The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-01


happy as it is possible for girls life
to be. Then the first real trouble
came. Her lover, the Sir Galahad of
all her dreams, was won from her side
by chance visitor in their village
neighborhood, a gay city belle whose
flashing black eyes and determined
chin were more than match for
Polly's gentle ways.
So, when Roberts wedding day
arrived Polly was not the bride. Soon
after this, she was left father!ess, then
one by one the others of her family
passed away, and she found herself,
ten years later, obliged to earn her
daily bread. 1t was very hard, at
first; but, as said at the beginning,
Miss Polly was a CHEEKY little body,
and cheeriness is sowing which
brings forth an abundant crop of
other good things.
After various experiences in the
big world, she found modest nook
into which she fitted herself content
eddy. In all the large establishment
of which she was humble member,
no one was more faithful than she, no
one more truly loved or more thor
oughly respected. Although she
she little dreamed it, her daily coming
in was like ray of sunshine to her
hard worked, poorly paid companions,
and her unobtrusive, never-ending
acts of kindness kept more than one
heart from growing wholly bitter.
One evening, Miss Polly came up
to her tiny room just under the roof
of tall boarding house, in a state of
unusual excitement. She had been
to missionary meeting at her church
near by, and her soul was stirred to
it's very depths by what she had
heard there of some of the poor whites
in the North Carolina mountains. For
the first time she had listened to the
report of worker among those be-
nighted creatures and she was aghast
at the revelation.
ct makes me feel as though /
ought to go out and sleep on the pave
ment," she said half aloud, as she
took off her bonnet and put it away.
eff the dear Lord should come to me
tonight and ask me why l do not
bring one of those forsaken children
here to live with me, what could l say
to him." She sat down and looked
around the little room, as clean and
almost as bare as nuns cell.
eff / could only buy another cot we
could manage SO far as sleeping is
concerned, but then there'd be the
food and clothes. I've made over and
made over now until there's not much
left but my gray flannel, and that's
coming to darns. suppose could
beg the money somewhere, but that
wouldn't be my giving, and l so long
to do just little piece of this work
for my Master, my very own self.
But there, what's the use of wishingl
I've been over it all dozen times.
Every penny earn is used up now
as fast as it comes, and I've nothing
left to sell" She stopped suddenly
and great wave of color swept over
her face.
"Ohl MOI l can not do that" she
said aloud quite decidedly. She went
to the window, raised the sash and
stood for some time looking out over
the city into the clear, starlit night.
But she did not see the twinkling
lights below her, nor the glittering
ones above.
A dark, majestic mountain, somber
and silent, rose befor her and along
it's winding roads were rudely built
houses, often scarcely more than
huts. In these dwelt men and women
and pale faced little children who had
never heard the sweet name of Jesus,
whose ears had never listened to the
pealing invitation of a church bell;