The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1878-12-10

at is not necessary to say anything
more, aunt" she ssid 10 clear voice,
II will CO."
Thanksgiving morning was clear ard
cold. The stubble sparkled with a mil
lion frosty diamonds when Polly cross
ed the fields on her way TO church;
some hardly little English sparrows
we're chirping thanks that the snow had
not yet covered the bits OF scattered
grain which remained for them, aud
Polly's heavy heart grew lighter as she
watched thsm cheerily picking aud
finding sustenance in the barren field.
"Bebold the fowls of the air; for
they SOW not, neither do they reap,
nor gather into barns; yet your Heay-
eniy Father feedeth them. Are We not
much better than they?"
These words of comfort coming into
her mind warmed her cold heart, and
with light step she obeyed the sweet,
silvery invitation of the church bells.
A holy calm fell ON her spirit as she
entered the peaceful little church, aud
walking up the dim aisle took her seat
where the crimson light from a stained
glass window fell atbwart her pallid
face. The words "outcast, orphan,
homeless" had been ringing in her
brain with dull, maddening repeti-
ton all night, but now. az the deep
tones OF the organ rang out in glad
Thanksgiving to the giver Of all good
things, Poly felt herself uplifted. for
the moment, above the miserable an
noyances Of her life; and when she
| glanced at Melissa, looking pretty aud
fresh IN her feathers aud silk, she felt
almost thankful for her, that she pos
sessed the love Of n great and noble
soul, Polly led the choir, aud when
the minister's ear caught the sweet,
clear tones, In which there was no guile
he also thanked God.
With the Inconsistency of human
emotion Polly's mind wandered several
times during the service to the pump
kin pies on the shelf nj home. This
was before the sermon. When once she
felt the magnetism of his voice she lis
tened spell-bound until il ceased. She
never wept, as those around her some
times did at some touching recital.
She sat motionless, with dilated eyes,
and almost held her breath until he
had finished. To-day she kept saying to
herself: THE last timel The last timel
When next he speaks here God knows
where | shall BET"
Once the minister caught the express
sion OF the wild brown eyes, and there
was such misery in them that for a mo-
ment he lost his self-possession.
After church Polly hurried home 10
set the table, aud the minister followed
with Melissa, whom, for reasons Of her
own, Miss Phoebe had also invited TO
dinner.
At dinner Melissa was placed next
the minister aud Polly opposite,
small hand-maid being behind for the
occasion to wait on the table. Polly
could not help thinking what hand
some couple they would make, as she
glanced from his strong, dark head,
and brilliant, blue eyes, 10 Melissa's
cold, clear-cut face, and graceful figure,
draped in rich black silk Polly's face
was flushed from bending over the
stove, and her hands trembled with ex-
citement.
She did not know at what moment
her aunt would come out with some
thing about yesterdays performance"
and Polly felt that before all the as
sembled relatives, aud especially be-
fore the minister and his betrothed,
she could not endure il. But Miss
Phoebe seemed in a particularly good
humor, and her acid face dissolved IL
self into something approaching n
smile.
Once Melissa, smiling at Polly, said:
Il have heard you we're a good cook,
but | bad no idea you were so accom-
plisned."
Polly didn't make anything but the
pumpkin pies. Amt Phnbe answer
ed, smiling grmly. and she ordered
the maid TO bring them on.
81 can testify that they are every
thing that pumpkin pies should be, ="
said the minister, with a laughing
glance which caused Polly'r face to
blaze, caused Melissa 10 give her
cold, suspicious look. aud made Aunt
Ph9be draw down the corners Of her
mouth in very significant way.
In the hurry OF the morning Polly
had neglected tasting her pies, and
with some anxiety she watched her
neighbor, "A rough farmer cousin, cut
his piece. He took one enormous
mouthful OF the yellow, luscious-loo
ing stuff. then seized his glass Of milk
and gulped IL down. He set his glass
down with an exclamation and n very
wry face-to her dismay Polly saw
everyone at the table 40 the same
thing. Crimsoning, she glanced fur
lively over TO the minister-he aud Mel
issa were talking and toying with their
forks. but neither OF them was eating.
Aunt Phoebe waited till there was a
painful silence about the board. then
executed her next flank movement.
''Sarah, she said. turning to the girl.
"bring the cake off the dresser" When
a large. beautifully Drowned plum cake
was set before her, she said suavely to
her guests: This cake, my friends,
was made by MelIssa's pretty hands,
and do not think you will ind-it sea
soned with pepper aud vinegar, as my
poor, high-tempered Polly seasoned
her pies.
1t had flashed through Polly's head
what, perhaps, she had done: but 10
have il insinuated that she did it on
purpose was too much, and with a
choke in her throat, which she was
afraid would break out in a sob, Polly
left the table.
Miss Phoebe had never loved her or
phan niece; nay, more, she had always
disliked her; but since the advent OF
the minister in the village society she
had seemed TO hate her with all the
venom of an embittered nature. She
had fed and clothed her since infancy
because she had promised her dying
brother she would do so, aud duty
was Miss Phebe's watchword. The
little lonely thing had won no place in
her heart, because from the very first
il had turned from her and called hei
ugly and cross. Miss Phoebe asserted
upon what foundation was question:.
BILE, but that for this encumbrance she
would now be the wife Of a wealthy
farmer 10 n neighboriug county.
So all that had been done for ths
child had been done grudgingly, bui
notwithstanding she grew up beautiful
and bright. The towns people, with
whom Miss Phoebe was no favorite
whispered that she would never forgiy,
Polly for being so pretty--it was a con
tinual cross 10 her. Aud perhaps thi.
} was so, for at one time Miss Phoebe,
! eyes were cast on the minister, bui
: finding there was not a shadow OF Z
chance for her, she determined, TO us,
} her own expression, that Polly should
} not ''entrap him. aud she set to worl
accordingly.
Mr.. Thompson Jones, in othei
words Tom Jones, and his young wifi,