Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-05-16
We say such things every day, un-


went through the poorer part of the
city, near the station, with the feeling
of pity which she never got over for
the people who lived there in the
midst Of ugliness and squalor which
the sunshine only intensified. She
saw a wizened child, with an old, old
face and dragged shawl over her head
come out of a saloon with a pitcher,
and watched the little thing, as she
walked along ahead of her, with a
strange facina ton. They were cross
ing Cambridge street, the child still
ahead, when there was sudden rush
and shout. A runaway team was
coming swiftly toward them. The
child stopped, dazed by the danger.
Polly instinctively ran forward, and
pulled her out of the road. The next
moment there was a blow on her
head, a sense of falling, and then all
was darkness.
This was two months before the day
when the sunshine and the plants, the
cat and the clock, were all doing their
best to cheer Polly up.
But Polly was deaf and blind to
their entreaties. She lay with her head
buried in the sofa pillow,an now and
again a deep sigh seemed to shake her
whole frame. There was knock at
the side door, but she did not notice.
Her mother was entertaining Mrs.
Gray in the parlor, and would never
hear. But this new caller was almost
one of the family, and not easily dis
couraged; and, after second I'M
answered knock, she opened the door
and came in.
The next minute Polly's head was
on broad, comfortable shoulder, and
her tears were taking the stiffening
out of her VISITORS ruching.
60 Cousin Amelia, am so glad you
have come! I have been holding in
until I can't stand it another minute.
I am so miserable I don't know what
to do [ know now | shall not be able
to walk for ever SO long-for a year,
perhaps; and, oh, how can / bear it?"
A sob got into the poor child's throat
and half choked her. Cousin Amel1a's
large, gentle hand smoothed back her
tumbled hair from her forehead, but
she said never word.
'sWhen I was in so much pain, after
I was first hurt, it was not nearly as
bad as this. Tt took all my time just
to bear the pain, and did not think
of what was coming after. But now
know-and everybody is SO good
and sorry for me-but it doesn't make
any difference. I try not to make
fuss; but, O Cousin Amelia, | can't
bear it, | can't bear it!n
Cousin Amelia's arms were close
around her now, and Polly was shak-
ing and sobbing in a tempest of tears.
This wise friend let her cry ~ if she
had been child, and gradually she
became quiet.
s'I have just seen the doctor, and he
told me that you would have to keep
quiet good while. That is the rea-
son I came directly over"
cit seems as if I could bear anything
else better,' said Polly, steadily
enough now. "My pay had just been
raised; and then I was practising, SO
that I might be able to report lectures
sometimes. You don't know how much
I had planned to do. And now-now
[ am nothing but trouble.''
"Do you know, ''said Cousin Amelia,
= c.1 10 box o1n 40
out her knitting-she was most in
veterate knitter- "that the most
cheerful, helpful person I ever knew
was SO lame that she could only walk
few steps at a time. She had pain
in her hip, something like the tooth
ache, very often, too. When it was
particularly bad, she used to send out
for some Of her friends, and they
would have jolly little party. She
had been at the head Of girls school
before she became SO lame; and,
when she gave that up, she taught
classes at home, and most interesting
she made them, too. Young girls con-
fded their troubles to her. She was
always preparing some pretty sur
prise for Somebody doing things
which people who could go about
more had not time to think off,
ssAnd do you suppose she was al
ways contented? Did she never. get
cross or discouraged?o questioned
Polly, eager to find some magic charm
to help her through her own hard
times.
sShe must have been discouraged
sometimes, for she could never be any
better; but she never let anybody
know it when she was. You must not
try that plan with me, however," con-