Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-06-21
A HOME MISSIONARY.
How Polly's Hopes OF Doing Great
Things Were Realized.

dreamed ever since she was q little tot
In pinnfores Of being a missionary on
"the burning plains OF India" like
Harriet Newell; Of going TO nurse
wounded soldiers fighting In u grand
cause, like Florence Nightingale; of
leading a great crusade against wrong,
like Frances Willard But there seemed
little probability that these dreams
would be realized
At the ago Of sixteen she was Just
plain Polly Hopkins, with snub nose
and frockles. Not that she was an
ugly girli by no means She was as
fresh and wholesome as n peach that
has ripened In sunny garden. Her
figure was good, her teeth were white
and even, and her hair, though Il was
undeniably red, was rich and album
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, and classical features. Nobody
would over take her for n heroine, she
was sure. She was, in her own estima-
tion, much better fitted TO be n milk
maid.
But Polly suddenly began to look
less in the glass and more at her duty
as daughter and sister She had been
to the village circulating-library, one
day, and was returning through the
one long street of Bakerville, on her
way to the little red cottage where
"tho Hopkinses" 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
"lIopkins2" said another voice
Eyes" was the reply, George Hop
kins He's n limb, an no mistake. I
shouldn't be at all surprised II he was
concerned In that post office business"
There was q chestnut tree on the
other side Of the wall that sSirted the
street, and ebody was looking for
nuts, unaware that the conversation
was being overheard.
Polly's heart seemed to stop beating
for an instant, then to go plunging on
as If II would suffocate her That post
office businessl Well she knew to
what the gossip referred. The post
office had been robbed not long before
of an insignificant sum--flve 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 scamps and scalawags--boysw who
robbed watermelon patches, millScd
cows on the sly, stoned tho windows OF
vacant houses, and frightened lono wom-
en- out of their seven senses Polly had
never dreamed that George was one Of
of these; she did not now believe 1t; yet
where there is much smoke there must
be some fire. George must have been
with companions that he /
would be ashamed of IL he were found |
with them. lie 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-
fide her trouble to her mother, for she,
poor ladyl was an invalid from heart
trouble, and had TO be guarded from
all excitement
All that l 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. 70 her she went
with her trouble, the next day. School
was over, and Miss Weymouth pro-
posed walk.
"We can talk as we go along" she
snid. THE fresh air will help us TO
wise conclusion. One is always little
more sane under the open sky, l
think"
1t was a crisp November day, with
nothing dreary in its aspect. The
grass was still lush and green, here
and there belated buttercup showed
a golden disk, blue asters still clustered
by the old lichened walls the chiclSa-
lees were calling cheerily in the grove
hat the friends approached, and a
partridge whirrcd suddenly as they
'assed In among the oaks and ever.
green's.
~ am glad you have walked up" said
.he teacher, suddenly.
Walked upr" echoed Polly.
"Yes, from your dreams Of far-away
exploits, Of missionarying, and preach.
ng, and nursing imaginary heroes"
Don't you believe It is a noble thing
o be missionary"
"ohl yes, by all meansi but not nee
ssarily foreign missionary. The
lone field has Its claims tooi pressing
laims, In many instances"
"You mean there is work for me TO
% at home" said Polly Then she told
Hiss Weymouth all she had heard.
George needs sister" said the
ady, looking intently into Polly's anx, ,
ous face
Tell me, Miss Weymouth, what can
"Fascinate him. Mako home SO !
right, so beautiful, that 1t will eclipse !
very other place. Has he any special :
astes?"
"He likes chess, but It's tho polsiest ,
anne, think-I never have patience
0 play 1t; and he used TO be always
nssing with his flute till I made SO i
luch fun Of It that he gave 1t up flo i
Ikes animals, tooi he would bring
ONE every miserable cur that hap
ems TO follow him, II would let him.
10 seems TO have q taste for misery in ,,
eneraL You should see the ganins
% used to pick up and mako friends of
hi fear his tastes are notvory high" y
well, you must try to get hold Of a
i'm through his tastes, and then refine =
hem II they need refining. So far. -