Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-08-20
ON A SUMMER DAY.
ELAINE GENET TELLS THE TRIBULA-
TIONs OF FOLLY JONES.


Polly Jones has been heard to state
over and over again that the only way
for sensible person to live Is to have
dwelling In yard big enough to plant
things In.
"Not one of these door-mat yards"
this exacting young person explains,
shut real yard, which can be seen at
distance of three rods without the aid Of
spectacles. Amateur gardening is the
true acme of human endeavor." Having
delivered herself thusly, tits Polly's GUS
tom to request some one else to please 60
weed the flower bed, while she retires to
couch with book, and enjoys the feel
Ing Of having discharged her duty to the
world by setting a good example.
Last Saturday, however, she was stir
red with ambition, and went on weed
pulling expedition, not by proxy.
"TIa." she said, scornfully, to the girl
in boomers who leaned over the fence
and with tears In her eyes begged Polly
to come to the park. "The park Is for
people who have no yard. II isn't every
one who has a chance to pull weeds. Go
to!r
The girl 10 boomers disappeared dis
dainfully and Polly worked on. She
learned several things In fifteen minutes,
among which were the facts that weeds
have roots that 90 down to China while
flowers possess roots which pull up on
touch; that sun which Is balmy glo-
rifier when one Is lounging, becomes a
red-hot, sizzling coal Of fire the instant
one begins TO work, and that a profess
sional weeder must also be n contortion-
ist TO be a success. The puppy tipped
over the ice-water cooling In the shade,
and wiped his muddy paws on Polly's
skirt, which trailed on the grass, then
lay down on the weeded part OF the
flower bed and refused to get up; the
sun burned one side Of her face to Bills
ter and made her head ache; where she
pulled up one weed two seemed to spring
up, and finally she threw her trowel.
"Goodness !" cried the dissgreeable
person from the porch, Aren't you GO
ing to fnishy''
"And aren't you going to fix the
strings for the sweet peasE' floated In n
surprised wave from the house.
"Or transplant those nasturtiumsT
the disagreeable person went on.
Polly stood up and surveyed the direc-
ton whence came the voices. mo, I'm
not :" she said flercely. nd rather 90
and offer myself TO the cook rs fuel fol
the cook-stove. | feel as II had been
broiled overdone and sprinkled with red
pepper"
Then she staggered into the house to
read just her views.
THAT man over there looks just like
Charlie" said the girl drinking "Tril
by"
Doesn't he" said the girl who was
making chocolate soda vanish.
"Iou know don't speak to Charli,
now" went on the girl with the new
drink. And | shall never do so AS Ions
as live"
"Mercy - said her friend joyfully, a
beiitted one who has designs on Charles
herself.
mo, all Is over. We were sitting or
our front steps the other night and hac
been silent for some time. The moor
was shining and Charlie was looking
down at me in tender way and wa:
feeling glad that | had thoughtful,
utDDeu soulc rose pttiu'hc vi NY Suu
Suddenly a solemn light came into hi
eyes, and he-he put his arm arounC
me-"
"well?" said the chocolate soda girl
with the practical air OF one to whom
such proceedings are an old story; "anC
them
The "Trilby" girl looked flercely at tn
man who resembled Charlie. Il dropped
NV head on his shoulder and said: 'Ol
this Is so sudden And he-the brute
he
"Yes," eagerly exclaimed her friend
ale said: Yes. know, but wa
afraid to leave il there for fear II woulC
hurt YOU, and threw away a June bus
which had been fastened on the sleeve
farthest from him."
"Oh, what did you do!' groaned thu
chocolate girl In sympathy.
The "Trilby" girl smiled. IL heard m,
mother calling me in she explained
and the soda-fountain clerk mixed three
ascent drinks inextricably In his excite
ment at the denouement.