The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1913-03-13
BELINDA,
SHE ARRIVES
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1912, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

Miss Belinda Jones was the old maid
sister of Horace Jones, ans, taken all
around and full and by. Horace didn't
amount to shucks. In the first place.
he was a third rate preacher with
fourth rate congregation and a fifth
rate salary.
Sister Belinda had lived in his fam1-
Iy and helped at the support for num-
Der of years and then had cut loose ana
gone west. There she had hustled with
the rest, teaching school, running
boarding house and becoming sheep
owner and had finally acquired an In
terest in mine. She had been for
warding money at intervals for long
time and receiving few thanks IN reply
when she planned a 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.
1t was after returning from church
ana 1n1SQ1nS OllIeE LIut SuS lOOA CAC
bull by the horns and said:
Horace, you can't preach for this
ties! There's many a cowboy or herd
er that can beat you ten to onev'
There We're five Explanations of pro.
test and amaZement from the five mem.
bers of the family. cts a fact, Hor-
ace, and I want you to cut it out. I've
~, i,,o1 ri ciy I
rived, and I find that you amt knee
high. You haven't made convert in
seven years. 1t amt in you.''
Belinda Jones!' was almost shouted
by five tongues.
"Your congregation only paid you $50
last year, but that was more'n 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 mark!'
"And the mark, sister," asked the
brother.
It'll give you five minutes by the
clock to go out Of the vineyard bust
ness"
"But was called to-
IL
you thought it suited you. You haven't
pulled one single hair from Satan's
head. One minute gone"
"But my dear fock?"
won't suffer in the least. Indeed,
they will feel relieved. and so will you.''
"Awful-awfulv' sobbed the wife.
''Can such things be!' sobbed the
daughters.
1.-TWO minutes gonew announced Be-
linda.
"Do understand that If resign my
pastorate I am to look for something
better at your handsY' candidly quo
ried the brother
hustle connected with it. You'll lose
fat for a few weeks"
ooh, Horace, what 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
off the perch at last, at has some
times struck me that perhaps I had
missed my procession.
"Good"
''And that / wasn't doing my duty
by my family"
'Now you are getting down to brass
tacksr'
"Weil, you may consider that have
resigned my pastorate and am now
looking for another job"
"My husband laborery' sobbed the
WIFE,
"Our papa saving wood for a liv-
ing" moaned the girls.
''1'll attend to all your cases in due
time" grizzly announced Belinda. And
then, turning to her brother. she said:
Il see that your grist mill here is to
be sold cheap on account Of the death
Of the miller"
eyes"
"I'll buy it for you tomorrow. You'll
soon work into the business. You need
a new fence in 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 I'll square you up. You'll want
25O bushels Of wheat to begin on. I'll
buy it 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 a month
more If you hadn't toed the mark"
Then she turned to the wife and said
"You have hardly second dress to
your back, and you don't have a 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 a woman way up in G.
"Eunice, you and Clara have got
beaux. They have been fiddling around
for year. If you can't bring them to
time can and that in short order"
ooh, Aunt Belindav' in chorus.
"Never mind your Aunt Belinda, but
give these fellers the glad yes and
get homes. And now for you, Cath
crime. You are too young to get mar
ried. Select your school, and / will
keep you there till you graduate"
"Sister Belinda. will you permit me
to say that PrOvidence"- began the
brother but was StODpod hv.