The herald., 1913-02-06
BELINDA,
SHE ARRIVES
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1912. by Associated Lit
erary Press.
By M. QUAD

Miss Belinda Jones was the old mald
sister of Horace Jones, and, taken all
around and full and by. Horace didn't
amount 10 shuckS. In the first place.
he was third rate preacher with Il
fourth rate congregation and a fifth
rate salary.
Sister Belinda had lived in his fami-
" and helped at the support for mum
ber of years and then had cut loose and
gone west. There she had hustled with
the rest, teaching school, running Il
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 visit east. She
reached her brothers house in the
middle of the week and had time to
look about a 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
and finishing dinner that she took the
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 one.'
There were five e1cIamations Of pro-
test and amazement from the five mem
bers of the family. ITS a fact, Hor-
ace, and l want you to cut it out. I've
been making some inquiries since l ar
rived. and | 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.
81 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.
'I'll give you five minutes by the
clock to go out of the vineyard bust
ness
But l was called to-
"Chop it off! You selected 1t because
you thought it suited you. You haven't
pulled one single hair from Satan's
head One minute gone"
"But my dear f1ock?"
Wont suffer in the least. Indeed,
they will feel relieved. and so will you. -
"Awful-awful" sobbed the wife.
"Can such things be- sobbed the
daughters.
Two minutes gonew announced Be
linda.
''Do I understand that If l resign my
pastorate l am to look for something
better at your handsT' candidly que
ried the brother.
"You do, but there will be work and
hustle connected with it. You'll lose
fat for a few weeks"
"Oh, Horace, what a sister,
"Oh, papa. what a 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, ''it has some
times struck me that perhaps l had
missed my profession"
"Goodw
And that I wasn't doing my duty
by my family"
"Now you are getting down to brass
tacksr'
"Well, you may consider that l have
resigned my pastorate and am now
looking for another job"
"My husband q laborerw sobbed the
wife.
''Our papa saving wood for a liv-
ing! moaned the girls.
"Tll attend to all your cases in due
time," grimly 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"
"YeS"
'I'll buy it for you tomorrow. You'll
soon work into the business. You need
new fence In front Of the house.
Get carpenter. The house needs re.
painting. Get a painter Go to the
stores and see what your debts are
and I'll square you up. You'll want
$50 bushels Of wheat to begin on. I'll
buy it for you"
81 have often said the Lord was my
shepherd, and r.
Drop 1t, 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 a second dress to
your back, and you don't have a caller
or pay a call once in three months.
Cease your bowling and make your
garden raise vegetables to help out
Being the wife of a third rate preacher
don't put 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 l can and that in short order"
"Oh, Aunt Belinda 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