The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1889-03-13
The Ministers Warming Pan

The Ministers Warming Pan.
Little Polly Edwards lived with her
grandfather and her Aunt Serena Her
father and mother were dead, and her
grandmother. She had no Gin in the
world except her Grandfather Edwarde
and her Aunt Serena Edwards, and they
were both of them old people Her grand
father was a minister Ed
wards" everybody called him He was
a sanity old man.
Polly could not do enough for her
grandfather, and generally his preoepts
were written for her in gold. If she
ever rebelled against them, 1t was hardly
from any motive but that of genuine love
and loyalty for him. But there was
about the old parson a certain spirit OF
long suffering and meekness which was
antagonistic to something In Polly's own
nature, and which sometimes aroused her
to independent action, as in the case OF
the warming pan. This same oldtash
toned warming pan was all the one owned
by the Edwards family Parson Edwards
was not very rich in this world goods,
and did not possess a multiplicity OF
many other articles beside warming pans
But this warming pan, in the bitter nights
of the New England winter, when the
freiess bedrooms were icy cold, and
seemingly fit for nothing but polar bears
to take comfortable maps in, was great
comfort to the old man, whose blood did
not circulate so swiftly asst had once done.
Aunt Serena and Polly did well enough
their bedroom opened out to the kitch
en- with its big hearth and log fire. but
the old parson slept in the freezing north
bedroom. However, he had always been
accustomed to sleeping in a cold room,
as well as preaching In freless meeting
house, and seemed to be comfortable
enough so long as he had the warming
pan. Every night little Polly used to
put Goals in it, and put it into the north
bedroom, and warm the icy sheets and
blankets nicely.
But at the beginning of one bitter win
ter, the most severe for many years, the
Simmonses borrowed the warming pan;
the aunt of the family was i'll, and they
wanted it for her. Eben Simmons came
over for it.
"That is the last we'll see of that
warming pan for one while" Aunt Serena
had remarked after Eoen had departed
with it.
Aunt Serena had quick, decided
manner, which was much like Polly's.
They looked alike, too.
Well, Aunt Serena was right about the
warming pan. The Simmonses, which
was the name applied to Mr.. Erastus
Simmons large family, kept it. The
sick aunt got well, and that excuse for
keeping it was over; still they did not re-
turn it.
Aunt Serena and Polly worried a
good deal, but although the good old par.
son evidently suffered much discomfort,
he never complained nor alluded to the
matter. One winter passed, and another
began, md the Simmonses still had Par
son Edwards warming pan.
Little Polly stood up in wrath, one
icy morning, when her grandfather APP
peared In the kitchen almost blue with
cold.
I'm going over to Simmonses and ask
for that warming pan !" declared she.
Polly" said the parson, in his kind
tremulous voice, which had touch OF
admonition in it.
Polly said no more, but her black eyes
flashed.
That night Parson Edwards, in going
to his north bedroom, found the chilly
sheets and blankets all glowing with
heat The old man reflected a moment,
then he deliberately dressed himself and
proceeded to the kitchen.
Polly r. called her grandfather.
Eyes, grandsir," answered Polly in a
trembling voice.
did your friends come over to-day and
return the warming pan
There was silence.
"No, grandsir," said she.
"Come here
Polly wrapped blanket around her
and went into the kitchen. There she
stood trembling in the tremulous freight
before her grandfather and confessed
She Polly Edwards, the parson grand.