The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1909-04-28

Market square, Boston,
With hat Captain John disappeared
Washington's messenger, having par
taken of some of the sparkling cider
and Incompatible gingerbread with
which ,Polly's larder was always sup
piled, made his bow and departed to
cross the river and return to his COM
mander
Then Polly fairly flew to her little
room. where she read with eagerness
the following letter:
Newburg. N. York, I'd March, 1871.
To Mistress p Day:
In behalf of the Command of which VI
Brother Capt. Day is an esteemed Mem
Der, l beg to express the pleasure his
Company has found in the frequent evil
dence of your Loyalty and Handiwork
which have been sent to US Hardly
less than the warm blankets and the hose
furnished by you and your Thoughtful
Friends your own most savory loaves of
Gingerbread are worthy of special men
ton. Permit me to remark that those
who aid in making the lot of my soldiers
happier in their camp-lffe are comforting
a special favor upon Yr. Most obi. Hbe
Servt., G. WASHINGTON,
Com ding.
At this time two strangers, one elder
ly. the other middle aged, were guests
at the old river tavern where Polly
lived with her Aunt Nancy.
When Washington's messenger arriv-
ed. they had been two weeks under
Aunt Nancy's hospitable roof They
had announced an intention to go to
Boston by the following mornings
coach, and Polly's first thought was to
ask one of them to carry her brothers
message.
But the more she thought of it the
more she distrusted the austere strau-
gers.
NO. no." she said to herself, ''it
would not be safe. But l see Caleb's
roam horse at the blacksmith's | will
get him to carry my little box of gin
gerbread to John in Boston"
She started through the garden gate.
and there she met in the narrow path
the elder of the two guests of the tav-
ern
Mistress Polly" he said quickly. Il
have sadly torn the sleeve of my top
coat. If | might make bold to ask your
service. will you mend it for me before
goY
Certainly. good sir" she replied. Il
shall be glad to do so as soon as | re-
turn from an errand to the blacksmith
shop" And on she went.
Caleb" she said with almost defer
ence as if she were talking to Wash
ington himself, Il want to send box
of gingerbread to my brother John in
Boston by tomorrow's stage. If he
cannot be found at Uncle James Dag
gett's inn on Market square, you may
learn there where he is. You must put
it into his hands yourself. remember"
Caleb gladly consented. and after Il
few minutes chat Polly tripped back
across the field.
His eyes were not the only pair that
watched her as she went. Their entire
conversation had been overheard by a
young man with red hair who had
come by the last stage from New
York
"Oh. if only had more time to
think what is best to be done
thought poor Polly as she sat down to
write to her brother.
Her face reflected the gravity of her
thoughts as she fulfilled her promise OF
mending the torn topcoat in the tWi-
light that evening Both of the two
strange guests were present. and so
was Aunt Nancy For some moments
the elder guest watched her deft fin
gers in silence Then, fixing his eyes
upon her face, he said quietly:
Il hope the young man who came to
day brought YOU no bad tidiugs?"
"Oh. none at air. said Polly quietly
Il will tell you why asked" he
went on after Il moments pause. To
night from where | sit | have twice
seen young man about the same ag2
of the one who called today approach
the rear Of the house as if looking for
some one. Does he look for YOU"
Polly started perceptibly. \ response
was on her lips when-crash, down
came an earthen bowl in which u plant
was blooming. 1t had been knocked
from some upper window, and it's frag-
ments scattered close to the doorstep
in the hard smooth garden walk.
Polly Day. Who's in your room?'
cried Aunt Nancy.
The older guest started up the stair
way and reached the upper landing
just in time to see a slender young man
half run, half slide, down the long slop-
ing rear roof.
After the premises had been thor
oughly examined and the still excited
old lady had been led back to her seat
Polly held up a small, square parcel
which the intruder had dropped as he
sprang from the roof.
See" said Polly, holding up the
package. "The man only tried to get
the box of gingerbread that had all
ready to send to Brother John by to-
morrOw's coach. Poor man, Perhaps
he was hungry
Caleb called bright and early the next
day for his two passengers and the par
eel The neat little packag for Cap
fain Holm naV w9c stored carefully