The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-06-09

OF the first families, who always get
to do things and 60 places, instead
Of Just living back here where moth.
Ing happens" persisted poor little
Polly. almost ready to cry.
I'VE could not help the place
where we were born, but we can
help what We become" said her
mother. "See how your father keeps
as strong and tall as he can be, and
puts everything to its best advan.
tage. Do as The does, and then
whether the honor comes to you or
not at least you will be proud all
your life to know that you did your
best"
And so little Polly pansy began
trying harder than ever to do her
best. She kept her yellow dress as
fresh and spotless as sunbeam,
and she grew as straight and tall
as q queen herself could be. And
each morning, when she saw the
Girl come and choose the ones who
would have the honor of going into
the, great house, she smiled across
at her mother and said, "Some day,
we'll 60 too, won't we mother?"
And then came the great day
when Polly pansy was going to
have her great birthday. Now she
was real full grown pansy, and
all the pansy family were prepar-
ing to celebrate the great occasion.
AT the very first peep of dawn,
Polly pansy opened her eyes, plan
ming to have long glorious day
of celebration. But instead of see
ing the beautiful pink glow of
dawning in the east, only grey
light filtered through heavy clouds,
while all the west was inky black,
and there came a low muttering of
thunder.
"Oh mother" cried Polly pansy,
There's going to be terrible
thunderstorm. What shall we do?"
Her mother looked at the storm
clouds. which were rolling up faster
and faster. Then she turned to
Polly and smiled at her as she
said. "You must be brave. and
strong. dear. that's all. The storm
will be severe, and it is the first
you have met. But you have been
growing straight and tall, and now
Is the time to show what strength
you have"
But mother" cried the pansy,
for already the wind was blowing
a perfect gale, If l should be beat
en- into the ground, then the girl
never would choose me-"
Before the mother could answer,
the storm had broken. Like whirl
wind came the dashing rain.
Everywhere the Jagged lightning
seemed darling back and forth, and
constantly the crashing thunder
made the very earth tremble. In
great sheets came the driving rain,
and for a while, even hail stones.
Then It grew less and less until
finally there was quiet little driz-
zle, and the thunder rumbled faint
ly in the distance.
The pansy bed was wreck. The
first families, that had been so used
to having their members chosen for
the special honors by the Girl, had
grown lax about making their
stems straight and strong, and they
had gone down first in the great
storm.
Polly pansy and her family were
close to the house and so the wind
had not struck them as 1t had the
others, and besides they had tried
to be SO straight and tall that their
stems were strong enough to hold
them up even now, but the rain and
hail had dashed mud all over them.
Nov we never will be chosen"
moaned Polly. hanging her head in
despair.
"That doesn't matter" said her
father in his strong firm voice.
Hold up your head anyhow, and
feel how cooling this gentle rain is.
Besides. think I see the sun trying
to shine now"
The sun did shine, and no sooner
had 1t come out from behind the
clouds, than the Girl came out from
the house to see her pansy bed.
'Oh. what q beautiful yellow
pansy." she cried, so surprised that