Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-12-19
POLLY MARTINS
CHRISTMAS EVE
A Story Of Country Life at Yuletide by
Eliza Archard Conner.

Copyright, 1901, by Eliza Archard Conner.]
She was only sixteen, pretty Polly
Martin, with round, soft cheeks the color
of apple blossom buds and eyes as blue as
the skies Of her own native Canada. She
had six brothers and sisters, all like her.
self born In the beautiful country.
Her father was q tenant farmer In a
new settlement in western Canada. Pret-
ty Polly MIXED the cows, fed the pigs
and chickens and helped her mother with
the children, When she could get en-
ploymcnt 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 to 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. II 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 civilian
tion had not yet killed out.
II she glanced toward the northern ho-
rizon, there was the undimmed sky, ra-
diant blue. with a marvellous CLEAN of
silvery brightness in it that stretched
away-away to the north pole itself.
Eastward there was the crystal pure
brook dancing to the music Of Its own
everlasting little tinkle, tinkle. tinkle
which not even the Ice of winter was able
quite to subdue. Polly thought it 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
zee, the great grain6elds 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 a 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 chun that
they made the Jersey bull work by walk
ing on treadmiIl. to his intense disgust,
which he showed by paving the ground
and believing, with his tail in the mir so
soon MS he was released from the humii
ating iradmill.
Farmer Valentine reared grand draft
horses large ns small elephants and shin
ing Christmas bccvcs 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-
ceived into the bank that day. so Mr..
Valentine brought II home with him, $500
In gold and silver and locked it in bu-
reau drawer Polly did not know II was
there.
On the evening Of the 9th Of Decem
Der the farmers Of the county gave their
annual Christmas ball. 1t was a 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
fen mile sleigh ride between them and