Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-03-24

Dickie's whistle sounded on the stairs, and
Polly had to run out to spend the pen
MES he had earned.
s'She's not bad child, y Mrs. o 'Flanni-
CHAN said to Billy, as she stood one even
ing watching the slight figure toiling
YEARLY up stairs with the baby--.better
than most, fancy"
''Why, mother; said Billy, flushing at
the faint praise, "she's more than that
she's beautiful"
There good lot-always," went on
the woman, standing by the window, with
her rough arms crossed. 1.-THE mother
was likely woman--hut fne'
"How fne?' asked little Billy. sitting
up in bed and listening attentivelv.
ooh, they thought deal of themselves
for they'd come down in the world-the
Markers; but they were quiet folk, and
when they got poor and i'll we were all
sorry for them, and helped them on bit.
Good quiet creatures, but too fine for
Groves Alley"
"But Polly's not fine, said Billy, with
a sob in his voice.
''No, not fine, but too good for Groves
Alley, all the same-one of the kind that IS
above this earth by long way
''But she's been on the earth such lit
tie while," said Billy, earnestly: "they
wouldn't take her away yet. You've been
longer, mother, and doubt you're tired !:
but Polly'd never want to get to heaven
before me-"
''Good gracious me, child" said Mrs.
O'Flannighan, brusquely, land what's
wishing got to do with, it | wonder7
Polly Marker may be fit for heaven now,
or she may have as many years as I've
had to live out first; but, marx my words
Billy 0 Flannigban, that, with that cough
of hers, and her half starving herself for
the little childer, she'll be laid up before
the winters out"
Which remark of Mrs. O. Flannighan
was as true as prophecy for, when the
the cold winter sun rose next morning
over Crows Alley, it was Dick who was
creeping shivering about to build up the
little fire and make the tea, while Polly
lay white and sick upon the bed, witt,
her heavy eyes closed.
do you feel any better?" Dickie asked,
every two or three minutes; and Polly
tried to open her eyes and smile, but she
looked so white and still that Dickie grew
frightened presently, but more frighten-
ed when Polly sat up in bed, as she did
by-and-by, with rcd spot on each cheek
and began talking rapidly and moving
her hands about. Dickie and baby sat
staring at her, and some of the neighbors,
attracted by the noise, looked in and
gave her some water, and smoothed the
bed, and went away looking very grave;
but in the twilight Mrs. O. Flannighan
came home from her days work and
when she heard from Billy that Polly
was i'll, she went hurriedly up to the
chidrcn's garnet TO see what was the mat
ter. Dickie had made the tea, and was
pouring it out for baby and himself in
the tast-fading light OF the window: they
were sitting in shadow, and he was
talking softly to the baby as he handed
him his little mug; but bit of the blind
was drawn aside so that shaft of red
light lay across the uncomfortable bed
and Polly's feverish hands, that were
plucking at the coverlet. and across the
eager, restless face.
Mrs. O'Flannighan put up rough
hand for minute to her eyes, then,
without word, she went over to the bed
and sitting down, drew the uneasy
head on to her shoulder and let it rest
there; and poor Polly, seeing something
familiar in the face bending over her
cried out, "Why mother!' in a sudden
pleading way. With that her voice broke
into sobs. and she cried as she had never
had time to cry since her mother died.
"What has she had to eat to-day?" Mrs.
O'Flannighan asked of the children, who
had crept closer to her when Polly began
to cry.
''Why, nothing" said Dickie, "only
some cold tea. She wasn't hungry in the
morning, she said, and this afternoon
she's been qucer-kind of laughing and
crying, like-so we just played about,
baby and me, and didn't heed her."
"Poor little glrl!" Mrs. O'Flarn,ghan
said, softly; no wonder the fever got into
her head, with nothing 10 eat. Well, 90
down now, Dickie, and leave baby in my
room, and bring me- up Billys beef tea,
and then run round to DR.. Stanley, 5
Greenacre, and ask him to come down
tonight"
Dick, scared and Mortified at the idea
of doctor being needed for Polly, bur
ried off in the gathering darkness to DR..
Stanley's house he rang twice before the
bell was answered, and then the maid
just opened the door crack, and, to his
timid question, answered, mot ut home,"
and shut it again with bang; so Dickie,
miserable and shivering, sat down in the
light of the surgery lamps and cried
He fancied he had been sitting there
for hours, when carriage stopped quite
close to him, and gentleman jumped
out ana ran up the steps. Dick skunk
away and crouched up in corner, but
not before the gentleman had seen him,
and stopped to touch his shoulder.
''What is it, my boy?" he said; ssdo you
want to see DR.. Stanley?'
At the voice and touch, all Dicks
troubles broke loose and overwhelmed
him. "Oh yes, do he said, drying his
eyes; "and, please Sir, he's not at home
and Polly's raging in tever-and can't
put baby to bed, and Mrs. O'Flanni-
<.v,o l.