The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-12-05
"Polly hasn't nothing to saw ah,11ti

Iolly IstsH GAoUllllS 10 say about II" Z
objected Hannah, !" Me and Hiram runs
this concern"
"Then she's the first woman that
hasn't nothingJto say. Speak up, Polly
commanded Farmer Thornley,. Don't
never leave asentenee to loose ends"
Il was going to say that four makes a
cozy family
@Two's Company, and three'sa crowd,
eh, Po1lyY said Thornley,, with laugh.
And Baker stayed.
"sWhH makes the lamb love Mary
so?n'hs quoted, as they wendell home
ward Polly's little eve lamb frisking
befoy them, having joined them in the
pastries. ~ 1.
"Nhy, you know explained Polly,
che mother disowned her, and she was
left shivering and hungry out in the
cod. And I brought her in and warmed
her before the kitchen fire, and fed hper
with warm milk, till she grew aad
tlrove."
"And Thornley, gave her to you?Y ),
mo; but he said, Seems as though
she belongs to Polly But Miss Han
nah didn't like it. Then I s'poSe the
dishes belong to Polly, 'cau,e- she
washes 'em and the rooms, 'cadse she
sweeps 'em, and the beds she makes?
she said. isn't Polly paid Der lawful
wages for doing whatever Ter hands
find to do, be it to oosset lambs or cook
the victuals ,"
Have you always lived here, Miss
Polly?" asked Baxter.
Il have always lived in this house,
but not always as a servant, Mr. Baxter.
This was the old parsonage; my uncle
lived here, with little orno salary. He
didn't care for that; he came here to do
good, to show the people the road to
heaven-there was no church, then, for
miles around-and he had money of his
own. My mother and came with him,
and, after she died, we two lived on
here together, and he taught me all [
know-it isn't much. But, when [ was
Is, he came home one day from the
city, where he had gone on business,
and told me that some wicked people
had ruined him, that his good work was
ended; and he threw his head back, sit
ting in his armchair, and gasped once
or twice, and L was all alone-quite,
quite alone. After that people came
and looked at the place, and the Thorn
leys among them; and [ was little
moping beggar, not knowing which way
to turn, and the Thornleys offered to
keep me for maid-of-all-work for food
and clothing. There was nothing else
for me to do, and the neighbors all said
it was providence; but since then |
have struck for higher wages, and now
have day dreams; when [ get enough
money I mean to go away to school,
even if I'm old as the hills, and then,
maybe, [ can do something nicer than
to churn and cook for my daily bread"
C And you have saved something's"
"a hundred dollars already"
Baxter smiled. "And when do you
expect to have enough to set out and
seek your fortune?"
"Do you think it will take very long?"
'he asked, anxiously. Shall [ be too
old?"
I should think not" he returned, still
smiling to himself.
This was not the first walk Baxter and
Polly had taken together, neither was
his the last confidence reposed in each
)ther
You two do seem to have an eve1-
asting lot of talk together" commented
Hannah, "and Polly amt no talker
and, what's queer, you always
ONE to full stop when body catches
Up to you" She had just overtaken
hem on the highway, as it happened,
hough usually Miss Hannah's Interrupt
ions were not owing to chance. No
ooner did she see them strolling off to-
;ether after work was over than she
Tipped out the sink-room door with I'M
lignified haste, took a shortcut through
he woods, and joined them as if she
we're returning from neighbor's.
"You oughter not take to tramping
ound the country so much with Bax-
en-" she advised Polly on one occasion;
folks will begin to talk about YOU"
Talk about me? What can they
'ay?" asked Polly.
"They'n say Baxter's making a fool
If you-and they won't be far wrong"
"Why should he wish to make fool
If me?" persisted Polly, the tears gath
9ring in her eyes. "Why should he
AXE the trouble?"
" It amt no trouble-it's amusing.
You're an easy victim, I reckon"
After that Polly made an excuse when
Baxter asked leave to go with her on an
GRAND, or begged her to step outside on
fine twilights and listen to the whip-poor-
wills; she had always stint to finish,
the bread to mix, the milk to set, or
some homely duty to detain her. An
older woman than Polly would have
seen that Miss Hannah herself had set
her heart upon Baxter, followed him
about like shadow, courted him with
sweetmeats, and fattered him within an
inch of his life. "Baxter's that cute
about place, it's pity he wasn't born
twins" she used to declare.
Though he's a tramp" Thornley,
would add.