The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-03-25

| II ii tell you who does love children
though" suddenly exclaimed Janio
"and l love her too, and wish papa
would marry her. Miss Polly Pritchard.' "
What, that Miss Polly that has the
blue Maltese cat, and tho red cardinal
birdP" said Robbie. "Well, it amt q
bad idea. She gave mo some bread.
and-jam tho night got lost blackberry
ing on the hills, and told mo such nice
story about Fortunatus and his Purse
when was resting on her sofa"
"Yes, and what do you thinkP'
eagerly struck in jamie. She's dress
ing eighteen dolls, now. for tho poor
little orphan girls in the asylum, and
she has bought eleven jack-knives, be-
cause she says all children ought to have
n Christmas"
shes II trump!" declared Robbie,
pounding both hands down upon the
table. IL declare I've most a mind to
marry her myself! But look here.
jamie, amt you going TO help n fellow
with these long-division sums, before
papa calls us in to rccite?"
And then the noise of four talking to-
gcthcr drowned the sense of what they
said, and MIR. Mcllcn, smiling to him
self, pushed back his pen and sermon
paper.
Out of the mouths of babes and
sucklings,' he said mildly "Who
knows but that these little ones voices
have been sent TO guide my footsteps
nrightP ii was sweet and gracious
idea, that of preparing u Christmas for
the little homeless ones who have no
parents to take tender thought for them.
l think i will go out and quiet my
troubled mcditatOnS with II walk"
And his walk led him to the little red
farm house in whose wing Miss Polly
Prtchard sat diligently at work over
the eighteen dolls.
The parson was sensible straight
forward man. who comprchcndcd none
OF the sinuous wilcs of society. He
Knocked ut tho door and walked in
All looked cosy and comfortable there,
from the big gcranium in the window
and the Maltese cat on the rug, to the
shaded lamp and the work-bnskct be-
side the prim little spnstcr.
And Miss Polly herself, with her
thick brown hair coilcd in knot ut the
back of her head. and II faint carnation-
like bloom on her check, was not the
least attractive element OF the scene.
80 these are the dolls for the little
said the parson, looking kindly at the
maiden lady.
Yes" said Miss Polly. "But
don't know how YOU heard anything
about it, Mr.. Mcllcn. 1t was to be
profound secret"
IL will keep it, most profoundly"
said the parson.
You see blushingly explained Miss
Polly, IL am fond of children, and it's a
real pleasure to me to do anything for
the little things. I've often thought |
should like to adopt child"
Miss Polly" said the parson bluntly,
that is the very business l have come
to you about. What do you say to
adopting four?'
"Four?' repeated Miss Polly.
Yes" said the parson. Mine! And
their father thrown into the bargain.
What do YOU say, Miss Polly? viii you
marry mc?"
"I-Fm afraid am not good enough"
said Miss Polly, with y little gasp rs if
the tide of unexpected happiness was
surging up into her very throat.
III ever there was good Christian,
Polly, you arc one" said the parson.
"Or elso," putting his hand lightly
upon the tiny heap of dolls, "you never
would have taken all this trouble for
Christ's orphaned little ones. Only say
Yes, Polly. That is all want"
And Polly said Yes"
Mrs. Griobagc was quite incrcdulous
when she came home and heard the
news.
al thought it was to be Gcorgictta
Fullerton, sure enough" said she.
"But how ever came Mr.. Mcllen to
think of youp"
81 am sure don't know" said Miss
Polly with humility.
So. like the old-timc fairy stories, our
tale ends. "And they lived happily
ever after" For Mrs. Mcllcn was a
model stcpmother, and the four young
rebels Mt the parsonage loved her
heartily.
This was Miss Polly pritchard's last
Christmas in lovclcss solitude. For
when the pext Christmas came she was
tho happy little mistress of the parsonage