The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1913-01-30
BELINDA,
SHE ARRIVES
BY M. QUAD
Copyright, 1912. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
BY M. QUAD


around and full and by. Horace didn't
amount to shucks. In the first place,
lie was a third rate preacher with a
fourth rate congregation and Hfth
rate salary.
Sister Belinda had lived in his fami-
ly and helped ut the support FOR num-
ber of years and then had cut loose ana
gone west. There she had hustled with
the rest teaching school, running a
boarding house and becoming a sheep
owner and had finally acquired an In
terest In a mine. She had been for
warding money at intervals for long
time and receiving few thanks In reply
when she planned visit east. She
reached her brothers house In the
middle Of the week and had time to
look about bit before Sabbath and his
sermon arrived. She had said very lit
tie. and the family couldn't exactly
make her out.
II was after returning from church
and finishing dinner that she took the
bull 10y the horns and said:
Horace, YOU can't preach for this
ties! There's many cowboy or herd
or that can beat you ten to oner'
There were five excamations Of pro-
test and amazemcnt from the five men,
bcrs of the family. ITS fact, Hor-
ace. and want you TO cut II out. I've
been making some inquiries since | ar
rived. ana | lind that you amt knee
high You haven't made convert in
ntnfg In
Belinda Jonesr' was almost shouted
by FIVE tongues.
"Your congregation only paid you $50
lust year, but that was moren you
were worth.
II have sent you $500 In two years.
but not another penny OF my cash do
you receive unless you toe the markw
brother.
"I'll give you fve minutes by the
clock To go out of the vineyard busi.
ness"
"But was called to-
"Chop IL Oft. You selected II because
you thought II suited you. You haven't
pulled one single hair from satan's
lfNNs pll' Eults
But my dear fiockT"
won't suffer In the least. Indeed.
they will feel relieved. and 30 will you"
"Awful-awful." sobbed the wife.
'Can such things be- sobbed the
daughters.
1.-TWO minutes gonew announced Be
linda.
do I understand that II ! resign my
pastorate | am To look for something
better NJ your hands, candidly que
riel the brother
You do. but there will be work and
hustle connected with II. Youll lose
fat for n few weeks"
"Oh. Horace, what n sister,
"Oh. papa. what person.
Three minutes gone" said Belinda,
as unmindful OF the tears and 'sobs she
looked at the clock.
sister" replied Horace as he came
or the perch at last, 1T has some
times struck me that perhaps ! had
missed my profession"
Good"
"And that | wasn't doing my duty
by my family"
"Now you are getting down to brass
tacks"
well. you may consider that have
resigned my pastorate and am now
looking for another job"
"My husband laborer" sobbed the
wife
"Our papa saving wood for liy-
ing" mOaned the girls,
"Ill attend To all your cases in due
time" grimly announced Belinda. And
then. turning to her brother, she said;
II see that your grist mill here is to
he sold cheap on account OF the death
of the miller"
"Yes."
"I'll buy IL for you tomorrow lou'n
soon work into the business. You need
n new fence I'm front of the house.
Get a carpenter, The house needs re-
painting. Get painter. Go to the
stores and see what your debts are
and III square you up. You'll want
go bushels of wheat 10 begin on. Ill
buy IL for YOU"
81 have often said the Lord was my
shepherd, and p
drop it. Horace! You'd have want
ed johnny cake and 'lasses In month
more If YOU hadn't toed the mark"
Then she turned to the wife ana said'
You have hardly "A second dress 10
your back. and you don't have caller
or pay call once in three months
Cease your bowling and make your
garden raise vegetables to help out
BEING the wife Of third rate preacher
don't put woman way up IN "'
"Eunice. you and Clara have got
beaux. They have been fddling aronhn
for n year IL you can't bring them to
time | can and that In short order"
"Oh. Aunt Belinda" In chorus.
Never mind Your Aunt belinda put
give these fellcrs the glad yes ana
gct homes. And now for yon' cath'
,rne. Yon are too Young 10 get mar
ried. Select your school. ana l VIII