The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-08-14
POLLY'S MULTIPLICATION.

| JeE place 10 DflQS up Kitten IN
Polly didn't like at all having to leave
kitty so long when she went to church
She could take kitty with her to play,
or she could come in to see her when
ever she liked She said nothing OF
this grievance, for she approved Of
| going to church, but she Thought about
it good deal.
One Sabbath near the end of the
month the little girl who sometimes
| had to be waited for was already in the
carriage when Mrs. Blatchley came Ia
the door.
''You in the back seat, PolIyP'' she
asked. Il thought you always liked
to ride in front. y
81 thought L wouldn't to-day,
mamma
Mrs. Blatchley put her foot on the
step of the carriage, but instead of
taking her place beside Poly, she
stopped in surprise. What is that
great bundle in your lap, childP'
Polly started, and looked down care
fully. That's muff," she said. 81
heard you say just now, mamma, it was
very winterish.1
''It's not cold enough for that. child.
And, besides, why didn't you ask Nora
to get your own little muff? What in
the world is that thing?"
''Why, it's grandmamma' muff. 1
saw you put it in a big box in the cedar
closet ever so long ago, and went and
got it this morning"
Mrs. Blatchley took her foot off the
carriage step, and turned round.
''NOran' she allied
But Nora had gone away, and Polly
cried pleadingly: 'sOh, no, no. mamma:
let me keep this; like it a great deal
BETTER
What is the matter, SanieP" said
her husband as Mrs. Blatchley hesitated.
THE child can leave it in the carriage
if you don't want her to take it into
church 1t is better not to wait now;
I'm afraid we shall be Late So Mrs
Blatchley got into the carriage.
Polly was very still during that drive.
She didn't twist herself about as usual
to try and see both sides of the road at
once. She did not even talk. Her
mamma smiled, and said the muff over
whelmed her
When they reached the church the
great bell in the steeple was giving out
its last peals Mrs. BlatchIev aliphted
hurriedly and walked in at the great
door. Mr.. Blatchley saw Polly de
murely following with her arms buried
in the big muff. He did not stop her,
What harm could her childish fancy do?
Besides, he was a man fond of Joke,
and he enjoyed his wife's unconscious
air as this droll little figure walked on
behind her. But the immense. old
fashioned muff was not the only reason
why people turned their heads and
smiled as she passed up the aisle.
There was something about the muff
even funnier than itself, for pushing
out at one end appeared little head of
fur with bright round eyes, eyes that
moved, as the children saw, and point.
ed, pink-lined ears that moved too, as
Polly's arm pressed hard against the
alert little nose.
The child S face was very red as she
slipped into her pew. MAY sit I'D in
the corner, mamma?'' she whispered.
Mrs. Biatchley's eyes, too, fell on this
head peeping out of the muff.
''Polly!" she whispered, so severely
that the child who was already a good
deal frightened, actually started But
her only answer was to seat herself as
quickly as possible, and so far as she
was able, stop up the ends of the muff
with her little hands. All was quiet
within, and soon she heard soft pur-
ring sound as she bent her head
Its all right, mamma" she whis-
peFSUs 4 IL answer Tor ler.
The lady said nothing. She had been
speaking to her husband, and Mr..
Blatchley's face had its broadest smile,
though as he saw Polly's eyes upon
him, he became suddenly grave.
When the congregation stood up to
sing, Mrs. Blatchley motioned to Polly
not to rise. But singing was the part of
the service Polly liked best of all and
She nd 7,oaraH orvo,. 49,.
mas shoulder, to look at the hymn.
Up jumped something else, too, in the
depths OF the muff and began to stir.
''Sh-sh-sh!" whispered Polly, sooth-
ingly.
All was still; and the child's sweet
little treble joined in the hymn.
One, two verses she sang, then, sud
denly sat down, for the motion within
the muff was becoming very decided
Before the congregation had finished
the third verse, the movement had be-
come commOtion, and the child with
a red and anxious face was trying to
check her prisoners attempts to escape.
The singing was over at last, and
there was pause in which the faintest
sound could be heard. 1t was then
that there CAME distinct angry new. |
Poor polly hid her face as much as
q
body near and far was frowning, and.
looking straight through the muT to /
the kitten that was so tired of her |
close quarters. She grasped the pris- |
oner still more firmly. The result /
was another louder new.
Her mother turned to her:
take that kitten away directly" /
she commanded. sternly land walk /
about outside until we come. -
At any time Polly would not have
liked to 60 down the long aisle during
service, but, now, when she had that
great muff she had begun to hate, the
kitten ms de of it, with first
her head and then her tail at its op-
poSite ends, and when all the people
were looking at her, it was dreadful.
But she got up. She could not hold
the ends of the muff quito so well
kitty took advantage of this
in moment, and was on the floor be-
side her little mistress. Mrs. Batch
ley stopped quietly; but kitty slipped
past her. The next moment Mr. |
made the same attempt and
succeeded in touching Etty's tail. as
she slipped along to the entrance of the
pew. Polly glided after. hoping to
clutch her favorife.
But kitty was n sprite sometimes.
When she didn't want to be caught no
body could catch her. All ready Tor a
frolic, she cooked her head and watched
tho child coming up to her. Polly
moved very cautio sly; she was deter
mined to get hold Of kitty. The little
creature stood still as if to let her do it,