News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1921-05-25
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER LIN the village of Bing
Vile thrteen-year- Robert Emmett Mo.
ram crippled son of poor widow, is
known as the Shepherd of the Birds His
world is his mother and friends, his
little room, the flower garden of Judge
CROKER, and every flying thing he sees
from his window. The painting of pic
lures is his enjoyment, and little Pauline
Baker, small daughter of a neighbor, the
object of his boyish affection. To him,
j. Patterson Bing, the first citizen of
Bingville. is the ideal of really great
man.
CHAPTER 1.-THE village becomes
money mad, rejecting the great world in
its state OF unrest The Bng family is a
leader IN the change To them the village
has become provincial" Pauline Baker,
victim of her surroundings elopes with a
stranger, and her parents are unable to
trace her.
CHAPTER III.-Severe winter weather
brings distress to Ringville. Spoiled by
false prosperity, the citizens naveS failed
TO look ahead, and many suffer absolute
privation. The Reverend Otis Singleton,
one of the few in the village who seek to
stem the tide of extravaganza and folly,
effects reformation in Hiram Blenkin-
sop, town drunkard and general "black
cham"
CHAPTER Iv-Mainly owing to Judge
Croker, the village aWakes to it's short
sightedness in having considered money
the essential. and neglecting the real
things Of life and true democracy. Some
of the leading men also receive a lesson,
I'm the increasing waywardness of mem
bers of their families
CHAPTER V.-The Bing family feels
the strain of the prolonged "giddy whirl"
Phyllis, the daughter of the house, is
threatened with nervous prostration. Mr.
Bing purchases pearl necklace costing
$1Q00ss Cor her. His employees, hearing
Of ths extravaganza, demand more pay
and less work.
CHAPTER VI-Hiram Blenkinsop, after
a period of right living, falls from grace
Following a prolonged debauch, Ill and
penniless he takes refuge in the church.
yard There he meets Pauline Baker. de-
serted by her husband, and with a baby
In her arms. Hiram takes them to the
Widow Moran, who gives them welcome
and shelter
CHAPTER VII.-Roger Delane, wealthy
youth of good reputation, asks Phyllis
Bing to marry him. She confesses she is
already married to Gordon King, one of
the widest of the smart set" Mr. and
Mrs. Bing decide to make the best of the
situation, incidentally perceiving that as
parents they have been something of
failure.
CHAPTER VIII-Bngvile slowly re-
turns to sanity with the collapse of many
war speculations. A strike in Mr. Bing's
plant opens his eyes to some of his short
comings as a good citizen and in general
a reform wave is started. The village be-
gins to come back"
CHAPTER IX.-Christmas day in the
nome of the Shepherd of the Birds The
happiest Christmas the Shepherd has ever
known, with the promise of restoration to
health and activity; the happiest for Mr..
Bing, in that he sees his duties and re-
sponsibilities in their right light the hap
piest for Judge Croker in the restora-
ton of his friends and his beloved village
to their former high position in his re-
gard; the happiest for Pauline Baker, in
that she is by her usefulness to the COM
munity redeeming her past folly, and the
tlappiest for the people of Bingville. in
the fact that they have returned@ to a
clean, sane view of life-to their Old
Selves.