Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-08-02
POLLY MARSTON's STRUGGLE.
A Story for Girls,

Polly MARsToN was poor mans
daughter; she had never known the lux
Uries of life, as far as her own personal
experience went. Two or three times she
had caught a glimpse of fashionable life
up at the Great House on the hill, where
she went daily to carry the milk the fam
lily used. These glimpses had been enough
to inspire her with a longing for some
thing little better, little finer, in her
homsspun life. Naturally she possessed
happy disposition, but when once the
tempter enters Eden, let him come in
whatever guise he will, then contentment
flies IT, At first this desire for "some-
thing more" only led to the adorning of
the little white cottage with flowers and
ferns, which really produced an artistic
effect, but which Mrs. Marston voted, in
her short, decisive way, as rubbish"
Next little knot of ribbon found itself
nestled in the brown curls, then a string
of fanciful beads lay, first, inside the
neck of her dress, but by degrees crept
out until it rested in all its glory against
the 0lue-checked gingham. All this
would have been well enough had there
not crept in at the same time those little
heart-burnings and envyings which are
always sure to dampen the pleasure of
possession. If Polly had not seen the
other girls have such beautiful things to
wear and look at, her flowers and simple
knots would have been perfection in her
eyes, but after a while she began to look
upon them with disgust, and wished she
had such dresses and hats, and boots as
Blanche Crayton, up at the Great House,
and the girl friends who came to visit her,
wore. Polly didn't like Blanche Crayton,
who was a golden haired, rosy checked,
blue-eyed girl. She looked all gentleness
but was in reality as imperious and sell
fish little beauty, as little beauties gen.
orally know how to be. Her blue eyes
were soft as a summer sky when she
willed, but let anything cross her way
and the blue eyes would ray out glance
as cold and hard as glittering steel.
Blanche was critical girl, too, always
looking one over with that air of infinite
superiority which Polly detested, at
makes you feel so small, even if you know
you are Just as good. If were to stare
back, everybody would call me an i'm
pudent hussy,' while no one would ever
dare say that of Blanche Crayton, be-
cause she's the daughter of the rich man
on the hill, and am poor John Marston'
girl, down in the hollow. There's world
of difference between a hundred cents
and no cents" said she to her only conf
dant, little Jane Austin, who being sew
eral years younger, didn't understand one
half of Polly's rawlings, although she ac.
cepted them in good faith, because Polly
knew so much.
"But if you hain't got no money, Polly
you're terrible site smarter'n Blanche
Crayton, and l think that's better'n mon
ey," said little Jane, trying to play the
part of consoler.
"Pshaw! Jane, you don't know wha
you are talking about; money is the only
thing of consequence in this world" an
swered she, absently pulling up some o.
her pretty violets, growing by the ston..
doorstep. "Money will do anything,
she went on again. eth buy you a cloal
to cover sins, the good opinion of every
body in the world and maybe the easie
seat in Heaven, who knows?" she said
bitterly.
"Oh, Polly, don't say so; you know
you'll never get to Heaven if you ain
good, no matter how much money you'v
got; / don't believe that, Polly, if you ar
older than / be-" said Jane, whose fait
in her orthodox teachings neither Polly
superior wisdom nor worldliness coul
shake.
II know didn't mean that" said Polly
penitently; "but it does seem as thoug
money could do everything; Iwish / wa
rich, guess I'd show them that WASH
to be sneered at"
"Why, who sneers at my Polly?" aske
John Martson, from the room where h
had been listening to the conversation
unknown to the girls.
Polly blushed crimson, and did not ar
swer until her father repeated the que
ton, and then she said, hesitatingly
"Whv, all the girls who wear bette
clothes than do, they call me poverty
sticken, and such names"
"And are you poverty.stricken, Polly
asked Mr.. Marston.
moo, have enough to eat an
wear, such as it is; but it isn't lib
theirs"
Haven't you anything else9" aske
her father, coming to the door, whel
he could look down upon his daughter
face.
"Oh, yesl have you and mother, an
jamie"
"Could money pay you for theseY"
"Oh, no! | guess they couldn't; bl
papa, 1 would like to have some none
so mamma could have the brown merin
and Jamie new cloak, and you nj
scarf, wouldn't your"
"Yes, my child, all these are nit
things to have, but would you be williI
to barter peace of mind, love, honor al
happiness, for them?"
"Why, no, but must you always {
that?" asked Polly, wonderingly.
"Not always, because money is som
times honestly earned, but very frequen
ly all the better part of mans natu
is the forfeit for his bag of gold.
content with what you have, Polly, al
show those girls, who care more for Il
outward adorning, than for the inn
adorning of meek and quiet spirit
the one Jewel of price you own. Can "
not forget their words in thinking
Him who, when he was reviled, reYil
not againY" and with these words, NJ
Marston walked away. Polly sat thin
ing deeply after that, and Jane looki
up into her face, saw look upon IT S
could not read.
"Jane," said Polly, suddenly "Y
said was smart. Do you think cou
teach the district schoolY"
"Why, Pollyn exclaimed Jane, 'y
don't mean iii You know enough,
course, but you're only fourteen, a
there's Jack Scranton, he's eighteen, a
lots o big boys. What could you
with 'emY"
81 don't know what I'd do, but l C
try for it, and then I'll do the best caI
said Polly, decidedly 81 amt afraid
Jack Scranton, or any of them, and
Mr.. Squills viii give me the school,
earn some money"