Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-09-09

gone some hours a sudden and severe snow
storm came on Itproved to be so formida.
Bile that the young people started for home
but the snow blocked the roads so that
the horses could scarcely make their way
through il. Polly sat up waiting their re-
turn gith Ere aud lights.
Before they came the snow Jay two feet
deep between the front door and the street
Twice she went out alone in the dark aud
driving storm and shoyelled path from
the door to the gate. But her boneyolonce
did not stop there She knew it would
be impossible for tho young gentlemen to
reach Cambridge that night, and the horses
must be taken care Of. She, therefore,
made her way with lantern to the barn,
and actually shoyeed away the snow which
prevented the door from being opened, and
when the young people arrived past mid
night chilled through and the exhausted
horses ready to drop, she had all things in
readiness for the entertainment Of mou
and beast" took care Of them all herself,
in spite Of every remonsirance, and was on
the alert early in the morning as if nothing
unusual had happened.
Nothing ever seriously disturbed or made
her unhappy but opposition in her scli-sac-
rifco for the family If refused or pre-.
vented from carrying out her purposes in
this respect, her quickly starting tears bore
evidence how genuine was the feeling that
prompted them.
Her practice Of often spending money for
the young people Of the family was some
times very embarrassing to them, but no
remoustranco was of any avail In this
particular she would have her own way.
An Inconvenience always severely felt at the
parsonage was the want Of cistern to hold
soft water DR.. Pierce at one time went
away upon a Journey, and during his ab-
sence Polly secured the cooperation Of
Captain Benjamin Bradley, who was a car
ponter, and before the doctors return a
cstern was built for the sum Of fifty dol.
lars, aud paid for out Of Polly's money
When the doctor came home and learned
what had been done, he insisted upon pay
ing Polly for the outlay at once. But she
burst into tears, insisted that she had had
it done for her own convenience and a
pleasant surprise to him, and that it would
break her heart if he insisted upon it fur
,her. The matter was allowed to drop, but
long time afterwards the doctor found an
opportunity Of making it up to her.
At the marriage Of each Of DR.. Pierce 5
children present was bestowed upon the
bride by Polly, quite equal to the gifts Of
other friends in those times. At the birth
Of each grandchild till there were ten, she
deposited in the bank FIVE dollars for the
new conner. This practice Dr. Pierce posi-.
lively forba le, but it was vain to try to
prey ent the devoted creature from impover-
ishing herself for others.
/ At Que time, when poor divinity stu
dent, who had been often to see the doctor,
was leaving the house, the doctor inquired
why be wore no oyercoat on so cold q day.
He confessed that he had none. Polly
overheard the conversation. Shortly after.
wards the young man received present Of
new oyercoat. 1t was Polly's gift, but
the recipient never knew from whence il
came, aud even the family were not aware
Of this act Of generosity for many years. If
was finally disclosed by the person whom
she deputed to make the purchase.
In 1880, when Polly had lived in the
family of Dr.. Pierce nearly thirty years, Q
person from a neighboring town, who hac
been on trip to western New York, calleC
to see DR.. Pierce to inquire respecting her
He had met with brother Of hers, who
finding that he was from the vicinity o
Boston, made inquiries respecting Rev
Mr.. Pierce" who had taken Polly fcon
Northampton. 1t was over twenty year
since she had known whether she had |
relative living. 1t was washing day, anC
Polly stood at the tub when the doctor an
nounced the startling news that she haC
two brothers and sister living, and tina
they had taken the trouble to inquire re
spccting her. Polly was like one thunder
struck. She stood in silence for a moment
and then fell senseless upon the floor |
was some time before consciousness re
turned, and the manner in which she wa
affected was the more remarkable from tn
fact that she was never known to faint be
fore. Nothing would satisfy her but sh
must 20 and see her kindred, wholly forget
fu Of their long Indifference to her. He
visits had been confined to annual trips t
Boston all those many years, but, nothin
d daunted, sue set out on her journey, foun
her people, made them four weeks visit
aud then returned to the parsonage.
A few years after Polly asked leave q
absence for whole year. This was granted
and she went to her friends aud devote
herself to their interests with her time an
b money.
At the expiration Of that time she rt
turned. Polly had scarcely ever had a lei
r ter in her lifetime, but now letters bega
! ! to come regularly and often, so that on
day the Doctor coming from the post cfhc
with letter. said, jokingy, as he dc
iyered it, " What is the matter Polly
Are you engaged ayes, sir sal
: Polly meckly, and burst into tears.
G Had the earth opened in front of the pal
= sonage, the astonshment would scarcel
9 have been greater. Polly, almost fifty-nir
y years Of age, and as much identified wit
d the parsonage as one Of the rafters, abol
{ to launch her fortunes on the uncertain SC
i OF mutflnOny
1t is doubtful if any engagement sine
: then has created greater sensation in Il
u little circle concerned.
A lonely wdower, New York DutcI
3 man, by the name of Schermerhorn, ha
u y found the way to Polly's sympathies--"l
~ y, was so lonesome and she pitied him SO
y Yet warmly as her heart went out towaI
u u him, there was a link at the old parsonal
u u that must not be broken.
y There was poor Benny, and the infatl
= ated lover could not have Polly without
u u would take Benny also, if the pastors far
~ lily would consent to let him go.
4 The terms for his board were agre,
!, upon satisfactorily to all parties. 1t was
! service such as money could not buy al
ID only pure love could suggest, and as SUI
\ it was appreciated by the family. The d
= fculty Of removing him was less than mig
,r be supposed, as ho had never grown beyol
n the size Of delicate child Of twelve yeal
a. Polly's lover was about seventy years
10 age, and too feeble to make the long journ
Il to take his bride, and it was arranged tn
,o her nephew should come on and take b
?. and her helpless charge to their destinatio
AZ Polly had to undergo some bantering l
70 specting the arrangement Of going to h