The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1911-10-05

< citation. 1911. 9
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mo. 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 the 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 me-" This time
Miss Belinda's lips clicked together
with little sound Of finality.
Pm sorry. Belinda. because the
home is jest about running over with
'em. was telling the matron this
morning that l knew there were plenty
of folks in Little River who could give
good home to some of those young
sters If they wasn't so 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 l think
of all the spare beds. all made up
clean and white. in the empty homes
around here 1t 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."
II want to know calculated Be-
linda. with startled glance at Eme-
line Brown. Il 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 there?"
"Ten." replied Mrs Brown fatty.
"Humph!' snorted Belinda.
In and out Of the scarlet wool went
her big wooden Knitting needles as she
rapidly constructed shawl to comfort
summer was over. Mrs. Brown watch
ed her neighbor expectantly. With a
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 handsome, well
preserved spinster of fOrty-two. of in
dependent means. possessing a snug
home. tiny income sufficient for her
modest wants, a little shaggy pony and
a 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.
Il 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 aud thrifty in spring bloom.
1--we got orphans enough as it is.''
snapped Belinda shortly.
Mrs. Brown smiled as she saw the
fatherless and motherless strays which
the lonely woman had gathered about
her. There was q lame duck which
Belinda had rescued after a hunter had
brought it down with glancing shot;
a carrier pigeon which had dropped
exhausted on her doorstep; mongrel
dog OF many coiors which had been
faithfully scrubbed BY Miss Belinda
and was now much cleaner II not hap.
pier than in his soiled state; there was
also fne collection of homeless cats
Indeed. Miss Belinda's place might
have been another orphanage. 20 thick.
~ was it populated with waifs.
would you rather have = boy OF 4
gfrl?" asked Mrs. Brown craftiiy. But
Miss Belinda was not to b caught
that way.
"I'd rather have a cat she said.
"You ought to be ashamed. Belinda
Downs. the way you do talk! IL you
could see them poor young ones look.
Ing 20 wistfui every time 4 visitor
comes. hoping it's somebody to offer
= home. you'd harness up Dolly this
very instant and 90 and fetch one
away"
might ~ well bring two while
was about it, remarked Miss Belinda
ironically. 1--WE heard it said tina,
its cheaper for two to i've than one
Amt you heard thatr'
mo. indeed. II that's the case. mine
people ought to live for nothing. and
know we don't do that" Mrs. Brown
jerked on her sunbonnet. shrugged be,
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 sincl
the Riverview home had been erected
.Hnmphr' she calculated. also for TN
huudredth dime.
Nevertheless. - soon q dinner Wal
over Belinda did harness up shaggy
little Dolly. and. climbing into TIN
pha1lno and holding the lines vsry
high in her mitted hands. she drovl
through the pine woods down - ~
R1vexvteW home. =
.'rd Nike to look at some .osphans.'
~ Delinda to the matron wheo sh>
Ws eeated In ths darke1ed perIoe, !ol
~. home. what kind have ypu1,
ehe added. just @ 4 otphaps wsri
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