Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-04-05
When Polly reached home, she found


George in possession of the sitting
room, surrounded by group of boys
whom she could not altogether mp
prove, the whole party smoking Gig.
arettes She was greatly annoyed, but
she wisely hid her feelings and began
ut once playing the part of the smiling,
courteous hostess Ignoring the I'M
combed heads, the unbrushed shoes,
the soiled linen, and not overclean
hands and faces, she got out the photo
graphs that her Uncle George had sent
her from Germany and Italy, and be-
fore she knew 1t had entered upon a
very interesting lecture about cathe-
drals, bridges, towers, sruins, etc.
Then came her album of famous men
and women, and the boys listened and
looked till dull eyes frightened, and
heavy brows took on anew look of gen.
tleness and intelligence. The cigarettes
disappeared one by one, hats ana caps
were DOTTED, and many shame-faced
glance was cast on hands and feet un-
fit for the surroundings and for the
young ludy company.
When the ent ertainment was over
the boys showed very plainly, though
somewhat uncouthly, their pleasure
and gratitude. Then bright idea
flashed through Polly's brain.
"llow would you like to form your
selves into club and meet here once q
week, for the present, at least?'
THAT would be jollyr' was the sense
of the meeting.
Jim Albright remarked, his face get
ting red as he spoke, that ut would be
u good deal of trouble for Miss Polly"
but wish you to pay me-" she re-
piled.
Polly ran up to her room and brought
down her little writing-deslk. Sho sat
down and wrote out rapidly an anti
cigarette pledge; then she called tho
boys around her.
81 wish you to pay me by signing
this pledge she said. George will
sign tirst;" and she rose, giving her scat
to her brother.
AS George had not formed the smok-
ing habit, and was already ashamed
that his sister had seen him with
cigarette in his mouth, he readily
wrote his name His example as leader
was powerful with the Others, and of
the four, all signed except al Carter,
who didn't feel sure that he wished ito
be led by the nose by girl"
When Polly found herself alone she
sat down to reflect.
81 must have help" she Thought Il
wonder if Clara and Maud wouldn't
like to come over and assist me in re-
ceiving when the club meets? And we
might have chocolate and some simple
cakes; and there ought to be books for
the boys to take home. will go out
collecting this very afternoon. l know
of dozen families who have plenty of
books that would help these boys, ly-
ing in the corners of their bookcases
and of no use to anybody"
Polly dressed himself in her new blue
gown and jacket, put a jaunty little
hat atop of the bronze braids without
looking too long in the mirror, and
started out to find her girl friends. She
had not walked far before sho met
them face to face.
'Goodv' called ont Clara "We were
just on our way to your house. We are
going over to Johnstown tomorrow,
on the nine o'clock train, and we want
you to go with us. We will have
luncheon together, and no end of fun
in the afternoon, and get home by sup
per time. You know Tom House is
clerk in Mann & Malley's. Wen call
on him, and he will treatsus to lobster
salad and things if he can get otf-and
he generally can"
The blood rushed to Polly's cheeks.
Clara meant innocently enough, and
Polly herself would not, perhaps, q
week ago, have hesitated overmuch at
the proposal; but her anxiety for
George and her plans for him and his
friends had already worked change.
She knew instantly that higher self
had awakened in her, antagonistic to
such an outing as that planned for the
morrow; but she uttered no criticism,
only told the girls, as they walked
along, of the new club, and of her need
of their help
81 think" she said, "that if you will
come, prettily dressed, and chat with
the boys, and ono of you pour the
chocolate, it will be just splendldr'
Then she went on to tell about the
books that she hoped to get, and ended
by saying:
GLOW jolly 1t would be If we could
subscribe for two or three papers and
magazines just for the club"
why" said Maud, 'our trip to-mor-
row, il we take it, will cost us dollar
and half apiece; that would make, in
Guiding Polly, four dollars and fifty
cents! Clara, let's give it up and sub
scribe dollar and half apiece to the
| literature fund" So it was decided;
and all three went rummaging
through the book collections at Clara's
and Maud's for spare volumes that
could be devoted to the service of the
boys.
That first club meeting was an event
full occasion. No unblackcd shoes MOI
uncombcd hair, no soiled hands nor un'
cared for nails, appeared. There were
some honest blushes-always a good
sign-when the members" were pre-
sented to the young ladies who had
come to help entertain them, and NOR,
than one resolution made to work HARD
and save money for new shoes or hats
or coats, or whatever was most needed
to make the young fellows presentable
on terms of sclf-respect
Miss Weymouth, who had come t.
spend the evening with Mrs. Hopkins
peeped in when the affair was in full
swing.
81 shall never forget that picture,
she said; those bright, winning girl'
giving all their attention, exerting al
their charm. to help and strengthen