UNIVERSITY OF

ICRTH CAROUNA
ackol of LlbiAiy
Scidaca

UNIVERSITY OF

N.C.

AT CHAPEL HILL

00022228493

This Book

ONLY, and

CENTS

may
is

be kept out

subject

a day thereafter.

the day indicated below:

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LUNC lOM-Ap 39

to
It

TWO WEEKS
fine

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Digitized by the Internet Archive

in

2012 with funding from

University of North Carolina at

Chapel

Hil

http://archive.org/details/pollyannaporter

POLLYANNA

BY THE AUTHOR
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SHE FOUND HERSELF IN THE GREAT DIM LIBRARY, WITH

JOHN PENDLETON HIMSELF SITTING NEAR HER."
(See page 211)

POLL YANNA
ELEANO%
"Miss

H.

PORTER

"Miss Billy's Decision,"

"Goss Currents," "The Turn of the Tides," etc.

Author

of

Billy,"

Illustrated by

STOCKTON

(BOSTON

COMPANY

id.

^fUCULFORD

THE PAGE
PUBLISHERS

Copyright, 1912, 1913

By The Christian Herald

Copyright, 19 13

By The Page Company

All rights reserved

First Impression, February, 1913

Forty-seventh Impression, February, 1920

(470th

Thousand)

the colonial press

.

H. SIMONDS

CO.,

BOSTON, U.

S.

A.

of
library, Univ.

North Carolina

TO

CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.

II.

III.

rv.

V.
VI.

PAGB

Miss Polly
Old Tom and Nancy
The Coming of Pollyanna

The Little Attic Room

The Game
A Question of Duty

15
27

40

49
63

Pollyanna and Punishments

Pollyanna Pays a Visit
WmcH Tells of the Man
A Surprise for Mrs. Snow
Introducing Jimmy
Before the Ladies' Aid
In Pendleton Woods
Just a Matter of Jelly
Dr. Chilton
A Red Rose and a Lace Shawl
"Just Like a Book"
.

122

138

XVIII.

Prisms

183

XIX.

Which

Is

Somewhat Surprising

XX.

WmcH

Is

More

VII.

VIIL
IX.

X.
XI.
XII.
XIII.

XIV.

XV.
XVE.

XVEL

XXI.

XXn.

Surprising

Question Answered
Sermons and Woodboxes
vii

72

86
93
107
128

147
162
173
192

198
207

217

Contents

viii
CHAPTER

PAGE

XXIII.

An Accident

229

XXIV.

John Pendleton
A Waiting Game
A Door Ajar

238

XXV.
XXVI.
XXVII.
XXVIII.

XXIX.

XXX.
XXXI.
XXXII.

249
258

Two

Visits

263

The Game and Its Players

Through an Open Window
Jimmy Takes the Helm

301

A New Uncle

306

Which

Is

a Letter from Pollyanna

274
295

309

POLLYANNA
CHAPTER

MISS POLLY

Miss Polly Harrington entered her kitchen a

Miss Polly did
Httle hurriedly this June morning.
she specially
movements
not usually make hurried
prided herself on her repose of manner. But to-day
;

she was hurrying

actually hurrying.

Nancy, washing dishes at the sink, looked up in

Nancy had been working in Miss Polly's
surprise.
kitchen only two months, but already she

knew

that

her mistress did not usually hurry.

"Nancy!"
" Yes, ma'am."

Nancy answered

cheerfully, but

continued wiping the pitcher in her hand.

" Nancy,"
Miss Polly's voice was very stern

she

still

" when I'm

ow

talking to you,
!

wish you to

Pollyanna

your work and

stop

listen

to

what

have to

say."

Nancy flushed miserably. She set the

down at once, with the cloth still about it,
nearly tipping

it

over

pitcher

which did not add

thereby
to her

composure.

"Yes, ma'am;

ma'am," she stammered,

I will,

" I

righting the pitcher, and turning hastily.

only keepin' on with

told

me

my work

you

'cause

mornin' ter hurry with

this

my

was

specially

dishes,

ye

know."

Her

mistress frowned.

" That will do, Nancy.

planations.

" Yes, ma'am."

wondering

if

I did

not

asic

for ex-

asked for your attention."

Nancy

ever in any

stifled

way

a sigh.

She was

she could please this

woman.

Nancy had never "worked out" before;

but a sick mother suddenly widowed and left with
three younger children besides Nancy herself, had
forced the girl into doing something toward their
support,

and she had been so pleased when she

found a place

in the kitchen of the great

Nancy had

house on

come from " The Corners,"

six miles away, and she knew Miss Polly Harring*
ton only as the mistress of the old Harrington home-

the

hill

stead,

and one of the wealthiest residents of the

Miss Polly

Miss Polly now as a

frowned

but who never thought

knives and doors were

When

woman who

stern, severe-faced

a knife clattered to the floor, or

if

door banged
"

She knew

That was two months before.

town.

when

you've

still.

your morning work,

finished

room
and make up

clear the

at the

little

and clean

it,

to smile even

Nancy," Miss Polly was saying now, " you

attic,

if

head of the

may

stairs in the

Sweep the room

the cot bed.

of course, after you clear out the trunks

and boxes."
" Yes, ma'am.

And where

" In the front attic."

went on

"I suppose

Nancy.

My

coming

to live

and
"

niece.

little girl

at

tell

you now,

She

is

eleven years old,

is

room."

Oh, won't that be nice

own

as well

Miss Pollyanna Whittier,

coming

the sunshine her

''

Miss Polly hesitated, then

may

with me.

will sleep in that

shall I put the things,

"

please, that I take out?

Miss Harrington ?

here.

" cried

Nancy, thinking of

little sisters

made

in the

home

The Corners."

" Nice

Well,

that

isn't

exactly the

should use," rejoined Miss Polly,

make the
am a good woman, I hope

ever, I intend to

best of
;

and

stiffly.
it,

word
''

How-

of course.

know my

duty.'*

PoUyanna

Nancy

"Of
a

colored hotly.

ma'am;

course,

little girl

here might

it

was only that

thought

might brighten things up

for you," she faltered.

"

Thank you,"

say,

however, that

of course, you

sister's child,"

somehow
little

any immediate need for

I see

that."

" But,

" I can't

rejoined the lady, dryly.

you'd

want

her,

your

ventured Nancy, vaguely feeling that

she must prepare a welcome for this lonely

stranger.

Miss Polly

lifted her chin haughtily.

" Well, really, Nancy, just because I happened

to

have a

sister

who was

silly

enough

to

marry and

bring unnecessary children into a world that was

already quite
particularly

However,

full

want

enough,
to

I can't see

how

should

have the care of them myself.

as I said before, I

hope

know my

duty.

See that you clean the corners, Nancy," she finished

sharply, as she left the room.

" Yes, ma'am,"

half -dried pitcher

sighed Nancy, picking up the

now

so cold

it

must be rinsed

again.

In her
the letter

own room. Miss

Polly took out once more

which she had received two days before

Miss Polly

from the far-away Western town, and which had

The

been so unpleasant a surprise to her.

was addressed
ville,

"

to

Miss Polly Harrington, Beldings-

Vermont; and

Dear Madam

the Rev.

letter

it

read as follows:

you that

regret to inform

John Whittier died two weeks ago,

He

ing one child, a girl eleven years old.

practically nothing else save a

few books;

you doubtless know, he was the pastor of

leavleft

for, as

this small

mission church, and had a very meagre salary.

" I believe he

but he gave

me

was your deceased

sister's

husband,

to understand the families

were not

He

on the best of terms.

for your sister's sake
child

you might wish

to take the

and bring her up among her own people

Hence

the East.

"

thought, however, that

The

little girl

am

will be all

time you get this letter;

we would

appreciate

write that she might

man and

his

it

and
very

come

wife here

soon, and they

ready to start by the

if

Pollyanna on.

you can take

much

if

who

is

are going East very

would take her with them

notified

her,

you would

at once, as there

and put her on the Beldingsville

you would be

in

writing to you.

train.

what day and

to Boston,

Of

course

train to expect

Pollyanna

6
;

'

"

Hoping

to hear favorably

from you soon,

it

remain,
" Respectfully yours,
" Jeremiah O.

With
tucked

White."

a frown Miss Polly folded the letter and

it

into

envelope.

its

She had answered

it

the

day before, and she had said she would take the

She hoped she knew her duty well

child, of course.

enough for that

disagreeable

as the task

would

be.

As

she sat now, with the letter in her hands, her

thoughts went back to her

sister,

Jennie,

who had

been this child's mother, and to the time when Jennie, as

the

a girl of twenty, had insisted upon marrying

young

strances.

minister, in spite of her family's

wanted her

him

and

the family had

to the minister;

of wealth had

more

head

preferred

The man
more money,

years, as well as

had only a young

of youth's ideals and enthusiasm, and a

heart full of love.

Jennie had preferred these

quite naturally, perhaps;

minister,

much

but Jennie had not.

to his credit, while the minister

full

remon-

There had been a man of wealth who had

so she

had married the

and had gone south with him as a home

missionary's wife.

Miss Polly
The break had come
bered

it

well,

Miss Polly remem-

then.

though she had been but a

teen, the youngest, at the time.

had

To

little

more

to

The family had

do with the missionary's wafcc

be sure, Jennie herself had written, for a time,

last baby " PoUyanna " for

and had named her

her

two

that

had written

Jennie

there

Anna

the

This had been the

died.

all

and

Polly

sisters,

babies had

girl of fif-

and

had come the news of her death,

short,

minister

heart-broken

but

dated

himself,

at

told

town

little

in

from the

note

little

time

few years

in

other

last

in

the

West.
Meanwhile, time had not stood
pants of the great house on the

looking

out

at

the

still

for the occu-

hill.

Miss Polly,

far-reaching

below,

valley

thought of the changes those twenty-five years had

brought to her.

She was forty now, and quite alone

Father, mother, sisters

now, she had been

of the thousands

all

in the w^orld.

For

were dead.

sole mistress of the

left

her by her father.

years,

house and

There were

who had openly pitied her lonely life, and

who had urged her to have some friend or compan-

people

ion to live with her;

either their

but she had not welcomed

sympathy or

their advice.

She

vvas not

PoUyanna

She liked being by

lonely, she said.

But now

preferred quiet.

herself.

Miss Polly rose with frowning face and

shut
a

lips.

She was

good woman, and

duty, but

perform

name

it.

had

closely-

was
knew her

glad, of course, that she

that she not only

sufficient

But

She

strength of character to

PoUyanna! what a

ridiculous

CHAPTER

II

OLD TOM AND NANCY

In the

little attic

room Nancy swept and scrubbed

vigorously, paying particular attention to the cor-

There were times, indeed, when the vigor

ners.

work was more

was an ardor

of a relief to her

in spite of her frightened

submission to her

she put into her

than

feelings

Nancy,

mistress,

the

was no
just

dirt

'em needs cleanin'

''

all right, all

stickin' that blessed child

little

all

"

punctuating her words with murderous jabs

of her pointed cleaning-stick.

and

efface

saint.

soul

jerkily,

hot

to

wish could dig out

corners of her
she muttered

"I

it

room with
house

this \yig

no

fire

ter pick
!

The

idea of

up here

in this

right!

'way

Unnecessary children, indeed

There's plenty of

off

in the winter, too

and choose from!

Humph

"
!

snapped

Nancy, wringing her rag so hard her fingers ached

from the strain

is

"

guess

jnost unnecessary just

it

ain't children

now, just now!

"

what

Pollyanna

10

For some time she worked

in silence

task finished, she looked about the bare

in plain disgust.

" Well,

it's

my

done

" There ain't no

is

ter put a

Oh

little

soul

room

anyhow," she sighed.

and
a pretty

mighty

there's

place this

homesick, lonesome child into " she

!

" she ejaculated, biting her

gedly
the

here

little

going out and closing the door with a bang.

finished,

"

Poor

else.

little

part,

dirt

then, her

''
:

bang

Well,

don't care.
"

I do, I

do

lip.

Then, dog-

hope she did hear

In the garden that afternoon, Nancy found a few

minutes in which to interview Old Tom,

who had

pulled the v/eeds and shovelled the paths about the

place for uncounted years.

" Mr.

Tom," began Nancy, throwing a quick

make sure she was unobserved; "did you know a little girl was comin'

glance over her shoulder to

here ter live with Miss Polly?

"A what?"

demanded the

ening his bent back with

"

"

Go on

Tom.

little girl

"

it's

true.

man,

straight-

Miss Polly."

to live with

don't ye

old

difficulty.

with yer jokin',"

Why

ter set in the east

" But

"

tell

scoffed

me

ter-morrer?

unbelieving

the sun

is

a-goin'

"

She told me so

herself,"

main-

Old
tained Nancy.

Tom and Nancy

li

and

she's eleven

''It's

her niece;

years old."

The man's jaw

*'Sho!

fell.

wonder, now," he muttered; then a

" It ain't

tender light came into his faded eyes.

but

it

must be

Miss

Jennie's

little

gal

There

wasn't none of the rest of 'em married.

Why,

must be Miss Jennie's

Glory

Nancy,

it

be ter praise!
this

"

ter think

my

of

little

gal.

old eyes a-seein'

"
!

"

Who

was Miss Jennie?

" She was an angel straight out of Heaven,"
''
breathed the man, fervently
but the old master
and missus knew her as their oldest daughter. She
was twenty when she married and went away from
;

here long years ago.

except the last one

Her

babies

all

died, I heard,

and that must be the one what's

a-comin'."

" She's eleven years old."

" Yes, she might be," nodded the old man.
" And she's goin' ter sleep in the attic

more

shame

ter

her!''

scolded

Nancy,

with

another

glance over her shoulder toward the house behind

her.

Old

Tom

frowned.

smile curved his

lips.

The next moment

a curious

Pollyanna

12
''

I'm a-wonderin' what Miss Polly

a child in the house," he

''

Humph

do with

said.

Well, /'m a-wonderin' what a child

do with Miss Polly

will

will

the house

in

"

snapped

Nancy.

The
''

old

man

laughed.

I'm afraid you

ain't

fond of Miss Polly," he

grinned.

''As

ever anybody could be fond of her!"

if

scorned Nancy.

Old
to

Tom

work
"

He

stooped and began

didn't

know about Miss

smiled oddly.

again.

guess

maybe you

Polly's love affair," he said slowly.

"

Love

affair

her!

No

and

guess nobody

else didn't, neither."

''

Oh, yes they did," nodded the old man.

the feller's livin' ter-day

"Who

is

old

eyes,

And

right in this town, too."

he?"

" I ain't a-tellin' that.

The

"

man drew

It ain't

himself erect.

as he faced the house,

fit

that I should."

In his dim blue

there w^as the loyal

servant's honest pride in the family he has served

and loved for long

''

still

But

it

years.

don't seem possible

maintained Nancy.

her and a

lover,"


Tom and Nancy

Old

==

=m
^^

Tom shook his head.

"You didn't know Miss

Old

She used

''

argued.

would be now,

she
"

Handsome

''

Yes.

Polly as

she'd

if

see

used ter be, and

it

sort of bunnits with posies in 'em,

dresses

o'

he

and

If she'd just let that tight hair of hern

wear the
kind

did,"

herself be."
"

let

out loose and careless-like, as

all

^''

handsome

ter be real

Miss Polly

is

and white things

lace

handsome!

be

she'd

all

Miss

Polly

and the

you'd

ain't

old,

Nancy."
"Ain't

she,

Well, then she's got an

though?

awfully good imitation of

sniffed

know.

It

begun then

the trouble with her lover,"

seems as

thistles

she

Nancy.

" Yes, I

it

it

if

ever since

at the

has!"

time of

nodded Old Tom; " and

she'd been feedin' on

has, she

wormwood

an'

she's that bitter an' prickly ter

deal with."

"

should say she was," declared Nancy, indig-

nantly.

" There's

how you

try!

no

wouldn't stay

wages and the folks

But some day

and when
for me.

pleasin' her,

at

some

home

day

do, of course

It will,

it

will."

nohow, no matter

if

'twa'n't for the

what's needin' 'em.

shall jest b'ile over;

it'll

be good-by

Nancy

14

PoUyanna

^
^

Old

Tom

" I know.
best,

child;

'tain't best."

shook his head.

I've felt
'tain't

And

it.

best.

It's nart'ral

Take

but

my word

'tain't

for

it,

again he bent his old head to

work before him.

" Nancy " called a sharp

the

" Y-yes, ma'am,"

ried

voice.

stammered Nancy;

toward the house.

and hur-

CHAPTER

III

THE COMING OF POLLYANNA

In due time came the telegram announcing that
Pollyanna would arrive in Beldingsville the next
day, the twenty-fifth of June, at four o'clock.

Miss

Polly read the telegram, frowned, then climbed the

stairs to the attic

She

room.

still

frowned

as she

looked about her.

The room contained

two straight-backed

a small bed, neatly made,

chairs, a

washstand, a bureau

without any mirror and a small

were no drapery curtains

no pictures on the

wall.

at the

table.

All day the sun had been

pouring down upon the roof, and the

was

like

There

dormer windows,

an oven for heat.

As

room
were no

little

there

windows had not been raised. A big

was buzzing angrily at one of them now, up and

screens, the
fly

down, up and down, trying

to get out.

Miss Polly killed the

swept

window

fly,

it

through the

(raising the sash an inch for the purpose),

15

PoUyanna

16

straightened a chair, frowned again, and left the

room.
"

Nancy," she said a few minutes

kitchen door,

''

some

time.

they come

have ordered screens, but

My

dows remain
row at four

o'clock.

the station.

Timothy

closed.

you

know, but

you

to

*'

ma'am

Yes,

says

it is

at

buggy and

light hair, red-

'

hat.'

sufficient for

you

but

meet her

will take the open

think

until

niece will arrive to-mor-

checked gingham dress, and straw

pose."

raised

to see that the win-

I desire

The telegram

drive you over.

all I

Miss Polly-

fly up-stairs in

shall expect

at the

The window must have been

anna's room.
at

found a

later,

That

is

your pur-

"

Miss Polly evidently read the pause aright, for

she frowned and said crisply:
" No, I shall not go.
should, I think.

Miss

Polly's

T hat

It is

is all."

not necessary that

And

she turned

away

arrangements for the comfort of

her niece, Pollyanna, were complete.

In the kitchen,

Nancy

sent her flatiron with a

vicious dig across the dish-towel she

''

'

Lio:ht

straw hat

ashamtd

'

hair,

ter

all

own

was

ironing.

red-checked gingham dress, and

she knov\'S, indeed
it

up, that I would,

Well, I'd be
I

would'

The Coming
and her

my

Promptly

Old

17

"
!

twenty minutes to four the next

at

afternoon Timothy and

buggy to meet
Old Tom's son.

PoUyanna

what was a-comin' from

onliest niece

'way across the continent

that if

of

Nancy drove

off in the

Timothy was
town
right-hand man,

the expected guest.

Tom

was sometimes

It

was Miss

Polly's

said in the

Timothy was her left.

Timothy was a good-natured youth, and
at

the

house,

the

two were already ,good

To-day, however, Nancy was too

friends.

her mission to be her usual talkative self;

most

a good-

Short as had been Nancy's

looking one, as well.

stay

open

in silence she

full

of

and

al-

took the drive to the station and

alighted to wait for the train.

Over and over

in

her mind she was saying

it

" light hair, red-checked dress, straw hat."

and over again she was wondering

just

Over

what

sort

of child this Pollyanna was, anyway.

" I hope for her sake she's quiet and sensible, and
don't drop knives nor

bang doors," she sighed

to

Timothy, who had sauntered up to her.

" Well,

come of

if

she

ain't,

nobody knows

what'll be-

the rest of us," grinned Timothv.

agine Miss Polly and a noisy kid!

"
SToes the whistle now
1

Gorry;

"

Im-

there

PoUyanna

18
" Oh, Timothy,

think

was mean

it

ter send

me," chattered the suddenly frightened Nancy, as

she turned and hurried to a point where she could
best watch the passengers alight at the

little station.

was not long before Nancy saw her

It

slender

two

little girl in

the red-checked

fat braids of flaxen hair

Beneath the straw

back.
little

the

gingham with

hanging down her

an eager, freckled

hat,

face turned to the right and to the

left,

plainly

searching for some one.

Nancy knew

the child at once, but not for

some

time could she control her shaking knees sufficiently

The little girl was standing quite by

herself when Nancy finally did approach her.
" Are you Miss
Pollyanna ? " she faltered.
The next moment she found herself half smothered
to

go

to her.

two gingham-clad arms.

Oh, I'm so glad, glad, glad to see you," cried

in the clasp of
*'

an eager voice

in

her ear.

''

Of

course I'm Polly-

anna, and I'm so glad you came to meet me!

hoped you would."

"You

you

wondering how

known

her

did?" stammered Nancy, vaguely

Pollyanna could possibly have

and wanted

her.

"

You

you did

she repeated, trying to straighten her hat.

" Oh, yes
and I've been wondering all the
;

"
?

way

The Coming

PoUyanna

of

here what you looked like/' cried the

dancing on her

toes,

Nancy from head

now

19
little

"

And

like

you

to foot, with her eyes.

know, and I'm glad you look just

girl,

and sweeping the embarrassed

do look."

Nancy was relieved just then to have Timothy

come up. Pollyanna's words had been most confusing.

" This

is

Maybe you have a

Timothy.

trunk,"

she stammered.
" Yes, I have," nodded Pollyanna, importantly.
" I've got a brand-new one.
The Ladies' Aid

bought

it

for

me

and

wasn't

it

lovely of them,

when they wanted the carpet so? Of course I don't

know how much red carpet a trunk could buy, but
it ought to buy some, anyhow
much as half an

aisle,

in
I

my

don't

you think?

I've got a little thing here

bag that Mr. Gray said was a check, and that

must give

Mr. Gray

is

it

to

you before

and they're lovely!

in the

could get

Mrs. Gray's husband.

of Deacon Carr's wife.

finished,

And

my

trunk.

They're cousins

came East with them,

there, here 'tis,"

she

producing the check after much fumbling

bag she

carried.

Nancy drew a long breath. Instinctively she felt

that some one had to draw one
after that speech,

Pollyanna
Then

she stole a glance at Timothy.

Timothy's

eyes were studiously turned away.

The

three were off at

last,

with Pollyanna's trunk

and Pollyanna herself snugly ensconced

in behind,

between Nancy and Timothy.

During the whole

process of getting started, the

girl

little

had kept

up an uninterrupted stream of comments and questions, until the

out of breath trying to keep up with her.

self quite

"There!
'tis

somewhat dazed Nancy found her-

Isn't this lovely?

love

to

"

Of

sha'n't mind, though, 'cause

all

the sooner,

knew

course,

as

hope
the

if 'tisn't far, I

be glad to get there

I'll

'twas going to be pretty

little

far?

What

you know.

She stopped with a

it

Pollyanna,

sighed

ride,"

wheels began to turn.

Is

a pretty street!
"
father told me

choking breath.

Nancy,

looking at her apprehensively, saw that her small

chin was quivering, and that her eyes were full of
tears.

In a moment, however, she hurried on, with

a brave lifting of her head.

" Father told

And

and

Gray
dress,

told

me

me

all

about

He

it.

remembered.

ought to have explained before.

to, at

once

about

you know, and why I'm not

said you'd think 'twas

any black things

queer.

in the last

Mrs.

gingham
black.
She

this red
in

But there weren't

missionary barrel, only

The Coming

PoUyanna

of

21

a lady's velvet basque which Deacon Carr's wife

me

said wasn't suitable for

white spots

worn,

and some other

wanted

to

you know

red

carpet

that

money ought
trying

they're

is,

it

to

hat, but the

to

go toward

get for

Mrs. White said maybe

had

both elbows,

anyway, for she didn't

just as well,

on

buy me a black dress and

church, you know.

in black

besides,

Part of the Ladies' Aid

places.

other part thought the

the

at all;

it

the

was

like children

mean, she liked the children,

of course, but not the black part."

Pollyanna paused for breath, and Nancy managed

to

stammer
" Well, I'm sure
" I'm glad

you

it

it'll

feel that

be

all

way.

right."

I do, too,"

nodded

Pollyanna, again with that choking little breath.

" Of course, 'twould have been a good deal harder
to be glad in black
''

"

Glad " gasped Nancy, surprised into an

inter-

ruption.
''

Yes

that

father's

gone

mother and the

rest of us,

must be

But

do

it,

glad.

it's

to

Heaven

you know.

He

said I

been pretty hard to

even in red gingham, because

him, so; and

to be with

to

wanted

couldn't help feeling I ought to have

him, specially as mother and the rest have

God and

"

"

PoUyanna
the angels, while

all

Ladies' Aid.

I didn't

have anybody but the

But now I'm sure

it'll

cause I've got you. Aunt Polly.

got you

be easier be-

I'm so glad I've

Nancy's aching sympathy for the poor

little

for-

lornness beside her turned suddenly into shocked

terror.

" Oh, but

but you've made an awful mistake,

" I'm only Nancy.

d-dear," she faltered.

your Aunt Polly, at

"

You

you

all

I ain't

"
!

aren't? "

stammered the

little girl,

in plain dismay.

" No.
takin'

we

I'm only Nancy.

me

ain't,

we

ain't

never thought of your

We we

for her.

a bit alike

ain't

"
!

Timothy chuckled

softly;

but

Nancy was too

disturbed to answer the merry flash from his eyes.

" But who are you ? " questioned Pollyanna.
"

You

don't look a bit like a Ladies' Aider

Timothy laughed outright

" I'm Nancy, the hired

this time.

girl.

do

except the washin' an' hard ironin'.

all

the

work

Mis' Durgin

does that."
" But there is an

Aunt Polly ?

"

demanded the

child, anxiously.

"

You

bet your life there is," cut in Timothy,

The Coming

of

PoUyanna

Pollyanna relaxed visibly.

" Oh, that's all right, then."
ment's

There was a mo-

then she went on brightly

silence,

23

"

And

do you know? I'm glad, after all, that she didn't

come to meet me; because now I've got her still
coming, and I've got you besides."
Nancy flushed. Timothy turned to her with a
quizzical smile.

" I

"

call that

Why
"I

a pretty slick compliment," he said.

don't you thank the

was

little

thinkin' about

lady?

Miss

"

Polly," fal-

tered Nancy.

Pollyanna sighed contentedly.

**

know
I

I'm so interested in her.

was, too.

she's all the aunt I've got,

had her for ever so

He

said she lived in

long.

It's

didn't

see

It

Vay

now," said Nancy.

that big white one with the green blinds, 'way

ahead."
" Oh,

how

grass

around

grass,

father told me.

a lovely great big house

on top of a hill."
" She does. You can
"

and

Then

You
know

all

seems

Nancy?

pretty
it

and what a
I

so, all at once.

"

" Yes, Miss."

lot

never saw such a

Is

of trees and
lot

my Aunt

of green

Polly rich,

PoUyanna

24
" I'm so glad.

money.

lots of

only the Whites

carpets in every

must be perfectly lovely to have

It
I

never knew any one that did have,

^they're

some

rich.

room and

They have
Does

ice-cream Sundays.
"
Polly have ice-cream Sundays ?

Aunt
Nancy shook her head. Her lips twitched. She
threw a merry look into Timothy's eyes.
" No, Miss.
Your aunt don't like ice-cream, I
guess; leastways I never saw it on her table."
Pollyanna's face

"Oh,

how
I

fell.

I'm so sorry!

doesn't she?

But

she can help liking ice-cream.

can be kinder glad about

you don't

eat can't

Mrs. White's did

of

lots

don't see

anyhow,

that, 'cause the

ice-cream

make your stomach ache

^ that

Maybe Aunt

it.

is,

I ate hers,

like

you know,

Polly has got the carpets,

though."
" Yes, she's got the carpets."
"
"

In every room ?

" Well, in almost every room," answered Nancy,

frowning suddenly
attic

room where

at the thought of that bare little

there

was no

carpet.

" Oh, I'm so glad," exulted Pollyanna.

carpets.

that

We

came

"

love

two little rugs

and one of those

didn't have any, only

in a missionan/ barrel,

had ink spots on

it.

Mrs. White had pictures, too.

The Coming

of

PoUyanna

ones of roses and

perfectly beautiful

25

little

girls

kneeling and a kitty and some lambs and a lion

not together, you

know

the

lambs and the

Oh, of course the Bible says they

they haven't yet

that

is,

lion.

will sometime, but

mean Mrs. White's

Don't you just love pictures?"

haven't.

"I

don't know," answered

Nancy

in a half-

stifled voice.

We didn't have any pictures. They don't

come in the barrels much, you know. There did
two come once, though. But one was so good
father sold it to get money to buy me some shoes
" I do.

with and the other v/as so bad

;

as soon as

we hung

And

know.

it

I cried.

up.

it fell

Glass

to pieces just
it

But I'm glad now

have any of those nice things, 'cause

Aunt
you

Polly's all the better

see.

come

Just as

it is

broke, you

v/e didn't
shall like

not being used

when

in the barrels after a lot of faded-out

My!

ones.

but

isn't

this

to 'em,

the pretty hair-ribbons

brown

a perfectly beautiful

house ? " she broke off fervently, as they turned into

the wide driveway.
It

that

was when Timothy was unloading the trunk

Nancy found an opportunity to mutter low in

his ear:

" Don't you never say nothin' ter

me

again about

"

PoUyanna

26
leavin',

Timothy Durgin.

ter leave

" Leave
"

You

You

couldn't hire

me

should say not," grinned the youth.

me

couldn't drag

away.

It'll

be more fun

here now, with that kid 'rotmd, than movin'-picture

shows, every day!"

" Fun
fun " repeated Nancy, indignantly;
" I guess it'll be somethin' more than fun for that
!

blessed child

gether
fly

and

when
guess

to for refuge.

rock,

Timothy;

them two

she'll

tries ter live ter-

be a-needin' some rock ter

Well, I'm a-goin' ter be that

am,

am!" she vowed, as she

turned and led Pollyanna up the broad

steps.

FLUNG HERSELF INTO HER AUNT

ING LAP."

SCANDALIZED, UNYIELI>=

CHAPTER IV
THE LITTLE ATTIC ROOM
Folly Harrington did not rise to meet
her niece. She looked up from her book, it is true^
as Nancy and the Httle girl appeared in the sittingroom doorway, and she held out a hand with
^m/[^jss

" duty " written large on every coldly extended

finger.

"

How

do you

no chance

do, Pollyanna?

say more.

to

''

She had

Pollyanna had

fairly

flown across the room and flung herself into her

aunt's scandalized, unyielding lap.

" Oh,
to

Aunt Polly, I don't know how

be glad enough that you let me come to live
Aunt

Polly,

with you," she w^as sobbing.

how
and
"

perfectly lovely
all this

Very

it is

af^er you've

likely

"

You

to have

don't

know

you and Nancy

had just the Ladies' Aid

*'
!

though Fve not had the pleasure

of the Ladies' Aid's acquaintance," rejoined Miss

Polly,
fingers,

stiffly,

trying to unclasp the small, clinging

and turning frowning eyes on Nancy

doorway.

