Mower County transcript., 1904-02-10
= :.
l,,slan.! . d ] i,,iir,,ent
nuse for over sixty years. !

some Sle DIN crying saw Qer. ;s+
a< The weary old face frightened when
little Polly led the callers In, but bothi
Mr.. and Mrs. Hunt were observant and
read 'between the lines" that the dearI
old lady was not only sorrowful butt
troubled. 4: Ss.sgr.* gil =ss<z*a..-
II wish you a Happy New Year." said
Mrs. Hunt, taking the thin old hands in1
close grasp. ."~ -
"Happy New Year!" Mr.. Hunt
echoed, his greeting as cordial as his
wife's.
THANK you," responded the old lady,
warmly, "and wish you both Happy
New Year
1--WE had fine turkey for dinner to-
day." said Mr.. Hunt, "and rather think
my. wife brought you piece" uncover
ing the basket. "Yes, sure enough, here
it isl"
! *'Now, Dick,' said his wife, you've
made your speech; sit down, please"
He sat down with sigh, pretending to
feel hurt. He looked so comical that
Mrs. Helfer's spirits arose, so far that
she laughed.
Il am greatly obliged to you both for
remembering me" she said. I'm going
to confess that I've been longing for
some turkey for week and now here it
is"
The trio chatted pleasantly for little
while and then Mr.. Hunt arose sudden
ly.
i've thought Of an errand or two" he
said. "You two can have the floor to
yourselves until l return. I'll not be
gone long" He met the small maid in
the hail.
"Polly," he said, II don't want to pry
into Mrs. Helfer's affairs, but I'm really
| anxious to know if she has everything
she needs. She's an old friend, you
know, and friend of my mothers.
Does she need anything, Polly?"
Yes, sir, deed she do; but she didn't
say so. She amt no complainer-that's
what she ain't She amt had no coffee
since-since-''
Go on, Polly, talk fast. Since when?"
"Since her money took wings an
flew. dunno where it flew to, but that's
| what someone said-it flew, an she
f-don't hev butter no more. I wanted to
tell the grocer's boy we was out, but
! Mrs. Helfer she say: No, not now,
Polly; some other time *--:>
1T doesn't seem hardly. warm enough
In the house, Polly. Do you have plenty
of coal?"
l. That's what we don't, sir" she said,
with decision. ''We'm jess about out. 1
guess by to-morrer it'll be ali gone. Miss
Helfers Almost a shakin' with cold
sometimes. She had two shawls aroun'
her when you rung the bell, but she took
'em off,
Mr.. Hunt had heard enough-quite
enough.
Poor, dear old soul!" he said to him
self, as he went out on his ministering
journey.
He kept his promise-he was not gone
long. He put bunch of bright carna-
tions into the old lady's hand and then
be said to his wife smilingly that it was
time to move on"
Polly let them out of the front door
Returning to the room, she found the
old lady in rapture of JOY There were
tears in her eyes, but she was smiling
The fragrant, rosy carnations were still
in her hand. On low chair beside he1
was the basket the Hunts had brought.
Look, Polly" she cried, in glee thai
was like q child's.
And Polly looked and laughed. What
she saw was plate of sliced turkey
dainty biscuit, print of butter, minct
pie, frosted plum cake, oranges, grapes
nuts. raisins and candy.
ooh, my!" cried Polly, what fin,
New Year we do be havin' after ALI"
Presently the grocer's boy delivered
heavily filled basket and message.
Tell yer missus Buck Bowers sed he't
be here to-morrer mornin' at eigh
o'clock sure" ~ 60
4 What for?" asked the amazed
Polly. .:-. f,-.8...,
|. What for?"' mockingly why, t,
f bring the load o. coal, of course
T. "Oh, my gracious! I b'lieve there
fairies areun'-I do sol" and after clos
ing the door on the grocer's boy Poll
felt inclined to stand on her head b.
way Of celebrating the delightful ne1
state of things. #,5c, N .-..: : &.-..
1 She left the basket standing in the hal
as it was too heavy for her to attempt t
carry, but she could smell the coffee an
took that package with her, also two o
three more. :..s b t.
i ooh, Miss Helfer,'''. she exclaimed
another big baskets come, an it's je!
s full O. everything. Here's coffee fer 70
an'- tea an sugar. An to-morre
4 ther's big load o coal a-comin'."
. ."'Polly!" ss ssss e. VI s*#
Eyes, num- ..,[z s.
what does It mean--all that sres
basket Of things you're telling abor
and the coal coming tomorrow ?''
..I dunno. = ri za| u. III #..s...
& .'But who sent the groceries? Who
going to send the coal q .:5.:=3
4 Polly looked mystifled. She stoc