The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1908-11-12
Polly Grey
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BY Nan Todd.

NIIII!GIlII IGIIIIIIIN
It was glorious June morning
Across the meadows waited a breeze
as delicate in fragrance as the color
ing Of the trees and grass over which
It danced. But in spite Of all this
summer sweetness, Polly Grey was not
happy. It was tho day of the hrst
picnic of the year, which glowing
event was to be celebrated in some
nearby woods. Polly had planned 10
go, when her mother had been unex'
pectedly called TO nurse a sick neigh
Dor, and the little girl had been obllg-
ed to stay at home and care for her
aged, helpless grandmother; BESIDES
there were cakes to bake, and this is
not any fun on a summers day. Inc
Greys were poor. 1t was only by her
skill in cooking that Mrs. Grey man
aged to find livelihood for the little
family of three. Folly sighed woe
fully as she opened the oven door. The
cakes were not near done. The day
was not a bit as she had planned,
Hello" called a voice suddenly
from the outside.
Hello" Polly answered, unlatching
the kitchen door upon four girls gath
cred near the steps.
Cant you go TO the picnic, Poll?'
asked one Of the group.
Nope"
"Why?"
Mothers gone away. I've got to
stay at home and take care Of grand
ma. There are some horrid cakes TO
bake, too"
For Nancy Hyde's wedding, l
s'pose My! l should think you'd feel
grand hayin your ma bake cakes for
that wedding. I'd love to go. The
man Nancy is goin to marry is awful
rich. You could carry the cakes over,
Poll, and maybe yoG could see some,
thing" But Polly was inconsolable.
well, I'd leave my grandma for
minute" tempted another voice. "She
wouldn't mind if you ran down TO the
woods and+right back
But as Polly Grey would make no
plans, the girls, ANXIOUS to join their
friends, hurried away leaving a disap-
pointed teary.eyed girl to watch them
until they had disappeared in the bend
of the road
Polly" called Grandmother Grey
presently from across the kitchen.
What are you doing? When is your
mother coming Dack?" and the grand
child dutifully answered the old lady's
questioning.
Later, the cakes were put upon a
high schelf out of the old cat, Tabby's
reach. The work done, the morning
dragged into early afternoon. Grand
mother Grey had fallen asleep in her
armchair and the big kitchen was
very still. Polly leaned disconsolately
on the table and rocked out " the
window, frowning deeply.
The cakes are all baked, and |
wouldn't be but a minute" she whis-
pered, trying to convince herself OF
the business Of her thoughts. She
turned and tiptoed 10 her grandmoth.
er's SIDE and stood looking down up.
on the sleeping old lady Polly was
certain her grandmother har never neg.
lected a duty; but then grandma had
lived in a time when, according TO
stories, girls never wanted to be dis
obedient. Tabby rubbed against her
little mistress dress but the girl paid
no heed, She was thinking of her
friends, the deep woods-and her
mothers tired face. Two minutes
dragged by.
She felt suddenly oppressed. With
haste, she opened the door and. as
she did so, the draft caused a volume
Of smoke to pour from every conceiv-
able crevice Of the KITCHEN stove. Tab.
by rushed out Of doors. Polly. dazed.
followed, stumbling down the steps.
What met her eyes made her poor lit.
tie heart fairly stop beating. For near
the chimney where the roof sagged.
brick had broken away and fame
was fendishly tapping the rotten shin
giles,
"oh. what will I do?" sobbed the
frightened girl. She looked frantically