Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-03
POLLY.


vacation with Aunt Mary in the country.
She wouldhave been "perfectly happy"
but that her father and mother were
obliged to remain in the city. It was
five weeks since she had seen them, and
it seemed to Polly like five months.
One lovely afternoon Polly sat on the
horse-b block Idly kicking one foot back
ward and forward, watching Aunt Mary
as she drove off on visit to a sick neigh
Dor. The birds were singing. bees were
humming, and the slender branches of
the great green willows that shaded the
road moved softly with every light 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 parents 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 it
was another wagon, driven by Mr.. Ward,
the grocer and postman of Willow Grove.
He checked his horse at the gate, and
began flmbling slowly in his coat pocket
for something.
After considerable searching, he drew
out a white envelope, and, turning it
first one way and then the other, shook
his head, and began feeling in his peck
cts again, brought forth his spectacles,
adjusted them carefully upon his nose,
and once more began examining the let
ter. At last he read in loud voice:
Miss Polly Gardner, in care of Mrs.
Mary West, Willow Grove. In haste. 80
Then he peeped over his glasses severe.
~ at Polly, and asked sharply, "Who's
Miss Polly Gardner? Do you know,
little girl?"
sob, that's me p cried Polly, jump.
ing from the horseback, "and Mrs
Mary West is aunty. Please give me
my letter. 1t is from mamma. am SC
gladw
Scan you read p asked Mr.. Ward, be
still holding the letter far above Polly:
reach.
eyes, Of course can," cried Polly
Indignantly. 81 am 8 years old mex
week."
"Well, we'll, Miss Polly Gardner
here's your letter. But if your ma
hadn't pat In haste on the outside {
it you would have had to come and fetc
ityourself," said Mr.. Ward, as he hand
ed the letter down to Polly.
"Thank you ever so much" sal
Polly, tearing her letter open nervously
After reading it once she said, "Oh!' j
a delighted voice.
"Nothing the matter" inquired Nj
Ward, who still sat looking at Polly.
''No; but mother and father al
coming, to-day, if this is the Oath
August" $40
eyes, it's the Oath of August. b
let's see your letter, and can tell 20
what they mean.''
Polly handed her letter back to M
Ward, who read it aloud slowly:
"DEAREsT Polly: Papa finds he can lea
his business for short time, SO we have CO.
cluded to spend the remainder of your vacatlt
with you and Aunt Mary. We. viii take Il
train that reaches Willow Grove at 4:9O p. N
on the 9th. Tell Aunt Mary to meet us if 81
has the time.
"Love to all, and thousand kisses from
MAMMA AND PAPA."
"Well," said Mr.. Ward, as he ga
Polly back her letter, "theyn be he
in about a half hour, for it's almost
now. 1 guess I'll be moving; it's tin
I was back to the store" So he chirpt
to his horse, and then turned the wage
and WAS soon out of sight.
As Aunt Mary would not return b
fore 5 o'clock, Polly determined to wa
down to the railroad station and me
her father and mother alone. She HI
often been there with Aunt Mary
watch the trains come and go. 1t "