Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-12-07
OLD JOE POLLARD.
BY MRS, DENISON,

Ais COdt WaS iesaSI, AAS OOoto "cEc
sramed and gray, his hat greasy and
quaint patterned.
Only three years ago, and no more
stately, vigorous, hale gentleman walk
ed the streets tn an Joseph Pollard, Esq !;
now he was cold joe" and sometimes
"poor old 10 ~
Wien be failed he was living in great
splendor. People to this day point out
the Pollard Mansion, and tell you Of it's
former greatness. Happily, there was
no dishonor attached to his name He
had given up all; home, horses, carriage
everything that could be dispensed
with
His only daughter-her name was Jo-
sephine, but all her friends called her
Jeddy-gave birthday party only a
week before the trouble zane, on her
eighteenth birthnight.
Never happier or lovilier girl than
she. Univ-r saIly admired aud respect
ed, bright as sunbeam, witty. merry,
generous.
In all that throng Of beauty, amid the
flowers and the Teasing, that man would
have been bold indeed who could have
presaged coming III fortune.
Only one week later, and the dread
full news came. Joseph Pollard ws&s
bankrupt. The cashier had been dis
honest, several large firms had gone
down, and the run ON the BANK bad
cOmpleteu the ruin.
The father found place as an assist
ant book keeper, but he had formed the
habit o. drinking at his OWN table. Little
bv little he sank at last into w nat seemed
an utterly hopeless state, lost his busl-
ness, his pride, and almost his wits.
"My DEAR" wrote Aunt prue, when she
heard OF tits misfortune, put your tath-
u away. There are plenty t. places;
a..L come and live with me. Enough for
one is enough for two"
"Aunt Prue'' wrote Jejdy, indignant
ly, I'll I'm asia ned Of you. What! coun-
sci MT TO PUT my own dear father n the
poor house, tor that other place is open
to ham? NJ: will share his misftr.
tunes if l have to work nay fingers to
the bone"
"Jeddy, I'm useless. I'm broken
down and good for nothing" wnined
p,or Joe, day after day, as Jeudy sat
and stitched her lie into the w rk she
had undertaken.
"Fatner,you are only fiftv-eight years
DID," WAS the answer. "Manv Il man has
begun life anew at your age"
"Ah! if only couiu!' he would make
reply, and drink again to drown his
ni~ery.
j. dily had carried much of her fine
~ardrone with her into the poverty OF
surroundings. 0 course she had made
,,}t n. 81 ,,1f
the ,ook 0 tue lady," as one of the
coarser neighbofs SAID, was upon her,
'tnA couldn't be- mi>took."
Every body pitied her when old Joe
came rec ing home; but few saw or k ,ew
how patiently She put up with his in
fir nifty, how she SCOT Led and cOaxed
,,im, with what tenderness she antici pa
ted his wants, and even when it would
seem that he WAS Scarcely entitled to her
respect, hunoreu HIM.
10 her, under all his wretched dis
guise, lie WIS still her .ather.
But tier cunSJ INT duties wore heavily
upon her. Sac "eW pale aud thln.tnen
feverisii and hectic; but still she worked
On.
Three times handsome carriage and
pair were seen before the door OF her
plain little home.
The first time, rich aunt came 10 r..
monstrate with her and otter her home.
She 'Ound her pre- parlnsner Door meal
uye r the tiny cook-stoVe.
"Jeduy, you are the best girl IN the
world, but you must W back W,th me, if
only for while, and leave that man to
tssEecare Ut himself"
Inv was after a most afectionate
greeting. for Jeddy was her ravori,e
.liece.
81 couldn't leave father" was the re.
Spouse.
"But I can't see you killing yourself
by inches. What does he care? One
person ls rs good ~ another 10 one VIII,
has lost all the finer sensiUilitics AS he
has"
"Oh no; at TIRES father is the old eli
-even--even at the worst" She f;aIlet. u
HE don't forget that he is O. gentleman.
He never Was unkind to me-"
"FIdllesticks! Your ideas of duty
are exaggerated. Come, now--,ion't
lisappoint me--take g. lite rest. /
have come all the Way from LON
purpose to cary you back, aud tue last
words your Cousin Kitty said, as / left
her, .were,-
Mother, don't ail to bring Jeddy
back; / Want t. see her"
Tears CT ne to Jeddy's brown eyes,
but She rriterated,~-
Il Cannot leave ftther''
"And here you are losing all your
BEAUTY al your advantages and even
your health-l can See it'll For your
attltr's sake, you ought TO 60: 1t would
IN Ike a new creature OF you to see old
81 .hts. and old tuces, and to 1--we willie
IKE Christian. Why, child, the walls
are damp; how DO y,,u live?"
1t isn't living, aunt. It's only STAY
no, said Jeddy, trying bravely to smile:
'put that can't help, willie fAiherllv 8.
there's nobu,lv IN all this wide world to
care for no but him. | know might
tive III ease and comfort if / went with
you, aud OH, SOMETIMES my heart does
long 50 for little OF the ol.l-tine Joy 1t
would be like looktngintq Paradise-but
II can't leave father"
q There sounded q heavy sigh Both
women turned round tn sea the old,
garnb man in the doorway, the tears
streaming down his cheeks as he held
forth his trembling hands rs Ii III bene
dictiot,. d l.. ~ nj. IL IT,; X Z
Go, Jeddy,, go, angel!-don't stay
for3me-I'm not worth Your care" he
said pitifully.< 2*.. hi. X Il s@,75. = ! ~ f..
But Teddy thought otherwise. Long
after the splen1d carnage mad gone,
she sat there holding tho gray head
against her shoulder, soothing and pet
ting him and lending willing ear 70 his
prom SEES of amendment. @s.s e. 3gg. u \.
The second car fiaye brnughta stylish
Young gentleman. Wit. W hon, her trends
had often coupled ner name He came
Witiian offer of marriage, but Jutl,iy
gave hun he same soft bnt dete fanine,i
answer. could n tal cave. Ia tier, an.i
he. too, went way u is,.o e. J 5.ss
The third carriage o iii lai,ied one who
had alWay s been d frisnti !, also young
gentleman, who lad lately reinrneui
from q foreign ton 1. s.s
He asked no question and expressed