" Nancy, that will do.

27

in the

You may

go.

PoUyanna

28

PoUyanna, be good enough,

in a proper

manner.

please, to stand erect

don't

know

yet

what you

look like."

PoUyanna drew back

at once, laughing a

little

hysterically.

" No,

suppose you don't

very much to look

Oh, and

freckles.

at,

but you see

Pm

not

anyway, on account of the

ought to explain about the red

gingham and the black velvet basque with white

spots on the elbows.

said
^'

Yes

well,

now what your father

Miss Polly, crisply. " You had

presume?"
Aunt

" Oh, yes, indeed.

Polly.

got so very

much

in

it

of my own,

many

lately; but there

clothes for

were

Mrs. White said she thought

You

see, father

" PoUyanna,"
sharpl}^ " there

haven't

The

mean.

little girls

in

and

ought to have those.

interrupted
is

father's books,

all

"

her

aunt

agam,

one thing that might just as

well be understood right

is,

Pve got a beau-

trunk that the Ladies' Aid gave me.

barrels haven't had

them

father

never mind

said," interrupted

a trunk,

tiful

Nancy how

told

"

away

at once;

and that

do not care to have you keep talking of your

father to me."

The

Little Attic

Eoom

29

The little girl drew in her breath tremulously.

"
you mean
She
Why, Aunt Polly, you

"

and her aunt

hesitated,

"

We

trunk

already there,
it

up

the pause.

Your

go up-stairs to your room.

will

is

to take

filled

if

presume.

I told

Timothy

You may

you had one.

follow

me, Pollyanna."

Without speaking, Pollyanna turned and

Her

lowed her aunt from the room.

brimming

with

tears,

fol-

eyes were

but her chin was bravely

high.

" After

all,

want me

to

thinking.

"

about him.

talk
It'll

reckon

about

Pm

glad she doesn't

father,"

be easier, maybe

Pollyanna was

if I

Probably, anyhow, that

don't talk

is

why

she

not to talk about him." And Pollyanna,

convinced anew of her aunt's " kindness," blinked
told

me

off the tears

and looked eagerly about

She was on the stairway now.

her.

Just ahead, her

aunt's black silk skirt rustled luxuriously.

Behind

her an open door allowed a glimpse of soft-tinted

rugs and satin-covered chairs.

Beneath her feet a

marvellous carpet was like green moss to the tread.

On

every side the

glint of

gilt

of picture frames or the

sunlight through the filmy

curtains flashed in her eyes.

mesh of

lace

Pollyanna

30

Aunt Polly," breathed the

little girl, rapturously; "what a perfectly lovely,
How awfully glad you must be
lovely house!

"Oh, Aunt

Polly,

"

you're so rich!
" Folly anna!''

ejaculated

her

sharply about as she reached

" I'm surprised at you

turning

head of the

the

making a speech

stairs.

like that to

"

aunt,

me

"
!

Why, Aunt

Polly, aren't

you ?" queried Polly-

anna, in frank wonder.

" Certainly not, Pollyanna.

hope

could not

so far forget myself as to be sinfully proud of any

Lord has seen

gift the

fit

to bestow

upon me," de-

clared the lady; "certainly not, of riches!'^

Miss Polly turned and walked down the

toward the

attic

stainvay door.

She was

now, that she had put the child in the

Her idea
away as

early

this

^it

glad,

room.

had been to get her niece as far

at first

possible

from

herself,

time place her where her

would not destroy valuable

with

attic

hall

and

childish

at the

same

heedlessness

furnishings.

Now

evident strain of vanity showing thus

was

room planned

all

for

more fortunate
her was plain and

the

that the
sensible,

thought Miss Polly.

Eagerly PoUyanna's small feet pattered behind

The
her aunt.

Still

Little Attic

Room

31

more eagerly her big blue eyes

to look in all directions at once, that

tried

no thing of

beauty or interest in this wonderful house might

Most eagerly of

be passed unseen.

all

her mind

turned to the wondrously exciting problem about to

be solved: behind which of

doors was waiting

now

tiful

room

was

to be her very

full

all

her room

these fascinating

the

dear, beau-

of curtains, rugs, and pictures, that

own?

Then, abruptly, her

aunt opened a door and ascended another stair-

way.

There was

to be seen here.

little

At

rose on either side.

bare wall

the top of the stairs, wide

reaches of shadowy space led to far corners where

the roof

came almost down

to the floor,

and where

were stacked innumerable trunks and boxes.

hot and
lifted

stifling,

too.

her head higher

breathe.

Then

open a door

Unconsciously

^it

It

was

Pollyanna

seemed so hard to

she saw that her aunt had thrown

at the right.

" There, Pollyanna, here

is

your room, and your

Have you your key? "

Pollyanna nodded dumbly.
Her eyes were

trunk

little

is

here, I see.

*^

wide and frightened.

.Her aunt frowned.

" When I ask a question, Pollyanna,

I prefer that

Pollyanna

82

you should answer aloud

not merely

with your

head."

" Yes, Aunt Polly."

" Thank you that is better.

you have

I believe

everything that you need here," she added, glancing

at the well-filled towel rack
will send

Nancy up

to help

and water

pitcher.

you unpack.

" I

Supper

at six o'clock," she finished, as she left the

is

room

and swept down-stairs.

For a moment
stood quite

she had gone Pollyanna

after

looking

still,

after

her.

Then she

turned her wide eyes to the bare wall, the bare

floor, the

the

home.

own
The

toward

it

in her

She turned them

bare windows.

last to

trunk that had stood not so long before

little

little

and

next
fell

room in
moment

the far-away Western

stumbled blindly

she

on her knees

at its side, covering

her face with her hands.

Nancy found her

minutes

there

when

she

came up a few

later.

" There,

there,

you poor lamb," she crooned,

dropping to the floor and drawing the

into her arms.

" I

was

little

girl

just a-fearin' I'd find

you

like this, like this."

Pollyanna shook her head.

^But

I'm

bad

and

wicked,

Nancy

awful

The

" I just can't

wicked," she sobbed.

God

understand that

more than

father

"

No more

stoutly.

"Oh-h!

Room

Little Attic

33

make myself

angels needed

aiid the

my

did."

they did, neither," declared Nancy,

Nancy!"

The burning horror

in

Pollyanna's eyes dried the tears.

Nancy gave a shamefaced

own

eyes vigorously.

" There, there, child,

she cried briskly.

no

time,

no

Somewhat

didn't

" Come,

we'll get inside this trunk

in

smile and rubbed her

mean

let's

it,

of course,"

have your key and

and take our your dresses

timic."

tearfully Pollyanna produced the key.

" There aren't very

many

there,

anyway," she

faltered.

"

Then

they're all the sooner unpacked," declared

Nancy.
Pollyanna gave a sudden radiant smile.
" That's so!

can be glad of

that, can't I? " she

cried.

Nancy

"Why,

stared.

of

course," she answered a

little

un-

certainly.

Nancy's capable hands made short work of unpacking the books, the patched undergarments, and

Pollyanna

34

the few pitifully unattractive dresses.

now,

bravely

smiling

flew

Pollyanna,

hanging the

about,

dresses in the closet, stacking the books on the table,

and putting away the undergarments

drawers.
" I'm sure

Don't you

it

it's

in the bureau

going to be a very nice room.

think so? " she stammered, after a while.

There was no answer.

Nancy was very

apparently, with her head in the trunk.

standing at the bureau, gazed a

little

busy,

Pollyanna,
wistfully at

the bare wall above.

"

And

can be glad there

here, too, 'cause

see

my

isn^t

where there

any looking-glass^

isn't

any glass

I can't

freckles."

Nancy made a sudden queer little sound with her

mouth
but when Pollyanna turned, her head was
in the trunk again. At one of the windows, a few

minutes

later,

Pollyanna gave a glad cry and clapped

her hands joyously.

" Oh, Nancy, I hadn't seen this before," she
breathed.

"

Look

'way

off

there,

with those

trees and the houses and that lovely church spire,

and the river shining just like silver. Why, Nancy,
there doesn't anybody need any pictures with that

to look
this

at.

room I"

Oh, I'm so glad

now

she

let

me

have

The
To

Little Attic

Room
Nancy

Pollyanna's surprise and dismay,

into tears.

35
burst

Pollyanna hurriedly crossed to her

side.

"Why, Nancy, Nancy what

she
This wasn't your room, was
is

then, fearfully

it? "

cried;

"

it?"
"

My

back the

room

"

tears.

stormed Nancy,

" If you ain't a

from Heaven, and

fore

Oh, land

if

some

hotly,

little

choking

angel straight

folks don't eat dirt be-

there's her bell

"

After which

amazing speech, Nancy sprang to her

feet,

out of the room, and went clattering

dashed

down

the

stairs.

Left alone, Pollyanna went back to her " picture," as she mentally designated the beautiful

from the window.

sash tentatively.

After a time she touched the

It

seemed as

she endure the stifling heat.

moved under her

window was wide

view

if

To

no longer could
her joy the sash

The next moment the

and Pollyanna was leaning

fingers.

open,

far out, drinking in the fresh, sweet

air.

She ran then to the other window.

soon flew up under her eager hands.

That, too,

big fly

swept past her nose, and buzzed noisily about the

Then another came, and another; but

Pollyanna paid no heed.
Pollyanna had made a
wonderful discovery
against this window a huge
room.

PoUyanna

86
tree

flung

great

branches.

To

Pollyanna they

looked Hke arms outstretched, inviting her.

Suddenly she laughed aloud.

"

I believe I

moment
ledge.

can do

it,"

she had climbed nimbly to

From

there

it

The next
the window

she chuckled.

was an easy matter

to the nearest tree-branch.

Then, clinging

monkey, she swung herself from limb to

was reached.

the lowest branch

even for
a
climbing

ground was
to

until

to the

who was

httle fearsome.

trees

like

Umb

The drop

Pollyanna,

to step

us,ejl

She took

it,

however, with bated breath, swinging from her

strong

little

soft grass.

arms, and landing on

Then

all

fours in the

she picked herself up and looked

eagerly about her.

She was

at the

Before her

back of the house.

man was working.

Beyond the garden a little path through an open
field led up a steep hill, at the top of which a lone
pine tree stood on guard beside the huge rock. To
lay a garden in which a bent old

Pollyanna, at the moment, there seemed to be just

one place

in the

world worth being

in

the

top

of that big rock.

With a run and a

skilful turn,

Pollyanna skipped

by the bent old man, threaded her way between the

a
orderly rows of green growing things, and

The

out of breath

little

through the open

began

to climb.

reached

when back

S7

the path that ran

Then, determinedly, she

field.

Already, however, she was think-

ing what a long, long

be,

Room

Little Attic

at the

way off that rock must

window it had looked so

near!

Fifteen

way

mmutes

later the great clock in the hall-

of the Harrington homestead struck

Nancy sounded

precisely the last stroke

six.

At

the bell for

supper.

One, two, three minutes passed.

frowned and tapped the

floor with her slipper.

jerkily she rose to her feet,

little

and looked

up-stairs,

Miss Polly

plainly

went

into the hall,

impatient.

For a

minute she listened intently; then she turned and

swept into the dining room.
" Nancy," she said with decision, as soon as the
little

serving-maid appeared "

you need not

my niece is

late.

No,

she added severely, as Nancy

toward the hall door. " I told her

call her,"

made a move

what time supper was, and now she will have to

suffer the consequences.
She may as well begin at
When she comes
once to learn to be punctual.
she may have bread and milk in the kitchen."
" Yes, ma'am." It was v/ell, perhaps, that Miss

down

PoUyanna

SS

Polly did not happen to be looking at Nancy's face

just then.

At the earliest possible moment after supper,

Nancy crept up the back stairs and thence to the
room.

attic
*'

Bread and milk, indeed

lamb

and when the poor

hain't only just cried herself to sleep," she

was muttering fiercely, as she softly pushed open

the door. The next moment she gave a frightened
" Where are you ?
cry.
Where've you gOT\g ?
Where have you gone?" she panted, looking in the
closet, under the bed, and even in the trunk and
down the water pitcher. Then she flew down-stairs
and out to Old
" Mr.

Tom

in the garden.

Tom, Mr. Tom,

she wailed.

that blessed child's gone,"

" She's vanished right

where she come from, poor lamb

ter give her bread

and milk

up

Heaven

me

in the kitchen

what's eatin' angel food this minute,

I'll

into

and
I'll

told

her

warrant,

warrant!"

The old man straightened up.

"Gone? Heaven?" he repeated

stupidly,

un-

consciously sv/eeping the brilliant sunset sky with

his gaze.

He

stopped, stared a

then turned with a slow grin.

do look

moment

intently,

" Well, Nancy,

like as if she'd tried ter get as

it

nigh Heaven

The
as she could,

Little Attic

and

Eoom

S9

that's a fact," he agreed, pointing

with a crooked finger to where, sharply outlined

ugainst the reddening sky, a slender, wind-blown
figure
"'

was poised on top of a huge

rock.

Well, she ain't goin' ter Heaven that

night

not

doggedly.

if
''

has

my

declared

way

ter-

Nancy,

If the mistress asks, tell her I ain't

furgettin' the dishes, but I

fl.ng

say,"

gone on a

stroll,"

she

back over her shoulder, as she sped toward

the path that led through the open

field.

CHAPTER V
THE GAME
" For the land's sake, Miss Pollyanna, whlft a
scare

up

you did give me," panted Nancy, hurrying

down which Pollyanna had

to the big rock,

regretfully
" Scare ?

slid.

Oh, I'm so sorry

but you mustn't,

reaMy, ever get scared about me, Nancy.

and the Ladies' Aid used

found
"

But

always came back

I

even

didn't

Nancy, tucking the

and nobody

all

it,

too,

Father
they

till

right."

know you'd went,"

little girl's

didn't.

through the roof;

do

to

and hurrying her down the

go,

just

cried

hand under her arm

hill.

"

I didn't see

you

guess you flew right up

do."

I do, I

Pollyanna skipped gleefully.

" I did, 'most
I

only

came down the

flew

down

instead of up.

tree."

Nancy stopped short.

-You did
what?"
" Came down the tree,

outside

40

my

window."

The Game
"

My stars and stockings

"

" I'd like ter

ing on again.
"
would say ter that

41

gasped Nancy, hurry-

know what

yer aunt

''Would you?
you can

Well,

tell

I'll

promised the

find out,"

then,

her,

girl,

little

so

cheer-

fully.

"

Mercy

" gasped Nancy.

"Why, you

don't

mean

"

No

she'd

Pollyanna, plainly disturbed.

" No
yes
well, nevei
er

ain't so

"
!

care!''

mind.

cried

very particular about knowin' what she'd

say, truly,"

stammered Nancy, determined

one scolding from Pollyanna,

*'

no

But, say,

we

better hurry.

if

to keep

nothing more.

I've got ter get

them

dishes done, ye know."

"I'll help,"

promised Pollyanna, promptly.

"Oh, Miss Pollyanna!" demurred Nancy.

For a moment there was silence. The sky was
darkening

fast.

Pollyanna took a firmer hold of her

friend's arm.

" I reckon I'm glad, after

scared

little,

'cause then

all,

that

you did get

you came after me,"

she shivered.
"
too.

Poor
I

little

lamb

Vm afraid

And you must

you'll

milk in the kitchen with

have

m.e.

ter

be hungry,

have bread and

Yer aunt

didn't like

PoUyanna

42
it

because you

come down

didn't

ter supper,

ye

know."
"

But

"

Yes

I couldn't.

but

she

was up

didn't

observed Nancy, dryly,

here."

know

stifling

sorry about the bread and milk;

" Oh, I'm not.
I'm glad."

Why,

see,"

" I'm

a chuckle.
I

am,

am."

Why?"

"Glad!
"

you

that,

I like

with you.

bread and milk, and I'd

like to eat

don't see any trouble about being glad

about that."
"

You

don't seem ter see any trouble bein' glad

about everythin'," retorted Nancy, choking a

little

over her remembrance of Pollyanna's brave attempts to like the bare

Pollyanna laughed

little attic

room.

softly.

" Well, that's the game, you know, anyway."

''ThQ

gamef'

" Yes; the

just being glad

"

Whatever

in the

"

Why,

a game.

it's
it

'

it's

lovely,"

Ladies'

game."

world are you

talkin'

Father told

rejoined Pollyanna.

always, ever since

the

'

was a

"

it

about?

to me,

and

We've played

little, little girl.

Aid, and they played

"

it

I told

some

of

them."

"W^t

is it?

I ain't

much on games, though."

The Game
PoUyanna laughed

again, but she sighed, too;

gathering twihght her face looked thin

and

in the

and

wistful.

"

43

Why, we began

it

on some crutches that came

missionary barrel."

in a

''Crutches!''

" Yes.

You

see I'd

written them so

but

wanted a

when

little

And

that's

handy

in

for

when we began

" Well, I
that,

So she

crutches had.

must say

about

dolls

came the lady

come

in,

but the

sent 'em along as they

some

child,

sometime.

it."

I can't see

any game about

Nancy,

declared

that,"

and father had

the barrel

wrote that there hadn't any

might come

doll,

almost

irri-

tably.

" Oh, yes

game was

the

to just find something

about everything to be glad about

'twas," rejoined Pollyanna,

began right then

''

no matter what

earnestly.

"

on the crutches."

Well, goodness

be glad about

you wanted a

doll

me

gettin'
"

can't see anythin' ter

it,

when

a pair of crutches

Pollyanna clapped her hands.

" There is
there is," she crowed.
couldn't see

And we

either,

with quick honesty.

Nancy, at

" Father

had

first,"

to

''

But /

she added,

tell it

to

me."

PoUyanna

44
" Well,

suppose

then,

you

me/'

tell

almost

snapped Nancy.
*'

Why,

Goosey!

need 'em!"
"

You

see

it's

" Well, of

just be glad because

just as easy

when you know'liow

the queer doin's

all

you don't

exulted PoUyanna, triumphantly.

" breathed

"
!

Nancy,

regarding PoUyanna with almost fearful eyes.

''

Oh, but

PoUyanna

it

isn't

queer

it's

"

enthusiastically.

And

ever since.

the harder

to get 'em out;

most too hard

only

And

'tis,

we've played

the

when

isn't

^^our

it

more fun

'tis

it's

al-

only sometimes

like

Heaven, and there

lovely," maintained

father goes to

anybody but a Ladies' Aid

left."

" Yes, or

when

you're put in a snippy

room

little

'way at the top of the house with nothin'

in it,"

growled Nancy.

PoUyanna
"

sighed.

That was a hard

" specially

when

one, at first," she admitted,

was so kind of lonesome.

didn't feel like playing the

game, anyway, and

Then

had been v/anting pretty things, so!

pened to think

how

the looking-glass,

the

window, too;

and

hated to see
I

I just

my

hap-

freckles in

saw that lovely picture out

so then I

things to be glad about.

knew

You

see,

I'd

found the

when

you're

The Game

45

hunting for the glad things, you sort of forget

the

other kind

the

like

you wanted, you

doll

know."
"

Humph

lump
"

"

choked Nancy, trying to swallow the

her throat.

in

Most generally

Pollyanna; " and

doesn't take so long," sighed

it

lots of

now

times

thtm without thinking, you know.

to playing

used to

like

though,
I

it

it

F-father and

so much," she faltered.

''

suppose,

be a Httle harder now, as long as

it'll

haven't anybody to play

Polly will play

think of

I've got so used

a lovely game.

It's

it.

I just

it,

it

Maybe Aunt

with.

though," she added, as an after-

thought.
"

My

and

stars

Nancy, behind her

doggedly

" See

sayin' that

that I

I'll

teeth.

here.

play

it

her! "

breathed

Then, aloud, she said

Miss

Pollyanna,

very well, and

know how, anyway;

after a fashion

"

stockings

but

I just will, I will

ain't

I ain't sayin'

play

I'll

it

with ye,

"
!

Oh, Nancy " exulted Pollyanna, giving her a

!

rapturous hug.

have fun?
"

Er

" That'll be splendid

maybe," conceded Nancy,

" But you mustn't count too

I

Won't we

"
in

open doubt.

much on me, ye know.

never was no case fur games, but I'm a-goin' ter

PoUyanna

46

make a most awful

goin'

old try on this one.

how/' she

finished,

You're

have some one

ter

as

play

ter

they

any-

v/ith,

it

entered the kitchen

together.

Pollyanna ate her bread and milk with good appetite;

then, at Nancy's suggestion, she

the sitting room,

where her aunt

Miss Polly looked up

"

"

Have you had your

Yes, Aunt Polly."

went

into

sat reading.

coldly.

supper, Pollyanna

"
?

" I'm very sorry, Pollyanna, to have been obliged

so soon to send

you

into the kitchen to eat bread

and milk."
" But I

was

real glad

you did

it^

Aunt

like

bread and milk, and Nancy, too.

feel

bad about that one

Aunt Polly

sat

Polly.

You

mustn't

bit."

suddenly a

little

more

erect in her

chair.

" Pollyanna,

it's

quite time

you were

You

in bed.

have had a hard day, and to-morrow we must plan

your hours and go over your clothing to see what
it is

necessary to get for you-

a candle.
w^ill

Be

careful

how you

be at half-past seven.

to that.

Nancy
handle

will give
it.

you

Breakfast

See that you are

down

Good-night."

Quite as a matter of course, Pollyanna came

The Game

47

and gave her an

straight to her aunt's side

affec-

tionate hug.

" I've

had such a beautiful time, so

living with

she

you

know I'm going to just love

but then, I knew I should before

Good-night," she called cheerfully, as she

came.

far/'

" I

sighed happily.

ran from the room.

" Well,

upon

half aloud.

Then
and
'

"

my

soul

What

" ejaculated Miss Polly,

a most extraordinary child

" She's

she frowned.
'

'

mustn't feel bad one

love to live

'

with

me

glad

'

and

bit,'

"
!

punished her,
she's

Well, upon

going to

my

soul

"
!

ejaculated Miss Polly again, as she took up her

book.
Fifteen minutes later, in the attic room, a lonely

sobbed into the tightly-clutched sheet:

little girl

" I

know, father-among-the-angels, I'm not play-

ing the

game one

don't believe even

bit

the

or

Aunt

be easier!

not

one

bit;

like this.

all

alone 'way off up here in

If

only

was near Nancy

Polly, or even a Ladies' Aider,

"

Down-stairs

but

you could find anything to be

glad about sleeping

dark

now

in the kitchen,

it

would

Nancy, hurrying with

her belated work, jabbed her dish-mop into the

milk pitcher, and muttered jerkily:

PoUyanna

48

" If playin' a silly- fool

you've got crutches

ter be

my way

why, I'm a-goin'

game
about bein' glad
when you want dolls
is got
o' bein'

ter play

it

that rock o' refuge

am,

am!"

CHAPTER VI
A QUESTION OF DUTY
It

was nearly seven

awoke that
dows faced

day after

first

when Pollyanna
her arrival. Her win-

o'clock

the south and the west, so she could

not see the sun yet

but she could see the hazy blue

of the morning sky, and she

promised to be a

The

little

in fresh

knew

that the day

fair one.

room was

cooler now, and the air blew

Outside, the birds were twit-

and sweet.

window
to talk to them.
She saw then that down in the
garden her aunt was already out among the rosebushes.
With rapid fingers, therefore, she made
tering joyously,

and Pollyanna flew

to the

herself ready to join her.

Down

the attic stairs sped

both doors wide open.

next

flight,

Pollyanna, leaving

Through

the hall,

down

the

then bang through the front screened-

door and around to the garden, she ran.

Aunt

Polly, with the bent old

over a rose-bush

man, was leaning

when Pollyanna, gurgling with

delight, flung herself

upon
49

her.

PoUyanna

50
" Oh,

Aunt

Aunt

Polly,

Polly, I reckon I
"

glad this morning just to be aHve!

" Folljamta! '' remonstrated the lady,

am

sternly,

pulling herself as erect as she could with a drag-

ging weight of ninety pounds hanging about her

" Is this the usual

neck.

way you

say good morn-

ing?"

The
lightly

when

saw you from

and danced

and you were

good

my

I just

The bent

old

love folks so I just can't help

my

window, Aunt

how you

got to thinking

so

toes,

up and down.

" No, only

it!

dropped to her

little girl

Polly,

and

weren't a Ladies' Aider,

really truly aunt

and you looked

come down and hug you!

had

to

man

turned his back suddenly.

Polly attempted a frown

'^

Miss

with not her usual

suc-

cess.

" Pollyanna,
this

morning.

you
I

Thomas, that
I

think

will

you understand

those rose-bushes," she said

stiffly.

Then

and walked rapidly away,

do for

about

she turned

"

Do you always work in the garden, Mr.

Man ? " asked Pollyanna, interestedly.
The man turned. His lips were twitching, but
his eyes looked blurred as

"Yes, Miss.

if

with tears.

I'm Old Tom, the gardener," he

Timidly, but as

answered.

sistible force,
let it rest

Question of Duty

moment on

are so like your mother,

see, I

impelled by an irre-

if

he reached out a shaking hand and

for a

know her when

You

51

her bright hair.

little

she was even

Miss
littler

''

You

used ter

than you be.

then."

And you knew my mother,

used ter work in the garden

Pollyanna caught her breath audibly.

"

You

did

really

when she was just a little earth angel, and not a

Heaven one? Oh, please tell me about her! " And
down plumped Pollyanna in the middle of the dirt
path by the old man's

bell

side.

ment Nancy was seen

flying out the back door.

" Miss Pollyanna, that bell

means breakfast

mornin's," she panted, pulling the

feet

and hurrying her back

times

it

The next mo-

sounded from the house.

means other meals.

that you're ter run like time

matter where ye

be.

somethin' smarter'n

But

it

"

to her

and other

always means

when ye hear

If ye don't

we

little girl

to the house

well,

it,

it'll

no

take

be ter find any thin' ter be

glad about in that " she finished, shooing Polly!

anna into the house as she would shoo an unruly

chicken into a coop.
Breakfast, for the

first five

minutes, was a silent

meal; then Miss Polly, her disapproving eyes

fol-

PoUyanna

52

lowing the airy wings of two

darting here and

flies

there over the table, said sternly

"Nancy, where did those

" I don't know, ma'am.

come from?"

flies

There wasn't one

in the

Nancy had been too excited to notice

Pollyanna's up-flung windows the afternoon before.|
" I reckon maybe they're my flies, Aunt Polly,"

kitchen."

observed Pollyanna, amiably.

them

There were

^'

lots of

morning having a beautiful time up-

this

stairs."

Nancy
so she

the

left

room

had to carry out the hot muffins she had

brought

mean? Where
" Why, Aunt

''

Polly.

them come

Polly,

Why,

Aunt

some of

You mean you

screens

raised those

"
?

there.

Polly."

muffins.

may

of doors,

There weren't any screens

yes.

Nancy, at
"

I sazv

in."

You saw them

windows without any

"

What do you

come from? "

they came from out

did they

of course, through the windows.

"

just

in.

Yours " gasped Miss

"

though to do

precipitately,

this

Her

moment, came

face

in

again with the

was grave, but very

red.

Nancy," directed her mistress, sharply, " you

set the muffins

down and go

at

once to Miss

"

Question of Duty

53

room and shut the windows. Shut the

doors, also.
Later, when your morning work is
done, go through every room with the spatter. See
that you make a thorough search."
Pollyanna's

To

her niece she said

" Pollyanna,

windows.
to

do

that.

have ordered screens for those

knew, of course, that

But

it

seems to

me

it

that

my

was

duty

you have quite

forgotten your duty."

*'

My duty?"

Pollyanna's

were wide

eyes

with wonder.
" Certainly.
it

know

it

is

warm, but

consider

your duty to keep your windows closed

Flies, Pollyanna, are

screens come.

till

those

not only un-

clean and annoying, but very dangerous to health.

After breakfast
this

"

I will

give you a

little

pamphlet on

matter to read."

To

to read

read ?

Oh, thank you. Aunt Polly.

love

Miss Polly drew in her breath audibly, then she

shut her lips together hard.
stern face,

"

Of

Aunt

frowned a

course

Polly,"

Fm

little

Pollyanna, seeing her

thoughtfully.

sorry about the duty

she apologized timidly.

windows again."
Her aunt made no reply.

forgot.

I
''

won't

raise the

She did not speak,

in-

54

PoUyanna

deed, until the meal

was

over.

Then

she rose, went

to the bookcase in the sitting room, took out a small

paper booklet, and crossed the room to her niece's

side.

" This
sire

you

will be

is

to

up

the article I spoke of, Pollyanna.

go to your room

it.

in half

at once

and read

many

an hour to look over your things."

Pollyanna, her eyes on the illustration of a

head,

de-

fly's

times magnified, cried joyously:

" Oh, thank you, Aunt Polly "

The next moment she skipped merrily from the room, banging
!

the door behind her.

Miss Polly frowned, hesitated, then crossed the

room

majestically and opened the door;

anna was already out of

but Polly-

clattering

sight,

up

the

attic stairs.

Half an hour

later

when Miss

pressing stern duty in every

stairs

and

entered

Polly, her face ex-

line,

Pollyanna's

climbed those

room,

she

was

greeted with a burst of eager enthusiasm.

" Oh, Aunt Polly, I never saw anything so perfectly lovely

and interesting

you gave me that book

suppose

flies

their feet,

in

my

to read!

life.

Pm

Why,

so glad
didn't

could carry such a lot of things on

"

and

" That will do," observed Aunt Polly, with dig-

Question of Duty

" Pollyanna,

nity.

now, and
able for

With

you

you may bring out your clothes

What

look them over.

I will

I shall

55

are not suit-

give to the Sullivans, of course.'*

visible reluctance

Pollyanna laid

pamphlet and turned toward the

down

the

closet.

" I'm afraid you'll think they're worse than the

Aid did

Ladies'

and they said they were shame-

ful," she sighed.

"

But there were mostly things

two or three

for boys and older folks in the last

barrels

and

did

you ever have a missionary

Aunt Polly?"
At her aunt's look of shocked

barrel.

anger, Pollyanna

corrected herself at once.

"

Why,

no, of course

you

"

she hurried on, with a hot blush.

folks never

times

in this

have to have them.

forgot ; rich

But you

kind of forget that you are rich

see

some-

up here

room, you know."

Miss Polly's
came.

"

Aunt Polly

didn't.

lips

parted indignantly, but no words

Pollyanna, plainly unaware that she had

said anything in the least unpleasant,

was hurrying

on.

" Well, as

was going

to say,

thing about missionary barrels

won't find

in

you

can't

except

tell

that

'em what you think you're going to

even when you think you won't.

