Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-09-11
SELECTIONS.
POLLY'S RELIGION.

life to the Demmings was like q
long summer day until Joe brought
his wife home. None of the family
had ever seen her. They knew she
was one of the Anstruthers of Ken
lucky.
"There are Anstruthers III the
United Presbyterian Church." said
Grace. 81 hope Mary belongs tC
our membership"
ooh, yes, certainly" SAID Joe
eagerly. He was just starting to be
married and he was very anxious
that they should all love Polly in
advance.
"Does she sing in the choir p
asked Isabella.
+" l think not. But she has one oil
the sweetest voices-a low contralto
And you ought to hear her laugh
Bella. The merriest thing-oh
she'll bring new life into this house p
The girls smiled. They were fond
of Joe and ready to welcome his
wife.
"But l hope she is ready to take
a leading place in the church," said
Grace, after he had gone. "Jot
will some day fill fathers place, and
his description of her does not give
me the idea of an theoretically reli
gious woman"
"Well hope for the BEST" said
Isabella. She was very busy max
ing an imitation stained glass win
dow for the Sunday-school room and
was anxious to finish it before Mary
arrived.
"Uncle Ben must be kept in his
own room when she comes, and Ton
can be sent to the country for &
months visit" Grace said, her del
icate cheek flushing painfully.
For there were two skeletons in
the Demming household. The
'Squire's brother Ben, who was 9
paralytic old soldier, and most
cross-grained, profane old fellow, oc
cupied one wing of the mansion
He had man to nurse anG read tC
him, for his oaths were intOlerable
to his nieces. Tom was their broth
er, younger than Joe. Tom Dem
ming had disappeared for three
years after he left college and came
back a haggard, dissipated loafer.
Nobody in Balls Ferry knew what
he had done IN that gap of time
but was certain that he was under
the ban-a marked man. The fami
ly treated him with gloomy patience
They had taken mp their cross and
borne it, but it was heavy, and ht
knew it was heavy. Tom was never
seen by visitors at the table or in
the parlor. AT dusk he would sknlE
out to join some of his comrades al
the village grog shops and occasion
ally, but not often, was brought
home bTutally intoxicated.
Joe's wife disappointed them all
She was plump, merry, little girl
nothing more. "A very pleasant
little heather p sighed Grace, after
two days had passed.
+" / named some of the best book S
on religious fiction, but she never
heard of them and she did not know
of a single one of our foreign mis-
Sions.n.
Good Mrs. Demming was uneasy
at this and that very evening turn
ed the conversation on doctrina
subjects. Polly grew red.
III am afraid" she said, 81 an
not clear in my ideas concerning
these difficult points. The truth is
after mothers death had charge O
my four brothers, and | had so little
time"
"Yon will have more time now
said Isabella. 81 will mark out {
course Of doctrinal reading for you.'
But Mary made slow progress witt
her course of reading. As timt
passed and she settled down into
her place in the household she prov
ed to be very busy little woman
She had positive talent for findins
work took her part of the famil,
mending, tossed up dainty littl'
desserts and helped Joe with hi
accounts. When Joe had gone II
his Office she took tremendous walks
advised Mother Demming about he
fancy work, or copied the 'Squire'
papers for him.
| "What a cleIkly hand you write !!
said Grace, one day. 81 often wisl