Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-10-04
A HOME MISSIONARY.
How Ponys Hopes of Doing Great
Things We're Realizoa.


III pluafores Of being missionary on
the burning plains of India" like
Harriet Newell; of going to nurse
wounded soldiers fighting in grand
cause. like Florence Nightingale; OF
leading great crusade against wrong,
like Frances Willard. But there seemed
little probability that these dreams
would be realized.
At the age OF sixteen she was just
plain Polly Hopkins. with snub nose
and freclsles. Not that she was an
ugly girl; by no means She was as
fresh and wholesome as peach that
has ripened in a sunny garden Her
figure was good, her teeth were white
and even, and her hair, though il was
| undeniably red, was rich and alum
dant But Polly was dissatisfied with
the likeness reflected by her little look
ing-glass. She adored great black
flashing eyes, and raven locks, and
pallor, ana classical features. Nobody
would ever take her FOR a heroine, She
was sure She was. in her own estima-
ton. much better fitted TO be a milk
maid
But Polly suddealy began TO look
less ia The glass and more at her duty
/ as daughter and sister. She had been
4 to the village observation-disclosures, one
/ day, and was returning through the
one long street OF Baskerville, on her
i way 10 the little red cottage where
the llopkinses' lived She had The
/ Wide. Wide World" in her hand, and
was reading its first pages with the
same interest that girls used to feel
forty years ago in the fascinating
story. Suddenly she heard her pa
\ tronymic pronounced by an unfamiliar
voice.
"Hoplsins?' said another voice.
Eyes. was the reply, George Hop
/ zins. He's a limb, an no mistake. |
shouldn't be at all surprised if lac was
concerned in that post Office business
There was a chestnut tree on the
other side Of the wall that skirted the
street, aud somebody was looking for
nuts, unaware that the conversation
was being overheard.
Polly's heart seemed to stop beating
for an instant then to 60 plunging on
as if 1t would suffocate her That post
Office businessl Wen she knew TO
what the gossip referred The post
Office had been robbed not long before
OF an insignificant sum-tiye or ten dol
lars-and il was currently reported
that certain boys were implicated in
the affair.
There were boys in Baskerville, as in
all villages, who had the reputation of
being seamps and scalawags-boys who
robbed watermelon patches, MIXED
cows ON the sly, stoned the windows Of
vacant houses, and frightened lone wom-
en- out of their seven senses Polly had
never dreamed that George was one of
Of these; she did not now believe it; yet
where there is much smoke there must
be some tire. George must have been
associating with companions that he
would be ashamed Of if he were found
with them. He must have secrets from
his sister and mother How far he had
gone in forbidden paths Polly had no
means of guessing. She could not con-
tide her trouble to her mother, for she.
poor lady, was an invalid from heart
trouble, and had to be guarded from
all excitement
All that have written flashed
through the girls mind in the moment
after hearing her brothers name pro-
nounced by the unknown nutters. She
hurried home, her book forgotten, her
mind full of new and terrible fear.
Polly had stanch and wise friend.
one of her teachers in the high school,
Miss Weymouth. To her she went
with her trouble. the next day. School
was over, and Miss Weymouth pro-
posed a walk.
1--WE can talk as we go along" she
said 1.-THE fresh air will help us to a
wise conclusion. One is always little
more sane under the open sky, /
think"
1t was a crisp November day, with
nothing dreary in its aspect The
grass was still lush and green. here
and there a belated buttercup showed
a golden disk. blue asters still clustered
by the old lichened walls, the chiclxa-
dees were calling cheerily ia the grove
that the friends approached, and a
MhtEINN a. WY
passed in among the oaks and ever
greens.
Il am glad you have walked up, )" said |
the teacher, suddenly.
"'WalSed up" echoed Polly.
Yes. from your dreams of PARKWAY
exploits, Of missionarying, and preach
ing, and nursing imaginary heroes"
Don't you believe it is a noble thing /
to be a missionary"
''oh! yes, by all means; but not nee
essarily a foreign missionary. The
home field has its claims. too; pressing
claims, in many instances
''You mean there is work for me to
10 at home, said Polly. Then she told
Miss Weymouth all she had heard.
George needs a sister" said the
lady, looking intently into Polly's anN-
ious face.
"Tell me, Miss Weymouth, what can
io?"
"Fascinate him Make home so
bright. so beautiful. that it viii eclipse