It

was the

you

barrels

PoUyanna

56

every time, too, that were hardest to play the

on, for father

and

"

game

Just in time Pollyanna remembered that she

not to talk of her father to her aunt.

into her closet then, hurriedly,

the poor
"

aren't nice,

they'd been black

for the church;

With

and brought out

all

dresses in both her arms.

little

They

was

She dived

if it

at all,"

she choked, " and

hadn't been for the red carpet

but they're

all I've

got."

the tips of her fingers Miss Polly turned

over the conglomerate garments, so obviously

for anybody but Pollyanna.

made

Next she bestowed

frowning attention on the patched undergarments

in the

bureau drawers.

" I've got the best ones on," confessed Polly"

anna, anxiously.
set straight

through

the president

had

The

to clatter

all

Ladies'

whole.

Aid bought me one

Mrs. Jones

told 'em I should

down bare

aisles

have that

Mr. White doesn't

But they won't.

like the noise.

He's got nerves, his wife says

money,

too,

toward the carpet

know.

and they expect

he'll

but

give a lot

on account of the nerves, you

should think he'd be glad that

have the nerves he'd gut money, too;

you?"

they

themselves the rest

of their days.

he's got

she's

if

if

he did

shouldn't

Question of Duty

57

Her

Miss Pglly did not seem to hear.

scrutiny

of the undergarments finished, she turned to Polly-

anna somewhat abruptly.

''

You have

anna?

" Oh, yes.

was taught

been to school, of course, Polly-

"

Aunt Polly. Besides,

at home some, too."

fath

mean,

Miss Polly frowned.

"

Very good.

suppose

fall

you

Mr. Hall, the

here, of course.
less settle in

In the

will enter school

principal, will doubt-

which grade you belong.

Meanwhile,

ought to hear you read aloud half an

hour each day."

" I love to read

me

I'd

Aunt

Polly.

And

glad,

either,

be

to

myself

but

if

you don't want to hear

be just glad to read to myself

on

wouldn't have to

for

account

of

like

the

best

big

to

truly,

half

try

read

to

you

words,

know."
" I don't doubt

"

it,"

rejoined Miss Polly, grimly.

Have you studied music? "

" Not much.
I don't like my music

other people's, though.

piano a

little.

Miss Gray

she taught me.

not,

Aunt

Polly.

But

like

learned to play on the

she plays

for church

I'd just as soon let that

I'd rather, truly."

go as

Pollyanna

58
"

Very

likely,"

my

with

Polly,

" Nevertheless I think

slightly uplifted eyebrows.

it is

Aunt

observed

duty to see that you are properly instructed

in at least the

You

rudiments of music.

sew, of

course."

" Yes,
Ladies'

ma'am."

Pollyanna

Aid taught me

But

that.

"

sighed.
I

The

had an awful

Mrs. Jones didn't believe in holding your

time.

needle like the rest of 'em did on buttonholing,

and Mrs. White thought backstitching ought

to be

hemming (or else the other way),

and Mrs. Harriman didn't believe in putting you on

taught you before

patchwork
''

ever, at all."

Well, there will be no difficulty of that kind any

.longer, Pollyanna.
self,

I shall teach

You do

of course.

you sewing my-

know how

not

to cook, I

presume."
Pollyanna laughed suddenly.
"

They were

summer, but

just beginning to teach

hadn't got

far.

me

that this

They were more

divided up on that than they were on the sewing.

They were going

to begin

wasn't two of 'em that

guing

it

all

but there

it alike, so after ar-

one sewing-meeting, they decided to

take turns at

me

own

you know.

kitchens,

on bread;

made

one forenoon a week

in their

I'd only learned chocolate

A
fudge and
stop."

Question of Duty
though,

fig cake,

Her

soon."

when

when

had to

voice broke.

" Chocolate fudge and

Miss Polly.

59

" I think

She paused

went on slowly

''
:

we can remedy

will read aloud

that

you

that very

thought for a minute, then

in

At nine

you

indeed! " scorned

fig cake,

o'clock every

morning

one half-hour to me.

will use the time to put this

room

Before
in order.

Wednesday and Saturday forenoons, after half -past

nine, you will spend with Nancy in the kitchen,
learning to cook.

me.
I

That

shall,

Other mornings you

will

sew with

your music.

will leave the afternoons for

of course, procure a teacher at once for

you," she finished decisively, as she arose from her

chair.

Pollyanna cried out in dismay.

" Oh, but

Aunt

Polly,

Aunt

Polly,

you haven't

me any time at all just to

to live."
" To live, child
What do you mean ?

left

you weren't

living

all

the time

" Oh, of course I'd be breathing

was doing those

be living.

You

things,

Aunt

breathe

but you aren't living.

things you want to do:

all

As

if

"
!

all

the time I

Polly, but I wouldn't

the time you're asleep,

mean

living

doing the

playing outdoors, reading

(to myself, of course), climbing

hills,

talking to Mr.

PoUyanna

60

Tom

and Nancy, and finding out

in the garden,

all

about the houses and the people and everything

everywhere

all

through the perfectly lovely

came through yesterday.

Aunt

living.

Polly.

That's

Just

streets

what

breathing

call

isn't

liv-

ing!"
Miss Polly

lifted

her head

irritably.

" Pollyanna,

you are the most extraordinary

You will be allowed a proper amount of

child!

playtime, of course.
I

am

willing to do

But, surely,

my

it

seems to

me

if

duty in seeing that you have

proper care and instruction, you ought to be willing

to

do yours by seeing that that care and instruction

are not ungratefully wasted."

Pollyanna looked shocked.

" Oh,

grateful

you

Aunt

aren't

Polly,

you!

to

even

as

ever could be un-

if

Why,

you

love

Aider;

Ladies'

and

you're

an

aunt!"
"

Very

ful,"

well

then see that you don't act ungrate-

vouchsafed Miss Polly, as she turned toward

the door.

She had gone halfway down the

stairs

when a

small, unsteady voice called after her:

" Please,

of

my

Aunt

Polly,

you

things you wanted to

didn't

tell

to give

me which

away."

Question of Duty

Aunt Polly emitted a

tired sigh

61

sigh that

ascended straight to Pollyanna's ears.

"

Oh,

forgot to

town

will drive us into

noon.

Not one

my
my

duty by you

one of them."

going to hate that

Aunt

there any

business

"

should

my

niece

you appear out

let

she

word
now

in

believed she w^as

duty.

way you can

be glad about

all

''

isn't

that duty

"
?

"

Miss Polly looked up

in

dazed sur-

then, suddenly, with very red cheeks, she

turned and swept angrily

be impertinent, Pollyanna
In the hot
herself

for

Polly, please," she called wistfully,

What ?

prise;

is fit

should be very far from doing

if

Pollyanna sighed
"

at half-past one this after-

of your garments

Certainly

to wear.

Timothy

you, Pollyanna.

tell

on

little

attic

down

the stairs.

" Don't

"
!

room Pollyanna dropped

to one of the straight-backed chairs.

her, existence

To

loomed ahead one endless round of

duty.

" I don't see, really,

about that," she sighed.

she couldn't
all

tell

me

what there was impertinent

" I

was only asking her

if

something to be glad about in

that duty business."

For several minutes Pollyanna

sat in silence, her

Pollyanna

62

rueful eyes fixed on the forlorn heap of garments

on the bed.

Then, slowly, she rose and began to

put away the dresses.

" There just isn't anything to be glad about, that
I

can see," she said aloud

when

the duty's done

suddenly.

"

" unless

it's

Whereupon

to be glad

she laughed

CHAPTER

VII

POLLYANNA AND PUNISHMENTS

At

half-past one

Timothy drove Miss

o'clock

Polly and her niece to the four or five principal dry

goods

stores,

which were about half a mile from

the homestead.

Fitting Pollyanna with a

to be

more

new wardrobe proved

or less of an exciting experience for

Miss Polly came out of

concerned.

it

with the

all

feel-

ing of limp relaxation that one might have at find-

ing oneself at

last

on

solid earth after a perilous

walk across the very thin crust of

various clerks

out of

who had

Pollyanna to keep their friends

of laughter the rest of the week.

came out of
"

it

When

in gales

Pollyanna herself

with radiant smiles and a heart con-

for, as she

barrels

The

with very red faces, and enough amusing

it

stories of

tent;

a volcano.

waited upon the pair came

expressed

it

to

one of the clerks:

you haven't had anybody but missionary

and Ladies' Aiders

to dress you,

fectly lovely to just w^alk right in

63

it

is

per-

and buy clothes

PoUyanna

64
that are brand-new,

up or

down

let

and that don't have

because they don't

to be

tucked

"
fit

The shopping expedition consumed the entire

then came supper and a delightful talk

afternoon;

Tom

with Old

Nancy on

in

the garden,

and while Aunt Polly paid a

Old

and another with

the back porch, after the dishes were done,

Tom

visit to

a neighbor.

told Pollyanna wonderful things of her

made her very happy indeed; and

Nancy told her all about the little farm six miles
away at The Corners," where lived her own dear
mother, that

''

mother, and her equally dear brother and

She promised,
were
''

And

their

and
'

willing,

too,

they've got lovely names, too.

Florabelle
"

Nancy

" Oh,

\ Miss

that sometime,

Polly

Pollyanna should be taken to see them.

names," sighed Nancy.

'

sisters.

'

and

'

" They're

Estelle.'

You'll like
^

Algernon,'
just hate

'

Nancy, what a dreadful thing to say

Why?"
" Because
I

was the

read so

isn't pretty like the others.

it

first

many

You

see,

baby, and mother hadn't begun ter

stories with the pretty

names

in 'em,

then."
" But I love

Nancy,' just because

clared Pollyanna.

it's

you," de-

'
;

PoUyanna and Punishments

"

Humph

rissa
it

Well,

Mabelle

'

65

guess you could love

'

Qa-

Nancy, " and

just as well," retorted

would be a heap happier for me.

think that

"

name's just grand

Pollyanna laughed.
Well, anyhow," she chuckled, " you can be glad

*'

it

isn't

'

Hephzibah.'

"

"Hephzibah!"
" Yes.

Mrs. White's name

her

calls

when he
if

calls

out

Hep Hep

'

'

was going

the next minute he

And

Her husband

is that.

Hep,' and she doesn't like

'

She says

it.

she feels just as

'

to yell

Hurrah

she doesn't like to be hurrahed at."

Nancy's gloomy face relaxed into a broad

''

Well,

know?

if

you don't beat the Dutch

guess

never hear

I sha'n't

don't think o' that

I

am

'

Hep

glad

Hep

"

mean

Pollyanna, do you
then

about

my

Say, do you

Nancy
!

'

and

now

'

that I

giggle.

My,

She stopped short and

turned amazed eyes on the

game

'

smile.

little girl.

was you

" Say, Miss

playin' that 'ere

bein' glad I wa'n't

named

'Hephzibah'?"
Pollyanna frowned
"

Why, Nancy,

but that's
thinking,

then she laughed.

that's so

I u^as

one of the times

reckon.

You

see,

playing the

I just

you do,

did

it

game

without

lots of times

PoUyanna

66

you get so used to

it

looking

be glad about, you know.

is

for something to

And most

generally there

something about everything that you can be glad

about,

if

you keep hunting long enough

" Well,

to find it."

m-maybe," granted Nancy, with open

doubt.

At half-past eight Pollyanna went up to bed.

The screens had not yet come, and the close little
room was like an oven. With longing eyes Pollyanna looked

at the

two

she did not raise them.

fast-closed

windows

but

She undressed, folded her

clothes neatly, said her prayers, blew out her candle

and climbed

into bed.

how long

Just

she lay in sleepless misery, tossing

from side to side of

know; but it seemed

the hot

little cot,

to her that

it

she did not

must have been

hours before she finally slipped out of bed,

way

across the

Out
where

in the

the

felt

her

room and opened her door.

attic all was velvet blackness save

main

moon

flung a path of silver half-way

from the

dormer window.

across

the floor

With a

resolute ignoring of that fearsome darkness

to the right

and

east

to the left, Pollyanna

drew a quick

breath and pattered straight into that silvery path,

and on to the window.

PoUyanna and Punishments

She had hoped, vaguely, that
have a screen, but

it

window might

this

Outside, however,

did not.

was a wide world of

there

67

fairy-like beauty,

feel so

As

good

and

would

there was, too, she knew, fresh, sweet air that

and hands

to hot cheeks

she stepped nearer and peered longingly out,

she saw something else

she saw, only a

below the window, the wide,

fiat tin

little

The

Polly's sun parlor built over the porte-cochere.

sight filled her with longing.

way

roof of Miss

If only,

now, she

were out there

Fearfully she looked behind her.

somewhere, were her hot

hotter bed

room and her

which one must

outstretched, shrinking arms;

still

feel one's

while be-

fore her, out on the sun-parlor roof, were the

light

there,

but between her and them lay a horrid

desert of blackness across

way with

little

Back

and the

cool,

If only her

sweet night

bed were out there!

sleep out of doors.

And

Joel Hartley at home,

so sick with the consumption,

moon-

air.

had

folks did

who was

to sleep out of

doors.

Suddenly Pollyanna remembered that she had

seen near this attic

bags hanging from

they contained the

a row of long white

Nancy had said that
winter clothing, put away for

window
nails.

PoUyanna

68

the summer.

way

her

now, Pollyanna

felt

to these bags, selected a nice fat soft

one

little

fearfully

contained Miss Polly's sealskin coat) for a bed;

(it

and a thinner one to be doubled up for a

and

still

another (which was so thin

it

pillow,

seemed

al-

Thus equipped, Pollypattered to the moonlit window

most empty) for a covering.

anna

in

high glee

again, raised the sash, stuffed her burden through

to the roof below, then let herself

closing the

window

down

carefully behind her

anna had not forgotten those

flies

after

it,

Polly-

with the marvel-

lous feet that carried things.

How

deliciously cool

danced up and
full

it

down with

delight,

breaths of the refreshing

under her

feet crackled

Pollyanna quite

was!

with

that Pollyanna rather liked.

drawing

air.

little

The

in long,

tin

resounding snaps

She walked, indeed,

two or three times back and forth from end

it

to end

gave her such a pleasant sensation of airy

space after her hot

,so

roof

broad and

flat

little

that she

room; and the roof was

had no fear of

falling off.

Finally, with a sigh of content, she curled herself

up on the sealskin-coat mattress, arranged one bag

for a pillow

and the other for a covering, and

set-

tled herself to sleep.

"

Vm

so glad

now

that the screens didn't come,"

PoUyanna and Punishments

she

murmured, blinking up

couldn't have had this

at the stars

69
''

else I

''
!

Down-stairs in Miss Polly's room next the sun

Miss Polly herself was hurrying into dress-

parlor,

ing

gown and

ened.
in a
''

slippers, her face w^hite

and

fright-

minute before she had been telephoning

shaking voice to Timothy

Come up

lor.

quick

you and your

Somebody

lanterns.

He must

is

Bring

father.

on the roof of the sun par-

have climbed up the

rose-trellis

or

somewhere, and of course he can get right into the

house through the east window
locked
quick

the

door

in the attic.

down

here

but

have

hurry,

"
!

Some
sleep,

attic

time

was

amazed

later,

startled

Pollyanna, just dropping off to

Timothy

and a

trio of

She opened her eyes

to find

by a lantern

ejaculations.

flash,

near her, Old

at the top of a ladder

just getting

Tom

through the window, and her aunt peer-

ing out at her from behind him.

" Pollyanna,

what does

this

mean?"

cried

Aunt

Polly then.

Pollyanna blinked sleepy eyes and sat up.

'Why, Mr.
mered.

Tom Auni

" Don't look so scared

Polly!"
!

It

she

stam-

isn't that I've

got the consumption, you know, like Joel Plartley

PoUyanna

ro

was

It's

only that

the

window, Aunt Polly, so the

so hot

But

in there.

shut

couldn't carry

flies

those germ-things in."

Timothy disappeared suddenly dow^n

Old Tom, with almost equal

the ladder.

his lantern to

Miss Polly, and followed

Miss Polly

her

gone
''

bit

hard

then she said sternly

until the

Of

in here.

she ejaculated a
side,

all

son.

me

once and

at

the extraordinary children

little later,

and the lantern

back into the

his

men were

Pollyanna, hand those things to

come
her

lip

handed

precipitation,

"
!

with Pollyanna by

as,

in her hand, she

turned

attic.

To Pollyanna

the air

was

all

the

more

after that cool breath of the out of doors;

did not complain.

stifling

but she

She only drew a long quivering

sigh.

At

the top of the stairs Miss Polly jerked out

crisply

" For the rest of the night, Pollyanna, you are

to sleep in

my

bed wath me.

here to-morrow,
to keep

The

screens will be

but until then I consider

you where

know where you

it

my

duty

are."

Pollyanna drew in her breath.

"With you?
ously.

" Oh,

in

Aunt

your bed?" she cried rapturPolly,

Aunt

Polly,

how

per-

PoUyanna and Punishments

fectly lovely of

sleep with

My!

know

ahead.

reply.

Miss Polly, to

curiously helpless.

to

am

glad

now

I've

those

"

Miss Polly was stalking on

tell

the truth, vvas feeling

For the

third time since Polly-

anna's arrival, Miss Polly

and

Wouldn't you be?

screens didn't come!

There was no

not a Ladies' Aider.

reckon

wanted

I've so

some one that be-

some one sometime

longed to me, you

had them.

And when

you!

71

was punishing Pollyanna

for the third time she

with the amazing fact that

was being confronted

her punishment was

being taken as a special reward of merit.

No won-

der Miss Polly was feeling curiously helpless.

CHAPTER

VIII

POLLYANNA PAYS A
It was not long before

homestead

into

settled

life

VISIT
at the

something

Harrington
order

like

though not exactly the order that Miss Polly had

at first prescribed.

Pollyanna sewed, practised, read

aloud, and studied cooking in the kitchen,

it is

true;

but she did not give to any of these things quite

so

much time

more
it,

had

as

first

She had

been planned.

time, also, to " just live," as she expressed

for almost

all

of every afternoon from two until

six o'clock was hers to do with as she liked

provided she did not " like " to do certain things al-

ready prohibited by Aunt Polly.

It is

a question, perhaps, whether

time was given to the child as a

from work
Pollyanna.

or

relief to

as a relief to

Certainly,

as

What an

tainly the reading

leisure

Pollyanna

Aunt Polly from

those

passed, Miss Polly found occasion

ejaculate "

all this

July

first

many

days

times to

extraordinary child " and cer!

and sewing lessons found her

72

at

PoUyanna Pays a
their

day somewhat dazed and

each

conclusion

73

Visit

wholly exhausted.

Nancy,

the kitchen,

in

not dazed nor exhausted.

days came to

fared better.
She was
Wednesdays and Satur-

be, indeed, red-letter

There were no children

in the

days to her.

immediate neigh-

borhood of the Harrington homestead for Pollyanna

The house

to play with.

itself

was on the

and though there

outskirts of the village,

w^ere other

houses not far away, they did not chance to contain

any boys or

girls

ever, did not

near Pollyanna's age.

seem

This,

how-

to disturb Pollyanna in the least.

" Oh, no, I don't

mind

it

at all," she explained

''

I'm happy just to walk around and

see the streets

and the houses and watch the people.

to Nancy.

Don't you, Nancy?

I just love people.

" Well,

Nancy,

I can't

say

do

all

"

of 'em," retorted

tersely.

Almost every pleasant afternoon found Pollyanna

begging for '' an errand to run," so that she might
be off for a walk in one direction or another;

was on
Man. To

it

and

met the
him '' the

these w^alks that frequently she

herself Pollyanna always called

Man," no matter
same day.

The Man

if

she

met a dozen other men the

often wore a long black coat and a high

Pollyanna

74
silk

showing below

his hair,

gray.

things that the " just

" never

men

His face was clean shaven and rather

wore.

and

two

hat

He

walked

was always

rapidly,

which made Pollyanna vaguely

alone,

sorry for him.

was somewhat
and he

his hat,

and rather

erect,

pale,

Perhaps

it

was because of

this that

she one day spoke to him.

"How

do you do,

sir?

Isn't this a nice

day?"

she called cheerily, as she approached him.

The man threw

a hurried glance about him, then

stopped uncertainly.
" Did you speak

me ?

to

" he asked in a sharp

voice.

" Yes, sir,"

beamed Pollyanna.

''

I say, it's

a nice

day, isn't it?"

"

Eh ? Oh

Humph

" he grunted

and strode

on again.
Pollyanna laughed.

He was

such a funny man,

she thought.

The next day

she saw him again.

" 'Tisn't quite so nice as yesterday, but

it's

pretty

man

as be-

nice," she called out cheerfully.

"

Eh ? Oh

fore;

Humph

" grunted the

and once again Pollyanna laughed happily.

for the third time Pollyanna accosted him

When
in

much

the

same manner, the man stopped abruptly.

PoUyanna Pays a
" See here, child,

speaking to
" I'm

me

who

are you, and

why

are

PoUyanna Whittier, and

thought you

Now

I'm so glad you stopped.

looked lonesome.

only

you

"

every day?

we're introduced

75

Visit

don't

know your name

yet."

" Well, of

the

all

his sentence, but strode

PoUyanna looked

"

The man

on

faster than ever.

after

him with a disappointed

droop to her usually smiling

"

Maybe he

lips.

understand

didn't

did not finish

only half an introduction.

but

don't

know

that
his

was

name,

murmured, as she proceeded on her way.

PoUyanna was carrying calf's-foot jelly to Mrs.

yet," she

Snow

Miss Polly Harrington always sent

to-day.

something to Mrs.
she thought that

Snow was

it

was

it

Snow

was her

poor, sick,

duty, inasmuch as Mrs.

and a member of her church

the duty of

all

the church

look out for her, of course.

duty by Mrs.

not

She said

once a week.

members

to

Miss Polly did her

Snow usually on Thursday afternoons

personally,

but

PoUyanna had begged

promptly given

it

through

Nancy.

the privilege, and

To-day

Nancy had

to her in accordance with ]\iiss

Polly's orders.

"

And

it's

glad that

am

ter get rid of it,"

Na'ncy

PoUyanna

76

had declared
" though

But

''

it's

shame

I'd love to

"
it is,

do

" Well, you v^on't

on

ter be tuckin' the job off

poor lamb, so

ter you,

afterwards to Pollyanna;

in private

it,

it

is

Nancy."

after you've

done

once,"

it

predicted Nancy, sourly.

"Why

not?"

" Because nobody does.

If folks vi^a'n't sorry for

her there wouldn't a soul go near her from mornin'

night, she's that cantankerous.

till

All

pity

is,

her daughter what has ter take care of her."

"But, why, Nancy?"

Nancy shrugged her

shoulders.

" Well, in plain words,

has happened,

ever

Snow's

eyes.

has

Even

ter her mind.

it's

happened right

the days of the

Monday

If it's

what

just that nothin'

she wished 'twas Sunday; and

she's
if

week

Mis'

in

run

ain't

bound

ter say

you take her

jelly

you're pretty sure ter hear she wanted chicken

but

if

you did bring her chicken, she'd be

erin' for

"

lamb broth

Why, what

anna.

jest

hank-

"
!

a funny

woman," laughed

Polly-

" I think I shall like to go to see her.

must be so surprising and

and

different.

She
I

lovr

different folks."

"Humph!

Well,

Mis'

Snow's different,'

all

Pollyanna Pays a Visit

right

77

hope, for the sake of the rest of us

Nancy had

"
!

finished grimly.

Pollyanna was thinking of these remarks to-day

as she turned in at the gate of the

Her

tage.

shabby

little

cot-

eyes were quite sparkling, indeed, at the

prospect of meeting this " different " Mrs. Snow.

pale-faced, tired-looking

young

answered

girl

her knock at the door.

''How do you do?" began Pollyanna

"

politely.

I'm from Miss Polly Harrington, and I'd

like to

Mrs. Snow, please."

see
''

Well,

ever

'

if

liked

her breath
girl

'

you would, you're the

to see her,"

first

muttered the

one that

girl

under

The
this.
way through

but Pollyanna did not hear

had turned and

w^as leading the

the hall to a door at the end of

it.

In the sick-room, after the girl had ushered her

in

and closed the door, Pollyanna blinked a

little

before she could accustom her eyes to the gloom.

Then
up

woman

she saw, dimly outlined, a

in the

bed across the room.

half-sitting

Pollyanna advanced

at once.
''

How

do you do, Mrs. Snow

Aunt Polly

says

she hopes you are comfortable to-day, and she's

sent

you some

"Dear me!

calf's-foot jelly."

Jelly?" murmured a fretful voice.

PoUyanna

78
*'

Of

much

course I'm very

but

obliged,

was

hoping 'twould be lamb broth to-day."

Pollyanna frowned a
''

Why,

folks

"

"

was chicken you wanted when

it

jelly," she said.

What ? " The sick woman turned sharply.

Why, nothing, much," apologized Pollyanna,

hurriedly;

any

thought

brought you

little.

'^

and of course

difference.

it

doesn't really

only that

It's

Nancy

when we brought

chicken you wanted

lamb broth when we brought chicken

Nancy

'twas the other way, and

The

sick

woman

erect in the bed

do,

was

jelly,

and

but maybe

forgot."

pulled herself up

make
it

said

till

she sat

most unusual thing for her

though Pollyanna did not know

to

this.

"Well, Miss Impertinence, who are you?" she

demanded.
Pollyanna laughed gleefully.
" Oh. that isn't

so glad
'

'tisn't,

my

too!

Hephzibah,' wouldn't

name, Mrs. Snow

it?

Miss Polly Harrington's

live

with her.

this

morning."

That's

All through the

sick

woman had

and I'm

That would be worse than

I'm Pollyanna Whittier,
niece,

why I'm

first

and

I've

come

to

here with the jelly

part of this sentence, the

sat interestedly erect;

but at the

Pollyanna Pays a Visit

reference to the jelly she

79

back on her pillow

fell

listlessly.

"

Very

well

and

ing,

Your aunt

thank you.

my appetite

of course, but

isn't

was wanting lamb

is

very kind,

very good this morn-

She stopped

"

suddenly, then went on with an abrupt change of

subject.

''I

never slept a

v\'ink last

night

not a
^

wink!"
"

dear,

wish / didn't," sighed Pollyanna,

stand and seating her" You lose

self comfortably in the nearest chair.

placing the jelly on the

such a

lot

of time just sleeping!

so?"
" Lose

little

time

sleeping

"

Don't you think

exclaimed

the

sick

woman.
" Yes,
It

when you might be just living, you know.

seems such a pity we can't live nights, too."
Once again the woman pulled herself erect in her

bed.

" Well,

if

you

she cried.

"

Here

pull

to

do you go

up the curtain," she

know what you look

"

"
!

window and

to that

directed.
"

like

Pollyanna rose to her

little

amazing young one

ain't the

should like

feet,

but she laughed a

ruefully.

"O

dear!

then you'll see

my

freckles,

won't

PoUyanna

80

you?"
"

she sighed,

and

and you couldn't

oh

to the

" she

bed

''

Me

Why,

can see you!

Now

you can

They

didn't

Snow had

me

" scoffed the

woman, bitterly.
know it ? " cried PoUy-

didn't," retorted Mrs.

tell

"
!

Didn't you

yes.

anna.
" Well, no,

Mrs.

was dark

it

I'm so glad you wanted to see me,

''
;

pretty

window;

the

to

so glad

There!

see 'em.

you were so pretty

''

went

she

was being

broke off excitedly, as she turned back

now

because

as

when

just

Snow,

and for

lived forty years,

dryly.
fifteen

of those years she had been too busy wishing things

were different

much time

to find

to

enjoy things as

they were.
"

Oh, but your eyes are so big and dark, and your

and curly," cooed Pollyanna.

hair's all dark, too,

"

(That's one of the things I'm

love black curls.

going

have w^hen

to

got two

little

get to Heaven.)

red spots in your cheeks.

Snovv% you are pretty!

it Vv''hen
''

you looked

The

glass

should think

at yourself in the glass."

" snapped the sick

back on her pillow.

if

you was

woman,

falling

" Yes, well, I hain't done

prinkin' before the mirror these

wouldn't,

And you've
Why, Mrs.
you'd know

flat

days

much

and

on your back as

am!

you
"

PoUyanna Pays a
'*

Why,

agreed Pollyanna,

of course not,"

no,

" But

sympathetically.

81

Visit

wait

me show

just let

you," she exclaimed, skipping over to the bureau

and picking up a small hand-glass.

On

the

woman

the sick
"

way back

with a

reckon maybe,

fix your hair just a

"

she proposed.
"

Why,

bed she stopped, eyeing

to the

critical gaze.

if

you don't mind,

little

May

before

I fix

suppose

your

so,

if

I let

I'd like to

you

you want

mitted Mrs. Snow, grudgingly;

see
"

it,"

hair, please?

to,"

per-

''but 'twon't stay,

you know."
"

Oh, thank you.

love to fix people's hair,"

exulted Pollyanna, carefully laying

glass

and reaching for a comb.

to-day, of course
see

how

to take

with

pretty

it all

it,"

I'm

"

in such a

down

the hand-

sha'n't

do much

hurry for you to

you are; but some day I'm going

down and have

a perfectly lovely time

she cried, touching with soft fingers the

waving hair above the sick woman's forehead.

For five minutes Pollyanna worked swiftly,
deftly,

combing a refractory

perking up a drooping

curl

into

ruffle at the neck,

fluffiness,

or shaking

a pillow into plumpness so that the head mi':^ht have

a better pose.

Meanwhile the

sick

woman, frown-

ing prodigiously, and openly scoffing at the wh-ole

Pollyanna
procedure, was, in spite of herself, beginning to

with a

tingle

feeling perilously

near to excite-

ment.
" There

" panted Pollyanna, hastily plucking a

pink from a vase near by and tucking

dark hair where

''

Now

would give the

it

into the

it

best

reckon we're ready to be looked at

effect.

"

And

she held out the mirror in triumph.

''
Humph " grunted the sick woman, eyeing her
!

"

reflection severely.

pink ones;

but then,

like red pinks better

fade,
"

it'll

night, so what's the difference

than

anyhow, before

" But

I should think you'd be glad they did fade,"

laughed Pollyanna, " 'cause then you can have the

fun of getting some more.

I just

love your hair

fluffed out like that," she finished with a satisfied

" Don't

gaze.

"

Hm-m

you?

maybe.

"
Still

'twon't

last,

with

me

tossing back and forth on the pillow as I do."

''

Of

course not

and

I'm glad, too," nodded

Pollyanna, cheerfully, " because then I can fix

again.

black

Anyhow,

hair

should think you'd be glad

black shows up

than yellow hair

"

Maybe

but

like
I

so

much

nicer

it

it's

on a pillow

mine does."

never did

set

shows gray too soon,"

much

store

by black

retorted Mrs.

Snow.

lif

^'"'NBHfflii

'^^^H
1

Mnw
[

k.

