make the long evenings at
tie Dodds' more cheerful. So had
Matte fill and clean It and then car
ried 1t up the hill to the farmhouse
myself and offered 1t to Mrs. Dodd.
Well she said, of course II you'd
Hike to leave 1t here for safe keeping
you can, just as we'll as not II won't
look bad on the center table in the
parlor and anyway we shut up that
room in cold weather.
But wish you to have the use of
IT, ] explained
Oh, | don't set any store by those
big fancy lamps-they burn too much
OIL, she answered, as she opened the
door of the sepulchral parlor and set
the despised object on the center table
next TO the photograph album"
Did you leave'it there?" asked Ben
"Yes, for l hadn't the courage to
say that. as she didn't like 1t, I'd take
1t home"
Probably she's reading by its
bright refulgence at this moment"
laughed Ben.
Il determined not to be discour
aged" proceeded Miss Belinda, so
took the basketful of magazines | had
gathered together for the Stewards
over to their place. met Mr.. Stew
art at the gate.
thought perhaps you and the
boys would enjoy some light reading"
/ said.
never read anything myself he
replied, except the weekly paper. ]
s'pose maybe the boys will look over
them magazines after the fall work is
done. But don't think much of hav.
ing a lot Of reading stuff in the house.
It's liable to take up the time the boys
ought to give to their regular chores.
humbly suggested that the boys
must have some leisure on rainy days
and winter evenings. and he said !
could leave ths-magazines II wanted
to. saw Miss Stewart when went
Into the house to avail myself of this
gracious permission, and asked he,
If she wouldn't like the use of my sew.
Ing machine during the winter. When
l went to her quilting last spring ]
saw what an old thrashing machine
hers Is"
mo, thank you. Miss Belinda she
said. I've used our machine eve,
since | came here to keep house fol
my brother and the boys and !
wouldn't know how to make their
shirts on any other kind. You're real
kind, but 1t would be an awful bother
for me 70 learn the tricks of a new
tangled MT chime"
Che \ dear old stand-patter, isn't
she?" sal Ben.
Eyes, ID I didn't mind her refusal
at all, / / was quite angry for q
momen, t Mrs. Merton's way of de
clining large package of macaroni
which ! thought she'd like. for one
day, when kept her to lunch she ate
some with great relish.
/ 81 know it's not for sale in the vii
lage groceries, said by way of ex
PLANTATION, as gave it to her.
Not much would be sold II It was,
she remarked, for it amt good with
out cheese, is III?
Most people like It cooked with
cheese admitted. meekly.
"'Well,' she said, 1t would cosl
more than 1t would come to for me
to try to use 1t, for cheese is expen
sive, and amt one of the extrava
giant kind"
This days experiences ought tc
make you happier" remarked Ben
you have found our neighbors around
here content with what they have ant
certainly contentment is worth grea
deal more than any modern conven
fences, periodical literature or foreign
food products. Isn't that so?"
"Yes, suppose So" reluctantly
agreed Miss Belinda. but wanted
the fun of helping"
Mrs. Barlow Brings Tommy to Tears
"The camel" answered Mr.. Barlow
SIS chiefly found in those burning eli
mates which you have heard de
.o,.tt.ad IIfo hat0ht x,arx,