The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-10-15

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frequently bought articles from Polly's
need them, but only that she might
through such means help the old woman.
Now, when the little girl stood under
the tree watching the old peddler woman
In the distance, she had been planning
some relief, and that evening she pro-
posed it to her mother. 1t was this: she
thought that if, instead of returning all
the way back to town, and then walking
out again in the morning, Polly could
have bed at their house, she would be
saved a good many steps and much IA
tigue.
But Cynthia and her mother were poor
themselves. They lived in a small house,
and had scanty accommodations. Cynthia,
however, was wise as well as kind, and
having received her mother consent, she
made the following arrangements:
Their house contained small sitting
room, a kitchen. and bedroom which
Cynthia and her mother occupied togeth-
er. The upper floor was an open garrett,
that is, it was all in one, and was not
divided into rooms
Cynthia's plain was to put up bed
here where Polly Bosom could spend the
night when she wanted to go to the
neighboring town the following day.
They had no extra bed, but they had
brown linen sack which had once been
filled with straw for that purpose. This
Cynthia took to a rich farmer near, and
he filled it with straw for her again :;
with this the little girl made up bed on
a low bedstead in the garnet. The bed
stead had only three legs, but Cynthia
put wooden box in place of the broken
leg, and that answered all the purpose.
She placed barrel with board over
1t tor table beside the bed, and she
spread clean piece of muslin over it for
II table-cover. On this she placed a tin
candlestick, with tallow candle in it,
and mug, which she proposed to fill
with fresh water to drink
think had B. bles been as abundant
then as they are now, she would have
also placed Bible beside the candle
stick, but they had only one family Bible,
and that they needed for family use.
| need not tell you that Cynthia g
mother loved her Bible for it was the
reading OF this good book which had
taught them to be so kind and thought
full for others.
The following week, as Cynthia was
returning home from the little red school
house where the village children were
taught, she caught sight of Polly Bosom
in the distance, almost bent double by
the weight of the basket she carried. She
proposed to the children that they should
carry the basket for her. They did 80,
and placed it under the great tree beside
Cynthia's house, and then ran off to their
play while Polly went in to rest.
When the old woman saw the arrange
ments that the little girl had made for
her comfort she was greatly affected, for
she was quite unaccustomed to such
thoughtful kindness. 1t brought tears
to her eyes. After that, about once
month, Polly Bosom might have been
seen vending her way to Cynthia's
house, and spending the night in the
poor but clean bed which had been pro-
vided for her. She usually took break
fast there, and early the next day, after
making up her bed, she would start out
again on her journey. Cynthia and her
mother grew quite fond of their guest,
and she seemed to be greatly attached to
them
Once, when Cynthia was very i'll with
measles, the old woman stayed week,
and took care of the little girl. At an
other time, when Cynthias mother had
bad fever, Polly took entire charge OF
the case, although none of the neighbors
dared to come near the house for fear of
catching the fever.
Some time after this, Cynthias mother
died, and the good-hearted little girl had
to go away many miles to live with her
uncle. After this she never saw Polly
Bosom again.
Cynthia grew up to be good Christian
woman, beloved greatly by all who knew
her for as a woman she was Just as gen.
erous and helpful as she was when child.
She got married when she was twenty
years Of age, and came back to live in the
same house where she and her mother
had lived when she was a child. She
had to work very hard, for they were
poor, but she did not mind that, she
used to say, if her family only kept well.
One day, however, her husband fell
from load of hay, and injured his back
so that he could not work. Then Cynthia
felt as if her trouble was almost more
than she could bear but she trusted in
the Lord whether in Joy or sorrow, and
showed the same kind and thoughtful
spirit as she had done in more prosperous
days.
At this time most curious and unu-