HH^

1
\

f ^"
^-'-pr

.'^^

^.

-^b

'
i

PoUyanna Pays a
She spoke

fretfully,

but she

before her face.

" Oh, I love black hair
I

only had

Mrs.

held the mirror

still

83

Visit

should be so glad

if

sighed Pollyanna.

it,"

Snow dropped

the mirror and turned

irri-

tably.

" Well, you wouldn't

You
else

not

if

you were me.

wouldn't be glad for black hair nor anything

if

you had

to lie here all

day as

do

"
!

Pollyanna bent her brows in a thoughtful frown.

"

Why,

'twould be kind of hard

wouldn't it? " she

mused

to

do

then,

it

aloud.

"Do what?"
"
*'

bed

Be glad about things."

Be glad about things
all

your days?

retorted Mrs.

Well,

Snow.

'*

If

when

you're sick In

should say

it

you don't think

would,"
so, just

me something to be glad about that's all "

To Mrs. Snow's unbounded amazement, Polly-

tell

anna sprang

to her feet

" Oh, goody

I've got to go,

tell

it

to you.

and clapped her hands.

That'll be a

now, but

way home; and maybe

I'll

hard one

think and think

the next time I

Good-by.

won't

I've

all

come

it?

the

can

had a lovely time!

Good-by," she called again, as she tripped through

the doorway.

PoUyanna

84
" Well,

never

Now, what does

that? " ejaculated Mrs.

By and by

itor.

Snow, staring

That

little

mean by

after her vis-

she turned her head and picked

up the mirror, eyeing her

"

she

reflection critically.

thing has got a knack with hair

and no mistake," she muttered under her breath.

" I declare, I didn't

But
the

know

use?" she sighed, dropping

then, what's the

little

glass into the bedclothes,

head on the pillow

little later,

came

in,

could look so pretty.

it

fretfully.

when

the mirror

though

it

and rolling her

had

Milly, Mrs.
still

lay

been

Snow's daughter,

among

the bedclothes

hidden

carefully

from

sight.

"

Why, mother

the curtain

is

up " cried Milly,

!

dividing her amazed stare between the

window and

the pink in her mother's hair.

" Well, what

'

if it is ?

"

snapped the sick woman.

needn't stay in the dark

all

my

life, if I

am

sick,

need I?"
"

Why,

n-no, of course not," rejoined Milly, in

hasty conciliation, as she reached for the medicine

bottle.

Fve

" It's only

well,

you know very well that

tried to get you to have a lighter

and you wouldn't."

There was no reply

to this.

Mrs.

room

for ages

Snow was

pick-

PoUyanna Pays a
ing at the lace on her nightgown.

Visit

At

85

last she

spoke

fretfully.
''

should think somebody might give

nightdress
of lamb
"Why mother!"
instead

No wonder
derment.
lay

me

new

broth, for a change

"
!

Milly quite gasped aloud with bewil-

In the drawer behind her at that

two new nightdresses

that Milly for

been vainly urging her mother to wear.

moment

months had

CHAPTER

IX

WHICH TELLS OF THE MAN

It rained the next time Pollyanna saw the

She greeted him, however, with a bright

" It isn't so nice to-day,
" I'm glad

somely.
"

how

is it ?

Man.

smile.

" she called blithe-

doesn't rain always, any-

it

The man

did not even grunt this time, nor turn

Pollyanna decided that of course he did

his head.

not hear her.

The next

time,

therefore

(which

happened to be the following day), she spoke up

She thought

louder.

do

this,

his

hands behind

ground

particularly necessary to

it

anyway, for the

his

Man was

back,

which seemed,

and

his

air:

How

it isn't

and the freshly-

Pollyanna, as a special treat,

was on a morning errand

"

eyes on the

to Pollyanna, preposterous

in the face of the glorious sunshine

washed morning

striding along,

to-day.

do you do ? " she chirped.

yesterday, aren't you

86

"
?

" I'm so glad

Which

Man

Tells of the

The man stopped

87

There was an angry

abruptly.

scowl on his face.

" See here,

little girl,

this thing right

we might

now, once for

just as well settle

he began

all,"

testily.

" I've got something besides the weather to think

I

of.

know whether

don't

the sun shines or not."

Pollyanna beamed joyously.

*'

No,

sir;

thought you

That's wh}^

didn't.

told you."

well

''Yes;

What?"

Eh?

he broke

off

sharply, in sudden understanding of her words.

''

why
you know

say, that's

notice

it,

that.

if
''

told

you

it

all

the

it

so

did

and you

you were thinking of

Well, of

you would

that the sun shines,

knew you'd be glad

stopped to think of
as

and

all

you only

if

didn't look a bit

"
it!

" ejaculated the

an oddly impotent gesture.

He

man, with

started

forward

again, but after the second step he turned back,

still

frowning.
" See here,

own age

" I'd like

Nancy

why

to talk to

says.

don't you find

to, sir,
Still,

but there aren't any 'round here,

I

don't

like old folks just as well,

being used to

some one your

"
?

mind
maybe

so very
better,

the Ladies' Aid, so."

much.

sometimes

PoUyanna

88
"

Humph

The

Ladies' Aid, indeed

what you took me for?"

The man's

that

Is

lips

were

threatening to smile, but the scowl above them was

still

trying to hold them grimly stern.

Pollyanna laughed gleefully.

" Oh, no,
dies'

Aider

course

You

sir.

not but

maybe
"

liteness.

better," she

You

than you look

don't look a mite like a Lathat you're just as good, of

in hurried po-

much

nicer

"
!

The man made a queer

" Well, of

added

I'm sure you're

see,

all

noise in his throat.

the "he ejaculated again, as he

turned and strode on as before.

The next time Pollyanna met

the

Man,

his eyes

were gazing straight into hers, with a quizzical

made

rectness that

his

face look

really pleasant,

Pollyanna thought.
" Good afternoon," he greeted her a littk
''

Perhaps

sun

is

I'd better say right

anna, brightly.

stiffly.

know

the

" I

tell

me," nodded Polly-

knew you knew

it

just as soon

saw you."

"Oh, you
" Yes,

that I

shining to-day."

" But you don't have to

as I

away

di-

sir

did, did
;

your smile."

saw

you?"
it

in

yoar ey^, you know, and

Which

Man

Tells of the

39

Humph! " grunted the man, as he passed on.

The Man always spoke to Pollyanna after this,
"

and frequently he spoke

little

first,

though usually he said

but " good afternoon."

was a great

Even

however,

who chanced

surprise to Nancy,

with Pollyanna one day

that,

when

to be

was

the greeting

given.
''

Sakes

alive.

Miss Pollyanna," she gasped,

''

did

"

man speak to you?

Why, yes, he always

that

"

does

now,"

smiled

Pollyanna.

He

Do you know
Goodness
demanded
is ?
Nancy.
Pollyanna frowned and shook her head.

"

'

who

always does

he

'

"

" I reckon he forgot to

see,

my

did

part

tell

of the

me

You

one day.

introducing,

but he

didn't."

Nancy's eyes widened.

"

But he never speaks

ter

anybody, child

hain't for years, I guess, except

to,

He

for business,
lives all

ton Hill.

and

all that.

by himself

He

cook for him

when he

he

just has

He's John Pendleton.

in the big

house on Pendle-

won't even have any one 'round ter

comes

meals three times a day.

down ter
I know

the hotel for his

Sally Miner,

who

waits on him, and she says he hardly opens his head

PoUyanna

90
enough
guess

ter tell

She has

ter eat.

only

ter

be some-

it'll

She knows that without no

cheap!

thin'

what he wants

more'n half the time

it

tellin*."

Pollyanna nodded sympathetically.

"'

We

had beans and

used to say

that

is,

we

how

said

Like 'em

What

beans?"

like

he does

if

or don't?

ain't poor.

from

bills,

if

Why,

He's got loads of

John Pendleton has

There ain't nobody in town as
could eat dollar

generally.

you know, that was sixty

money,

know

most

we were we liked beans

specially when we were looking

it

Miss Pollyanna, he

took meals out a

fish balls

Does Mr. Pendleton

cents.

glad

at the roast turkey place,

''

to look for cheap things

Father and

you're poor.

We

lot.

You have

know.

when

his

rich as he

he wanted to

father.
is.

and

He
not

it."

Pollyanna giggled.
"

As if anybody could eat dollar bills and not

know it, Nancy, when they come to try to chew
'em!"

"Ho!

mean

shrugged Nancy.
that's
'*

all.

Oh,

"How

he's
''

He

ain't spendin'

He's a-savin' of
for

the

enough

rich

his

do

it,"

money,

it."

heathen,"

perfectly splendid!

te-r

surmised

Pollyanna.

That's denying your-

Which
self

Tells of the

and taking up your

cross.

Man

know;

91
father told

me."
Nancy's

lips

angry words

parted abruptly, as

there were

if

ready to come; but her eyes, rest-

all

ing on PoUyanna's jubilantly trustful

saw

face,

something that prevented the words being spoken.

'*

Humph

" she vouchsafed.

old-time interest, she went on

Then, showing her

''
:

But, say,

it

is

queer, his speakin' to you, honestly. Miss Pollyanna.

He

don't speak ter no one;

in a great big lovely

jest cross;

house

Some

things, they say.

and he

lives all alone

full

of jest grand

all

says he's crazy, and

and some says

some

he's got a skeleton in his

closet."

" Oh,

Nancy

"

shuddered Pollyanna.

can he keep such a dreadful thing?

he'd throw

Nancy

it

away

"

How

should think

"
!

chuckled,.

That Pollyanna had taken the

skeleton literally instead of figuratively, she

knew

very well; but, perversely, she refrained from correcting the mistake.

"
on.
out,

And everybody says he's miysterious," she went

" Some years he jest traA^els, week in and week
and

it's

always in heathen countries

Egypt

and Asia and the Desert of Sarah, you know."

*'

Oh, a missionary," nodded Pollyanna.

PoUyanna

92

Nancy laughed
" Well,

oddly.

didn't say that,

Miss Pollyanna.

he comes back he writes books

queer,

When

odd books,

they say, about some gimcrack he's found in them

But he don't never seem

heathen countries.

want

ter

spend no money here

jest Hvin'."

"

Of

course

not

if

he's

heathen," declared Pollyanna.

man, and

ter

leastways, not for

saving

it

" But he

he's different, too, just like

is

for

the

a funny

Mrs. Snow,

only he's a different different."

''

*'

to

Well,

guess he

is

rather," chuckled Nancy.

I'm gladder'n ever now, anyhow, that he speaks

me," sighed Pollyanna contentedly.

CHAPTER X
A SURPRISE FOR MRS. SNOW

The

next time PoMyanna went to see Mrs. Snow,

she found that lady, as at

''

It's

the

little girl

announced Milly,

first,

in a tired

Polly's,

manner;

anna found herself alone with the

" Oh,
the bed.

you,

come

it's

you,

" I

guess,

is it?

then Polly-

invalid.

from

Anyhody'd remember

they saw you once.

yesterday.

mother,"

" asked a fretful voice

remember you.
if

darkened room.

in a

from Miss

wash you had

zmnted you yesterday."

"Did you? Well, I'm glad 'tisn't any farther

away from yesterday than to-day is, then," laughed
Pollyanna, advancing cheerily into the room, and
setting her basket carefully

down on

a chair.

but aren't you dark here, though?

''

I can't see

My!
you

a bit," she cried, unhesitatingly crossing to the win-

dow and
youVe

pulling up the shade.

fixed your hair like I did

But, never

mind

"

want

oh,

to see

if

you haven't

I'm glad you haven't, after aU

PoUyanna

94
'cause
I

maybe

want you

you'll let

to see

The woman
" Just as

how

ence in

if

what

me do

The

it

tastes," she scoffed

she sighed.

now

Her

woman
don't

differ-

but she turned

"

what

" Well,

What do you want?"

sick

Why,

But

later.

make any

looks w^ould

it

skipped back to the basket.

"

stirred restlessly.

how

her eyes toward the basket.

" Guess!

it

brought you."

I've

is it ?

Pollyanna had

face

was

alight.

frowned.

want anything, as

" After

all,

they

all taste

know

alike

of,"

"
!

Pollyanna chuckled.
" This won't.
thing, v/hat

The woman
herself,

Guess

would

it

be?

If

you did want some-

"

She did not

hesitated.

realize it

but she had so long been accustomed to

wanting what she did not have, that to

state off-

hand what she did want seemed impossible

she

knew what

she had.

must say something.

until

Obviously, however, she

This extraordinary child was

waiting.
" Well, of course, there's lamb broth

" I've got

''

But

it

that's

"

" crowed Pollyanna.

what

I didn't

woman, sure now

was chicken I wanted."

want," sighed the sick

" It

of what her stomach craved.

Surprise for Mrs.

Snow

95

" Oh, I've got that, too," chuckled Pollyanna.

The woman turned

**

Both of them?

and

" Yes

''

anna.

demanded.

calf 's-foot jelly,"

was

amazement.

in

" she

bound you should have what

just

you wanted for once

Nancy and

so

of course, there's only a

some

of

of 'em!

all

triumphed Polly

fixed

it.

of each but

little

Oh,

there's

I'm so glad you did want

chicken," she went on contentedly, as she lifted the

three

from her

bovvds

little

to thinking

basket.

on the way here

"

what

You
if

see, I

got

you should

say tripe, or onions, or something like that, that I

didn't have

when

Wouldn't

I'd tried so

There was no
be trying

hard

it

have been a shame

" she

The

reply.

mentally

laughed merrily.

sick

to find

woman seemed

to

something she had

lost.

" There

I'm to leave them

all,"

announced Polly-

anna, as she arranged the three bowls in a row on

" Like enough it'll be lamb broth you
the table.

want to-morrow.

How

do you do to-day?" she

finished in polite inquiry.

"

Very poorly, thank 3^ou," murmured Mrs.

Snow, falling back into her usual listless attitude.
"

I lost

my

nap

this

morning.

door has begun music

lessons,

Nellie Higgins next

and her practising

PoUyanna

06

me

drives

ing

She was

nearly wild.

every minute

I'm sure,

at

it all

don't

the

morn-

know what

do!"

I shall

Polly nodded sympathetically.

*'

know.

It is

awful

Mrs. White had

one of my Ladies' Aiders, you know.

rheumatic fever, too, at the same time,

if

"

she could have.

Can you?

what?"
Thrash 'round move,

"Can

once

so

she

She said 'twould have been

couldn't thrash 'round.

easier

it

She had

"

you know, so as

to

change your position when the music gets too hard

to stand."

Snow
Why, of

Mrs.

stared a

"

course

little.

can

move

anywhere

in

bed," she rejoined a little irritably.

" Well, you can be glad of that, then, anyhow,
can't

you?" nodded

couldn't.

You

matic fever

''Mrs. White
when you have rheu-

Pollyanna.

can't thrash

though you want

Mrs. White says.

She

told

me

to

oned she'd have gone raving crazy

ior

Mr. White's

" Sister's

sister's ears

ears!

something awful,

afterwards she reckif it

being

hadn't been

deaf, so."
"

What do you mean?

Pollyanna laughed.
" Well, I reckon I didn't

tell

it

all,

and

I forgo/

A
you

You

know Mrs. White.

didn't

was deaf

Snow

Surprise for Mrs.

awfully

Miss White

see,

and she came

deaf;

97

to visit

'em and to help take care of Mrs. White and the

Well, they had such an awful time making

house.

her understand anything, that after that, every time

commenced

the piano

White felt so glad she could hear it,

mind so much that she did hear
couldn't help thinking

was

band's

"

You

sister.

I'd told her

too.

see, she

about

game?

The

how awful

that she didn't

it,

'cause

'twould be

and couldn't hear anything,

df-af

Mrs.

to play across the street,

she

if

she

like her hus-

was playing the game,

it."

"

Pollyanna clapped her hands.

" There

Mrs.

'most forgot

but I've thought

it

up,

what you can be glad about."

Snow

What do you mean?

"

'"

Glad about!

^'

Why, I told you I would. Don't you rememYou asked me to tell you something to be

ber?

glad about

have to

here abed

lie

"Oh!"
remember

scofifed

phantly;

you knov/, even though you did

''That?

Yes,

didn't suppose you were

I

found

in

was."

was," nodded

"and

woman.

more than

yes,

day."

all

the

but

that;

earnest any

" Oh,

glad,

it too.

Pollyanna,

trium-

But 'twas hard.

Pollyanna

98
the

It's all

And

more

I will

fun, though, always,

own

you,

'tis

Well,

really?

Snow's voice was

Then
what

got

is

it."

it?"

thought

how

glad

other folks weren't like you

this,

Mrs.

sarcastically polite.

Pollyanna drew a long breath.

"

.hard.

up, honest to true, that I couldn't

think of anything for a while.

"Did

when

that

bed

like

you could be

sick in

all

you know," she announced impressively.

Snow

Mrs.

Her

stared.

eyes were angry.

" Well, really! " she ejaculated then, in not quite

an agreeable tone of
"

And now

Fll

voice.

tell

you the game," proposed

"

Pollyanna, blithely confident.

for

you

to play

it'll

much more fun when

this."
rel,

And

It'll

be so hard.
it is

she began to

hard!

tell

be just lovely

And there's so
You see, it's like

of the missionary bar-

the crutches, and the doll that did not come.

The

story

was

just finished

when Milly appeared

at the door.

"

Your aunt

is

Avanting you. Miss Pollyanna,"

she said with dreary listlessness.

down

to the

you're to
to

" She telephoned

Harlows' across the way.

hurry

that you've got

make up before dark."

Pollyanna rose reluctantly.

some

She says
practising

A
"All
denly

Surprise for Mrs.

right,"

she sighed.
" I

laughed.

she

Snow

ought to be

glad I've got legs to hurry with, hadn't

Snow?

Sud-

hurry."

"I'll

suppose

99

I,

Mrs..

"

There was no answer.

Mrs. Snow's eyes were

But Milly, whose eyes were wide open with

closed.

saw that there were

surprise,

tears on the wasted

cheeks.

" Good-by," flung Pollyanna over her shoulder,

" I'm awfully sorry about

as she reached the door.

the hair
"

time

wanted

do

to

it.

But maybe

can next

One by one

the July days passed.

they were happy days, indeed.

aunt, joyously, hov/ very

Very

To

Pollyanna,

She often told her

happy they were.

upon her aunt would usually

"

well, Pollyanna.

Where-

reply, wearily

am

gratified, of course,

that they are happy; but I trust that they are profitable, as well

nally in

my

otherwise

should have failed sig-

duty."

Generally Pollyanna would answer this with

hug and a

kiss

a proceeding

most disconcerting
spoke.

"

It

to

that

was

still

ai

always

Miss Polly; but one day she

was during the sewing hour.

Do you mean

that

it

wouldn't be enough then.

Pollyanna

100

Aunt

happy days?

Polly, that they should be just

"

she asked wistfully.

" That is what I mean, Pollyanna."
**

They must

be pro-fi-ta-ble as well ?

"

" Certainly."
"

What
"Why,

is
it

being pro-fi-ta-ble?

an extraordinary
"

just being profitable

it's

something to show for

profit,

Then

"

What

Pollyanna.

it,

you are

child

having

"
!

just being glad isn't pro-fi-ta-ble? " ques-

tioned Pollyanna, a

little

anxiously.

" Certainly not."

"

dear

Then you wouldn't

like

it,

of course.

I'm afraid, now, you won't ever play the game,

Aunt

Polly."

"Game? What game?"

"
"Why, that father

hand

Pollyanna clapped her

" N-nothing," she stammered.

to her lips.

Miss Polly frowned.

"

That

will

said tersely.
It

was

do for

And

this

morning, Pollyanna," she

the sewing lesson

that afternoon that

down from

her

attic

was

over.

Pollyanna, coming

room, met her aunt on the

stairway.

"

Why, Aunt Polly, how perfectly lovely " she

" You were coming up to see me
Come
cried.
!

A
right

in.

up the

lOl

love company," she finished, scampering

stairs

Now

Snow

Surprise for Mrs.

and throwing her door wide open.

Miss Polly had not been intending to

on her

She had been planning

niece.

call

to look for

a certain white wool shawl in the cedar chest near

the east

window.

now, she found

But to her unbounded surprise

herself,

not in the main

the cedar chest, but in Pollyanna's

in

little

one of the straight-backed chairs

many

attic

before

room

sitting

so

many,

times since Pollyanna came. Miss Polly had

found herself

like this,

doing some utterly unex-

pected, surprising thing, quite unlike the thing she

had

set out to

do!

" I love company," said Pollyanna, again, flitting

she were dispensing the hospitality of a

about as

if

palace;

"specially since I've had this room,

mine, you know.

Oh, of course,

all

had a room,

always, but 'twas a hired room, and hired rooms

aren't half as nice as

of course
*'

Why,

do own

y-yes, Pollyanna,"

vaguely wondering

^nd go
"
if it

owned

ones, are they?

"

this one, don't I

why

And

murmured Miss

Polly,

she did not get up at once

to look for that shawl.

And

of course nozv

just love this room, even

hasn't got the carpets and curtains and pictures

that I'd been

want " With

a painful blush PoUv-

PoUyanna

102

anna stopped

She was plunging

short.

an en-

into

when her aunt

tirely different sentence

interrupted

her sharply.

"What's
''

that,

Pollyanna?"

N-nothing, Aunt Polly, truly.

to say

I didn't

"Probably not," returned Miss

" but you did say
of

mean

it."

it,

Polly,

coldly;

we have the rest

so suppose

it."

" But

it

wasn't anything only that I'd been kind

of planning on pretty carpets and lace curtains and

you know.

things,

But, of course

"

" Planning on them " interrupted Miss Polly,

!

sharply.

Pollyanna blushed
"

still

more

painfully.

ought not to have, of course. Aunt Polly,"

she apologized.

" It

was only because

wanted them and hadn't had them,

I'd

ahvays

suppose.

Oh,

we'd had two rugs in the barrels, but they were

little,

you know, and one had ink

other holes;
pictures
sold,

and there never were only those two

the one fath

mean

the

all

course

that I shouldn't have

pretty things, I

have got to planning

good one we

Of

and the bad one that broke.

hadn't been for

them, so

and the

spots,

all

mean

and

through the

if it

wanted

shouldn't

hall that first

Surprise for Mrs.

day how pretty mine would be

Aunt

But, truly.

Polly,

and

here,

'

lOS

and

wasn't but just a minute

it

mean, a few minutes

Snow

before

was being

glad that the bureau didn't have a looking-glass,

because

show

didn't

it

my

and there

freckles;

couldn'L be a nicer picture than the one out

window
that

and you've been so good

there;

"

Miss Polly rose suddenly

was very

Her

to her feet.

face

red.

" That

"

my

to me,

will

You have

do,

Pollyanna,"

she

said

said quite enough, I'm sure."

minute she had swept down the

stairs

until she reached the first floor did

it

to her that she

had gone up

white wool shawl

stiffly.

The next

and

not

suddenly occur

into the attic to find a

in the cedar chest

near the east

window.
Less than twenty-four hours
said to

later.

" Nancy,

you may move Miss Pollyanna's things

down-stairs this morning to the

neath.

Miss Polly

Nancy, crisply

have decided to have

room

my

directly be-

niece sleep there

for the present."

" Yes, ma'am," said Nancy aloud.

"

To

glory! " said

Nancy

Pollyanna, a minute

to herself.
later,

she cried joyously:

PoUyanna

104
"

And

won't ye jest be

You're

Pollyanna.

room

straight under this.

Miss

ter this,

listenin'

sleep

ter

down-stairs

the
"

in

You are you are

Pollyanna actually grew white.

"

You mean

why,

Nancy, not

really

really

and truly?"
" I guess you'll think

it's

esied Nancy, exultingly,

really

and

truly," proph-

nodding her head to Polly-

anna over the armful of dresses she had taken from

the closet.

Fm

and

"

I'm told ter take down yer things,

goin' ter take 'em, too, 'fore she gets a

chance ter change her mind."

Pollyanna did not stop to hear the end of this

At

sentence.

the imminent risk of being dashed

headlong, she was flying down-stairs, two steps at

a time.

Bang went two doors and

anna
''

Why,

Polly.

and curtains and three

way.

Oh, Aunt Polly

Very

like the

much

of

car-

pictures, besides the

one

windows look the same

"
!

well, Pollyanna.

change, of course;
all

it,

the

that room's got everything

outdoors, too, 'cause the

"

a chair before Polly-

Aunt

Oh, Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly, did you mean

really

pet

at last reached her goal

those things,

am
but

I trust

gratified that
if

you

you

you think so

will take

proper

Surprise for Mrs.

care of them; that's

she

105

Pollyanna, please pick up

all.

and you have banged two doors

that chair;

Miss Polly spoke

last half-minute."

more

Snow

some

sternly because, for

cry

felt inclined to

and

in the

sternly, all the

inexplicable reason,

Miss Polly was not

used to feeling inclined to cry.

Pollyanna picked up the chair.

"

Yes'm

know

banged 'em
"

she admitted cheerfully.

out about the room, and

doors

if

"

" I hope

You

doors,"

see I'd just found

reckon you'd have banged

Pollyanna stopped short and eyed her

aunt with new

bang doors ?

those

interest.

''

Aunt

you ever

Polly, did

"

not, Pollyanna! "

Miss Polly's voice

was properly shocked.

"

Why, Aunt

Polly,

what a shame

"

Polly-

anna's face expressed only concerned sympathy.

"
shame! " repeated Aunt Polly, too dazed to

say more.
" Why, yes.

You

see, if

you'd

banging

felt like

doors you'd have banged 'em, of course;

you
ever

didn't, that

glad

over

banged 'em.

and

if

must have meant that you weren't

anything

You

or

you would have

couldn't have helped

it.

And

I'm so sorry you weren't ever glad over anything

"
!

"Pollyanna!" gasped the lady; but Pollyanna

PoUyanna

106

was gone, and only

the distant

bang of the

stairway door answered for her.

gone

to help

Nancy bring down

Miss Polly,
turbed;

but

in the sitting

''

Pollyanna had

her things."

room,

then, of course she

over some things I

attic-

felt

vaguely

dis-

had been glad

CHAPTER

XI

INTRODUCING JIMMV

August

August brought several

came.

prises

and some changes

were

really

none of which, however,

Nancy, since

a surprise to Nancy.

Pollyanna's arrival, had

sur-

come

to look for surprises

and changes.
First there

was

the kitten.

Pollyanna found the kitten mewing

distance

down

When

the road.

some

pitifully

systematic ques-

who

tioning of the neighbors failed to find any one

claimed

it,

Pollyanna brought

a matter of course.
" And I was glad

owned

it,

dence

" 'cause I

time.

it

home

didn't find

any one who

too," she told her aunt in

wanted to bring

I love kitties.

at once, as

it

knew you'd be

happy

home

confiall

glad to

the

let it

live here."

Miss Polly looked at the forlorn

little

gray bunch

of neglected misery in Pollyanna's arms, and shiv107

Pollyanna

108
ered

Miss Polly did not care for cats

not even

pretty, healthy, clean ones.

"Ugh! Pollyanna! What a dirty little beast!

And it's sick, I'm sure, and all mangy and fieay."
" I

know

it,

poor

thing," crooned Pollyanna,

little

tenderly, looking into the

eyes.

"

You

see

keep
"

it,

No

And

trembly, too,

all

it's

creature's frightened

little

so scared.

it's

doesn't know, yet, that we're going to

it

of course."

nor anybody

Miss Polly,

else," retorted

with meaning emphasis.

"

Oh,

yes, they do,"

nodded Pollyanna,

misunderstanding her aunt's words.

body we should keep

it,

if I

''

didn't find

I told

every-

where

I knew you'd be glad to have

lonesome thing "

longed.
little

entirel>

it

it

be-

poor

Miss Polly opened her

but in vain.

The

lips

and

tried to speak;

curious helpless feeling that had

been hers so often since Pollyanna's arrival, had

her

"

now fast in
Of course

its grip.

some

kitty

taken

me

asked

if

knew," hurried on Pollyanna,

gratefully, " that

you wouldn't

let

a dear

little

lone-

go hunting for a home when you'd just

and I said so to Mrs. Ford when she

in;

you'd

let

me

keep

it.

Why,

had the

Ladies' Aid, you know, and kitty didn't have any-

Introducing

Jimmy

109

body.

f-

knew you'd feel that way," she nodded

from the room.

happily, as she ran

" But, Pollyanna, Pollyanna," remonstrated Miss

" I don't

Polly.

"

But Pollyanna was

alread)'

halfway to the kitchen, calling

" Nancy,
that

me

Nancy, just see

this

dear

little

kitty

Aunt Polly is going to bring up along with

who
And Aunt Polly, in the sitting room

"

abhorred cats

fell

back

in her chair

with a gasp

of dismay, powerless to remonstrate.

The next day

was a dog, even dirtier and mor^

perhaps, than was the kitten; and again

forlorn,

it

Miss Polly, to her dumfounded amazement, found

herself figuring as a kind protector

mercy

role

that

and an angel of

Pollyanna so unhesitatingly

thrust upon her as a matter of course, that the

woman
did

who abhorred dogs even more than

found herself as

cats,

if

possible

she

before,

powerless to remonstrate.

When,

in less

than a week, however, Pollyanna

brought home a small, ragged boy, and confidently

claimed the same protection for him, Miss Polly
did have something to say.

It

happened after

this

wise.

On

a pleasant Thursday morning Pollyanna had

been taking calfs-foot

jelly

again to Mrs. Snow,

PoUyanna

110
Mrs.

Snow and Pollyanna were

the best of friends

now.

Their friendship had started from the third

visit

Pollyanna had made, the one after she had

told Mrs.

Snow

was playing
sure, she

the

of the game.

Mrs.

game now, with

was not playing

it

Snow

herself

To

Pollyanna.

very well

she

been sorry for everything for so long, that

be

had

was

it

But under

not easy to be glad for anything now.

Pollyanna's cheery instructions and merry laughter

at her mistakes,

she was learning fast.

To-day,

even, to Pollyanna's huge delight, she had said that

she

was glad Pollyanna brought

calf's-foot jelly,

because that was just what she had been wanting

she did not

know

that Milly, at the front door,

told Pollyanna that the minister's wife

had

had already

same

that day sent over a great bowlful of that

kind of

jelly.

now when

sud-

sitting in a disconsolate little

heap

Pollyanna was thinking of

this

denly she saw the boy.

The boy was

by the roadside, whittling half-heartedly

at

a small

stick.
''

Hullo," smiled Pollyanna, engagingly.

The boy glanced

up, but he looked

at once.

" Hullo yourself," he mumbled.

away

again,

Introducing

Jimmy

ill

Pollyanna laughed.
"

Now

you don't look as

if

you'd be glad even

for calf's-foot jelly," she chuckled, stopping before

him.

