Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-08-08

Blanche, the nice, proud and naughty
Blanche, was borne i'll her night clothes
to John Marston's humble cottage, which
She had once scorned TO enter, When
the excitement had somewhat died away,
inquiry was made for Edward Crayton
He was nowhere to be found, and people
were finally forced to believe that he had
persisted in the flames. Great was
BlanChe's 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 torethought for its
occupant, idly replning, day after day,
over the cruel fate which had brought her
TO such an unhappy pass, Polly-her
anger and resentment all gone now--did
all in her power to alleviate the SORROWS
Of the desolate girl. Blanche had lost
everything II single article Of cloth
ing had escaped the fiery fingers and she
was forced to array herself in Pully'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 bettery" she took them sullth-
~, without vouChsating any reply; but
when Polly had left the room, she touch
ed them softly, and the tears triCkled
slowly down her checks. Was it remorse,
or her other great sorrowy 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 Il stone, so Polly's gen
| erous kindness won insenSibly upon
/ Banches 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
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, bat
after breakfast, as she was putting on her
hat, Mrs. Marston said Why, Polly,
this is Saturday ~
81 know it mother, but | am going to
the village have gained victory, and
the struggle has been hard but | am
/ glad, oh, SO glad, mother y and shining
through her tears was look of perfect
peace. At noon that day Polly came
home worn and tired She went straight
I to the little recess in the attic, which was
her room now, and kneeling down by the
| little cot-bed, laid her head on the cover.
/ let, while she poured forth her sorrow
/ and her Joy into the ear Of the Divine
/ Father, and He who knoweth the hearts
| of His creatures, surely shed heavenly
/ benediCtiOn L on the curly brown head
/ bent SO hunt " before him, for, when
/ she went down to the family again, her
| face was irradiated with a new light, and
| Blanche looking earnestly at her, Won
/ dercd that she had never thought Polly
/ even pretty before, when here she was
almost beautiful. All Miss Blanche,
| your ey es had not yet become acquainted
/ with that inner beauty which often gives
/ to the plalnest features charm you visit
| not Of
/ That afternoon an express wagon drove
/ to the door, and a huge bundle, addressed
| to Miss Blanche Crayton, was handed in.
1 When Polly saw the wagon, for some un.
accountable reason she ran out Of the
/ room, way down to the foot of the big
! corn field and was gone an hour, When
/ she came back she met Jamie perched
/ on the fence, who had been straining his
neck in every direction, looking for her,
ooh, Polly" exclaimed Jamie, 1--WE
been looking everywhere for you, and
Miss Blanche has had such big bundle
sent her When she opened it, she cried
and said she didn't deserve it, and took
ON dreiiul hard She says she don't know
I who sent il; but she never did anybody a
| kindness, and she don't see why anybody
should be 50 good to her. -
AT the kitchen door Mrs. Marston met
Polly, and said, You're dear, good
child, and I'm very glad you've done
what you have. You're father II be very
/ happy
That was all, but Polly felt richer than
| if the whole Of Golcondas mines had de-
clared themselves hers Mrs. Marston
was usually rather chGry Of praise, and
| this small need was very welcome to
/ Polly's sore heart, for it had been no easy
thing to resign her hopes Of a piano She
| knew she must do it, for even if il did
not take all Of the precious -four hundred
dollars TO procure Blanche n suitable
wardrobe il would eat into ii in such a
way that to buy the piano would be a
simple impossibility. Going into the
sitting ROOM she found Blanche crying
softly to herself, while spread out before
her vas the bundle which had caused her
tears
polly" she said gently, 'just see what
some kind person has sent me. Black
merino, alpaca, and calico dresses, Grape
to trim the mcrinO, cloak, hat, gloves,
muslin, shoes, handkerchiei5 and a thou,
sand other things Why, the whole lot
must have cost good deal Of money; and
such taste rs is displayed in the selection
l could not have done better myself
wonder who is so interested in me; hu