Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-08-02

was seventeen. OuTlnB JneSe years Jonn |
Marston had been adding steadily to his
In the little town Of Evert5n d. htah, |
who in their parlahce, WAS "out of the |
woods" that Is, possessed of farm, on |
which there was no mortgage, out of |
debt, and having small bank account. |
Polly had taught tbs school all this time |
and her little sum had kept increasing |
until 1t stood at the enormous amount of
four hundred dollars. Polly loved to |
think of .it---four hthdred dollars all her |
OWL, and she soon to be the possessor of
new piano. Up at the Great House,
matters had not Jared as well, Edward
Crayton having reached the topmost
round on the ladder of fortune, began to
descend, In faster ratio than he had
climbed. Losses fifst iii that company,
| then In this, had reduced his income and
made him querulous, repining man.
| Blanche's expenditures had been cut
short, and that young lady's supply of
silk5 and iaces, considerably diminished.
AS last blow, thought Edward Crayton,
the house in which his all was placed
failed, and left him without thing, ex-
cept the Great House and its grounds.
No, not the last blow, for one night, In
the dead of winter, the Great House took
fire and burned to the ground, and
Blanche, the nice, proud and naughty
Blanche, was borne in her night clothes
to John Marston's humble cottage, which
she had once scorhed to enter When
the excitement had somewhat died away,
inquiry was made for Edward Crayton.
He was nowhere to be found, and people
we're finally forced to believe that he had
perished in the flames. Great was
Blanches anguish when told of the terri
BILE death her father had met. She lay on
the bed in Polly's white curtained room,
fragrant with lavender, and sweet with
the evidence of careful forethought for its
occupant, idly repining, day after day,
over the cruel fate which had brought her
to such an unhappy pass. Polly-her
anger and resentment all gone now-dld
all i'll her power to alleviate the sorrows
Of the desolate girl. Blanche had lost
everything-not a single article of cloth
ing had escaped the fiery fingers, and she
was forced to array herself in Polly's
simple dresses, which she had once
thought so mean. When Polly took them
to her and said timidly: Hadn't you
better put these on until you can get
something betterP" she took them sullen-
ly, without vouchsafing any reply; but
when Polly had left the room, she touch
ed them softly, and the tears trickled
slowly down her cheeks. Was it remorse,
or her other great sorrow? God only
knows; but after that Blanche spoke lit
tie softer, and did not seem quite so un-
grateful as she had done. AS constant
dropping wears stone, so Polly's gen
erous kindness won insensibly upon
Blanche's proud incrusted heart, and
taught her to value other things beside
} mere worldly possessions.
One day Polly was noticed to be in
; deep thought something was evidently
J troubling her, and as she went to bed she
} kissed her mother gravely, and Mrs. Mars
ton noticed there were tears in her eyes.
The next morning her eyelids were heavy
, and red, as with weeping, and her lips
trembled as with some inward sorrow.
Mrs Marston forbore to question her, but
after breakfast, as she was putting on her
: hat, Mrs. Marston said Why, Polly,
this is Saturday ~
"Iknow it mother, but am going to
the village. l have gained victory, and
the struggle has been hard but | am
glad, oh, so glad, mother :" and shining
through her tears was a look of perfect
peace. At noon that day Polly came
home worn and tired. She went straight
: to the little recess in the attic, which was
G her room now, and kneeling down by the
little cot-bed, laid her head on the cover
y let, while she poured forth her sorrow
: and her Joy into the ear of the Divine
Father, and He who knoweth the heart;
: of His creatures, surely shed heavenly
benediction upon the curly brown heaC
C bent so humbly before him, for, wheI
she went down to the family again, he
!, face was irradiated with new light, anC
s Blanche looking earnestly at her, won
r dered that she had never thought Polly
d even pretty before, when here she wa
r almost beautiful. All Miss Blanche
k your eyes had not yet become acquainted
l. with that inner beauty which often give
It to the plainest features a charm you wis
3 not Of
r That afternoon an express wagon drov
e to the door, and huge bundle, addressed
e to Miss Blanche Crayton, was handed in
s. When Polly saw the wagon, for some un
n accountable reason she ran out of tn
n room, way down to the foot of the BIZ
a corn field and was gone an hour: Whel
she came back she met jamie perche,
e on the fence, who had been straining hi
v neck in every direction, looking for heT
ooh, Polly" exclaimed jamie, CIV
"a been looking everywhere for you, an
II Miss Blanche has had such big bundl
! sent her. When she opened it, she erie
4 and said she didn't deserve it, and too
~ on drefful hard She says she don't knON
who sent il; but she never did anybody
i kindness, and she don't see why anybod
~ should be so good to her"
= At the kitchen door Mrs, Marston me
Polly, and said, you're dear, goo
re child, and I'm very glad you've don
- what you have. You're father II be yer
ne happy"
oS oS That was all, but Polly felt richer tina
10 if the whole of Golcondas mines had d
IF clared themselves hers. Mrs. Marsto
- oh nf roraica n
~ this small need was very welcome
ns Polly's sore heart, for it had been no eas
Z IN thing to resign her hopes of piano. 81
r. knew she must do it, for even if it di
"a not take all of the precious four hundrC
~ dollars to procure Blanche suitab
" wardrobe, it would eat into it in such
ca way that to buy the piano would be
an simple impossibility. Going into Il
=" sitting room, she found Blanche cryiI
er softly to herself, while spread out befo
40 her was the bundle which had caused h
M tears.
"Polly," she said gently, 'just see VIII
wv some kind person has sent me. Bla'
ou merino, alpaca, and calico dresses, era
re to trim the merino, cloak, hat, glove
muslin, shoes, handkerchiefs and tho
n sand other things. Why, the whole
I'M must have cost good deal of money; al
,at sucn tdste as Is ulspldy Gu III lhe seleClO
~ ~ could not have done better myself.
,re wonder who is so interested in me; b
~, on oh! don't deserve it at al. have be
o. an so wicked toward everybody, selfish a
ho, ungrateful and proud! Oh! Polly,
llv should think you would hate me-" S
on said sobbingly.
I'M "No, no, Blanche" said Polly, TAXI
,at her hand and pressing it softly.
IA | WOuld love VOu if YOU would let me.
mi don't hate anyone, although l did feel l
he kindly toward you once. but that is p
er now, and would like you to love me a
to sister, if you could" she said difident
ess "Your sister, OH Polly! How can y
in be so kindg be your sister, after all
nv hateful things l have saidS" And s
iE, leaned her head on PollY's shoulder q