The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-01-11
WHO ARE "POOR FOLKS" "

herself, carried home the bright lalln-
dry work to her mothers patrons.
She was always neatly dressed, and
had a happy smile and cheerful voice.
One day Polly carried some fine.
laces to lady in hotel. The servant
told her the lady was ill and could not
be disturbed. But Polly had had strict
orders not to trust her package with
any one else; so she ventured to go
upstairs.
She stood at the door for a moment,
and then tapped very lightly, saying
to herself, "If she is asleep that
won't wake her, and if she's awake
she will answer"
In a moment a low voice asked, "1s
that you, Bridget?'
"No, ma am" replied Polly, put
ting her lips very close to the key
hole. and speaking in a loud whisper.
Its Paulina Brown, that folks call
Little Polly l have very particu-
lar message for you, and | won't dis
turb you bit, if you will let me in"
The lady could not help saying
"Come in," in answer to this modest
request.
She was in trouble; and that had
caused her sick headache. She lay
there all alone in darkened room,
with no one to care whether she got
better or not.
Polly had just come from bright,
sunny room, with gay rag carpet on
the floor, and bright flowers growing
in the windows; and this room, with
it's heavy draperies, looked very
gloomy to her. She went up to the
bed and gave her message i'll a low,
soft voice, and then said, go Mrs.
Ball, Pm so sorry for you! You
haven't any husband, nor little girl to
comfort you when you are sick! My
mother has father, and Tommy, and
me and the baby. Sometimes when
she has her tire2 headaches can drive
them off, just with my own hands and
little bay water! l don't suppose
you would let me sit up on your nice
bed and bathe your head, would
you?"
Eyes, Polly, I'm always glad to
have such a tidy little girl near me.
You will find bay water IN that pink
bottle on the bureau" said Mrs.
Ball.
While the little soft hands were
passing over her troubled brow. the
lady said, "Polly, l think your family
are the happiest poor people ever
met"
so, Mrs. Ball, we're not poor peo-
ple,'" cried Polly, with aqueer laugh
"There are three poor families in our
house, but we are rich-almost. We
were rich once, and had half house,
though we're not so rich now, since
fail er lost his arm-but as mother
can do up laces so beautifully, we're
pretty rich still! We do lots of things
to help the poor folks in the house,
and other poor folks, too''
"What can you do for them -
asked the lady.
80, we save Mrs. Cranes coal by
letting her steep her tea in our kitch-
en-days that she can keep warm by
sitting in the sun-and We take care
of Mrs. Barnes baby, whenever she
gets days work, and mother always
makes broth enough on Wednesdays to
share with some one that's poOr.'
"Who do you call poor folks,
Polly ?" asked the lady.
Polly had no definition ready, but
after thinking for moment she re-
piled, "Poor folks are folks who don't
have everything they want"
"Then do you have everything you
want?' asked Mrs. Ball.
eyes, ma am" replied Polly, inno-
Gently. "We all have Sunday clothes,
beside our common ones and we have
good things to eat-mother bakes all
our bread and pies, herself-and we
have a real kitchen to work and
eat in-without bed in it like poor
folks; and we buy whole ton of
coal at once, instead of lots of bush
elsr'
And so little Polly prattled on in a
low, pleasant voice, till the lady really
felt better, and said so. "Pll tell you
what's another real good thing to drive
the rest of it off-air and sunlight,
mother never shuts up for headache,
said the little nurse.
| Here Polly looked at the bronze
clock, and said, "It's time now fol
the baby to wake up, and | shall have
to 90 as soon as let in little of my
sun and air; but I'll come in any tim'
when you have the headache and cur'
you again. -
"Thank you, my good little girl, yo'
have almost cured me now," said Mrs
Ball. Sin my closet you will find
large paper bag full of oranges, taxi
them home and share them with tn
poor folks in your house"
The rich little girl ran home in gle
to divide the treasurewith the less for
: tunate. sG f3E
, The poor lady lay alone to reflect o.
the lesson she had left behind her. Sh
had lost twenty thousand dollars, bu
J she had thirty thousand left; and in
stead of being thankful for that, sh
was bewailing her fate, as if she wer
, next to a pauper! She would still hav
all the comforts, although few les
of the luxuries, Of life; and as she re
membered now, no one but hersel
would suffer by the change, for sh
had never helped "the poor folks !