Evening journal., 1901-12-20
POLLY MARTINS
CHRISTMAS EVE
A Story of Country Life at Yuletide by
Eliza Archard Conner.
Icopvight. 1901, BY Eliza Archard conner.l

self born in the beautiful country.
Her father was a tenant farmer in a
new settlement in western Canada. Pret-
ty Polly milked the COWS, fed the pigs
and chickens and helped her mother with
the children. When she could get EN-
poyment away from home, she went out
to service. Being brought up with so
many children had made her very useful
about house; patient, too, and she was
naturally sweet tempered, so people were
glad 10 have her with them. And then
they liked TO see her in their houses be-
cause she was so pretty.
The Martins nearest neighbor was
three miles away. This was not because
neighbors were so few, but because Mr.
Martins employer, Thomas Valentine,
owned all the land between his own
house and the log cottage where the Mar
tins lived. But Polly was not lonely. She
never thought Of being so. On the contra
ry, she was very happy. Polly loved ma
ture If she raised her eyes a moment
from her work and looked toward the
west she saw the grand green forest
flashing and ringing with the bright
winged, sweet voiced birds that cviliza-
tion had not yet killed out.
If she glanced toward the northern ho-
rizon, there was the undimmed sky, ra-
diant blue with a marvellous gleam OF
silvery brightness in il that stretched
away-away TO the north pole itself.
Eastward there was the crystal pure
brook dancing 10 the music OF its own
everlasting little tinlsle, tinble, tinkle,
which not even the ice OF winter was able
quite TO subduc Polly thought il was
the sweetest music that is or ever was,
and | am not sure she was wrong. To
the south there were the sleek heifers
wading and feeding in the clover, the
white coats OF the sheep shining out
against the emerald pasture, and beyond,
mile on mile, stretching far as eye could
see, the great grainfelds already chang
ing from green to gold. Polly's heart
leaped with gladness when she looked.
At Christmas time, the year Polly was
sixteen, Mr.. Valentines family sent for
her to come and help them for week.
Mr. Valentine lived in handsome house
surrounded by vineyards and orchards OF
apples peaches, plums and pears. Near
the mansion was the shining white dairy
house, with the big power chum That
they made the Jersey bull work by walk
ing on n treadmill. 20 his intense disgust,
which he allowed by paving the ground
and believing, with his tail in the air. so
soon as he was released from the humil-
ating treadmill.
Farmer Valentine reared grand draft
horses large as small elephants and shin
ing Christmas beeves every year for the
market. Two days before Christmas that
year he made his annual sale OF beeves
and got unusually good prices for them.
1t was too late TO put the money he re-
fDN. . A
Valentine brought il home with him, $500
in gold and silver, and locked it in a bu-
reau drawer. Polly did not know it was
there.
On the evening Of the 24th OF Decem-
Der the farmers Of the county gave their
annual Christmas ball 1t was great
event. bringing together socially friends
widely separated who did not see one an
other often during the rest of the year.
Polly was wanted to keep the Valentine
house while the family should be away at
tie ball They went early. for there was
n ten mile sleigh ride between them and
the town where the ball was. The great
sleigh. with its big, handsome horses
paving the snow and shaking their mas
sive necks TO make the bells jingle, was
drawn up before the carriage door OF the
| farmhouse. and one after another the
family took their places in il. Those fine,
Intelligent horses looked as IL they en-
/ ioyed the prospect Of the sleigh ride as
much as any one.
After they had gone Polly went around
the house TO see that all was in order for
the night She peeped into the fruit
house first just TO glad her eye with the
! sight Of the long shelves loaded with red
checked apples and with shining green
and yellow pears wrapped i'm tissue paper
TO make them keep till Christmas. She
looked down into the box where lay a
few lunches OF late autumn grapes, the
down still upon their fat, purple cheeks.
! They pleased Polly's artistic eye.
Next Polly fed the pigs and locked the
| poultry houses. Then she went indoors.
| The house was a modern built one, with
large double plate glass windows TO keep
the cold out and with a great furnace in
/ the cellar from which hot air pipes car
ried warmth into all the rooms. Many a
kings palace was less comfortable than
this house. Polly looked TO see that doors
and windows were fastened; then she sat
down in the warm dining room TO read
and knit and think by turns.
Polly was not lonely or afraid. The
country neighborhood was considered
/ Nullt HdAts ANU ltHlutrs IilONtfI AlIlN art
not the kind 10 scream at a mouse. She
remained up till IL because she did not
like TO leave the warm FIRE Then she felt
sleepy and prepared to go to bed. Tho
family would not be back till o'clock il
the morning. The guests at the bal
danced till midnight; then they had sup
per, then a farewell cotillon. Then FOL
the Valentines came the ten miles sleigl
ride.l
In their home at II o'clock Polly, tn,
cool headed strong armed border girl
went down TO the cellar TO give the fur
mace a last feeding and shake up for the
night and 20 see that it was not ho
enough 20 set the house on FIRE on the on,
hand and that it should give out hea
enough on the other hand TO make tn,
rooms warm and cozy for the family
i when they arrived. Then she went bacl
70 the dining room. To Polly, who live,
in cabin, but who nevertheless like,
pretty things as well as any one. tina
room looked beautiful, with its crimson
painted walls and the handsome silver
t. ware sparkling upon the sideboard Sh
had heard that silvcrware was wortl
S40O, and she eyed it with something lik
T..N ..na,