Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-07-03

Mos o'clock an dat Sunday school
room amt ready yet"
Hasty picked up the empty box and
the steplaGder and went out through
the gate. He had barely disappeared
when peal of laughter was heard
/ from the hillside, and before Mandy
could get out of the way the young
stcrs came tumbling down the path
! again.
"Lawsy, lawsy." she gasped as Polly
circled around her. lodging the chill
dren. "YouSe cheeks is red as pinies
honey"
Tag: you're it, Polly cried us she
touched the widows auburn haired off
| spring on the sleeve. There was much
wniling when Willie passed the tag to
| little Jennie, the smallest girl in the
crowd.
II won't play no more" she sobbed.
"cause Is always It."
To comfort her Polly began to sing
an old circus song that the children
had learned to love, and the little ones
| huddled about her In circle to hear
Of the wonderful "Van Amberg" who
used to walk right into the lions cage
The children We're in Il state Of nerves
, that did credit to Polly as an enter.
tainer when Hasty broke in upon the
song.
when yo' get a minute l want ter
tell yo' somethin'"
II have one right now" And. turn
ing to the eager mites at her side FOL.
ly told them to run along into the
grove and that she'd come pretty soon
to teach them new game.
The youngsters went screaming and
laughing on their way. and she breath
ed sigh Of relief as she threw herself
down on the rustic seat that encirclcd
the elm tree
What is 1t. Hasty?" she asked, sus-
pecting that he was in trouble with
Mandy.
ITS bout de circus" Hasty inform
ed her bluntly.
The circus:" She rose and crossed
to him quickly.
Its In Wakefield-an' mex month
It's a-comin' here"
Here" Polly gasped.
81 thought yo'd want ter know"
said Hasty. Il little surprised Mt her
lack Of enthusiasm.
Yes, of course" She turned away
and pretended to look Mt the flowers
Don youse tell Mandy been talkin'
bout dat circus" said IIasty uncasily.
He was beginning to fear that he had
made mistake, but before Polly could
answer Mandy came out OF the house. |
carrying baskets of food. which Has
" was TO take to the Sunday school
room. She looked nj the girls trou
bled face and dropping shoulders in |
surprise.
What make yo' look so serious
honey"
Just thinking" said Polly absently. |
MY! Don yo' look fine in your new |
dress She was anxious to draw the |
girl out Of her reverie.
do you like it," Polly asked oil
gerly, forgetting her depression of |
moment before. DO you think Mr.
John will like it,"
"Massa John? Mercy me! He neb-
Der takes no notice OBJ dem things. |
done got bran. spankin' new ALA.
paca one time. an do you think he
ebber seed It? Lawsy. no. We might
teS' well be goin' roun' like Mudder
Eve for all dat man know" Polly
looked disappointed But udder folks
sees" Mandy continued comfortingly.
IAN yo' certainly look mighty fine.
Why. youse just as good now as yo'
was afore yo' got hurtcd!'
Yes. I'm well now and able TO work
sTain." There was no enthusiasm in
her tone. for Hastys news had made
her realize how unwelcome the old life
would be to her.
Work. Yo' does work all de time
Ny stars. de help yo' is to Massa
Iohn.'
''Do you think so? Do | help him?
Do ~"
"Of course yo' does. Yo' tells him
tings to do in Sunday school what the
chillun like. an yo' learns him to
laugh an Joy himself an a lot OF
t'in%S what nobody else could a-learned
i'm"