Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-05-27
THE DRAW BRIDGE.


vacation with Aunt Mary in the country.
She would have been perfectly happy"
but her father and mother were obliged
TO remain in the city. 1t was five weeks
sihce she had seen them, and it seemed
to Polly like five months.
One lovely afternoon Polly sat on the
horseback idly kicking one foot back
ward and forward, watching Aunt Mary
as she drove off on avisit to sick neigh
Dor. The birds were singing, bees were
humming, and the slender branches of
the great gray green willows that
Swallowed the road moved softly with
every puff of wind. Away off in the
field, over the hills, Polly could hear the
ring of the mowers scythes. Everything
was so pleasant and peaceful that she
wished her par ents were there to enjoy
it with her.
just as Aunt Mary was hidden from
sight by bend in the road, she heard
the crunching of wheels in the opposite
direction, and, on looking up, found that
At was another wagon driven by Mr..
Ward, the grocer and pOstman of Willow
Grove. He checked his horse at the gate,
and began fumbling slowly in his
coat pocket for something.
After considerable searching he Dire W
out white envelope, and then turning
first one way and then another, shook
his head, and began feeling in his pockets
again, brought forth his spectacles, ad-
justed them carefully on his nose, and
once more began examining the letter.
At last he read in loud voice:
miss Polly Gardner, in care of Mrs.
Mary West, Willow Grove. In haste"
Then he peeped over his glasses severely
at Polly, and asked sharply, "WhO's Miss
Polly Gardner? Do you know, little
girl"
'Oh. that's mew cried Polly, jumping
from the horse block, land Mrs. Mary
West is Aunty. Please give me my let
ter. 1t Is from mamma. | am glad|
Gan you readY" asked Mr.. Ward, still
holding the letter far above POlly's
reach.
"Yes, of course 1 can" cried Polly in
dignantly. II am nine years old next
week."
swell, we'll, Miss Polly Gardner, here's
your letter. But IL your ma hadn't put
''in haste" on the outside of it you would
have had to come and fetch it yourself"
said Mr.. Ward, as he handed the letter
down to Polly.
'"Thank you ever so much" said Polly
tearing the letter open nervOusly. After
reading it once, she said, "Ohv in de-
lighted voice.
"Nothing the matter?' inquired Mr..
Ward, who still sat looking at Polly.
a"NO; but father and mother are COM
ing to-day, if this is the oath Of August"
Eyes, it's the oath of August. But let's
see your letter, and l can tell you what
they mean."
Polly handed her letter back to Mr..
Ward, who read it aloud and slowly:
DEAREST POLLY.-Papa finds that he
can leave his business for a short time,
80 we have concluded to spend the re-
mainder of your vacation with you and
Aunt Mary. We will take the train that
reaches Willow Grove at 4:30 p. m. on
the Gath. Tell Aunt Mary to meet us,
if she has the time.
Love to all, and thousand kisses
from MAMMA AND PAPA"
'Well," said Mr.. Ward, as he gave Pol
ly back her letter, they'll be here in
half an hour, for its almost four now. /
guess I'll be moving; it's time / was
back to the store" So he chirped to his
horse, and he turned the wagon, and was
soon out sight.
As Aunt Mary would not return before
five O'clock, Polly determined to walk
down to the railroad station, and meet her
father and mother alone. She had often
been there with aunt Mary to watch the
train come and 90. 1t was small sta
ton and very few people stopped there.
Just before reaching the station the
railroad crossed draw bridge. Polly
liked to watched the boats in the river
pass through. There was q foot path
over this bridge, and she had once crossed
with Aunt Mary, They had stopped to
speak with the fiag-man, who was pleas
ant and good natured. He told Polly
where she could find some beautifulwhite
lilies in pond not far away. That was
more than a week ago, and the flowers
were not then open, and now as Polly
ran down the road, she thought she
would have time to gather some for heI
parents before the train arrived.
When Polly reached the station she
found no one there, and on looking al
the clock, saw that it was only ten min
utes past fOur,sO she had twenty minutes
to wait. Then she ran on quickly.
The fagman stood by the draw, ant
small vessel coming toward the bridge
She ran along rapidly, and as she passed
the flagman he called out:
''GOing for the pond lilies? The pOnt
was all white with them when / passed
this morning."
Eyes, sir;I want to pick some fol
mamma and papa. They wrote me {
letter, and they said they were comm,
on this next train"
"YOu don't say so! Well, guess your,
glad. Look out for the locomotive ant
don't take too long picking your flowers
and you'll have plenty of time to ge
back before the train comes in"
Polly thanked him and ran on. II