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

1t was She week before Christmas, and
Miss Polly Prtchard sat alone in her
little room. diligently ut work.
SO far it had been hard winter, with
the ground all iron-bound with cruel
frost; the river clad in stccly links OF
Ice, the sky full of snow, and wind, and
tempest. But Miss Polly was very COM
Portable In the littlo red farm house, of
. which she occupied one wing, the other
being rented out to Farmer Gribbago
and his wife.
There was always n cheerful fire of
logs blazing on tho open hearth, always
plant at the window, and cat purring q
on the rug.
ITO be sure, it's rather lonely" said
the little old maid to herself, "noycr to
have soul to speak to. But it is what
ono must expect when one outliye's
ones family and friends!"
SO she sat here on this grey winters
afternoon, singing some half-forgotten
song. and plying her busy needle, when
Mrs. Gribbagc, the farmers wife, came
Dolls, l declared she exclaimed,
looking at tho boxes on the table; and,
as her quick eye fell on the work in Miss
Polly's hand, she added: "And, rs true
as live, you're a-drcssin' en-"
.'fcs," said Miss Polly, coloring q
soft autumnal pink.
For tho toy-shop?" said inqusitive
Mrs. Gribbagc.
"Wcll-no!' acknowledged Miss Pol
ly. They are for the little girls in the
orphan asylum. They don't have any,
one to think of their Christmas, you
know"
"Wcll, l dcclarc!' reiterated Mrs.
Gribbagc. "Why. there's eighteen Of
'em. You don't mean to say that you re
dressing eighteen dollsP"
Yes" said Miss Polly in dcprccating
tones.
"Humph! Well, just camo in to tell
you that I'm going,up to Miss Gcorgietta
FullcrtOn's to tea"
Are you?" said Miss Polly.
Mrs. Gribbagc nodded complacently.
Didn't they ask youp" said She
Miss Polly shook her head.
well. it's your own fault" said Mrs.
GrlbbaSe, not without asperity. Look
at that old faded turned dress of yours.
Miss Gcorgietta Fullerton is very partcu-
lar about her dress. And now that she
Is engaged to be married to the
minister"
Miss Polly gave the least perccptible
StNit ~ taSSc NOItS, tllt uSkcu.
"Is she engaged to be married to
him?"
$50 folks say" complaccntly an
swcred Mrs. Gribbaec. And don't
suppose he could have made better
match. Miss Fullerton is an excellent
housckccpcr, and has got u little money
of her own. And it is high time there
was someone ut the parsonage to keep
those four noisy children in order"
And Mrs. Gribbage sailed away in
her rustlng silk gown and red plumcd
hat, leaving Miss Polly alone with her
dolls.
The parSon sat alone. also. that grey
threatening December afternoon, in his
little study, with II heap OF scrmon-paper
in front Of him.
He had sat down to write his Christmas
sermon; but, somehow. tho ideas refused
to come
There was general aspect OF fororn-
rnss about the room. which the poor
n. n realized, but could not explain.
It's all very uncomfortable, said Mr..
Mellcn to himself, biting thoughtfully
Mt the feather end of his quill-pcn.
"And, somehow, / always feel 1t more
at Christmas time than at any other.
Hear those children scream! One
would think they might play without
making quito so much noise. But they
are not managed ns they wcrc when
poor Isabel was alive Isupposc am not
good discipllnarian, or perhaps
should have them in better training.
Really, j don't know but that tho good
ladies in my congregation arc right, and
that, | ought to"
"Get married again!" Robbie Mellen's
shrill little voice uttered, just at this
moment. "Oh, l like that! That's q
oretty note! Our father get married
again! Nonsense, Bell; someone has
been examining your
"But it's true" rctorted little Bell,
full Of indignation, "and you needn't
laugh. heard old Miss Grampus say
80 to Miss Collyer, last week, when they
all thought was asleep on tho bed. at
Sewing Society papa was going to
marry again.
"Who was itp' breathlessly demand
ed jamie, II tall girl of eleven. THE
lady, mean?H
''They didn't say" Bell answered
"Miss George Fullerton, I betr
shouted Robbie. "Oh, wouldn't like
her for mother"
'Who would you likep" retorted
''Oh, / don't know" answered Rob-
bic. "Not her, anyhow. She scowled
at me one day when stepped on the
train of her dress. And heard her
say, Clumsy boyr to her sister"
''And she was very right" ddactic-
ally observed jamie. "You arc clumsy
boy, Rob"
"Perhaps," said John, "its Mrs.
Bricknor. There's sumner for You.
Amt she always dressed like the Queen
Of Shebap"
II can't bear Mrs. Bricknor," said
Bell. "She laughs too loud. and her false
teeth don't fit, and don't think she
likes little boys and girls. Sho looked
real cross at the birthday-party when
we had them fonny games, and told
Mrs. Fenwick that she didn't think
children ought to DO allowed to IuAkeso