The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-10-15
Hoping for Nothing Again.

| should like to tell our young readers
a story which nv old grandmother told
me about old Polly Bosom, and little
Cynthia.
What old time names Yes; but then
they llveu long ago-so long ago that the
great cities of Boston, New York and
Philadelphia were small towns compared
to what they are now, as much smaller
as little girl is compared to grown
woman; for at that time they had no rail
roads, no omnibus lines, no gas lights
Well, could not tell you what they
had not; 1T would be shorter to tell you
what few conveniences they had, but even
that is not necessary to the interest of my
story.
Polly Bosom think her name must
have been Mary Baston, but as l never
saw it written, give it to you ust as it
was told to me-Polly Bosom was ped
dler woman, who used to go about with
basket on her arm selling pins, but
tons, thread, and such other trihes as you
generally see in peddler's stock. She
was about sixty years of age when she
undertook this employment, and she went
all about the country with her heavy
basket. She was often very tired, for
there were no means of public conveyance
then as there are now, as have Just told
you, and she often was obliged to walk
miles In her circuit from place to place.
Little Cynthias name may be an un-
usual one to you, but it was quite COM
mon name once, for great many little
girls we're called Cynthia at that early
period. She was one of the sweetest,
most kind-hearted little girls that you
ever saw; everybody loved her, you
couldn't help loving her, for she was her
self so loving.
That which is said of charity in Cor.
xiii 5, just applies to the traits of char
acter exhibited by this little girl" seek
eth not her own, is not easily provoked
thinketh no evil" Cinty, as the children
used to call her, never thought Of her
own pleasure, bat always that of others
She never could believe that any one
would wilfully do an unkind act or speak
an unkind word. She put the best con.
struction on what people did or said.
Oh, if all our little girls would try to
be like Cyuthia, what sunshine they
might bring into their homes. There
would be no selfshness or ouarreline
then.
One day Cynthia was sent by her
mother on an errand with a basket con-
tanning few things for one of their
neighbors. AS she closed the door she
placed the basket on the ground under
the old tree that shaded their house
while she arranged her cloak over her
head, for the wind was blowing her hair
about rather roughly, when her attention
was caught by seeing the old peddler
woman in the distance going into the
neighbor's house to which she herself
intended to CO.
Polly was not so far off but that
Cynthia could see how tired she was, and
how YEARLY she dragged her feet along.
Cynthia stood for some time watching
her, feeling great pity for one who was so
old, and who yet was obliged to walk so
far. Then she took up her own basket
and went on her errand.
Polly was seated on a chair in the
kitchen when Cynthia entered, and was
complaining of being short of breath, f"
and having "pains in her bones, and
rheumatic, "'and many other ailments
to which old people are liable.
The family all gathered about the
basket, and made various purchases, and
when the old woman was paid and had
packed up the remainder Of her stock,
Cynthia volunteered to relieve her by
carrying her basket an offer which the
old woman readily accepted.
On the way she told the child what
great distances she often had to walk,
and how feeble she was, and how hard it
was to be so alone in the world, for she