The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-01-06

away. l never hear q drier cough nor
that of yourn-it sounds just like Cynthy
Besom's did the winter she took the gal.
lopin' consumption, and was dead and
buried all inside of six months" And
Aunt Debby hustled about and got out
the big bottle from the chimney.c cupboard,
and measured out dose of the hoarhound
balsam. Polly knew that remonstrance
would be :; orse than useless, so she swal-
lowed the bitter-sweet mixture without
protest. Then she was semitic bed with di-
rections to 60 to sleep right away, and with
the comforting assurance that if the cough
did not succumb to the balsam before
morning John should 50 for old DR.. Dru-
gen first thing after breakfast.
Polly's mistake was one that is often
made by young girls who are too much
taken up with the pleasant story of their
own lives to stop to think or ask ques.
tons of their hearts. We. are none of
us much given to introspection in our
salad days." and when at last we do
take to soul probing it is usually too late
to benefit by our discoveries.
Polly-the orphan child of a far-away
cousin-had been adopted by Uncle Silas
and Aunt Debby when very small, SO she
and John had grown up together like
brother and sister, and she had really new
er once thought of John as a lover, or a
possible husband, until his" rather abrupt
proposal had startled her into the declara-
ton that she did not love him, when the
truth was she had been loving him every
day of her life without in the least sus-
pecting it, Polly did not go off in gall
Looping consumption like Cynthia Bosom,
nor did she pine away and die of a broken
heart healthy people never do either
she Just lived on from day to day, as we
all do and must in spite of disappoint-
ment and heartbreak. She did not even
droop, but-held up her head like brave
little flower that will not heed the rude
winds, but smiles through all their buffet
ing. Perhaps. hope was not yet plucked
up by the roots; for hope is a sturdy plant
that hourishes in sterile soils, and will
sustain life for very long time on very
scant nourishment.
1t was December now, and the young
folks of Sleepy Hollow were met in Uncle
Silas Briggs woods for a skating frolic on
ment was at at its height, and tie skaters
flying in all directions, every ear was
startled by the loud cracking of the frozen
surface; then came a crash-a heavy
cry-and in few moments later John
Briggs lay at Polly's feet, dead!
Atleasts so itseemed to Polly then the sun
went down and night came in moment,
and there lay Polly in a swoon on the
dead mans breast! But John Was not
dead, or even much hurt, only chilled to
insensibility, and consciousness returned
before anyone had recovered presence of
mind to remove Polly from her resting
place on his bosom.
"Good gracious! Polly's faintedn' cried
Susy Brown; run quick. somebody, and
fetch some water"
The girls had rallied by this time and
crowded round Polly like bees round
crocus bed in spring, and she was in
danger Of being killed by kindness, when
Simeon Brown rushed up with his cap
full of icy water and dashed it slap in
Polly's face. That walked her up in a
hurry-she gasped, opened her eyes, and
seeing the group of frightened faces about
ner asked: whats the mater?' Poor
Polly! she knew Immediately what the
matter was-she had made fool of her
self-and now everybody would know
that she was in love with John-with
Alice Browns lover! Oh, dear! and to
mend matters Polly began to cry.
But where is John? Polly cannot see
him anywhere. Polly's senses had not
come back fully, it seemed, for she did
not know that she was reposing quite
comfortably in Johns arms. "Don't cry,
Polly" said that audacious youth himself
as he kissed her ON the mouth as bold as
brass, or, as Susy Brown said afterward,
Just as if Polly had been a baby and
John had been her MOTHER" then turning
to the skaters: "See here, I'm going to
take Polly home now, and you'd best be
spry if you mean to keep Christmas in my
style this year" And with that he
gathered Polly ND and carried her off
suppose that Polly's mistake was rec
titled on the way home, for there was a
wedding at Uncle Silas Briggs on Christ
mas Eve, on which occasion Aunt Debby
was heard to deliver herself after the fol-
lowing characteristic manner:
You never kin tell till arterward how
weddin's goin' to turn out, specially
these days when things is so uncertain,
and married folks don't think no more o.
clittin' loose from each other nor men
does O. quittin' the grocery business.
Why, divorce bills is getting to be about
as common as peddlers' licenses and as
easy to be got. For my part l don't
think much o. sech folks. say it's pesky
mean not to stick to a bargain when it's
made and signed and sealed, even if it
want a wicked sin and flat agin' Scripter.
Thank goodness! l amt afeared O. John
and Polly never wantin' no bill."-N. Y.