The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-08-18
POLLY'S RELIGION

suniihtt nay ph'i ~
home. None Of the Family had ever seer
her. They knew she was one Of the Aus
truthers OF Kentucky.
There are Austruthers in the United
Presbyterian church." said Grace. u
hope Mary belongs to our membership
"Oh, yes, certainly said Joe, eagerly,
He was Just starting to be married and lac
was very anxious that they should all
love Polly infadvance.
Does She sing in the choir" asked
Isabella.
Il think not. But she has N of the
sweetest voice. low contralto. And
YOU ought to hear her laugh, Bella. The
merriest ring-oh, she'll bring new life
into this house."
The girls smiled. They were fond OF
Joe and ready TO welcome his wife.
But | hope she is ready TO take a lead
ing place in the church" said Grace, af-
ter he had zone. Joe will some day
fill fathers place, and his description OF
her does not give me the idea of an ener-
geticalIy religious woman
~WeIl hope for the best" said Isabella.
She was very busy making an imitation
stained glass window for the Sunday
school room and was anxious to finish it
before Mary arrived.
"Uncle Ben must be kept in his "
room when she comes, and Tom can be
sent to the country for a months visit"
Grace said, her delicate. check finishing
painfully.
For there were two skeletons in the
Demming household. The %squire's bro
Their Ben, who was aparalytic old soldier,
and a most c~ross7grained, profane old fell
low, occupied one wing of the mansion
He had a man 10 nurse and read to
him. for his oaths were intolerable TO his
nieces. Tom was their brother, younger
than Joe. Tom Demniing had disappear
ed for three years after he had left col
lege and came back a haggard, dissipated
loafer.
Nobody in Balls Ferry knew what he
had done in that gay time, but was Ger
tain that he was under the ban-a mark,
ed man. The family treated him with
gloomy patience. They had taken up
their cross and borne it, but it was heavy.
Tom was never seen by visitors at the
table or In the parlor. At dusk he would
skulk Out To join some Of his comrades at
the village grog shops and occasionally
but not often, was brought home brutally
intoxicated.
Joe's wife disappointed them all. She
was a plump, merry, little girl, nothing
more. a very pleasant little heatheni"
sighed Grace, after two days had passed.
81 named some Of the best books on
religious fiction, but she never heard of
our foreign missions"
Good Mrs. Demming was uneasy at
this and that very evening turned the
conversation on doctrinal subjects. Polly
grew red.
Il am afraid" She said, Il am not
clear in my ideas concerning these Diff
cult points. The truth is after mothers
death | had charge Of my four brothers,
and | had 50 little time"
"You will have more time now said
Isabella, Il will mark out a ours of
doctrinal reading for YOU"
But Mary made slow progress with her
course of reading. As time passed and
she settled down into her place in the
household she proved 10 be a very busy
little woman. She had a positive talent
for finding work took her part in the
family amending. tossed up dainty little
desserts and helped Joe with his cou
When Joe had gone 10 his office she took
tremendous walks, advised Mother Dem
ming about her family work, or copied
the Squire's papers for him.
What a clerky hand you write. " said
Grace, one day. 81 often wish mine were
not 80 delicate when father worries over
these papers. But AZ for mothers en-
broidery, women of her age ought TO give
up that useless work when their ewes are.
failing"
"lt dosen't seem useless to me-" said
Polly, gently. "She thinks YOU all value
it,
When can Mary go IN these inter-
minable walks?r said Isabella one morn
ing 10 her father. You should warn her
about Black Lane. She might wander
into il and bring home typhoid fever"
You ough; to report that lane as a
nuisance, father" said his wife. 1t is a
perpetual sink of filth and vice"
1t is a disgrace TO Balls Ferry that
such wretches can find harbor in it,"
added Isabella. They out to he driven
beyond the borough limits"
We'll, well my dear II doesn't do to
be too e~nergetic,p said the Squire. They
never had a chance"
He was reused however, TO mention
Black Lane at a meeting of the town bur-
gesses that day.
something ought TO be done or we
will have typhus among MS he said.
Something has been DONE said
Judge Paule. u came through the lane
this morning and hardly Knew IL. There
has been general draining and cleaning,
tie cabins are. whiie-washed. the women
some of them-had actually washed
their fences"
What has happened ~ asked the
Squire.
" heard the sound of children's voices
singing in Of the cabins and the men
told me it was Miss Mary's class Some
good woman has been at work, / sus-
pect-"
Miss May?"-the 'Squire's face grew
red, his eyes fiushed. but he said nothing
more.
Going home he ma Polly coming to
meet him. he locked AZ her with the
eye of a judge. "Ar .ou the good sam
aritang Have you been IN Black lane, my
DEAR"
She blushed, laughed and saanspaered.
oh, that was the most natural thing
in the world. father. You know | was
brought up among oolored people, | know
how TO manage them. Ii was only a
ditch out here and there. a few panes of
glass and bushels of liine. They sregood.
affectionate creatures, and 80 anxious 10
learn"
The matter Was driven ont of the