Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-01-15

whom she had bequeathed all her pos
sessions, and in this instance made her
executress.
Miss Watkins announced, briefly, that
according to her late dear friends re-
quest, she now forwarded to Mrs. Dalton,
as tokens Of remembrance, the family
Bible and record, and also the late Ia
mented lady's favorite pet, Polly, in
whom the young ladies had, taken such
an interest when they last year went on
visit to Greenfield. Miss Lydia had said
with almost her dying breath that it was
consolation to her to know that the
bird could not be in better and kinder
hands.
Mrs. Dalton looked indignant.
1T is almost an insult to me. In fact,
! don't half believe the story. 1t is only
a trick Of that woman to rid herself Of
the trouble and expense of keeping the
bird. I've great mind to tell her SO
and to send the creature back
mo, pray, don't, mammal' pleaded
Carrie, gazing pityingly at the forlorn-
looking bird, which shrank, ruffied and
dropping, in corner of its cage. ssPoor
thing she looks as though she knew she
had lost her best friend, and no doubt
she misses her; and am sure Miss Wat
kins would poison her if she were sent
back-for remember she hated the poor
thing, though she did not dare to let
Cousin Lydia see it. Poor Pollyl don't
be afraid We will be friends, Polly,
and I will feed you and take care of you
as long as you livel''
Polly looked sideways at her new mis-
tress, and uttered doubtful croak.
''she is hungry, poor thingr' said
Laura, always more practical than her
tender-hearted and impulsive sister; and
she prepared some bread -crusts and milk,
which Polly partook Of with avidity, and
then made an effort to be agreeable.
'.All right How do you do, Charlie,
Charlie2 How do you do, Charlieg So
glad to see you, Charlie! Charlie over
the waterl Charles come home Hur-
rah -
And with another dismal croak-no
doubt intended for joyous shout-she
slowly crawled to her perch, scratched
her head, shook her plumage, and settled
herself as for a long rest after her tire
some journey.
1T will be dreadfully expensive keep
ing her. said Mrs. Dalton, still unrecon-
ciled to receiving this new acquisition to
her family; 1;and she will worry US to
death with her noise
But Polly proved to be not noisy
bird. Her late mistress had been an in
valid-one to whom quiet was necessity,
and Polly had been educated to a staid
and sober demeanor, and subdued ex-
preston of her feelings.
She was conscientious bird, and
whenever she allowed her nature to be-
tray her into shrill screech, she would
immediately correct herself BY saying:
''Hush, Pollyl Don't make noise, \
and then give utterance to little, re-
pressed chuckles and hoarse whispers and
cacklings, very amusing to hear, and
which were-ss Mrs. Dalton remarked
palpable imitation of Miss Watkins.
The only occasions on which she gave
unrestrained expression to her conduct
and speech were when she would call to
Charlie, futtering about the cage, walk
ing sideways, and hanging upside down,
'sas if" remarked Laura, she literally
did not know whether she was on her
head or on her feet And then she
would screech welcome to Charlie, ard
tell him how glad she was to see him,
until cloth thrown over the cage would
silence her into quarrelsome remon-
strances and sarcastic chucklings.
Thus the winter passed with the little
family on the first floor front of No. II
Warren street.
BY constant employment Laura, in
teaching class Of small children, and
Carrie in painting fans and silk dresses
they had obtained enough to enable
them to pay their rent and supply them
selves with food, but not to lay aside
anything; and now, when the spring
came, bright and joyous. it brought but
little JOY to the Daltons.
Mrs. Dalton's health and spirits suf-
fered and she declared that ehe needed
change: but Carries work had failed,
and Laura's little school was soon to
break up for the summer. What were
they to do2
Mr.. Turner says, mamma, that there
will be no more work for me until next
season, if then. Hand painted fans and
dresses are not 50 popular as they have
been. People are getting tired Of them, =
said Carrie, despondently, when, one
evening, she had returned from deliver
ing her last piece Of work at the store Of
her employer.
II am sure ! don't know what is to be-
come Of us, said Mrs. Dalton, complain
ingly. If my health were better, there
is nothing that would not be willing to
undertake for the support Of myself and
children; but, oh, my poor nerves and my
poor head Carrie, dear, do stop that
dreadful noise-it distracts me-
The noise proceed from Polly's cage,
which Carrie had, CONSIDERABLY for her
protege, hung outside the window in the
bright April sunshine. The change had