The boy
prised
stick,

stirred

restlessly,

and began

look,

with the

to

gave

her

sur-

again at his

whittle

broken-bladed knife in his

dull,

hand.

Pollyanna hesitated, then dropped herself comfortably dov/n on the grass near him.

In spite of

Pollyanna's brave assertion that she was

Ladies' Aiders," and
at

times

for

" didn't mind," she

''

used to

had sighed

some companion of her own

Hence her determination

to

make

age.

the most of this

one.

"

My

name's Pollyanna Whittier," she began

pleasantly.

"

What's yours ? "

Again the boy

stirred restlessly.

He

even almost

got to his feet. But he settled back.

" Jlmmiy Bean," he grunted with ungracious indifference.

"

Good

Now

did your part

live at

you

we're introduced.

some

folks don't,

I'm glad you

you know.

Miss Polly Harrington's house.

live ?

"

" Nowhere.'^

Where do

PoUyanna

112
"

Nowhere

body

can't

do that

every-

somewhere," asserted Pollyanna.

lives

"Well,

new

Why, you

don't

just

I'm huntin' up a

now.

place."

"Oh! Where

is

it?"

The boy regarded her with scornful eyes.

"Silly!
As if I'd be a-huntin' for it
knew!"
Pollyanna tossed her head a

and she did not

a nice boy,

"Where
" Well,
tions

did you live

if

you

be called "

old

he was somebody besides

Still,

before?"

ain't the

if

This was not

Httle.

like to

silly."

folks.

she queried.

beat'em for askin' ques-

" sighed the boy impatiently.

" I have to be," retorted Poll3^anna calmly, " else

I

couldn't find out a thing about you.

If

you'd

more I wouldn't talk so much."

The boy gave a short laugh. It was a

sheepish

talk

laugh, and not quite a willing one;

looked

little

pleasanter

time.

" All right then

here goes

and I'm ten years old goin' on

last

year ter

they've got so

me, an'

at

live

many

wf^'n"t

the

but his face

when he spoke
I'm

Jimmy Bean,

eleven.

come

Home;
much room

Orphans'

kids there ain't

this

never wanted, anyhow,

but
for

don't

'

OH,

KNOW

JUST THE PLACE FOR YOU,' SHE CRIED."

Introducing
So

believe.

else

a mother in

dad

folks

an' I hain't

but

they

didn't

you want

broken a

ter

little

know?"

over the

last

know,
If ye

two

There!

too,

there

take

"

Is that

sentences.

Pollyanna.

Aid for me,

boy's voice had

died,

though

Why, what a shame " sympathized

" And didn't there anybody want you ?
know just how you feel, because after
father

has a

I've tried four

"

Ladies'

v^ith

folks since

want me

The

I'd

place, yet.

had

said I expected ter work, 'course.

all

some-

live

one, ye

So I'm a-huntin' now.

died.

houses,

common

instead of a Matron.

it,

home, ye has

found the

I hain't

jest

like

lis

I'm goin' ter

I've quit.

but
wheres
a home

Jimmy

dear
after

my

wasn't anybody but the

until

Aunt Polly

Pollyanna stopped abruptly.

said she'd

The dawn-

ing of a wonderful idea began to show in her

face.

" Oh,
"

Aunt

she

know

just the place for you," she cried.

you

take

Buffy,

or any place to go
dogs.

You

Didn't
I know she will
me? And didn't she take Fluffy and
when they didn't have any one to love them,
Polly'll take

and

they're only cats

I know Aunt Polly'll take you!

know how good and kind she is "

Oh, come,
don't

and

'Jimmy Bean's thin

little

face brightened

PoUyanna

114

Would

"Honest Injun?
ye know,

now?

she,

He

an' I'm real strong! "

work,

I'd

bared a small,

bony arm.
"

Of

course she would!

Why, my Aunt Polly is

now that my mama

the nicest lady in the world

has gone to be a Heaven angel.

heaps
feet,

And

there's

and tugging

"

at his arm.

an awful big

It's

Maybe, though," she added a

house.

rooms

of 'em," she continued, springing to her

iously, as they hurried on, "

sleep in the attic room.

maybe

little

have to

you'll

But

I did, at first.

there's

screens there now, so 'twon't be so hot, and the

can't get

in, either,

fectly lovely!
if

you're good

Maybe

got freckles, too,"

she'll let

mean,

so

is

if

with

you'll be glad there isn't

outdoor picture

flies

to bring in the germ-things

Did you know about that?

their feet.

anx-

It's

And

a critical glance

any looking-glass

you won't mind sleeping

per-

you read the book

you're bad.

nicer than

on

you've

" so

and the

any wall-one could

in that

room

at

all,

be,

I'm

sure," panted Pollyanna, finding suddenly that she

needed the

rest of

her breath for purposes other

than talking.
" Gorry " exclaimed
!

uncomprehendingly,

added

Jimmy Bean

but

" I shouldn't think

tersely

and

Then

he

anybody vAio could

talk

admiringly.

Introducing
like that, runrxin',

ter

would need

up time with

fill

Jimmy

115

ter ask

no questions

"
!

Pollyanna laughed.
" Well, anyhow, you can be glad of that," she

"for when I'm

retorted;

have

talking, you, don't

to!"

When

the house

was reached, Pollyanna unhesi-

tatingly piloted her

companion straight

presence of her amazed aunt.

" Oh, Aunt Polly," she triumphed.
a-here

a real live boy.

in the attic, at first,

work; but
play with,

I shall
I

He

you

won't mind a

the

" Just look

something ever so much

I've got

even, than Fluffy and Buffy for

It's

into

nicer,

to bring up.
bit sleeping

you know, and he says

he'll

need him the most of the time to

reckon."

Miss Polly grew white, then very

red.

She did

not quite understand; but she thought she understood enough.

" Pollyanna,
dirty

little

what does

boy?

Where

demanded sharply.
The " dirty little boy
looked toward the door.
rily.

this

mean?

did you find

"

fell

Who

is

this

him?"

she

back a step and

Poilyanna laughed mer=

PoUyanna

116
" There,

didn't forget to

if I

I'm as bad as the Man.

he?

mean, the boy

and

improve

Oh,

all

what

is

"Why, Aunt

And

he

just like Fluffy

dirty, too, isn't

is

But

in.

and

reckon

by washing, just as they

is

Jimmy Bean, Aunt

did,

he doing here ?

you!"

Polly, I just told

brought him home

Polly."

"

Polly-

" He's for

anna's eyes were wide with surprise.

you.

name

'most forgot again," she broke off

" This

with a laugh.
" Well,

right

his

is

Buffy were when you took them

he'll

you

tell

so he could live here,

He wants a home and folks. I told

him how good you were to me, and to Fluffy and
Buffy, and that I knew you would be to him, beyou know.

cause of course he's even nicer than cats and dogs."

Miss Polly dropped back

in

her chair and raised

The

a shaking hand to her throat.

was threatening once more

to

old helplessness

overcome

her.

With

a visible struggle, however. Miss Polly pulled herself

suddenly

erect.

" That will do, Pollyanna.

most absurd thing you've done

cats

This
yet.

is

As

little

if

the

tramp

and mangy dogs weren't bad enough but you

must needs bring home ragged

the street,

who

little

beggars from

"

There was a sudden

stir

from the boy.

His eyes

Jimmy

Introducing
and

flashed

his sturdy

his chin

came

With two

up.

strides of

Miss Polly fear-

legs he confronted

little

117

lessly.
**

o'

I ain't a beggar,

you.

was

if this 'ere girl

me how you was

hadn't

good

so

me

you'd be jest dyin' ter take

And

want nothin'

my

wouldn't have come ter your old

house, anyhow,

an' I don't

ter work, of course, fur

cal'latin'

board an' keep.

a-tellin'

marm,

'a'

made me,

an' kind that

So, there!"

in.

he wheeled about and stalked from the

room

with a dignity that would have been absurd had

not been so
" Oh,

it

pitiful.

Aunt

"

Polly," choked Pollyanna.

thought you'd be glad to have him here

should think you'd be glad

Why,

I'm sure,

"

Miss Polly raised her hand with a peremptory

gesture of silence.

The

at last.

were

still

"

Miss Polly's nerves had snapped

good and kind

" of the boy's

ringing in her ears, and the old helpless-

ness

was almost upon

lied

her forces with the

her, she
last

knew.

using that everlasting word

glad

think

'

'

glad

I shall

From

'

'

glad

from morning
"

Yet she

atom of her

" Pollyanna," she cried sharply,

words

"'

'
!

till

ral-

will power.

you stop

will
It's

'

glad

'

night until

grow wild
amazement PoUyanna's jaw dropped.

sheer

PoUyanna

118

''Why, Aunt Polly," she breathed,

me

think you'd be glad to have

broke

off,

g\

should

''I

Oh

" she

clapping her hand to her lips and hurry-

ing blindly from the room.

Before the boy had reached the end of the drive-

way, Pollyanna overtook him.

"

Boy

Boy

how sorry

how

Jimmy Bean,
I

want you

know

to

am," she panted, catching him

with a detaining hand.

" Sorry nothin'

"

the boy, sullenly.

added, with sudden

"

Of

blamin' you," retorted

But I ain't no beggar " he

I ain't

spirit.

course you aren't

But you mustn't blame

" Probably I didn't

auntie," appealed Pollyanna.

do the introducing
didn't

tell

and kind,

her

right,

anyhow; and

much who you

really

ably didn't explain

she's
it

always been

right.

reckon

She

were.
;

do wish

but
I

is

good

prob-

could find

some place for you, though! "

The boy shrugged his shoulders and half turned
away.
"

Never mind.

ain't

guess I can find one myself.

no beggar, you know."

Pollyanna

was frowning thoughtfully.

Of a

sudden she turned, her face illumined.

" Say, ril

tell

you what

I will

do

The

Ladies'

Jimmy

Introducing
Aid meets
so.

I'll

this afternoon.

119

heard Aunt Polly

say-

That's what
when he wanted anything
heathen and new carpets, you know."

lay your case before them.

father always did,

educating the

The boy turned

fiercely.

" Well, I ain't a heathen or a

sides

what

is

a Ladies' Aid ?

new

carpet.

Be-

"

Pollyanna stared in shocked disapproval.

"

Why, Jimmy Bean, wherever have you been

brought up ?
not to know what a Ladies' Aid

is!"
" Oh,

all

right

you

if

grunted the

ain't tellin',"

boy, turning and beginning to

walk away

indiffer-

ently.

Pollyanna sprang to his side at once.

"

It's

it's

why,

it's

just a lot of ladies that

meet and sew and give suppers and

and

and

talk;

back home.

always good,

you

I
I

haven't seen this one here, but they're

reckon.

I'm going to

tell

them

Not much you

fiercely.

will

Maybe you

think I'm

goin' ter stand 'round an' hear a whole lot o'

call

abouife

this afternoon."

Again the boy turned

"

money

what a Ladies' Aid is.

that is, most of mine was,

that's

They're awfully kind

raise

me

a beggar, instead of jest one!

women

Not much

'*
!

Pollyanna

120
"

Oh, but you wouldn't be there," argued Polly" I'd

anna, quickly.

go

alone, of course,

and

tell

them."

"You would?"
"

Yes

and

I'd tell

on Pollyanna, quick

And

''

the boy's face.

better this time," hurried

it

to see the signs of relenting in

" I'd

work

don't

some of

there'd be

know, that would be glad

to give

'em, I

you a home."

forget ter say

cau-

that,"

tioned the boy.

"

Of course not," promised Pollyanna, happily,

now that her point was gained. " Then I'll let
you know to-morrow."
"Where?"
" By the road
where I found you to-day near
sure

Mrs. Snow's house."

" All right.

I'll

then, for ter-night, ter

no other place
till

The boy paused beMaybe I'd better go back,

the Home. You see I hain't

be there."

fore he went on slowly

"

ter stay ;

this mornin'.

and

and

I slipped out.

I didn't leave

I didn't tell

wasn't comin' back, else they'd pretend

come

though

worryin'

when

ain't like folks,

" I know,**

I'm
I

thinkin'

they

'em

won't

do

They

don't care!

no

Thty

don't shov/ up sometime.

ye know.

couldn't

"

nodded Pollyanna, with understand*

Jimmy

Introducing
"

ing eyes.

row,

I'll

do care

when I see you to-morcommon home and folks that

But I'm

sure,

have just a
all

Good-by

ready for you.

window

In the sitting-room

" she called

toward the house.

brightly, as she turned back

Polly,

121

at that

who had been watching

the

moment. Miss

two

children,

followed with sombre eyes the boy until a bend of

the road hid
turned,

him from

and walked

Polly did not usually

still

move

was the boy's scornful

kind."
tion

sight.

Then

listlesly up-stairs
listlessly.

"

she sighed,

and

Miss

In her ears

you was so good and

In her heart was a curious sense of desola-

as of something

lost-

CHAPTER

XII

BEFORE THE LADIES' AID

Dinner, which came at noon in the Harrington

homestead, was a silent meal on the day of the
Ladies' Aid meeting.
Pollyanna, it is true, tried
to talk; but she did not

make

a success of

it,

chiefly

because four times she was obliged to break off a

" glad '' in the middle of it, much to her blushing
discomfort.

The

moved her head

fifth

time

if it's

happened. Miss Polly

wearily.

" There, there, child, say

sighed.

it

it,

if

you want

to," she

" I'm sure I'd rather you did than not

going to make

all this

fuss."

Pollyanna's puckered little face cleared.

" Oh, thank you. I'm afraid it would be pretty

hard

not

to say

it.

You

see I've played

it

so

long."

what " demanded Aunt

" Played
the game, you know, that

father
Pollyanna stopped with a painful
"
" You've

Polly.

it

blush at finding herself so soon again on forbidden

ground.
122

Before the Ladies' Aid

Aunt Polly frowned and

123

The

said nothing.

rest

of the meal was a silent one.

Pollyanna was not sorry to hear Aunt Polly

the minister's wife over the telephone, a

would not be

that she

that afternoon,

owing

at the Ladies'

Aid meeting

When Aunt

to a headache.

Polly went up-stairs to her

tell

little later,

room and

closed the

door, Pollyanna tried to be sorry for the headache

but she could not help feeling glad that her aunt

was not

to be present that afternoon

the case of

Jimmy Bean

when

she laid

before the Ladies' Aid.

She could not forget that Aunt Polly had

Jimmy Bean
Aunt Polly

beggar; and she did not want

little

to call

called

him

that

before

the Ladies'

Aid.

Pollyanna knew that the Ladies' Aid met at two

o'clock in the chapel next the church, not quite half

a mile from home.

fore,

She planned her going, there-

so that she should get there a

little

before

three.

"
self
!

I
;

want them

the one

all

to be there," she said to her-

" else the very one that wasn't there might be

home

who would
;

be wanting to give

and, of course,

three, really

two

Jimmy Bean

o'clock always

means

to Ladies' Aiders."

Quietly, but with confident courage, Pollyanna

124

PoUyanna

ascended the chapel

steps,

pushed open the door and

entered the vestibule.

soft babel of feminine

and laughter came from the main room.

chatter

Hesitating only a brief

moment Pollyanna pushed

open one of the inner doors.

The

chatter dropped to a surprised hush.

anna advanced a

had come, she

little

felt

Now

timidly.

unwontedly

After

shy.

Polly-

that the time

all,

these

half -strange, half-familiar faces about her were not

her
"

own

dear Ladies' Aid.

How

do you do. Ladies' Aiders ? " she faltered

"

poHtely.

Fm

Pollyanna Whittier.

some of you know me, maybe; anyway,

only
The

don't

know you

all

know

this rather

Some

now.

of

extraordinary niece

of their fellow-member, and nearly

of her;

reckon

do you

together this way."

silence could almost be felt

the ladies did

all

had heard

but not one of them could think of any-

thing to say, just then.

*'

I've

stammered

come

to

to lay the case before

Pollyanna,

after

moment,

you,'^

uncon-

sciously falling into her father's familiar phrase-

ology.

There was a

slight rustle.

" Did

your aunt send you,

did

asked Mrs. Ford, the minister's wife.

my

dear ?

'

Before the Ladies' Aid

Pollyanna colored a

little.

"

all

Oh, no.

came

used to Ladies' Aiders.

me

brought

Somebody

You

see,

I'm

was Ladies' Aiders

that

by myself.
It

with

up

125

father."

and the minister's

tittered hysterically,

wife frowned.
Yes, dear.

*'

"Well,
"

anna.
one,

it

He

What is it?"
Jimmy Bean,"

common

Matron

in

it

full,

and don't want him, anyhow,

He

folks,

you know,

ten years old going on eleven.

you might

like

" Well, did

ing

him

you ever

that'll care.
I

"

He's

thought some of

to live with you,

murmured

dazed pause that

the

wants one of

mother instead of a

kind, that has a

Polly-

any home except the Orphan

hasn't

and they're

he thinks; so he wants another.

the

sighed

it's

you know."

a voice, break-

followed

Pollyanna's

words.

With anxious

eyes Pollyanna swept the circle of

faces about her.

"Oh,

forgot to say;

he will work," she sup-

plemented eagerly.
Still

there

was

women began
all

silence;

then, coldly, one or

to question her.

had the story and began

selves, animatedly,

two

After a time they

to talk

among them-

not quite pleasantly.

PoUyanna

126

Pollyanna listened with growing anxiety.

Some

of what was said she could not understand.

She

did gather, after a time, however, that there

was

no woman there who had a home

though every

woman seemed

to

give him,

to think that

some of

the others might take him, as there were several

who had no

own already in their

homes. But there was no one who agreed herself
to take him.
Then she heard the minister's wife
little

boys of their

suggest timidly that they, as a society, might per-

haps assume his support and education instead of

sending quite so

much money

this

year to the

little

boys in far-away India.

A great many ladies talked then, and several of

them talked all at once, and even more loudly and
more unpleasantly than before. It seemed that their
sions,

was famous for its offering

and several said they should

cation

if it

society

was

to

Hindu mis-

die of mortifi-

Some

should be less this year.

of what

said at this time Pollyanna again thought she

could not have understood, too, for

most as
did, so

if

they did not care at

all

it

sounded

al-

what the money

long as the sum opposite the name of their

"

and of course that could not be what they meant

at

society in a certain " report "

all!

But

it

was

all

''

headed the

list

very confusing, and not quite

Before the Ladies' Aid

pleasant, so that Pollyanna
at last she

air

was

found herself outside

only she was very

127

when

glad, indeed,
in the

sorry, too

hushed, sweet

knew

for she

was not going to be easy, or anything but sad,

tell Jimmy Bean to-morrow that the Ladies' Aid
had decided that they would rather send all their
money to bring up the little India boys than to
it

to

save out enough to bring up one

own

little

boy

of credit in the report," according to the

who wore
"

in their

town, for which they would not get " a

tall

bit

lady

spectacles.

Not but

that

it's

and

to the heathen,

good, of course, to send

I

shouldn't

money

want 'em not

to

send some there," sighed Pollyanna to herself, as

she trudged sorrowfully along.
if little

But they acted as

boys here weren't any account

boys 'way
see

"

off.

only

little

should think, though, they'd rather

Jimmy Bean grow

than

just a report!

"

CHAPTER

XIII

IN PENDLETON WOODS

PoLLYANNA had not

home, when she left the

turned her steps toward

She had turned

chapel.

them, instead, toward Pendleton Hill.

a hard day, for

all it

had

It

had been

been a " vacation one " (as

when

she termed the infrequent days

there

was no

sewing or cooking lesson), and Pollyanna was sure

that nothing

would do her quite so much good as

a walk through the green quiet of Pendleton Woods.

Up

Pendleton Hill, therefore, she climbed steadily,

in spite of the

warm

sun on her back.

" I don't have to get

way," she was

home

It

do have

way

it'll

five,

be so

any-

much

of the woods, even

to climb to get there."

was very beautiful

Pollyanna

half-past

telling herself; " and

nicer to go around by the

if I

till

knew by

in the

Pendleton Woods, as

experience.

seemed even more delightful than-

But to-day

it

ever, notwith-

standing her disappointment over what she must

tell

Jimmy Bean to-morrow.

128

Woods

In Pendleton
''

who

wish they were up here

129
those ladies

all

PoUyanna

talked so loud/' sighed

to herself,

raising her eyes to the patches of vivid blue between

"

the sunlit green of the tree-tops.

they were up here,

take

Jimmy Bean

I just

Anyhow,

if

reckon they'd change and

for their

little

boy,

all right,"

she

finished, secure in her conviction, but unable to give

a reason for

it,

even to herself.

Suddenly Pollyanna

A dog had barked

later

lifted

her head and listened.

" Hullo,

A moment

some distance ahead.

he came dashing toward her,

doggie

hullo

"

still

barking.

Pollyanna snapped

her fingers at the dog and looked expectantly

the path.

was

sure.

down

She had seen the dog once before, she

He had

been then with the Man, Mr,

John Pendleton. She was looking now, hoping to

For some minutes she watched eagerly,
see him.
but he did not appear.
tion

Then

she turned her atten-

toward the dog.

The dog,
strangely.

as even Pollyanna could see,

He was

still

barking

short, sharp yelps, as if of alarm.

was acting

giving

He was

little

running

Soon they
the little dog

back and forth, too, in the path .ahead.

reached a side path, and
fairly flew, only to

barking

down

come back

this

at once,

whining and

PoUyanna

130

Ho

"

anna,

That

The

way home/' laughed

the

isn't

Polly-

keeping to the main path.

still

little

dog seemed

frantic

Back and

now.

back and forth, between Pollyanna and the

forth,

and whining pitifully.;

brown body, and every

side path he vibrated, barking

Every quiver of

his little

glance from his beseeching

quent with appeal

brown eyes were

elo-

so eloquent that at last Polly-

anna understood, turned, and followed him.

Straight ahead, now, the

and

it

little

dog dashed madly

was not long before Pollyanna came upon

the reason for

it all

man

lying motionless at the

foot of a steep, overhanging mass of rock a few

yards from the side path.

twig cracked sharply under PoUyanna's

and the man turned

may
''

Pollyanna ran to his

Mr. Pendleton

"Hurt?

With a cry

his head.

foot,

of dis-

side.

Oh, are you hurt? "

Oh, no!

I'm just taking a

siesta in

man irritably. " See

how much do you know ? What can you do ?

the sunshine," snapped the

here,

Have you got any

sense

"
?

Pollyanna caught her breath with a

but

as

was her habit

tions literally, one

"

Why, Mr.

little

gasp,

she answered the

ques-

by one.

Pendleton,

don't

know

so very

In Pendleton Woods
much, and

do a great many things;

can't

131

most of the Ladies' Aiders, except Mrs.

said I

had

good

real

day they

The man smiled

" There,
sure;

there,

heard 'em say so one

heard, though."

grimly.
child,

beg your pardon, I'm

Now

only this confounded leg of mine.

it's

He

listen."

reached

sense.

know

didn't

but

Rawson,

some

and with

paused,

hand

his

into

trousers

his

difficulty

and

pocket

brought out a bunch of keys, singling out one be-

tween

thumb

his

and

through the path there, about

my

house.

Oh,

sleep,

"

it.

minutes' walk,

Do you know what

under the porte-cochere.

over

five

yes,

Auntie has one with a sun parlor

sir.

you know.

Eh ? Oh

I slept

only

on

They found me."

when you get

Well,

On

the middle of the

room

you know how

sir

hall to the

the big, flat-topped desk in

Do

you'll find a telephone.

"

to use a telephone
!

I didn't

into the house,

go straight through the vestibule and

door at the end.

" Oh, yes,

"
is ?

That's the roof

" Never

is

This key will admit you to the side door

porte-cochere
''

" Straight

forefinger.

Why, once when Aunt

mind Aunt Polly now,"

scowlingly, as he tried to

move

Polly

cut in

t\ie

himself a

"

man
little.

PoUyanna

13^
"

Hunt up Dr. Thomas

number on

Chilton's

card you'll find somewhere around there

on the hook down at the

to be

won't be.

You know

Oh,

yes, sir!

foot of

suppose,

Polly's.
"

There's

I just

Aunt

love

him

He'll
to

at the

is

Woods

in Pendleton

and to come

leg,

Tell

John Pendleton

Eagle Ledge

stretcher and two men.

besides that.

probably

but

a telephone card,

" Tell Dr. Chilton that

with a broken

the

ought

it

side,

such a lot of queer names, and

Little

it

"

when you see one

"

at once with a

know what

to

do

come by the path from

the house."

"

fectly

glad

broken leg ? Oh, Mr. Pendleton, how perawful " shuddered Pollyanna. " But I'm so
!

came

" Yes,

Can't

you can

"

but evidently you won't

you go and do what

the man, faintly.

/do

ask and stop talking,"

And, with a

little

Will

moaned

sobbing cry,

Pollyanna went.
Pollyanna did not stop

now

to look

up

at the

patches of blue between the sunlit tops of the trees.

She kept her eyes on the ground to make sure that

no twig nor stone tripped her hurrying

feet.

was not long before she came in sight of the

house.
She had seen it before, though never so
It

In Pendleton Woods
near as

iss

She was almost frightened now

this.

*it

the massiveness of the great pile of gray stone with

pillared

its

verandas and

its

imposing entrance.

Pausing only a moment, however, she sped across

the big neglected lawn and around the house to the
side
stiff

door under the porte-cochere.

from

their tight clutch

Her

fingers,

upon the keys, were any-

thing but skilful in their efforts to turn the bolt in

the lock

but at

slowly back on

last the
its

heavy, carved door swung

hinges.

In spite of her

Pollyanna caught her breath.

feeling of haste, she paused a

moment and

fearfully through the vestibule to the wide,

hall

beyond, her thoughts in a whirl.

looked

sombre

wa

This

John Pendleton's house; the house of mystery

the

house into which no one but

the

house which sheltered,

Yet

its

master entered

somewhere a

skeleton.

Pollyanna, was expected to enter alone

she,

these fearsome rooms, and telephone the doctor that

the master of the house lay

With a

little

left,

to the door at the end

and hangings

window

cry Pollyanna, looking neither to

the right nor the

The room was

now

large,

fairly ran

and opened

through the

hall

it.

and sombre with dark woods

like the hall;

but through the west

the sun threw a long shaft of gold acr-^ss

PoUyanna

154

the floor, gleamed dully on the tarnished brass and-

irons in the fireplace,

and touched the nickel of the

telephone on the great desk in the middle of the

room.

It

was toward

this

desk that Pollyanna

hurriedly tiptoed.

The

telephone card was not on

its

hook

it

was

on the floor. But Pollyanna found it, and ran her

shaking forefinger down through the C's to " ChilIn due time she had Dr. Chilton himself at

ton."

the other end of the wires, and

was tremblingly

delivering her message and answering the doctor's

terse, pertinent questions.

This done, she hung up

the receiver and drew a long breath of

relief.

Only a brief glance did Pollyanna give about her;

then, with a confused vision in her eyes of crimson
draperies, book-lined walls, a littered floor, an un-

tidy desk, innumerable closed doors

(any one of

which might conceal a skeleton), and everywhere

dust, dust, dust, she fled back through the hall to

the great carved door,

left

still

half open as she had

it.

In what seemed, even to the injured man, an incredibly short time,

woods

at the

man's

" Well, what

in ?

''

is

he demanded.

Pollyanna was back in the

side.

the trouble

Couldn't you get

Woods

In Pendleton

135

Pollyanna opened wide her eyes.

"

Why,

of course

"

swered.

As

if

could

I'm here" she an-

And

I'd be here if I hadn't got in!

the doctor will be right up jubt as soon as possible

with the

men and

where you were, so

wanted
"

I didn't

can't say I

" smiled the

admire your

find pleasanter

"

Do you mean

"

stay to

Thanks

taste.

you're

to

should think you

you're so

cross

"
?

Yes."

softly.

only

cross

outside

you

aren't

"
!

How

" Indeed!

" Well, I

companions."

for your frankness.

cross inside a bit

man, trying

man, grimly.

because

Pollyanna laughed
" But

knew just
show him. I

said he

to be with you."

Did you ?

might

He

things.

do you know that? " asked the

change the

positior^ of his

head with-

out moving the rest of his body.

" Oh, lots of

you

ways

there

like that

the way

act with the dog," she added, pointing to the

long, slender

hand that

head near him.

know

"

It's

rested on the dog's sleek

funny

how dogs and

cats

the insides of folks better than other folks

do, isn't it?

Say, I'm going to hold your

head,'*'

she finished abruptly.

The man winced

several times

and groaned once

Pollyanna

136
softly while the

change was being made

but in the

end he found Pollyanna's lap a very welcome subrocky hollow in which his head had

stitute for the

lain before.

" Well, that

He

is

better,"

he murmured

faintly.

did not speak again for some time.

anna, watching his face, wondered

He

She did not think he was.

if

Polly-

he were asleep.

looked as

if

his lips

were tight shut to keep back moans of pain.

Polly-

anna herself almost cried aloud as she looked

his great, strong

body lying there so

at

One

helpless.

hand, with fingers tightly clenched, lay outflung,

motionless.

dog's head.

The other,
The dog, his

limply open, lay on the

wistful, eager eyes

was motionless,

master's face,

in the

deeper under the

his

too.

Minute by minute the time passed.

dropped lower

on

The sun

west and the shadows grew

trees.

Pollyanna sat so

hardly seemed to breathe.

still

she

bird alighted fear-

within reach of her hand, and a squirrel

lessly

whisked

his

bushy

under her nose

tail

on a tree-branch almost

yet with

his bright little eyes all

the while on the motionless dog.

At

last the

softly;
liext

dog pricked up

his ears

and whined

then he gave a short, sharp bark.

moment Pollyanna heard

voices,

The

and very soon

POLLYANNA SAT SO STILL SHE HARDLY SEEMED TO BREATHE.

Woods

In Pendleton
their

owners

stretcher

The

appeared

of

tallest

the

man whom

kind-eyed

" Dr. Chilton "

" Well,

three

and various other

my

held his
icine.

Pollyanna knew by sight as

cheerily.

lady, playing nurse?

" So

haven't given

But I'm glad

am

I,"

smooth-shaven,

" Oh, no, sir," smiled Pollyanna.

head

carrying

articles.

party

advanced

little

men

137

"
''

I've

him a mite

of

only

med-

was here."

nodded the doctor,

as he turned his

absorbed attention to the injured man.

CHAPTER XIV
JUST A MATTER OF JELLY

PoLLYANNA was

little

late for

supper on the

night of the accident to John Pendleton; but, as

it

happened, she escaped without reproof.

Nancy met her

" Well,

at the door.

if I ain't

glad ter be

on you," she sighed

past six
" I

in

obvious

settin'

my

two eyes

"

It's half-

relief.

"
!

know

it,"

admitted Pollyanna anxiously; " but

I'm not to blame

think even

truly I'm not.

