Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-07-01
Beli11da's
Orphan
She Brought Happiness to a Lone
ly Home
By cLARIssA r1ACKIB
copxright by American Preaa Anao-
By cLARIssA MAcKIH
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.

"No, / don't want no orphan" said
Miss Belinda, with a decisive shake OF
her head. i've got my hands full
now with chickens and young turkeys
coming on and bees and currant bushes
without bothering with a high flying
youngster that'll scare tho chicks and
get stung by the bees. although they're
warranted stingless, mind you, and to
trample on my berry bushes. No,
ma'am-no orphans for mel" This time
Miss Belinda's lips clicked together
with little sound Of finality.
"I'm sorry. Belinda. because the
home Is Jest about running over with
'em. I was telling the matron this
morning that knew there We're plenty
of folks in Little River who could give
a good home to some of those young
sters II they wasn't 30 mean and
stingy. OF course don't mean you,"
added the local member Of the visiting
committee of the Riverview Orphans
home. but sometimes when / think
of all the spare beds. all made up
clean and white. in the empty homes
around here II makes my blood bile
to look upon them poor orphans so
crowded for room that Mrs. Hill says
they'll have to sleep In rows crosswise
Of the beds pretty soon."
81 want to knowP' calculated Be
linda. with a startled glance at Eme-
line Brown. II think you better stick
to the truth. Emeline, and not exag-
gerate. Now. honest and true. how
many orphans too many have they got
up thereT
"Ten," replied Mrs. Brown fatty.
"Humphw snorted Belinda.
In and out OF the scarlet wool went
her big wooden knitting needles as she
rapidly constructed a shawl to comfort
some shivering shoulders when the
summer was over. Mrs. Brown watch
ed her neighbor expectantly. With
family of seven sons and daughters
under her own rooftree she was safe
in the condemnation of the uncrowded
homes OF Little River. Here was Be-
linda Downs, now a handsome, well
preserved spinster of forty-two. of In
dependent means, possessing q snug
home. a tiny income sufficient for her
modest wants. little shaggy pony and
rusty phaeton to carry her about the
countryside. There was neither man,
woman nor child to call upon Belinda
for service. for she was without rela-
lives. having outlived them all.
81 should think this was just the
place for an orphan to be happy In"
suggested Mrs. Brown, throwing an
admiring glance around the small do
main where orchard and garden were
green and thrifty In spring bloom
I've got orphans enough as II is,"
snapped Belinda shortly.
Mrs Brown smiled as she saw the
fatheriess and motherless strays which
the lonely woman had gathered about
her. There was a lame duck which
Belinda had rescued after hunter had
brought 1t down with a CHANGING shot;
a carrier pigeon which had dropped
exhausted on her doorstep; mongrel
dog of many colors which had been
faithfully scrubbed by Miss Belinda
and was now much cleaner IL not hap
pier than In his soiled state; there was
also fine collection of homeless cats.
indeed. Miss Belinda's place might
have been another orphanage, so thick
ly was 1t populated with waits.
would you rather have boy or a
girl?" asked Mrs Brown craftily. But
Miss Belinda was not to be caught
that way.
"Pd rather have cat" she said.
you ought to be ashamed, Belinda
Downs. the way you do talk! II you
could see them poor young ones look
ing so wistful every time a visitor
comes. hoping it's somebody to offer
home. you'd harness up Dolly this
very instant and go and fetch one
away"
might as well bring two while
was about It," remarked Miss Belinda
ironically. 1--WE heard 1t said that
it's cheaper for two to live than one.
Amt you heard thatT
mo. indeed II that's the case. nine
people ought to live for nothing, and
know we don't do, that" Mrs. Brown
jerked on her sunbonnet. shrugged her
fat shoulders and without another
word waddled down the path that led
to the gate between the two places.
Take an orphan. indeedr' shifted
Belinda for the hundredth time since
the Riverview home had been erected.
"Humphr' she calculated, also for the
bundredth time.
Nevertheless. as soon as dinner was
over Belinda did harness mp shaggy
little Dolly. and. climbing into the
phaeton and holding the lines very
high In her mitted hands, she drove
through the pine woods down to the
Riverview home.
"Pd like to look at some orphans"
said Belinda to the matron when she
was seated In the darkened parior Of
the home. What kind have your"
she added. just as II orphans were
vegetables or fruit in the market.
Mrs Hili smiled In spite OF the sum-
mer heat that nearly overpowered her
bulk of flesh. 1--WE have all kinds. even
II we haven't got all colors." she said
Thereupon there ensued a period of
trying ordeals for tender hearted Be-
linda Downs.
Black hair ana brown. red hair and
tow. Haxen and pure gold all passed in