Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-01-17
POlly's Lesson.

Polly was up in the back chamber, on the
floor by the window, sewing on bit Of
pink and white cambria that she had coaxed
from Miss Waite, the dress-maker, who was
at work for mamma. Sophronisba Florence
Matilda was soon to be married; conse-
quently Polly was very busy. But, busy as
she was, she stopped the instant she heard
the stairway door open, almost holding her
breath. "Polly," called mamma. Polly
never SO much as winked. Polly" said
mamma again, more distinctly. Polly might
have been stone statue, for any sign of
life she manifested. Mamma sighed, and
came up one or two stairs. Polly sprang up
and came to the head of the stairs.
"Did you call me, mamma ?" she asked
very innoc emily.
al want you to come down stairs and
wipe the dishes now" Polly's sweet rosy
face suddenly became very cloudy.
"I'll have to go to school pretty soon,"
she said.
"You'll have plenty OF time to wipe the
dishes first" said mamma.
"But Pm tired; it isn't very kind in you
to make nae work when Pm tired Pm sure
Mrs. Muggins does not make her little girls. "
Mrs. Muggins, whom Polly quoted on all
possible occasions was supposedly myth
cal character and she was never known to
entertain an opinion contrary to those held
by that young lady herself.
"Mary," said her mother, 81 wish you
to come right down." Polly obeyed with
out further remarks; when mamma said
Mary in that particular tone of voice,
Polly always thought it best to obey But
it was very evident that her service was not
very willing one, for the corners of her
pretty little mouth were drawn down in a
very disagreeable manner, and she set the
dishes down as though she had spite
against each individual one. Mamma,
however, was utterly oblivious to it all.
Her very indifference alarmed Polly, for
mamma did do such funny things some.
times. So she set the dishes down little
more carefully; and as nothing was said,
she went off to school in hopes that her be-
havior was not noticed. She had forgot
ten all about it when she came home at
night, and went rushing up stairs into her
mothers room in her usual fashion.
ooh say !" she exclaimed, almost out of
breath, "Mamie Smiths grandmother is
awful sick, so her papa and mamma have
both gone up there, and mayn't ask Mamie
to stay here while they're gone ?" Mamma
looked up from the book she was reading.
"Won't it do Just as well another time
want TO finish my book now" Polly looked
at her mother in speechless establishment.
To be sure that was what she always said
if mamma asked her to do anything when
she was reading but for mamma to say il
was another thing entirely.
"No, it won't do SO well another time,
| for NAMES folks will be home, and she
won't be so lonesome" Mamma put her
book on the table, very much as Polly often
tossed hers down when she was vexed, say
ing in very aggiieved tone " l suppose
can have her come, but don't think Mrs.
Muggins' little girl would ask her to stop
right in the middle of her book" You
should have seen Polly's face just then
Mamma made an errand into the other room
lest she should laugh outright.
"What is the matter with your mother
Polly ?" asked Mamie that night after they
had gone to bed. 81 like to come here
better'n anywhere else, cause she plays
with us so nice but tonight she was rea
funny,-I mean sober, you know"
"Maybe she had headache" suggested
Polly family, wondering to herself if that
was a very bad story; for she had not the
least idea that mamma's long face and air Of
injured dignity resulted from headache
81 didn't say for sure,-only maybe" she
whispered to her conscience.
"Mamma," said Polly at the breakfast
table next morning, "wont you sew the
strings to my white apron | want to veal
it to school, and it is torn"
"Oh, dearl" exclaimed mamma, "you
are always wanting me to do something fol
you. Mrs. Muggins' little girl does moi
trouble her So" Polly tried to hide hel
face in her coffee-cup, What should she
doH II was getting to be perfectly dread
full. Would mamma neUer stop, unless
and here Polly grew red in the face again
unless she confessed and made upP 81
won't ask her to do anything" was hel
mental conclusion, "and then she WON
have a chance to say anything about that
horrid Mrs Muggins." For whole half
hour Polly kept to her resolution heroically
though she thought of ever so many thing
she wanted OF mamma even in that short
space of time. Then she forgot all about
it, and came rushing in in her usual way t.
the sittingroom where mamma was com
fortably seated in the easy-chair looking
over her morning paper.
80 mamma, the girls are going out int
the woods for wild flowers Miss Day i.
sick, so there isn't any school, and won
you make some cream cakes for Mamie anc
me TO take 7"
81 am dreadfully tired" said mamma
fretfully, "Aud | know Mrs. Muggins
little girl -"
"Oh, Mamma Woodward, don't-don't-
just hale Mrs. Muggins and Mr. Muggins