Aunt Polly

And

don't

am, either."

will say I

" She won't have the chance," retorted Nancy,

" She's gone."

with huge satisfaction.

"

Gone

" gasped Pollyanna.

"

at the

of the morning with

dog,

and

its

" father " that

tongue.

You don't mean

Through Pollyanna's

away ?
moment trooped remorseful memories

that I've driven her

mind

"

"Oh,

its

unwanted boy,

unwelcome " glad

would spring
I

"

and

and forbidden

to her forgetful

didn't drive her

138

cat,

away?"

little

Just a Matter of Jelly

Not much

*'

3^ou

did,"

scoffed Nancy.

down

to Boston,

cousin died suddenly

She had one

ter go.

after

them

o'

you went away

yeller

Now

Her

and she had

and she won't

guess we're glad

We'll be keepin' house tergether, jest you

all right.

all

We

that time.

will,

Pollyanna looked shocked.

" Glad
Oh, Nancy, when
!

Pollyanna.

was

It

"

we

it's

" Oh, but 'twa'n't the funeral

Pollyanna, as

wa'n't

if it

ter play the

will!

"

a funeral

was glad

"
?

for.

Miss

Nancy stopped abruptly.

Why, Miss
yerself that was teachin*

A shrewd twinkle came into her eyes.

me

"

telegram letters

this afternoon,

be back for three days.

and me,

139

''

game," she reproached her gravely.

Pollyanna puckered her forehead into a troubled

frown.
" I can't help

that

Nancy," she argued with a shake

must be that there are some things

game on

right to play the

'tisn't

funerals

it,

" It

of her head.

is

one of them.

and I'm sure

There's nothing in a fu-

neral to be glad about."

Nancy
"

We

chuckled.

can be glad

'tain't

our'n," she observed de-

murely.

But Pollyanna did not hear.

begun

tell

to

of the accident;

Nancy, open-mouthed, was

and

listening.

in

She had
a

moment

"

Pollyanna

140

At

the appointed place the next afternoon, Polly-

As
Jimmy showed keen

anna met Jimmy Bean according

was

to be expected, of course,

to agreement.

disappointment that the Ladies' Aid preferred a

little

India boy to himself.

"Well, maybe
nicer'n things

I
it

looked that

know about

are always

you do, same as the pertater on

side of the plate

way

But

always the biggest.

is

ter

be jest great, now,

somebody 'way
if

"Of

he sighed.

natural,"

'tis

course things you don't

ofif.

'tother
I

wish

Wouldn't

only somebody over in India

wanted met
Pollyanna clapped her hands.
"
I'll

Why,

of course

write to

my

that's

They

Ladies' Aiders about you.

aren't over in India

they're only out

West

awful far away, just the same.

you'd think so

Jimmy

That's the very thing,

if

you'd come

all

the

way

but
reckon

here as

did!"

Jimmy's face brightened.

"

Do you

think they would

truly

take me

"

he asked.
"

Of

boys

course they would

Don't they take

India to bring up?

play you are the

little

you're far enough

Well, they can

India boy this time.

away

to

make a

little

just-

reckon

report, all right.

Just a Matter of Jelly

You
No,

ril write "em.

wait,

write Mrs. Jones.

I'll

141

write Mrs. White.

I'll

Mrs. White has got the

which
when you think of

most money, but Mrs. Jones gives the most

is

kind of funny,

But

''All right

my

fur

isn't it?

but

don't furgit ter say

board an' keep," put

no beggar, an' biz'ness

Aiders, I'm thinkin'."

" An'

yet

till

Of
Then

they'll

is

work
ain't

be fur a

spell

nodded Pollyanna emphatically.

course,"
I'll

know

just

where

broke

suddenly,

off,

little girl

" Well,

ton

even with Ladies'

where

Didn't Aunt Polly

Jimmy,

"

you hear."

to

take you I'm sure you're

Polly's

I'll

hesitated, then added:

for that.

It

Jimmy.

in

biz'ness,

He

s'pose I better stay

"

''

it.

reckon some of the Aiders will take you."

if

''

find

far

you.

And

enough aw^ay

take

Say!" she
do you suppose I was Aunt

from India? "

you

ain't the queerest kid,"

grinned

as he turned away.

was about a week

Woods

after the accident in Pendle-

that Pollyanna said to her aunt one

morning
"
if I

Aunt

Polly, please

would you mind very much

took Mrs. Snow's calf's-foot jelly this week to

some one
this once."

else?

I'm sure Mrs.

Snow

wouldn't

Pollyanna

142
'*

Dear me, Pollyanna, what are you up

sighed her aunt.

"

You

to

now?

"

are the most extraordinary

child!"

Pollyanna frowned a

little

anxiously.

"Aunt

what

is

Polly, please,

extraordinary?

you're ^;rtraordinary you can't be ordinary,

If

can

you?"
"

You

certainly can not/'

'*

Oh,

that's all right, then.

I'm glad I'm ex-

traurdinary," sighed Pollyanna, her face clearing.

"

You see, Mrs. White used to say Mrs. Rawson

was a very ordinary woman
and she disliked

Mrs. Rawson something awful.

fight

had more trouble

we

They were always

is, I mean, we
keeping peace between them than

mean, father had

that

did between any of the rest of the Aiders," cor-

rected Pollyanna, a
to steer

little

breathless

from her

efforts

between the Scylla of her father's past

commands

regard to speaking of church quarrels,

in

and the Charybdis of her aunt's present commands

in

regard to speaking of her father.

" Yes, yes

well,

never mind," interposed Aunt

Polly, a trifle impatiently.

''

You do

run on

so,

Pollyanna, and no matter what we're talking about

you always bring up

" Yes'm,"

smiled

at those Ladies'

Pollyanna,

Aiders!"

cheerfully,

" I

Just a Matter of Jelly

reckon

me

up,

"

I do,

That

will

"

Now

voice.

But you see they used

maybe.

and

Pollyanna," interrupted a cold

do,

what

Aunt

Polly,

me

let

you would

take jelly to her, so

You

this once.

see,

like lifelong invalids, so

forever as Mrs. Snow's does, and

last

she can have

like

that

truly,

thought you would to hi:n

broken legs aren't

"

about this jelly?

is it

You

mind, I'm sure.

won't

to bring

''

" Nothing,

his

143

all

the rest of the things after just

once or twice."

"^Him'? ^He'? ^Broken leg'?

you talking about, Pollyanna ? "

What

are

Pollyanna stared; then her face relaxed.

" Oh, I forgot.
see,

it

reckon you didn't know.

happened while you were gone.

very day you went that

you know; and

had

found him

You

was the

It

in the

woods,

and

to unlock his house

tele-

phone for the men and the doctor, and hold

And

head, and everything.

away and
made the

jelly for

how

it

nice

haven't seen

him

Mrs.

would be

Snow

if I

little

wearily.

this

Aunt

came

But when Nancy

week

could take

stead of her, just this once.

" Yes, yes,

of course then

since.

his

it

to

Polly,

thought

him

in-

may I?"

suppose so," acquiesced Miss Polly^

"

Who

did you say he

was? "

iU

Foiiyanna

"

The Man.

mean, Mr. John Pendleton."

Miss Polly almost sprang from her chair.

''John Pendleton!''
" Yes.

Nancy

me

told

his

name.

Maybe you

this.

Instead she

K:now him."

Miss Polly did not answer

asked

Do yon know him ?

"

"

Pollyanna nodded.
''

Oh,

yes.

He

always speaks and smiles

He's only cross outside, you know\

Nancy had

the jelly.

it

go and get

I'll

'most fixed

now.

when

came

halfway across the

in," finished Pollyanna, already

room.
" Pollyanna,

wait "
!

suddenly very stern.

Miss

my

would prefer that Mrs. Snow had that

as usual.

That

Pollyanna's face
"

is all.

jelly

to-day

fell.

Oh, but Aunt Polly, hers

just

was

mind.

You may go now."

broken

mean, broken ones.

leg.,

and

She can

will last.

always be sick and have things, you

is

voice

Polly's

" I've changed

legs

He's had

it

know
don't

but his
last

a whole week

now."
Yes, I remember. I heard Mr. John Pendleton
had met with an accident/' said Miss Polly, a little
*'

Just a Matter of Jelly

stiffly;

"but

do not care

145

to be sending jelly to

John Pendleton, Pollyanna."

''

know, he

anna, sadly,
I

''

cross

is

so

outside," admitted Polly-

suppose you don't like him.

wouldn't say 'twas you sent

I like

him.

to shake her

suddenly, she stopped, and asked

voice
"

Does he know who you

The

calls

me

it

never."

Does he know where you

" Oh, no. I never told him

Then he

head again.

Then,

in a curiously quiet

Pollyanna?

are,

doesn't

my

him

I told

"

"

me.

jelly."

"

sighed.

little girl

" I reckon not.

he never

him

I'd be glad to send

Miss Polly began

But

I'd say 'twas

it.

know

name, once, but

live?

"

that."

you're

my niece?

'*

" I don't think so."

For a moment there was

silence.

Miss Polly was

looking at Pollyanna with eyes that did not seem

to see her at
tiently

all.

The

from one small foot

audibly.

Then

shifting impa-

girl,

little

to the other,

sighed

Miss Polly roused herself with a

start.

"

Very

well, Pollyanna," she said at last,

that queer voice, gb unlike her

you may

take the jelly to

own

*'
;

you

still

in

may

Mr. Pendleton as your

PoUyanna

146

own

gift.

But understand:

do not send

very sure that he does not think

"

Yes'm

no'm thank you,

do

it.

Aunt

Polly," ex-

ulted Pollyanna, as she flew through the door.

0-

Be

"
!

CHAPTER XV
CHILTON

DR.

The

great gray pile of

ferent to Pollyanna

when

masonry looked very

she

made

Windows

Mr. John Pendleton.

to the house of

dif-

her second visit

were open, an elderly

woman was hanging

clothes in the back yard,

and the doctor's gig stood

out

under the porte-cochere.

As before Pollyanna went

time she rang the

bell

to the side door.

her

fingers

were not

This
stiff

to-day from a tight clutch on a bunch of keys.

dog bounded up the

but there was a slight delay be-

familiar-looking small

steps to greet her,

fore the

woman who had

been hanging out the

clothes opened the door.

" If

you

jelly for

"

please,

said the

woman, reaching

in the little girl's hand.

sent it?

The

calf's-foot

Mr. Pendleton," smiled Pollyanna.

Thank you,"

bowl

Pve brought some

And
doctor,

it's

"

calf's-foot jelly?

coming

Who

shall I

say

"

into the hall at that

147

for the

moment,

PoUyanna

148

heard the woman's words and saw the disappointed

He

look on Pollyanna's face.

stepped quickly for-

ward.

Some

*'Ah!
"

ally.

That

calfs-foot jelly?" he asked geni-

will be fine

our patient, eh?

"

Maybe you'd

beamed Pollyanna
obedience to a nod from the

Oh,

yes,

woman, in
the way down

like to see

"

sir,"

and the

doctor, led

the hall at once, though plainly with

vast surprise on her face.

Behind the doctor, a young man (a trained nurse

from the nearest

city)

gave a disturbed exclamation.

" But, Doctor, didn't Mr. Pendleton give orders

"

not to admit
" Oh,
*'

any one

yes,"

nodded the doctor, imperturbably.

But I'm giving orders now.

Then he added whimsically

course

but that

bottle of tonic

little girl is

any day.

"

I'll

take the risk."

You

don't know, of

better than a six-quart

If anything or

anybody

can take the grouch out of Pendleton this afternoon,

That's

she can.

"Who

is

why

I sent

her in."

she?"

For one brief moment the doctor

hesitated.

" She's the niece of one of our best

dents.

Her name

is

known

Pollyanna Whittier.

resi-

don't happen to enjoy a very extensive personal ac-

Dr. Chilton

149

quaintance with the httle lady as yet;

my

patients do

The nurse
" Indeed

I'm thankful

to say

but lots of
"

smiled.

iVnd what are the special ingredients

of this wonder-working

tonic of hers

The doctor shook

his head.

" I don't know.

As near

"
?

as I can find out

it

is

an overwhelming, unquenchable gladness for everything that has happened or

any

rate,

is

going to happen.

repeated to me, and, as near as

'

At

her quaint speeches are constantly being

just being glad

'

is

the tenor of

can

make

out,

most of them.

All is," he added, with another whimsical smile, as

he stepped out on to the porch, " I wish I could
prescribe her

of

pills;

though

in the world,

selling

and

if

you and

buy her

as

there gets to be
I

would a box

many

might as well go

and ditch-digging for

all

the

ol her

to ribbon-

money we'd

get out of nursing and doctoring," he laughed, pick-

ing up the reins and stepping into the gig.

Pollyanna,

meanwhile,

doctor's orders,

in

accordance with the

was being escorted

to

John Pendle-

ton's rooms.

Her way
it,

led through the great library at the

end

and, rapid as was her progress through

Pollyanna saw at once that great changes had

of the

hall,

PoUyanna

150

The

taken place.

book-lined walls and the crimson

but there was no

curtains were the same;

litter

The

as a grain of dust in sight.

hung

way.

telephone card

proper place, and the brass andirons had

in its

One

been polished.
open, and

on

much

the floor, no untidiness on the desk, and not so

of the mysterious doors was

was toward

it

moment

later

maid

this that the

led the

Pollyanna found herself

in

a sumptuously furnished bedroom while the maid

was saying

in a frightened voice

" If you please,

some

sir,

here

The doctor

jelly.

here's a

said I

was

little girl

to

with

to bring

her in."

The next moment Pollyanna found

with a very cross-looking

man

lying

herself alone

flat

on

his

back

in bed.

" See here, didn't I say

" Oh,

it's

you

"

it

broke

" began an angry

off

voice.

not very graciously, as

Pollyanna advanced toward the bed.

" Yes, sir," smiled Pollyanna.

they

my
you

me

let

jelly,

at

in

You

see, at first the

I was so afraid I wasn't going to see

Then the doctor came, and he said I

Wasn't he lovely

to let

me

In spite of himself the man's

a smile

lady 'most took

and

all.

might.

" Oh, I'm so glad

but

all

he said was

"

you?

see

lips

Humph

"

twitched into
"
!

Dr. Chilton
"

And

brought you some

I've

"

Pollyanna;

calf's-foot.

There was a rising

" Never ate

The

it."

it?"

like

had gone,

fleeting smile

to the

man's

showed disappointment; but

it

face.

countenance

Pollyanna's

instant

brief

hope you

resumed

jelly,"

inflection in her voice.

and the scowl had come back

For a

151

cleared as she set

the bowl of jelly down.

''

Didn't you?

know you

Well,

don't like

you

if

didn't, then

" Yes, yes

right,

can't

So

anyhow, can you?

it,

reckon I'm glad you haven't, after

you knew

you

Now,

all.

"
well,

and that

is

one thing

there's

that I'm flat

on

know

my

all

back right

here this minute, and that I'm liable to stay here

till

I
if

doomsday,

guess."

Pollyanna looked shocked.

" Oh,

no

be

couldn't

It

till

doomsday, you

know, when the angel Gabriel blows

unless

it

should come quicker than

oh, of course, I

quicker than
that

is,

of course

don't think
if it

we

it

will

know

we

the Bible says

his trumpet,

think
it

think, but I don't think

come

as

much

should come now, and

will

quicker as

will

it

the Bible; but I

I believe

it

may come

mean

it

would

"

John Pendleton laughed suddenly

and

aloud.

PoUyanna

li^

The

coming

nurse,

at that

in

laugh, and beat a hurried

He

retreat.

had the

moment, heard the

but

a very silent

cook who,

air of a frightened

seeing the danger of a breath of cold air striking

a half-done cake, hastily shuts the oven door.
" Aren't

you getting a

little

mixed?

"

asked John

Pendleton of Pollyanna.

The
"

lids,

last

But what

Maybe.

last

Snow

as Mrs.

doomsday

mean

you know

bifoken ones,

same
till

laughed.

little girl

at

all.

is,

has got.
I

that legs don't

like lifelong inva-

So yours won't

should think you could

be glad of that."
" Oh, I am," retorted the
''

And

So fortunate,"

co\irse!

You

can be glad

Pollyanna was warming to her task.

with uplifted eyebrows

standpoint,

grimly.

m didn't break but one.

'twasn't two."

''Of

man

suppose

you can be glad

is

wasn't a

"

Pollyanna chuckled.
" Oh, that's the best yet," she crowed.

what a centipede

from that

it

might be glad

centipede and didn't break fifty!

the man,

sniffed

" looking at

" I

know

they've got lots of legs.

And

"

" Oh, of course/' interrupted the man, sharply,

all

the old bitterness

coming back

to his voice

" I

Dr. Chilton
can be glad, too, for

in the kitchen!

if

Why,

suppose

yes, sir

woman

only think how bad 'twould be

eh?

''

Well,

"

Why,

I say,

"
!

" he

demanded

only think

have 'em

didn't

the

"

you didnt have them

you

the rest,

all

and the doctor, and that confounded

nurse,

"

153

sharply.

how bad

and

you

it

would be
here

lyin^j;

if

like

this!"
"

As

that wasn't the very thing that

if

was

at the

bottom of the whole matter," retorted the man,

testily,

'*

because

me

yet you expect

woman who
it

'

in

and

doctor

lying here like this

to say I'm glad because of a fool

and a

calls it

man who

and abets her

aids

nursing,' to say nothing of the

'

who eggs 'em both on

and

bunch of them, meanwhile, expecting

them

for

it,

And

disarranges the whole house and calls

regulating,'
it,

am

and pay them

well, too

the

me

whole
to

pay

"
!

Pollyanna frowned sympathetically.

" Yes, I know.
the

money

when

That part

is

too bad

you've been saving

it,

about
too, all

this time."

"When eh?"
" Saving

know.

it

Say,

buying
do

you

beans and
like

beans?

fish

balls,

or

do

you
yj\x

PoUyanna

154

turkey better, only on account of the sixty

like

cents?

"

Look

''

a-here,

what

child,

are

you

talking

about?"
Pollyanna smiled radiantly.
"

About your money, you know

and saving

self,

found out about

it
it.

denying your-

for the heathen.

Why, Mr.

You

see,

Pendleton, that's

one of the ways I knew you weren't cross inside.

Nancy told me."
The man's jaw dropped.
" Nancy told you I was saving money for the
"
Well, may I inquire who Nancy is?
" Our Nancy. She works for Aunt Polly."
" Aunt Polly! Well, who is Aunt Polly? "

" She's Miss Polly Harrington.

The man made

''

'*

Miss

You
"

a sudden

I live

with her."

movement.

Polly Harrington
"
with her!

"

he breathed.

live

Yes

up on

I'm her niece.

account of

She's taken

my

me

to bring

mother, you know," fal" She was her

tered Pollyanna, in a low voice.

sister.

And

after father

went

to be with her

and

the rest of us in Heaven, there wasn't any one left

for

me down

me."

here but the Ladies' Aid ; so she took

Dr. Chilton

The man

11^

His

did not answer.

face,

back on the pillow now, was very white

that Pollyanna

was frightened.

as he lay

so white

She rose uncer-

tainly to her feet.

" I reckon

"I

posed.

maybe

I'd better

go now," she pro-

hope

you'll like

the

The man turned

his

head suddenly, and opened

There was a curious longing

his eyes.

jelly."

in their

dark

depths which even Pollyanna saw, and at which she

marvelled.

"

And

so

3^ou

are

Miss

Harrington's

Polly

niece," he said gently.

" Yes, sir."

Still

the man's dark eyes lingered on her face,

until Pollyanna, feeling

"I

suppose you

vaguely

know

John Pendleton's lips curved

" Oh, yes I know her." He
;

on,

still

mean

restless,

In

can't

m.ean that

Harrington who sent that

jelly

an odd smile.

hesitated, then

" But

with that curious smile.

you

murmured

her."

It

went

you don't
was Miss Polly

me?"

to

he said

slowly.

Pollyanna looked distressed.

" N-no, sir; she didn't.
sure not to

let

She said

must be very

you think she did send

it.

But

PoUyanna

156
" I

thought

more
Under

much,"

as

away

shortly, turning

distressed, tiptoed

from the room.

she found the doctor

The nurse

waiting in his gig.

" Well, Miss

*'

me

Thank

"

hand

have the pleasure

asked the doctor smilingly.

it

that I'd wait for you."

you,

love to ride,"
his

on a few minutes ago; then

started to drive

occurred to

stood on the steps.

PoUyanna, may

home?"

of seeing you
I

man,

the

And PoUyanna,

the porte-cochere

still

''

vouchsafed

his head.

I'm glad you did.

sir.

beamed PoUyanna,

just

as he reached out

to help her in.

Do you ?

" smiled the doctor,

nodding

young man on the

in farewell to the

steps.

as near as I can judge, there are a

things you

'

love

'

do

to

eh?

his

head

" Well,

good many

" he added, as they

drove briskly away.

PoUyanna laughed.
''

Why,

don't know.

"

are," she admitted.

that's

Of

living.

things very well

and

all that.

reckon perhaps there

do 'most everything

I like to

course

sewing,

don't like

the

and reading out

other
loud,

But they aren't living."

"

No? What

are they, then?

"

Aunt Polly

says

they're

'

"

learning to live/

sighed PoUyanna, with a rueful smile.

"

Dr. Chilton

The

doctor smiled

" Does she

now

Well,

157

little

queerly.

should think she might

just that."
say
" Yes," responded Pollyanna.

" But

that way
I
how to live. I didn't, anyhow."
The doctor drew a long sigh.
it

" After
little girl,"

all,

I'm afraid some of us

he said.

don't see

do have

Then, for a time he was

Pollyanna, stealing a glance at his face,

He

sorry for him.

don't think you have to learn

at all.

looked so sad.

uneasily, that she could

^'

felt

to,

silent.

vaguely

She wished,

do something."

It

was

perhaps, that caused her to say in a timid

this,

voice
" Dr. Chilton, I should think being a doctor

would

be the very gladdest kind of a business there was."

The doctor turned in surprise.

Gladdest
when I see so much
always, everywhere I go?" he cried.
"

'

'

She nodded.
"

know; but you're helping

and
that

it

suffering

don't you see?

of course you're glad to help

it

makes you the gladdest of any of

And

so

us, all the

time."

The doctor's eyes filled with sudden hot tears.

The doctor's life was a singularly lonely one. He

PoUyanna

158

had no wife and no home saye

in a

Looking now

he

felt as if

on

his

head

two-room

office

His profession was very dear

boarding house.

to him.

his

into Pollyanna's shining eyes,

a loving hand had been suddenly laid

He

in blessing.

knew,

never

too, that

again would a long day's work or a long night's

weariness be quite without that new-found exaltation

that

had come

to

him through Pollyanna's

eyes.

"

God

bless you, little girl," he said unsteadily.

Then, with the bright smile

loved so well, he added
all,

that

was

it

patients, that

''
:

knew and

his patients

And

I'm thinking, after

the doctor, quite as

much

as his

needed a draft of that tonic!"

of which puzzled Pollyanna very

much

All

until a

chipmunk, running across the road, drove the whole

matter from her mind.

The

doctor

left

smiled at Nancy,

Pollyanna at her

who was

sweeping

own

door,

off the front

porch, then drove rapidly away.

" I've had a perfectly beautiful ride with the doctor,"

announced Pollyanna, bounding up the

"He's

lovely,

steps.

Nancy!"

"Is he?"
" Yes.

And

I told

him

should think his busi-

ness would be the very gladdest one there was."

"

159

Dr. Chilton

What

''

what

goin' ter see sick folks

ain't sick

but thinks they

is,

which

an'

folks
"

worse ?

is

Nancy's face showed open skepticism.

Pollyanna laughed gleefully.
" Yes. That's 'most what he said, too

but there

way to be glad, even then. Guess

Nancy frowned in meditation. Nancy was get"
ting so she could play this game of " being glad
is

quite

She rather en-

thought.

she

successfully,

joyed studying out Pollyanna's " posers," too, as she

called

some of the

little girl's

questions.

" Oh, I know," she chuckled.

"

It's

just the op-

from what you told Mis' Snow."

" Opposite ? " repeated Pollyanna, obviously puz-

posite

zled.
*'

Yes.

You

told her she could be glad because

other folks wasn't like her

all sick, you know."
" Yes," nodded Pollyanna.

" Well, the doctor can be glad because he isn't

like other folks

the

doctors," finished
It

"

Nancy

Why,

to frown.

"

y-yes," she admitted.

one way, but

I don't

It

isn't

the

way

seem to quite

It isn't exactly as if

mean, what he

in triumph.

was Pollyanna's turn

someway,
it.

sick ones, I

Of
I

course that

said

like the

and

sound of

he said he was glad they

FOffyanna

160

were

but

sick,

You do

game

play the

so funny,

sometimes, Nancy," she sighed, as she went into the

house.

Pollyanna found her aunt in the sitting room.

" Who was that man
the one who drove into

the yard, Pollyanna

" questioned the lady a

little

sharply.

"

Why, Aunt
you know him?
" Dr. Chilton
"
to

He

What was

me home.

drove

Mr. Pendleton, and

Miss Polly

was Dr. Chilton

Polly, that
"

lifted

he doing

Oh, and

Aunt

here? "

gave the

jelly

"

her head quickly.

"Pollyanna, he did not think

" Oh, no.

Don't

Polly.

I told

sent it?"

him you

didn't."

Miss Polly grew a sudden vivid pink.

"You

told

him

didn't!"

Pollyanna opened wide her eyes at the remonstrative

"

dismay

in her aunt's voice.

Why, Aunt

Aunt Polly
"

I said,

Polly,

you said

to

"
!

sighed.

Pollyanna, that

did not send

it,

you to be very sure that he did not think

which

is

and for
did!

a very different matter from telling

outright that

vexedly away.

did not send

it."

And

him

she turned

Dr. Chilton
"

ence

Dear me
is,"

Well,

161

don't see where the differ-

sighed Pollyanna, as she went to hang her

hat on the one particular hook in the house upon

which Aunt Polly had said that

it

must be hung.

CHAPTER XVI
A RED ROSE AND A LACE SHAWL
It was on a rainy day about a week after Pollyanna's visit to Mr. John Pendleton, that Miss Polly

was driven by Timothy

to

an early afternoon comSociety.

When

she returned at three o'clock, her cheeks

were a

mittee meeting of the Ladies'

bright,

damp

Aid

pretty pink, and her hair,

blown by the

wind, had fluffed into kinks and curls wher-

ever the loosened pins had given leave.

Pollyanna had never before seen her aunt look

like this.

"

Oh

oh oh

Why, Aunt

Polly, you've got

'em, too," she cried rapturously, dancing round

round her aunt, as that lady entered the

and

sitting

room.
" Got what, you impossible child

Pollyanna was

still

"
?

revolving round and round

her aunt.
"

And

knew you had 'em

Can folks
have 'em when you don't know they've got 'em?
I

never

163

A
Do you
I

Red Rose and a Lace Shawl

suppose

mean," she

could?

'fore I get to

cried, pulling out with-

"

the straight locks above her ears.

wouldn't be black,

Heaven,

eager fingers

But then, they

they did come.

if

16.

You

can't

hide the black part."

" Pollyanna,

manded Aunt
and trying
"

to

No, no

what does

all

Polly, hurriedly

mean ?

"

de-

removing her

hatj

this

smooth back her disordered

Aunt Polly

please.

"

hair.

Pollyanna's

jubilant voice turned to one of distressed appeal.

" Don't smooth 'em out

about

those darling

Polly, they're so pretty

" Nonsense

It's

little

those that I'm talking

Oh, Aunt

black curls.

"
!

What do you mean,

Pollyanna, by

going to the Ladies' Aid the other day

in that ab^

surd fashion about that beggar boy ? "

" But it isn't nonsense," urged Pollyanna, aa^

swering only the

don't

know how

that!

first

of her aunt's remarks.

pretty

''

you look with your hair

Oh, Aunt Polly,

please,

mayn't

Yo^a
like

do your

hair like I did Mrs. Snow's, and put in a flower?

I'd so love to see

ever so

much

you that w^ay!

prettier than she

"Pollyanna!"

was

AVhy, you'd be
"
!

(Miss Polly spoke very sharply

all the more sharply because Pollyanna's words

had given her an odd throb of joy: when before

PoUyanna
;id

anybody cared how

yhen

" pretty

'*

Why

see her

" Yes'm, I

was absurd

know

until I

see their report

"
?

'cause

you

Polly,

you?"
Aunt

will

So then

Jimmy

afternoon

let

me do your

was upon

ashamed

her, she

when

hair,

them,

to

Aunt

won't

the

old,

me

this

knew.

was

so

"

Pollyanna began to dance up and

"

away

the ladies told

how you came

far

And, Aunt

India girl?

little

" But, Pollyanna,

wrote

thought maybe he

Polly put her hand to her throat

helpless feeling

on her

is

India boy same as

little

your

it

went and found out they'd rather

grow than Jimmy.

could be their

know

but, please, I didn't

Ladies' Aiders

was

my

you did not answer

from them, you know; and

Polly,

to

did you go to the Ladies' Aid in

that absurd fashion

my

looked?

" loved "

?) " Pollyanna,

question.

to

she, or her hair

before had anybody

down

lightly

toes.

You

didn't

you

didn't

say I couldn't do

your hair," she crowed triumphantly; " and so I'm

sure
like

that

it
it

means

just the other

way

'round, sort of

did the other day about Mr. Pendleton's jelly

you didn't send, but didn't want me

to say

you

OH, my!

what pretty hair you've

'

got.'

'^

Red Rose and a Lace Shawl

are.

Now

you know.

didn't send,

165

wait just where you

get a comb."

I'll

" But Pollyanna, Pollyanna," remonstrated

Polly, following the

Aunt
room and

from the

little girl

panting up-stairs after her.

"

Oh,

you come up here ?

did

Pollyanna

"

greeted her at the door of Miss Polly's

*'

That'll be nicer yet

sit

down,

let

me do

I've got the

please, right here.

it!

Now

comb.

Oh, I'm so glad you

"

" But, Pollyanna, I

"

Miss Polly did not

finish

To

her sentence.

amazement she found

helpless

own room,

her

low

herself in the

chair before the dressing table, with her hair al-

ready tumbling about her ears under ten eager, but

very gentle fingers.

my

" Oh,

"and

Pollyanna;

Mrs.

what pretty hair you've got,"

Snow

has,

there's so

too!

much more

prattled

of

it

than

But, of course, you need

more, anyhow, because you're well and can go to

^^laces

where

le glad

folks can see

when they do

'cause you've hid

make you
at

you

it

see

it.

it

so long.

My

and

reckon

f olks'll

surprised, too,

Why, Aunt

Polly,

I'll

so pretty everybody '11 just love to look

"
!

" Pollyanna

" gasped a stified but shocked voice

Pollyanna

166

from a

"I

veil of hair.

