Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-09-30
NO. 231.
Gales ano Skettbes.
OR POLLY.
CHAPTER |.

tonight, Polly, SO il is no use begging 10
sit up. He'll be at your home the first
thing tomorrow morning, know"
So spoke Aunt Jane as she stood by the
kitchen table with tucked up sleeves,
large apron and tloury hands, busy in the
making of good things tor the Thanks
giving dinner party which was to come
off tomorrow under grandpa's hospitable
roof.
Polly, aged seven. looked sadly disap-
pointed, and fingered moment with her
scarlet hood in her hand. but she was a
docile soul in whom opposition never last
ed long, SO she presently kissed everybody
goodbye and started off ON her way
home.
George Raymond was Grandpa Smiths
orphan ward, and he had been at board
ing school this autumn for the fist
time.
Polly who lived only half quarter of Il
mile from grandpa's and divided her time
pretty equally between the two houses,
could hardly be consoled for the loss of
her only playmate whom she idolized with
a strong affection very unusual in child.
and her great comfort had been the hope
of Georges return at Thanksgiving
And now it seemed very hard that the
others should all welcome him first while
she had to go home and early to bed Just
as if nobody were coming. She wished
she were grown up, for grown up people
could always do as they chose.
Grandma, sitting by the window.
watched the little figure till it was out of
sight just above the old barn and then she
said fondly:
Dear little soul how she does love
George TO be sure. and what tender
hearted little thing she is. After all.
Jane. think you might have sent Jacob
down to tell Lucy we would keep her all
night. She would have enjoyed it So"
| .'Yes mother" said sensible Aunt Jane,
II dare say. and how do you think she
would have felt tomorrow? No, let
children keep regular hours. l don't be-
lieve in keeping them out of their beds
whenever anything unusual happens"
Grandma said no more, but wished in
her soft heart that she could have had lit
tie Polly there that evening.
Darkness came early and with il snow.
and the wind. which had been blowing all
day, increased TO a fierce gale which tore
round the snug farmhouse, moaning and
shrieking and rattling at the doors and
windows like some wild hunted creature
crying TO be let ia.
All was ready for the travellers, George
was not the only expected guesD and q
good hot supper and blazing fires were TO
make amends for the cold drive to the
| station.
IL wish it did not blow so hard.n said
grandma. as Aunt Jane came into the sit
ting-room after one of her tours of inspec-
lion, Il can't bear to hear it moaning so.
1t always makes me think of some child
being out in the storm"
The clock struck nine as she spoke, and
Just then there was tramping of feet in
the snow, and presently the door opened
and in came Polly's father, Henry Smith.
"Why, the lands saken' exclaimed
Aunt Jane at anything the matter
your house, Henry. What an awful night
it isr'
mo, nothing the matter" said he, ad-
vancing to the fire, "but | tell Lucy
/ storm makes her nervous. and nothing
would do but should come up here before
| went to bed and ask you why you keep
Polly. Lucy said of course she knew the
little thing was all right, but she couldn't
sleep with such "a gale screaming round
the house till had been up to take look
at her.
Grandpa dropped his newspaper, grand
ma and Aunt Jane grew white 10 the very
lips, and Aunt James voice had tone of
absolute agony in it as she almost
shrieked ''lf she's lost, it is my fault.
Mother wanted to keep her to see George,
but thought it was too late tor her to sit
up and she went home about five
O'clock
Coniectures and consultations followed
fast, and grandpa presently went out to
tell Jacob to saddle Cob and Twilight and
the chestnut mare. Grandma's cOmpos-
ure had come back to her after the first
shock and she was full of encouragement
for the poor father. Now said she, as
Jacob came IN to say the horses were
ready. There's no use in frightening
Lucy out OF her senses. Take my advice
Henry. and don't let your wife know any
thing of this till we get the darling back
again all safe and sound Lucy'll think
of course, that you waited here to see the
folks
All saw the good sense of this, and Aunt
Jane went into the kitchen just in time to
stop Keziah who, faithful, indscreet body,
was hooded and cloaked for walk
through the storm to tell the news to Mis-
Henry Grandpa Smith, Lisson, and
Jacob Bright set of in different directions
to inquire Of the neighbors if anything had
been seen Of the missing one, and as they
started grandpa said in a low voice to
Jacob, 1--WE must try the brook when
we come back if we hear nothing from the
neigbors.'
| When they were off, Aunt Jane, usually
so sensible and self-controlled, knelt at
grandma knee chow many tears had
been shed there) and reproached herself
bitterly for sending Polly home. Her
mother softly stroked her hair as she had
done many time when Jane knelt there
with her childish troubles, and assured
her that she had done the right thing at
the time.
don't take on SO, DEAR said the gen.
tie voice. ''We can none of us see into
the future. We can only do what seems
best as far as we know, and who was TO
think that the child wouldn't 60 straight
home to-day"
"Oh! mother. mother, can see her
wistful little face as she stood by the
table with her hood in her hand. Dear