The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-03-24
JOr UNEXPECTED.

Miss Polly Pritchard sat alone in her
little room. diligently at work.
So far it had been hard winter, with
the ground all iron-boUnd with cruel
frost; the river clad in steely links OF
ice, the SKY full Of snow. and wind, and
tempest. But Miss Polly was very COM
Portable in the little red farm house. of
which she occupied one wing, the other
being rented out to Farmer Gribbage
and his wife.
There was always . cheerful fire of
logs blazing on the open hearth, always
plant at the window, and cat purring
on the rug.
ITO be sure, it's rather lonely" said
the little old maid to herself, ''never to
have a soul to speak to. But it is what
one must expect when one outliTe'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. Gribbage, the farmers wife, came
in.
Dolls, l declare! she exclaimed,
looking at the boxes on the table; and,
as her quick eye fell on the work in Miss
Pollv's hand, she added: '.And, as true
as live, you're a-dressin' EN-
Yes" said Miss Polly, coloring q
soft autun,nal pink.
For the toy-shop?" said inquisitive
Mrs Gribbage.
''Well-nor' acknowledged Miss Pol
". They are for the little girls in the
orphan asylum. They don't have any
one to think Of their Christmas, you
know"
well, 1 declare!,' reiterated Mrs.
Gribbage. ''Whv, there's eighteen of
'em. You don't mean to say that you're
dressing eighteen dolls?"
Yes" said Miss Polly in deprecating
tones.
'.Humph. Well, Just came in to tell
you that I'm goingup to Miss Gcorgietta
Fpllerton's to tea.
: ..Are you?" said Miss Polly.
Mrs. Gribbage nodded complacently.
Didn't they ask you?" said she.
Miss Polly shook her head.
We'll, it your own fault, said Mrs.
Gribbage, not without asperity. Look
at that old faded turned dress of yours.
Miss Gcorgietta Fullerton is very particu-
lar about her dress. And now that she
is engaged to be married to the
minister
Miss Polly gave the least pcrceptible
start at these words, and asked:
rs she engaged to be married to
him?''
80 folks saw complacentlv an
swered Mrs. Gribbaee. And ! don's
suppose he could have made a better
match. Miss Fullerton is IN excellent
housekeeper, and has got ! little money
of her own. And it is high time there
was someone 1T the parsonage to keep
those four noisy children in order"
And Mrs. Gribbagc sailed away in
her rustling silk gown and red plumed
hat, leaving Miss Polly alone with her
dolls.
The parSon sat alone. also. that grey
threatening December afternoon, in his
little study, with 4 heap of sermon-paper
in front Of him.
He had sat down to write his Christmas
sermon; but, somehow. the ideas refused
to come.
There was q general aspect Of forlorn-
ness about the room. which the poor
man realized, bat could not explain.
'sIt's all very uncomfortable. said Mr..
Mellen to himself, biting thoughtfully
at the feather end of his quill-pen.
land, somehow. always feel it more
at Christmas time than at any other.
Hear those children scream! One
would think they might play without
making quite so much noise. But they
are not managed IS they were when
poor Isabel was alive. Isupposc am not
a good disciplinarian, or perhaps l
should have them in better training:
Really, I don't know but that the good
ladies in my congregation are right, and
that I ought To-
'Get married again" Robbie Alellen, S
shrill little voice uttered, just at this
moment. sOh, l like that. Thats q
oretty note. Our father get married
again! Nonsense, Bell; someone has
been examining you"
s.But it's true. retorted little Bell,
full of indignation, land You needn't
laugh. heard old Miss Grampus say
so to Miss Collycr, last Week, when they
all thought was asleep on the bed, at
Sewing Society-that papa was going to
marry again.
..Who was it9" breathleSsly demand
ed jamie, Il tall girl Of eleven. The
lady, mean2'
They didn't say" Bell answered.
Miss George Fullerton, l bet!'
shouted Robbie. "Oh. l wouldn't like
her for mother -
"Who would you like?' rctorted
jamie scornfully.
ssOh, ! don't know answered Rob-
bic. '.Not her, anyhow. She scowled
at me one day when l stepped on the
train of her dress And l heard her
say, Clumsy boyr to her sister
..And she was very right" didactic-
ally observed jamie. You are q clumsy
boy, Rob. .
Perhaps said JOHN, Its Mrs.
Bricknor. There's q sumner for you.
Amt she always dressed like the Queen
of Sheba?'
81 can't bear Mrs. Bricknor,n said
Bell. 'She laughs too loud, and her false
tech don't fit, and l don't think she
likes little boys and girls. She looked
real cross at the birthday-party when
1ra ba6 +her, funny Games and told