I'm sure

to have folks like to look at you!

to look at pretty things

when

know

don't

why I'm letting you do this silly thing."

" Why, Aunt Polly, I should think you'd

be glad

Don't you

like

I'm ever so much happier

look at pretty folks, 'cause

when

look at

the other kind I'm so sorry for them."

"
" But
but

"

And

I just love to

Aiders'
yours.

do

folks' hair,"

but there wasn't any of them so

Mrs. White's was pretty

she looked just lovely one day

up

in

Oh, Aunt Polly,

think of something
tell.

purred Polly-

" I did quite a lot of the Ladies*

anna, contentedly.

Now

But

your hair

is

it's

nice,

when

dressed her

I've just

nice as

though, and

happened to

a secret, and

I sha'n't

almost done, and pretty

quick I'm going to leave you just a minute;

you must promise

nor peek, even,

till

promise promise not

come

back.

Now

and

to stir

remember

"
!

she finished, as she ran from the room.

Aloud Miss Polly

said nothing.

To

herself she

said that of course she should at once

undo the

absurd work of her niece's fingers, and put her hair

up properly again.
she cared how

At

that

moment

As

for " peeking "

just as if

unaccountably Miss

Polly

Red Rose and a Lace Shawl

167
i

caught a glimpse of herself

dressing table.

And what

she only flushed

of rosy color to her cheeks that

the

more

at the sight.

She saw a face

^ow

mirror of the

in the

she saw sent such a flush

alight

not young,

it is

true

but

The eyes sparkled.

damp from the outdoor air,

cheeks were a pretty pink.

hair, dark,
in loose

just

with excitement and surprise.

and

still

The
The
lay

waves about the forehead and curved back

over the ears in wonderfully becoming

softening

little

curls here

and

lines,

with

there.

So amazed and so absorbed was Miss Polly with

what she saw in the glass that she quite forgot her
determination to do over her hair, until she heard

Pollyanna enter the room again.

move,

then,

she

Before she could

a folded something slipped

felt

across her eyes and tied in the back.

" Pollyanna, Pollyanna!

What

are you doing?

"

she cried,

Pollyanna chuckled.
" That's just what

want you to know.

was afraid you would peek, so
I don't

Aunt

Polly,

I tied

on the handkerchief.

and

Now

sit still.

It

won't

take but just a minute, then I'll let you see."

" But, Pollyanna," began Miss Polly, struggling
blindly to her feet, "

you must take

this off

You

Pollyanna

168

child, child!

she

as

felt

what are you doing?

" she gasped,

a soft something slipped about her

shoulders.

Pollyanna

only

With trembling

chuckled

fingers she

the

more

gleefully.

was draping about her

aunt's shoulders the fleecy folds of a beautiful lace

shawl, yellowed from long years of packing away,

and fragrant with lavender.

Pollyanna had found

week before when Nancy had been
regulating the attic; and it had occurred to her

the shawl the

to-day that there was no reason

why

her aunt, as

well as Mrs. White of her Western home, should

not be " dressed up."

Her

task completed, Pollyanna surveyed her

work

with eyes that approved, but that saw yet one touch
wanting.

Promptly, therefore, she pulled her aunt

toward the sun parlor where she could see a belated

red rose blooming on the

within reach of her

trellis

hand.

"Pollyanna, what are you doing? Where are

you taking me to ? " recoiled Aunt Polly, vainly
trying to hold herself back.

not

" Pollyanna, I shall

"

"It's just to the sun parlor

I'll

have you ready

now

only

a minute!

quicker'n no time," panted

Pollyanna, reaching for the rose and thrusting

it

A
into

the

" There

Red Rose and a Lace Shawl

169

above Miss

ear.

soft

"

hair

her.
I

left

she exulted, untying the knot of the

handkerchief and flinging the

''

Polly's

Oh, Aunt Polly, now

dressed you up

reckon you'll be glad

"
!

For one dazed moment Miss Polly looked

bedecked

self,

from

bit of linen far

and

at her surroundings;

gave a low cry and

fled to

her room.

at

her

then she
Pollyanna,

following the direction of her aunt's last dismayed

gaze, saw, through the open
parlor, the horse

She recognized

windows of

and gig turning

at once the

the sun

into the driveway.

man who

held the reins.

Delightedly she leaned forward.

" Dr. Chilton, Dr. Ghilton
Did you want to see
!

me?

I'm up here."

" Yes," smiled the doctor, a

little

gravely.

*'

Will

you come down, please?"

In the bedroom Pollyanna found a flushed-faced,

angry-eyed

woman

plucking at the pins that held

a lace shawl in place.

how

''Pollyanna,

woman.

"

and then

letting

To

could

you?"

think of your rigging

"
me
be seen!

moaned

me up

the

like this,

Pollyanna stopped in dismay.

" But you looked lovely
Polly; and

"

perfectly lovely.

Aunt

PoUyanna

170
"

'

Lovely

"

'
!

scorned the woman, flinging the

shawl to one side and attacking her hair with

shaking fingers.
" Oh,

Aunt

Polly, please, please let the hair

r.tay!"

" Stay

Like

this ?

As

if I

would

And Miss

"

Polly pulled the locks so tightly back that the last

curl lay stretched dead at the ends of her fingers.

"

dear

And you

did look so pretty," almost

sobbed Pollyanna, as she stumbled through the door.

Down-stairs Pollyanna found the doctor waiting
in his gig.

"

me

Fve prescribed you for a

to get the prescription filled,"

You mean

an errand

asked Pollyanna, a

some

he's sent

announced the

"Will you go?"

doctor.

"

and

patient,

little

drug store?

to the

uncertainly.

"

"

used to go

for the Ladies' Aiders."

The doctor shook

"Not
would

exactly.

like to see

as to come.
after you.

It's

his

head with a smile.

He
It's Mr. John Pendleton.
you to-day, if you'll be so good
stopped raining, so

Will you come?

I'll

call

drove down
for

bring you back before six o'clock."

" I'd love to " exclaimed Pollyanna.
!

ask Aunt Polly."

you and
" Let

me

Red Rose and a Lace Shawl

moments she

In a few

returned, hat in hand, but

with rather a sober face.

" Didn't
your aunt want you to go

the

doctor,

little

171

as

diffidently,

" asked

drove

they

away.
'^

me

Y-yes," sighed Pollyanna.

to

"

She

she wanted

go too much, I'm afraid."

"Wanted you

to

go too much!"

Pollyanna sighed again.

" Yes. I reckon she meant she didn't want
there.

along

You

see,

do!

she said

The doctor smiled

little

me

Yes, yes, run along, run

wish you'd gone before.'

but wath

eyes were very grave.

ing; then, a

'

"

His

his lips only.

For some time he

said noth-

hesitatingly, he asked:

your aunt saw with you a few

minutes ago
the window of the sun parlor
" Wasn't

it

'''

in

Pollyanna drew a long breath.

"

Yes

pose.

that's what's the

You

whole trouble,

sup-

see I'd dressed her up in a perfectly

lovely lace shawl I found up-stairs,

and

I'd fixed

her

hair and put on a rose, and she looked so pretty.

"
Didn't you think she looked just lovely?

For a moment the doctor did not answer.

When

he did speak his voice was so low Pollyanna could

but just hear the words.

PoUyanna

172

" Yes, Pollyanna, I

thought she did look

just lovely."

"Did you?
the

to ask

you not

Why,

I'm afraid
her

Pollyanna,
to

tell

have

I shall

Why

not?

should think

"

But she might not be," cut in the doctor.

Pollyanna considered
" That's so
" I

that."

Dr. Chilton!

you'd be glad
"

nodded

her surprise the doctor gave a sudden excla-

mation.
" Never

"

her,"

I'll tell

contentedly.

little girl,

To

I'm so glad!

maybe

remember now

she ran.

And

a moment.

this for

she wouldn't," she sighed.

'twas 'cause she

saw you

that

she - she spoke afterwards about

her being seen in that rig."

" I thought as much," declared the doctor, under
his breath.

"
"

don't see why," maintained Pollyanna,

"
she looked so pretty

Still, I

when

The doctor

said

nothing.

He

did not

speak

again, indeed, until they were almost to the great

stone house in which

broken

leg.

John Pendleton

lay with a

CHAPTER XVII
"

"
JUST LIKE A BOOK

John Pendleton

greeted PoUyanna to-day witK

a smile.
" Well, Miss Pollyanna, I'm thinking

be a very forgiving

have come to see

''

Why, Mr.

and I'm sure

"

Oh,

well,

me

again to-day."

Pendleton,
don't see

was

why

you know,

real glad to

me

you found

pretty cross with

when you so
when
By the
first.

the jelly, and that time

with the broken leg

at

don't think I've ever thanked you for

Now

I'm sure that even you would admit that

way, too,
that.

me

come,

shouldn't be, either."

was

you, I'm afraid, both the other day

kindly brought

you must

person, else you wouldn't

little

you were very forgiving

come and

to

such ungrateful treatment as that

see

me, after

"
!

Pollyanna stirred uneasily.

"

But

mean

was glad

leg

she corrected hurriedly.

173

that is, I don't

you
was broken, of course,"

to find

was glad your

PoUyanna

174

John Pendleton smiled.

" I understand.

you once

in

Your tongue does

a while, doesn't

it,

do thank you, however; and

brave

little

thank you

girl to

away with

get

Miss Pollyanna?

consider you a very

do what you did that day.

for the jelly, too," he added in a lighter

voice.

" Did you like it? " asked Pollyanna with interest.
"

Very much.

to-day
there

His

that

there

Aunt Polly

that

" he asked with an

odd

isn't

any more

didn't

send,

is

smile.

visitor looked distressed.

" N-no, sir."

She

heightened color.

mean

suppose

hesitated, then

went on with

" Please, Mr. Pendleton,

to be rude the other

day when

didn't

Arnt

I said

Polly did not send the jelly."

There was no answer.

smiling now.

him with eyes

John Pendleton was not

was looking straight ahead of

He
that

seemed to be gazing through and

beyond the object before them.

drew a long sigh and turned

he spoke

After a time he

to Pollyanna.

When

his voice carried the old nervous fretful-

ness.

" Well, well, this will never

send for you to see

Out

in the library

me moping

do

at all

this time.

I didn't

Listen!

the big room w^here the

tele-

Just Like a Book "

'*

phone

you know

is,

on the lower

you

be there

it'll

regulated

it

to me.

'

a carved box

shelf of the big case with glass doors

from the

in the corner not far

will find

175

that

if

confounded

somewhere

to

it

fireplace.

else

That

is,

woman hasn't
You may bring

heavy, but not too heavy for you to

It is

carry, I think."

" Oh, I'm awfully strong," declared Pollyanna,

cheerfully, as she sprang to her feet.

In a minute

she had returned with the box.

was a wonderful half -hour that Pollyanna

curios
spent then. The box was full of treasures
It

that

John Pendleton had picked up in years of travel

and concerning each

story,

whether

it

there

were a

was some entertaining

set of exquisitely

chessmen from China, or a

little

carved

jade idol from

India.

was

It

idol that

after she

" Well, I suppose

boy

had heard the story about the

Pollyanna murmured wistfully

in India to

any more than

it

zuould be better to take a

bring up

than

little

boy who knows God

I can't help

that didn't

little

know

God was in that dollto take Jimmy Bean, a

to think that

thing

it

one

would be

is

up

in the sky.

wishing they had wanted

too, besides the India boys."

Jimmy

Still,

Bean,

Fonyanna

176

John Pendleton did not seem to hear. Again his

eyes were staring straight before him, looking at
But soon he had roused himself, and had

nothing.

picked up another curio to talk about.

The
before
they

was

it

was a

certainly,

visit,

delightful one, but

was

over, Pollyanna

realizing that

were talking about something besides the

wonderful things

herself, of

and of her daily

life.

of the

Nancy, of Aunt Polly,

They were

and home long ago

life

They

carved box.

in the beautiful

were talking of

talking, too, even

Western

in the far

town.

Not
the

until

man

it

was nearly time for her

to go, did

Pollyanna had never before

say, in a voice

heard from stern John Pendleton

" Little

girl, I

Pm

Will you ?

another reason
too.

want you

and

thought, at

Pm

first,

were, the other day, that

come
I

I didn't

every day,

you

tell

of

the doctor asked

if I

come

to

something

So

said to

never wanted to see you again

when

that,

who you

want you

of

often.

There's

found out

have tried for long years to forget.

myself that

me

to see

need you.

going to

after I

You reminded me

any more.
I

to

lonesome, and

and

wouldn't

him bring you to me, I said no.

" But after a time I found I was wanting

let

to see

"

'*

Just Like a Book "

you so much that

ing you was

''

want you

Why,

yes,

that the fact that I wasn't see-

making me remember

vividly the thing

now

was so wanting

177

to come.

Will you

more

the

all

to forget.

So

little girl ?

"

Mr. Pendleton," breathed Pollyanna,

her eyes luminous with sympathy for the sad-faced

man lying back on the pillow before her. " I'd love
to

come "
" Thank you,"
!

said

John Pendleton,

gently.

After supper that evening, Pollyanna, sitting on

the back porch, told

Nancy

all

about Mr. John Pen-

dleton's wonderful carved box,

wonderful things
"

ye

And

all

no one

things,

and the

still

more

contained.

ter think," sighed

them

him

it

Nancy, " that he showed

and told ye about 'em

that's so cross

like that

he never talks ter no one

" Oh, but he isn't cross, Nancy, only outside,"

demurred Pollyanna, with quick

see

why everybody

wouldn't,

if

doesn't like
jelly to

they

loyalty.

" I don't

thinks he's so bad, either.

knew him.

him very

well.

They

But even Aunt Polly

She wouldn't send the

him, you know, and she was so afraid he'd

"

think she did send it

" Probably she didn't
!

call

him no

dtfty,'^

shrugged

PoUyanna

178

But what beats me

"

Nancy.

you

ter take ter

so,

how he happened

Miss Pollyanna

offence ter you, of course

man what

is

but he

meanin'

no

ain't the sort o'

he

gen'rally takes ter kids;

ain't,

he^

ain't."

Pollyanna smiled happily.

" But he did, Nancy," she nodded, " only I reckon

even he didn't want to

owned up

to-day he

never wanted to see

all

again, because I reminded

He

But

after-

to forget

" Yes.

Nancy, excitedly.

interrupted

you reminded him of something he

said

wanted

to forget.

"

" What's that ? "

"

only

that one time he just felt he

me

him of something he wanted

wards

Why,

the time.

"
?

But afterwards

"

"What was it?" Nancy was eagerly insistent.

" He didn't tell me. He just said it was something."

" The mystery! " breathed Nancy, in an awe" That's

struck voice.

a book

Secret,'

Years

'

like this.

all

Why,

'

The Lost

Heir,'

that's just

Lady Maud's
and Hidden for

I've read lots of 'em;

and

he took to you in the

Oh, Miss Pollyanna

first place.

like

why

'

'

of 'em had mysteries and things just

My

stars

and stockings!

Just think of

^'

Just Like a Book

''

179

havin' a book lived right under yer nose like this

me

an'

not knowin'

everythin'

he

everythin'

no wonder

Now

time!

was

till

firsto

And

make him understand

and

it,

''

he didn't even

that

"

Nancy sprang

no

"

took the calf s-foot

me

he took ter you;

" But he didn't/' cried Pollyanna,

talked to hiin^

tell

Miss Pollyanna,

said,

No wonder

there's a dear!

wonder

all this

it

jelly,

Aunt Polly

to her feet

not

till

know who

and had to
didn't send

and clasped her hands

together suddenly.
" Oh, Miss Pollyanna, I know, I
I

know

ute she

me

" she exulted rapturously.

was down

now

think,

at Pollyanna's side again.

" It

was

after he found out

Polly's niece that he said he didn't

ever want ter see ye again, wa'n't it?"

" Oh, yes.
I told him that the last time

him, and he told

me

Miss Polly wouldn't send the

Nancy

jelly herself,

she?'^

" No."

And vou

told

saw

"

And

this to-day."

" I thought as much," triumphed

"

" Tell

and answer straight and true,"

she urged excitedly.

you was Miss

I know
know
The next min-

him she

didn't send it?

''

would


Pollyanna

180

"

"Why, yes; I
" And he began
after he

niece.

He

little

queer

did that,

he?"

didn't

"

and cry out sudden

ter act queer

found out you was her

Why,

y-yes

he did act a

over

that jelly," admitted Pollyanna, with a thoughtful

frown.

Nancy drew a long sigh.

Then I've got it, sure Now listen. Mr. John
Pendleton was Miss Polly Harrington's lover!"
"

announced impressively, but with a furtive

she

glance over her shoulder.

"

Why, Nancy,

he couldn't be

She doesn't

like

him," objected Pollyanna.

Nancy gave her a

"Of

course she don't!

Pollyanna

still

other long breath

tell

"

scornful glance.

That's the quarrel!

"

looked incredulous, and with an-

Nancy happily

settled herself to

the story.
It's like this.

told

me Miss

believe

Tom

it.

I couldn't

said she had,

in this

town.

her and a lover

Tom

I didn't

But Mr.

now

right

know, of course.

It's

and that he was

And now

John Pendleton.
life ?

Just before you come, Mr.

Polly had had a lover once.

livin'

Hain't he got a mystery in his

Don't he shut himself up

in that

grand house

'*

Just Like a Book

and never speak

alone,

''

no one?

ter

181

Didn't he act

queer when he found out you was Miss Polly's

niece? And now hain't he owned up that you remind him of somethin' he wants ter forget? Just
as

anybody couldn't

if

her

Why, Miss
yer face;
"

see 'twas

Pollyanna,
"

an'

too.

jelly,

as plain as the nose on

it's

it is, it is!

Oh-h

"

breathed
" But,

amazement.

Pollyanna,

Nancy,

in

wide-eyed

should think

make up some

loved each other they'd

of 'em

Miss Polly!

she wouldn't send him no

sayin'

alone, so, all these years.

"
they'd be glad to make up
all

they

if

Both

time.

should think

Nancy

sniffed disdainfully.

" I guess
ers.

maybe you

Miss Pollyanna.

But

anyhow.

if

there

that wouldn't have

o'

don't

know much about

lov-

^^011

ain't big

enough

yet,

's

world

set o' folks in the

no use for that

'ere

'

glad

game

and

your'n, it'd be a pair o' quarrellin' lovers;

that's

what they

gen'rally

and

be.

'

Ain't he cross as sticks, most

ain't she

"

Nancy stopped abruptly, remembering just in

time to whom, and about whom, she was speaking.
Suddenly, however, she chuckled.
" I ain't sayin', though. Miss Pollyanna, but
(t

would be a pretty

what

slick piece of business if

you

PoUyanna

18^

could get 'em ter playin'

it

so they

would be glad

make up. But, my land! wouldn't folks stare

some
Miss Polly and him
I guess, though,
"
there ain't much chance, much chance
Pollyanna said nothing; but when she went into
ter

the house a
fill

little later,

her face was very thought^

CHAPTER

XVIIl

PRISMS

As

the

warm August

went very frequently

to the great house

on Pendle-

really a success.

want her there

to

Pollyanna

She did not

ton Hill.

were

days passed,

quently;
scarcely

but that

however, that her

feel,

Not but

that the

visits

man seemed

he

sent for her, indeed, fre-

when

she

was

there, he

seemed

at least,

any the happier for her presence

so Pollyanna thought.

He
many
tures,

his

talked to her,

was

and he showed her

true,

books,

strange and beautiful things

and

own

the

it

rules

curios.

But he

helplessness,

and

members of

^'

still

and he chafed

regulatings "

his household.

visibly

talked,

under

of the unwelcome

He

did, indeed,

to like to hear Pollyanna talk, however,

anna

pic-

fretted audibly over

Pollyanna liked to talk

and

seem
Polly-

but she was

never sure that she would not look ud and find him
lying back on his pillow with that white, hurt look
that always pained her;

and she was never sure

183

PoUyanna

184

which

any

if

As

there.

of

for telhng

trying to get

him

words had brought

him

the " glad

to play

seen the time yet

to hear about

her

when

game," and

Pollyanna had never

it

she thought he would care

She had twice

it.

it

tried to tell

him;

but neither time had she got beyond the beginning

of what her father had said

John Pendleton had

on each occasion turned the conversation abruptly

to another subject.

Pollyanna never doubted

now

John Pendle-

that

ton was her Aunt Polly's one-time lover; and with

all

the strength of her loving, loyal heart, she wished

she could in some

to her

Just

not

bring happiness into their

mind

miserably lonely

how

she was to do

see.

aunt;

way

She talked

and he

lives.

however, she could

Mr. Pendleton about her

to

listened,

this,

sometimes

politely,

some-

times irritably, frequently with a quizzical smile on

She talked

his usually stern lips.

Mr. Pendleton

or

As a

about him.

rather, she tried to talk to her

general thing,

Polly would not listen

something
that,

others

long.

else to talk about.

however,

of

to her aunt about

however, Miss

She always found

She frequently did

when Pollyanna was

Dr. Chilton, for instance.

laid this, though, to the fact that

it

talking

of

Pollyanna

had been Dr.

Prisms
who had

Chilton

185

seen her in the sun parlor with

the rose in her hair and the lace shawl draped about

her shoulders.

Aunt

Pollyanna found

larly bitter against Dr. Chilton, as

out one day

seemed particu-

Polly, indeed,

when a hard

cold shut her up in the

house.
*'

If

you are not better by night

the doctor,"
" Shall

to be

worse,"

you?

*'

gurgled Pollyanna.

come

send for

Aunt Polly said.

Then I'm going

I shall

to see

me

I'd love to

have Dr. Chilton

"
!

She wondered, then,

at the look that

came

to her

aunt's face.

" It will not be Dr. Chilton, Pollyanna," Miss

" Dr. Chilton

Folly said sternly.

physician.

I shall

is

not our family

send for Dr. Warren

if

you

are worse."

Pollyanna did not grow worse, however, and

Warren was not summoned.
"

And

I'm so glad, too," Pollyanna said to her

aunt that evening.

and

all

"

Of

course

if I

Dr. Warren,

didn't have him.

he wasn't really to blame, after

day.

I like

that; but I like Dr. Chilton better,

afraid he'd feel hurt

to see

Dr.

you when

Aunt

I'd dressed

all,

and I'm

You

see,

that he happened

you up so pretty that

Polly," she finished wistfully.

PoUyanna

186
"

That

will do, Pollyanna.

or

to discuss Dr. C^,:lton

Miss Polly,

do not wish

I really

his feelings," reproved

decisively.

moment with

Pollyanna looked at her for a

mournfully interested eyes; then she sighed:

" I just love to see you

when your cheeks

are

pink like that, Aunt Polly; but

fix

your

her

hair.

I would so like to
Aunt Polly!" But

If Why,

was already out of

aunt

sight

down

the

hall.

was toward the end of August that Pollyanna,

making an early morning call on John Pendleton,
It

found the flaming band of blue and gold and green

edged with red and

violet lying across his pillow.

She stopped short

awed

"
real

Why, Mr.

in

Pendleton,

rainbow come

in to

delight.

a baby rainbow

it's

pay you a

visit!

claimed, clapping her hands together softly.

oh

oh,

how

pretty

it is

But how did

" she ex*'

it

Oh
get

in? " she cried.

The man laughed a little grimly: John Pendleton was particularly out of sorts with the world this
morning.
" Well,

suppose

it

'

got in

'

edge of that glass thermometer

through the bevelled

in the

window," he

Prisms
^'

said wearily.

but

it

"

The sun

shouldn't strike

My!

it

hang

in the sun all

if it

day long!

And

was mine

I'd

"

Lots of good you'd get out of the thermometer,

then," laughed the man.

you could
if

at all

Mr. Pendleton

so pretty,

it's

does just the sun do that?

'^

it

does in the morning."

Oh, but

have

187

how

tell

the thermometer

hot

''

it

hung

How

was, or
in the

do you suppose

how

sun

cold

all

was,

it

day?

"

" I shouldn't care," breathed Pollyanna, her fascinated eyes on the brilliant band of colors across
the pillow.

" Just as

they were living

The man

all

the time in a rainbow

laughed.

anna's rapt face a

anybody'd care

if

little

thought came to him.

when
"

He was

watching Polly-

curiously.

Suddenly a new

He

touched the

bell at his

side.

" Nora," he said,

at the door, " bring
sticks

when

from the mantel

".Yes,

sir,"

slightly dazed.

the elderly

me one

in the front

murmured

maid appeared

of the big brass candle-

the

drawing-room."

woman,

looking

In a minute she had returned.

musical tinkling entered the room with her as she

advanced wonderingly toward the bed.

It

came

from the prism pendants encircling the old-fash=

ioned candelabrum in her hand.

PoUyanna

188
"

Thank

You may

you.

directed the man.

Take down

there.

reach

string
to

side

he

fixtures

across

That

when

said,

here on the stand,"

it

get a string and fasten

of

had

she

the

be

will

all.

carried

window

that

and

the sash-curtain,

straight

side.

set

Now

sash-curtain

the

to

it

''

the

let

window from
Thank you,"
out

direc-

his

tions.

As

she

the

left

room he turned smilmg eyes

toward the wondering Pollyanna.

" Bring

me

the candlestick now, please,

Polly-

anna."

With both hands

ment he was

she brought

and

it;

in

slipping off the pendants, one

a mo-

by one,

round dozen of them, side by

until they lay, a

side,

on the bed.
"

Now, my

dear,

hook them to that

window.
I

If

you

suppose you take them and

little

really

string

want

Nora

fixed across the

to live in a rainbow

don't see but we'll have to have a rainbow for you

"

to live in

Pollyanna had not hung up three of the pendants

in the sunlit

was going

window before

to happen.

she

saw a

little

of what

She was so excited then she

could scarcely control her shaking fingers enough

to

hang up

the rest.

But

at last her task

was

fin-

Prisms

and she stepped back with a low cry of de-

ished,
light.

had become a fairyland

It

189

that sumptuous, but

Evcryw^here were

dreary bedroom.

dancing

bits of

red and green, violet and orange, gold and blue.

The

wall, the floor,

bed

itself,

and the

furniture, even to the

were aflame with shimmering

bits

of

color.

"

how

Oh, oh, oh,

lovely

" breathed Pollyanna

''

then she laughed suddenly.

sun himself

you ?

is

trying to play the

" she cried, forgetting for

just reckon the

game now, don't

the moment that

Mr. Pendleton could not know what she was

" Oh,

ing about.
things

How

Polly and Mrs.

how

doors

wish

had a

like to give

Snow and

then they'd be glad

Aunt

would

lot of those

them

lots of folks.

Why,

right!

all

if

Aunt

to
I

reckon

think even

Polly' d get so glad she couldn't help

talk-

banging

she lived in a rainbow like that.

Don't

you?"
Mr. Pendleton laughed.
^'

Well, from

Pollyanna,

my

remembrance of your

must say

think

it

aunt,

Miss

would take some-

thing more than a few prisms in the sunlight to

to

make her bang many doors

come, now,

really,

for gladness.

what do you mean ?

"

But

PoUyanna

190

Pollyanna stared slightly; then she drew a long

breath.

" Oh, I forgot.

I

remember
" Suppose

And

You

don't

know about

the game.

now.*'

you

tell

me, then."

She told him

time Pollyanna told him.

this

the whole thing

from the very

first

from

the

As

she

crutches that should have been a

doll.

talked, she did not look at his face.

Her

rapt eyes

flecks of color

from the

were

on the dancing

still

prism pendants swaying in the sunlit window.

"

And

that's all," she sighed,

when

she had

fin-

"

And now you know why I said the sun

was trying to play it
that game."
For a moment there was silence. Then a low
voice from the bed said unsteadily:
ished.

" Perhaps

but

Pm

thinking that the very finest

prism of them

all is yourself, Pollyanna."

" Oh, but I don't show beautiful red and green

and purple when the sun shines through me, Mr.

Pendleton
" Don't

"
!

you ?

" smiled the

man.

looking into his face, wondered

And Pollyanna,
why there were

tears in his e3Ts.

" No," she said.

mournfully

''
:

Pm

Then, after a minute she added

afraid,

Mr. Pendleton, the sun

Prisma

191

doesn't make anything but freckles

out of me.
Aunt Polly says it does make them! "
The man laughed a little; and again Pollyanna

looked at him:

a sob.

the laugh had sounded almost like

CHAPTER XIX
WHICH
PoLLYANNA

IS

SOMEWHAT SURPRISING

entered school in September.

Pre-

liminary examinations showed that she was well

advanced for a
a happy

own

girl of

member

her years, and she was soon

of a class of girls and boys her

age.

School, in

anna

very

much

some ways, was a surprise

and Pollyanna,

certainly, in

many

to Polly-

ways, was

They were soon

of a surprise to school.

on the best of terms, however, and

to

her aunt

Pollyanna confessed that going to school mas

ing,

after

all

though

liv-

she had had her doubts

before.

In spite of her delight in her

new work,

Polly-

anna did not forget her old

friends.

could not give them quite so

much time now,

course;

most

of

but she gave them what time she could.

Perhaps John Pendleton, of them

the

True, she

all,

however, was

dissatisfied.

One Saturdav afternoon he spoke

192

to her about

it.

Which

Somewhat Surprising

Is

" See here, Pollyanna,

come and

with

live

" I

tiently.

don't

me?"

Pollyanna laughed

''

he asked, a

Mr.

like

to

impa-

little

anything of you,

see

days."

funny

how would you

193

nowa-

Pendleton was such a

man
thought you didn't like to have folks 'round,"

she said.

He made
"

wry

face.

game

Now

of yours.

be waited on, hand and foot!

my own two

on

me

Oh, but that was before you taught

that wonderful

I'll

see

who

to play

I'm glad to

Never mind,

I'll

steps around," he finished, picking

one of the crutches

at his side

and shaking

They were

fully at the little girl.

be

one of these days; then

feet yet,

it

up

play-

sitting in the

great library to-day.

" Oh, but

you

you

just say

aren't really glad at

you

on the dog, dozing before the

you don't play the game right

you know you don't

The man's
" That's
)lay it

face

why

for things

all

are," pouted Pollyanna, her eyes

"

fire.

ever,

Yon know

Mr, Pendleton

"
!

grew suddenly very

want you, little girl

Will you oome?

grave.

*'

Pollyanna turned in surprise,

to help

me

PoUyanna

194
"

Mr. Pendleton, you don't

" But

I do.

want you.

PoUyanna looked

mean
that?
"
Will you come ?
really

distressed.

you

"

Why, Mr. Pendleton, I can't

"
can't.
Why, I'm
Aunt Polly's

know

quick something crossed the man's face that

PoUyanna could not

came up almost
" You're no

would
"

"

more

you come

let

quite understand.

His head

fiercely.

to

Would you come

hers

than

Perhaps she

me," he finished more gently.

if

she did?

"

PoUyanna frowned in deep thought.

"But Aunt Polly has been so
good to me,"

began slowly

she

" and

didn't

have anybody

and

"

Again
face;

left

she

took

but

the

me when

low and very

when he

spoke, his voice

house.

*'

somebody

hoped to bring her, some day, to this

pictured
all

was

sad.

" PoUyanna, long years ago I loved

our home

Aid,

Ladies'

spasm of something crossed the man's

that

but this time,

very much.

how happy we'd

be together in

the long years to come."

Yes," pitied PoUyanna, her eyes shining with

sympathy.
" But

well,

didn't bring het here.

Never

Which
mind why.

Somewhat Surprising

Is

I just didn't

that's

195

And

all.

ever

since then this great gray pile of stone has been a

house

and

never a home.

a woman's hand

It takes

heart, or a child's presence, to

Pollyanna;

and

my

you come,

have not had

dear?

make a home,

either.

Now

will

face

was

"

Pollyanna sprang to her

Her

feet.

fairly illumined.

" Mr. Pendleton,

you

you

all this

"

that

you wish

time?"

Why,

y-yes, Pollyanna."

" Oh, I'm so glad

the

you mean

you

had had that woman's hand and heart

little

girl.

"

Then

Now

it's

all

right," sighed

you can take us both, and

everything will be lovely."

''

Take

you both

"

repeated

the

man,

dazedly.

faint doubt crossed Pollyanna's countenance.

" Well, of course. Aunt Polly isn't won over,

yet;

but I'm sure she will be

just as

if

you

tell

it

to her

you did to me, and then we'd both come,

of course."

look of actual terror leaped to the man's eyes.

"
" Aunt Polly come
here!

Pollyanna's eyes widened a little.

" Would you rather go there? " she asked.

*''

Of

Follyanna

196
course

house

the
"

quite

isn't

so

pretty,

nearer
" Pollyanna,

but

it's

what are you talking about?"

asked the man, very gently now.

''

Why, about where

we're

rejoined Pollyanna,

course,"

" I thought

you meant

was here

that

and heart

all

going to

You

first.

you had wanted Aunt

these years to

of

obvious surprise.

in

here, at

live,

make

said

Polly's

it

hand

a home, and

"

An inarticulate cry came from the man's throat.

He raised his hand and began to speak; but the
moment he dropped

next

his

hand nervelessly

at his

side.

"

The

doctor, cir," said the

maid

doorway.

in the

Pollyanna rose at once.

John Pendleton turned to her feverishly.

" Pollyanna, for Heaven's sake, say nothing of
what

asked you

yet," he begged, in a

low voice.

Pollyanna dimpled into a sunny smile.

*'

Of

rather

course not!
tell

Just as

her yourself

if I

didn't

know you'd

" she called back merrily

over her shoulder.

John Pendleton

fell

"Why,

up?" demanded

minute
pule.

what's

limply back in his chair.

later, his fingers

on

the

doctor,

his patient's galloping

Which

Is

Somewhat Surprising

197

whimsical smile trembled on John Pendleton's

lips.
''

Overdose of your

tonic, I guess."

he laughed,

as he noted the doctor's eyes following Pollyanna's

little

figure

down

the driveway.

CHAPTER XX
WHICH

MORE SURPRISING

IS

Sunday mornings Pollyanna

attended

usually

Sunday afternoons

church and Sunday school.

she

She had

frequently went for a walk with Nancy.

planned one for the day after her Saturday after-

noon

Mr. John Pendleton; but on the way

visit to

home from Sunday

school Dr. Chilton overtook her

and brought

in his gig,

" Suppose you

''

anna," he suggested.
minute.
tell

says

drive

you home, Polly-

want

to speak to

just driving out to

you a

your place to

you," he went on, as Pollyanna settled herself

at his side.

for

was

his horse to a stop.

me

let

you

to

*'

go

Mr. Pendleton sent

to see

him

a special request

this afternoon, sure.

He

very important."

it's

Pollyanna nodded happily.

" Yes,

it is,

know.

I'll

go."

The doctor eyed her with some

" I'm not sure
clared,

his

I shall let

eyes twinkling.

you, after all," he de" You seemed more

upsetting than soothing yesterday,

198

surprise.

young

lady."

Which

More Surprising

Is

Pollyanna laughed.
''

Oh,

wasn't me, truly

it

much

not so

as

it

not

really,

you know;

was Aunt Polly."

The doctor turned with a quick star

" Your
aunt " he ejaculated.

199

L.

Pollyanna gave a happy little bounce in her seat.

" Yes. And it's so exciting and lovely, just like
a story, you know.

Pm

going to

she burst out, with sudden decision.

to mention

it

" Yes

want
it

Aunt

to

tell

Polly.

not to mention

"

As

d(?

the doctor said the word, the

the hand that held the

if

jerk.

" Yes," nodded Pollyanna, happily.

me.

me

"
!

had given them a sharp

story-part,

to her.'^

it

And, of course he would

horse started violently, as

reins

you,"

said not

her himself instead of having

lovers, so

" Lovers

tell

He

but he wouldn't mind your knowing,

He meant

of course.

"

you

see.

I didn't

know

" That's the

it till

Nancy

told

She said Aunt Polly had a lover years ago.

She didn't know who it was

and they quarrelled.

at

But we've found out now.

first.

dleton,

It's

Mr. Pen-

you know."

The doctor
the reins

fell

relaxed suddenly.

limply to his

lap.

The hand holding

PoUyanna

200

No;

''Oh!

didn't

know," he said

they

Pollyanna hurried on

quietly.

were nearing the

Harrington homestead.
"

come out
Mr. Pendleton asked me to come and live
lovely.
with him, but of course I wouldn't leave Aunt Polly
Then
after she'd been so good to me.
like that
he told me all about the woman's hand and heart
Yes

and I'm so glad now.

It's

and

that he used to want,

wanted
if

now

it

and

found out that he

was so glad

he wants to make up the quarrel, everything will

and Aunt Polly and

right now,

be

all

go

to live there, or else he'll

Of

Aunt Polly

course

come

doesn't

why he wanted
The doctor

odd smile on
*'

Yes;

ton does

to see

me

will both

to live with us.

know

haven't got everything settled;

is

For of course

yet,

and

w^e

so I suppose that

this afternoon, sure."

There was an

sat suddenly erect.

his lips.

can well imagine that Mr. John Pendle-

want

to see you, Pollyanna," he nodded,

as he pulled his horse to a stop before the door.

''

There's

Pollyanna
isn't

but

''No;

His

lips

Aunt Polly now

in the

then, a second later

thought

saw her

she isn't there

had suddenly

window,"
"

Whj^

cried

no, she

"
!

now,"

said the doctor

lost their smile.

Which

More Surprising

Is

201

Pollyanna found a very nervous John Pendleton

waiting for her that afternoon.
" Pollyanna," he began at once.

ing

yesterday about

my

hand and heart here

Polly's

wanting your Aunt

and

now."
" Lovers

At

What

those years.

all

mean?
Why, because you were

once;

all

"

did you
"

I've been try-

night to puzzle out what you meant by

all

that,

*'

lovers,

was so glad you

still

your Aunt Polly and

you know
felt

that

way

"
I ?

the obvious surprise in the man's voice, Polly-

lanna opened wide her eyes.

" Why, Mr. Pendleton, Nancy said you were "
!

The man gave

" Indeed
that

Nancy

was

laugh.

little

Well, I'm afraid

didn't

"Then you
voice

a short

shall

have to say

know."

weren't

lovers?"

Pollyanna'^

tragic with dismay.

"Never!"
"

And

it

isn't all

coming out

like a

The

There was no answer.

book ?

m.an's

"

eyes v/ere

moodily fixed out the windovv.

'"O

dear!

And

it

was

almost sobbed Pollyanna.

all

"

to come with Aunt Polly."

going so splendidly,"

Fd have been

so glad

Polly anna

202
"

And you

won't

now

The man asked

"

the

question without turning his head.

"

I'm Aunt Polly's."

Of course not
The man turned now, almost fiercely.
!

" Before

you were

and heart that

"

My

*'

it's

mother's

Yes.

to tell you, but perhaps

do

now."

Pollyanna,

difficulty.

wide and frightened, and her

she

him

then

your

how much

was ga-

lips parted,

And

father.

did

but

after a time she

went

know

until

did not

care.

The whole world

suddenly seemed to turn black under

and

her eyes

" I loved your mother

fixedly.

didn't love me.

away with

John Penwas speak-

He

had grown very white.

ing with evident

zing at

ago.''

"
!

better, after all, that I

dleton's face

was your mother's hand

it

wanted long years

had not meant

you were

hers, Pollyanna,

And

your mother's.

my

For long years

fingers,
I

have

been a cross, crabbed, unlovable, unloved old

man

But, never mind.

though

I'm not nearly

Then, one day,

so well,
flecked

little

my

like
girl,

sixty,

you danced

into

my

life,

and

dreary old world with dashes of the

purple and gold and scarlet of your

cbeeriness.

Pollyanna.

yet,

one of the prisms that you love

found

out,

own brignt
who you

after a time,

;=

Which
were, and

your

came
I

thought then

you again.

to see

of

and

But

you

Mr.

Pendleton,

The man made an impatient

What

glad

'

Pollyanna,

'

and

gesture.

But

live!

make you

all

that

my

dear.

All

my

You

money,

make you happy."

if

you spend

I'd let

for the

"
!

dull red

Besides,

came

to the

man's

was

still

to

He

face.

started

talking.

anybody with such a

you have doesn't need me

things.

anything

money you've saved

to speak, but Pollyanna

*^

had you for

if I

glad, too,

Pollyanna looked sjiocked.

" W,hy, Mr. Pendleton, as

me

without you?

be glad for

to the last cent, should go to

heathen

Aunt

only since you came that I've

I'd

girl,

little

I'd try to

on

do you suppose I'm

shouldn't have a wish ungratified.

it

And now

There's

about anything

it's

been even half glad to

my own

How

me ?

about

going to be

Why,

that

Pollyanna's eyes were blurred with tears.

"

reminded

Pollyanna, won't you come

now? "
Polly "

to be

know how

just had to have you come.

want you always.

" But,

never wanted

want

didn't

mother.

out.

ws

More Surprising

Is

lot

of

money

as

make you glad about

You're making other folks so glad giving

\
Pollyanna

g04

them things
yourself

you

that

Why,

Snow and me, and

you gave Nancy

the gold piece

"

on her birthday, and

" Yes, yes

just can't help being glad

look at those prisms you gave Mrs.

never

mind about

that," inter-

all

His face was very, very red now

rupted the man.

and no wonder,

perhaps

for " giv-

was not

it

ing things " that John Pendleton had been best

known

" That's

in the past.

much, anyhow
of you.

but what

You gave
"

more how
voice

And

nonsense.

there was,

those things

did," he repeated, in
in her face.

all

not

'Twasn't

was because
I

Yes, you

answer to the shocked denial

that only goes to prove

need you,

little

the

all

he added, his

girl,"

softening into tender pleading once more.

" If ever, ever I

am

to play the

'

glad game,' Polly-

anna, you'll have to come and play

The

little girl's

it

with me."

forehead puckered into a wistful

frown.
"

Aunt Polly has been

but the
tability

man

so

good

to

me," she b^gan

The

interrupted her sharply.

had come back to

his

face.

old

irri-

Impatience

which would brook no opposition had been a part

of John Pendleton's nature too long to yield very

now to restraint.
Of course she's been good

easily

"

to

you

But she

Which
doesn't

More Surprising

Is

want you,

do," he contested.
" Why, Mr. Pendleton, she's glad,

have

as

know, to

"

" Glad

" interrupted the

his patience

know how

''

now.
to be

does her duty,

I've

much

warrant, half so

I'll

205

I'll

glad

man, thoroughly losing

wager Miss Polly doesn't

for

know.

anything

Oh, she

woman.

She's a very dutiful

had experience with her

duty,' before.

'

I'll

acknowledge we haven't been the best of friends

for the last fifteen or twenty years.

Every one knows her

her.
*

glad

'

kind, Pollyanna.

be.

As

and

see if she won't let

girl,

coming

for your

little

girl,

and

But
she

know

isn't

the

She doesn't know how to

to

me

you just ask her

you come. And, oh, little

want you so " he finished bro!

kenly.

Pollyanna rose to her feet with a long sigh.

"All

"Of
live

right.

course

I'll

ask her,"

don't

mean

she said wistfully.

that I wouldn't like to

here with you, Mr. Pendleton, but

I'm glad
I

I didn't tell

"

She

There was a mo-

did not complete her sentence.

ment's silence, then she added

" Well,

her yesterday

supposed she was wanted, too."

John Pendleton smiled grimdy.

anyhow,

'cause then

PoUyanna

206
''

Well, yes, Pollyanna;

you

mention

didn't

"I

didn't

it

only

he doesn't count.

guess

it is

yesterday/'

to the doctor;

just as well

and of course

'^

''The doctor!" cried John Pendleton, turning

" Not

quickly.

"
see

Yes

me

**

when he came

to-day,

Well, of

back

Dr. Chilton

all

"And

me you wanted

to

you know."
the

in his chair.

terest.

to tell

"
?

" muttered the

Then he

sat

man,

falling

up with sudden

in-

what did Dr. Chilton say?" he

asked.

Poll3^anna frowned thoughtfully,

"

Why,

don't remember.

Not much,

reckon.

Oh, he did say he could well imagine you did want

to see me."

" Oh, did he, indeed " answered John Pendleton.

!

And

Pollyanna wondered

queer

little

laugh.

why

he gave that sudden

CHAPTER XXI
A QUESTION ANSWERED

The

sky was darkening fast with what appeared

to be an approaching thunder

shower when Polly-

anna hurried down the

hill from John Pendleton's

Half-way home she met Nancy with an

house.

By

umbrella.

that time, however, the clouds

shifted their position

had

and the shower was not so

imminent.
" Guess

nounced

Nancy,

thought 'twas,

me

ter

goin'

it's

'round

eyeing

all

the

ter

sky

the

north,"

critically.

the time, but Miss Polly

come with

an" I

wanted

She was worried about

this.

ye!"

"Was

she?" murmured PoUyanna

abstractedly,

eyeing the clouds in her turn.

Nancy

snififed

"

don't seem ter notice

You

little.

observed aggrievedly.
ried about ye

"

"

what

said yer aunt

said," she

was wor-

'*
!

Oh," sighed Pollyanna, remembering suddenly

207

Pollyanna

20S

was

the question she

sorry.
''

didn't

" I'm

so soon to ask her aunt.

mean

to scare her."

Well, I'm glad," retorted Nancy, unexpectedly.

" I am, I am."

Pollyanna stared.
''

Glad thdX Aunt Polly was scared about me!

Why, Nancy,

"

that isn't the

Never thought of

means

it

game

"
rid

it

and worried
"

to feel," maintained Pollyanna.

"

last

all

I'll tell

hor-

is

What

else

head.

ye what

it

means.

It

means

she's

human

an' that she ain't jest doin' her duty

by

gettin'

like folks

"

don't seem ter sense

it

" Well,
.

You

means worried

mean ?
Nancy tossed her

can

it.

have Miss Polly worried about

Why,

ter

"

ye, child

ye

to play the

" she objected.

to be glad for things like that

" There wa'n't no game in it," retorted Nancy.

what

at

way

down somewheres

near

the time."

Why, Nancy," demurred

lyanna,
she's a

''

the scandalized Pol-

Aunt Polly always does her

very dutiful woman!

"

duty.

She

Unconsciously Pol-

lyanna repeated John Pendleton's words of half an

hour before.

Nancy

chuckled.

Question Answered

209

f\

" You're right she

But

guess!

and

is

she always was,

more, now, since you

she's somethin'

came."

Her brows drew

Pollyanna's face changed.

a troubled frown.
" There, that's what

Nancy," she sighed.

likes to
if I

me

have

was going

Do you

ask you,

to

Aunt Polly
Would she mind
if

''

here ?

wasn't here any more

think

"
?

Nancy threw a quick look

into the

She had expected

absorbed face.

had wondered how she should answer

the questioner.

new

asked this

comed

in the face of the

Nancy

only

wel-

She was sure

the question with open arms.

with a clean conscience to-day, she could set

little girl's

heart at

" Likes ter have ye here

if ye wa'n't here? " cried

that wa'n't jest

she send
see a

She

how

become convictions by the

umbrella-sending

the love-hungry

if

it.

it

honestly without cruelly hurting

But now, now,

suspicions that had

afternoon's

that,

it

girl's

little

to be

question long before, and she had dreaded

she could answer

into

me

little

what

rest.

Would

she miss ye

Nancy, indignantly.

was

tellin'

of ye!

"

As

Didn't

posthaste with an umbrella 'cause she

cloud in the sky?

tote yer things

all

Didn't she

make me

down-stairs, so you could have

Pollyanna

210

room you wanted? Why, Miss Pollywhen

ye remember how at first she hated ter
anna,
the pretty

have

"

With

Nancy

a choking cough

pulled herself tip

just in time.

"

And

it

on, neither," rushed

ways she

little

softenin' her

my

fingers

breathlessly.

" It's

can put

ain't jest things I

on Nancy,

shows how you've been

has, that

down

an' mellerin' her

up

and the dog, and the way she speaks

oh,

lots

ain't

o'

no

Why, Miss

things.

tellin'

how

the

cat,

me, and

ter

Pollyanna, there

she'd miss ye

if

ye wa'n't

here," finished Nancy, speaking with an enthusiastic

certainty that

was meant

sion she had almost

was not

to hide the perilous admis-

made

before.

Even then she

for the sudden joy that

quite prepared

illumined Pollyanna's face.

" Oh, Nancy, I'm so glad

don't

know how

me!"
"As

if

glad

am

I'd leave her

glad glad

that

always knew

but
much
""
me!

I
I

Pollyanna,

room a

little later.

wanted

reckon maybe

Ygu

now!" thought

as she clim.bed the stairs to her

*'

Aunt Polly wants

Aunt Polly

to live with

didn't

wanted Aunt Polly

to

know
want

quite

how

to live with

A
The
cision

Question Answered

11

task of telling John Pendleton of her dewould not be an easy one, Pollyanna knew,

and she dreaded

She was very fond of John

him
be-

it.

Pendleton, and she was very sorry for

cause he seemed to be so sorry for himself.

She

was

had

sorry, too, for the long-, lonely life that

made him
it

and she was grieved that

so unhappy;

had been because of her mother that he had spent

She pictured the great gray

those dreary years.

would be after

house as

it

with

silent

its

rooms,

its

its

master was well again,

littered floors,

its

disor-

dered desk; and her heart ached for his loneliness.

She wished that somewhere, some one might be

found who

sprang to her

And
feet

it

was

with a

at this point that she

little

cry of joy at the

thought that had come to her.

As soon

as she could, after that, she hurried

up

John Pendleton's house; and in due

time she found herself in the great dim library, with
the

hill

tO'

John Pendleton himself

thin hands lying idle
his faithful little
*'

dog

Well, Pollyanna,

with me,

all

sitting near her, his long,

on the arms of

his chair,

and

at his feet.
is

the rest of

it

to be the

my

'

glad

game

'

life?" asked the man,

gently.

" Oh, yes," cried Pollyanna.

" I've thought of

Pollyanna

212

you

the very gladdest kind of a thing for

"

and

youf''

"With

mouth growing a
"N-no; but
" Pollyanna,

asked

John

to do,

Pendleton,

his

stern at the corners.

little

"

you

aren't

going to say no "

!

inter-

rupted a voice deep with emotion.

"I

Aunt Polly
" Did she refuse

"I

Mr. Pendleton

I've got to,

"

I didn't

to let

truly I have.

come

you

"
?

ask her," stammered the

little girl,

miserably.

"Pollyanna!"
Pollyanna turned away her eyes.

meet the hurt, grieved gaze of her

"

So you

" I
"

You

didn't even ask her

couldn't,
see,

Polly wants
too,"

things

truly,"

me

friend.

"
!

Pollyanna.

faltered

without
and and want
You
me and and

Aunt

asking.

with her,

she confessed bravely.

how good
really,

sir

found out

She could not

she's been to

"

to stay,

don't

know

think,

sometimes she's beginning to be glad about

lots

used to be.

of things.

You

said

it

And you know

yourself.

she never

Oh, Mr. Pendle"

Aunt Polly
now
There was a long pause. Only the snapping

ton, I couldn't leave

of

A
the

wood

man

No, Pollyanna

now,"
The

last

he

213

the grate broke the silence.

fire in

however, the

last,
'^

Question Answered

spoke.

You

I see.
*'

said.

At

couldn't leave her

won't ask you

word was so low

again."

was almost

it

inaudible;

but Pollyanna heard.

" Oh, but

you don't know about the

reminded him eagerly.

she

''

rest of it,"

There's

gladdest thing you can do

truly there
" Not for me, Pollyanna."
" Yes,

sir,

You

for you.

said

child's presence;

said only

a child's presence

for you a
not me, you know, but another

make a home.

could

You

it.

a a woman's hand and heart or

the very
"
is

And

can get

it

one."
"

As

if I

would have any but you " resented an

!

indignant voice.
"

But you

will

kind and good

Why,

gold pieces, and

heathen, and

to

tell

all

all let

interrupted

my

life.

the

man,

us end that nonsense

you half a dozen

in

youVe so

money you save

that

timics before.

no money for the heathen.

them

you know

think of the prisms and the

for the

"

" Pollyanna "

" Once for

when

There

"
!

savagely.
I've tried

There

is

never sent a penny to

PoUyanna

214

He

his chin

lifted

what he expected
Pollyanna's
there

To

eyes.

was neither

and braced himself to meet

the grieved disappointment of

his

amazement, however,

grief nor disappointment in Polly-

There v^as only surprised joy.

Oh, oh " she cried, clapping her hands.

anna's eyes.
*'

" I'm

That

so glad!

she corrected, coloring distress-

is,"

" I don't

fully,

heathen,

mean that I'm not sorry for the

only just now I can't help being glad that

you don't want the

little

have wanted them.

rest

Jimmy

rather have

Bean.

India boys, because

And

Now

all

the

so I'm glad you'd

I

know

you'll take

him!"
''Take
"

who

Jimmy

f''

Bean.

He's the

'

child's presence,'

you

know; and he'll be so glad to be it. I had to tell

him last week that even my Ladies' Aid out West
wouldn't take him, and he was so disappointed.
But now
when he hears of this
he'll be so

glad!"

"Will
man,

he?

decisively.

Well, I won't," ejaculated the

" Pollyanna, this is sheer non-

sense!"
"
" You don't mean
you won't take him?
" I certainly do mean just that."

" But he'd be a lovely

child's presence," faltered

Question Answered

don't doubt

think
It

rejoined the

it,"

prefer the lonesomeness."

was then that Pollyanna, for the

time in

first

Nancy had

weeks, suddenly remembered something

She raised her chin aggrievedly.

once told her.

"

And

with Jimmy 'round."

man; "but

you couldn't be lonesome

I

"

She was almost crying now.

Pollyanna.

"I

215

Maybe you

think a nice live

little

boy wouldn't

be better than that old dead skeleton you keep some-

where

but

think

it

would

"
!

''Skeleton?''
" Yes.

Nancy

somewhere."
''

his

Why, what

you had one

said

"

indeed

He

laughed very heartily

When

he saw that, John

His face grew

Pendleton sat erect very promptly.

grave

at once.

" Pollyanna,
right than
I

better than

you are right

suspect

you know," he said

knozv that a

'

nice live

my

little

we

aren't always willing to

are apt to

still

boy

cHng

to

make

our

However, suppose you

tell

more

" In fact,

gently.

be far

vv^ould

'

skeleton in the closet

We

anna.

began to cry

so heartily that Pollyanna

from pure nervousness.

closet,

man threw back

Suddenly the

head and laughed.

your

in

only

the exchange.

skeletons,

me

little

PoUy-

more

PoUyanna

216
about

this

nice

little

boy."

And PoUyanna

told

him.

Perhaps the laugh cleared the

the pathos of

anna's

eager

Jimmy
little

or perhaps

Bean's story as told by Pollylips

At

strangely softened.

air;

touched a heart already

all

events,

when PoUyanna

went home that night she carried with her an

tation for

Jimmy Bean

himself to

call at

invi-

the great

house with PoUyanna the next Saturday afternoon.

"

And

I'm so glad, and I'm sure you'll

sighed PoUyanna, as she said good-by.

want Jimmy Bean

care,

you know."

to

have a home and

like'

him"

" I

do so

folks that

CHAPTER XXII
SERMONS AND WOODBOXES

On

the afternoon that

dleton of

Jimmy

PoUyanna

told

John Pen-

Bean, the Rev. Paul Ford climbed

the hill

and entered the Pendleton Woods, hoping

that the

hushed beauty of God's out-of-doors would

still

the

tumult

that

His children of men had

wrought.

The Rev. Paul Ford was

sick at heart.

by month, for a year past, conditions

Month

in the parish

under him had been growing worse and worse;

until

it

seemed that now, turn which way he would,

he encountered only wrangling, backbiting, scandal,

and jealousy.

He

had argued, pleaded, rebuked,

and ignored by turns

he had prayed

and always and through

earnestly, hopefully.

miserably he was forced to

no
a
*

better,

own

all

But to-day

that matters

were

but rather worse.

Two

of his deacons were at swords' points over

silly

something that only endless brooding had

made

of any account.

Three of
217

his

most energetic

Pollyanna

218

women workers had withdrawn from the Ladies'

Aid Society because a tiny spark of gossip had been
fanned by wagging tongues into a devouring flame
of scandal. The choir had spht over the amount of
solo work given to a fanciedly preferred singer.
Even the Christian Endeavor Society was in a
ferment of unrest owing to open criticism of two
of its officers. As to the Sunday school
it had

been the resignation of

of

that

its

superintendent and two

teachers that had been the last straw, and

its

had sent the harassed minister to the quiet

woods for prayer and meditation.

Under the green arch of the trees the Rev. Paul
Ford faced the thing squarely. To his mind, the
crisis

done

had come.
at once.

at a standstill.

Something must be done

and

The entire work of the church was

The Sunday services, the week-day

prayer meeting, the missionary teas, even the suppers and socials were becoming less and less well
attended.
still left.

True, a few conscientious workers were

But they pulled

at cross purposes, usually;

and always they showed themselves

aware of the

critical

eyes

all

to be acutely

about them, and of

the tongues that had nothing to do but to talk about

what the eyes saw.

Aad

because of

all

this,

the

Rev.

Paul Ford

Sermons and Woodboxes

^19

understood very well that he (God's minister), the

church, the town, and even Christianity

and must

suffering;

suffer

still

itself

more unless

Clearly something must be done,

was

and done

at

But what?

once.

the minister took

Slovv^ly

notes he had

made

from

his

pocket the

for his next Sunday's sermon.

Frowningly he looked

at them.

His mouth

settled

into stern lines, as aloud, very impressively, he read

the verses on which he had determined to speak

*'
'

But woe unto you,

men:

for

neither suffer ye

"

'

Woe

and Pharisees, hyp-

kingdom of heaven
go in yourselves,
are entering to go in.'

shut up the

for ye

ocrites!

against

scribes

ye

neither

them that

unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo-

for ye devour v/idows' houses, and for a

crites!

pretence

make long prayer

therefore ye shall re-

ceive the greater damnation.'

"

'

crites

Woe
!

unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo-

for ye pay tithe of mint

and anise and

cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters

of the law,

judgment, mercy, and

faith

these

ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other

undone.'
It

"

was a

bitter denunciation.

In the green aisles

of the woods, the minister's deep voice rang out

PoUyanna

220
with scathing

Even the birds and squirrels

awed silence. It brought to

effect.

seemed hushed into

the minister a vivid realization of

would sound
them before
His people

they

Dare he do

it?

those words

Sunday when he should

the next

his people in the sacred

church.

do

how

were

it?

utter

hush of the

Could he

his people.

Dare he not do

it?

It

was

a fearful denunciation, even without the words that

would follow

and prayed.
for guidance.

longed

But was

his own words.

He had prayed
He had pleaded earnestly for help,
He longed
oh, how earnestly he

to take now, in this crisis, the right step.

this

the right

step ?

Slowly the minister folded the papers and thrust

them back into his pocket. Then, with a sigh that

was almost a moan, he flung himself down at the
foot of a tree, and covered his face with his hands.

was there

It

that Pollyanna, on her

from the Pendleton house, found him.

little
''

cry she ran forward.

Oh, oh, Mr. Ford

your leg or

The
quickly.

You

way home
With a

you haven't broken

or anything, have you? " she gasped.

minister dropped his hands, and looked up

He

" No, dear

tried to smile.

no,

indeed

I'm just

resting."

Seimons and Woodboxes

"

Oh/' sighed Pollyanna, falling back a

" That's

his leg

when

lying down, though.

" Yes, I

anything

The

am

And you
up

sitting

but he was

are sitting up."

and

little.

Mr. Pendleton

see,

found him

haven't broken

mend."

that doctors can

words were very low, but Pollyanna

last

heard them.

Her

You

right, then.

all

had broken

change crossed her

swift

face.

eyes glowed with tender sympathy.

"

know what you mean

Father used to

you.
I

221

reckon ministers do

there's such a lot

something

feel like that,

most

plagues

lots of times.

You

generally.

see

depends on 'em, somehow."

The Rev. Paul Ford

turned' a

little

wonder-

ingly.

"

Was

" Yes,

your father a minister, Pollyanna ?

sir.

body knew

and she was

my

He

many

everysister,

mother."

" Oh, I understand.

here

know? I supposed
married Aunt Polly's

Didn't you

that.

"

But, you see,

years, so I don't

know

haven't been

all

the family

histories."

" Yes,

sir

mean, no,

There was a long pause.

smiled Pollyanna.

sir,"

The

minister,

still

sit-

ting at the foot of the tree, appeared to have for-

gotten Pollyanna' s presence.

He

had pulled some

PoUyanna

222

papers from his pocket and unfolded them; but he

was not looking

at a leaf

and

it

at

He was

them.

on the ground a

little

was not even a pretty

and dead.

gazing, instead,

away
was brown

distance

leaf.

It

Pollyanna, looking at him,

vaguely

felt

sorry for him.

" It

it's

a nice day," she began hopefully.

For a moment there was no answer; then the

minister looked up with a start.
''

What ? Oh
And 'tisn't cold
!

"

ber,"

observed

yes,

was

it.

fires,

don't you?

It

fire,

just to look
"

There was no reply

anna waited

a very nice day."

at all, either,

Pollyanna,

" Mr. Pendleton had a

need

it is

this

still

even

if 'tis

more

Octo-

hopefully.

but he said he didn't

I like to

at.

time,

look at

though Polly-

patiently, before she tried again

by

a new: route.
"

Do you

like

being a m.inister?

"

The Rev. Paul Ford looked up now, very quickly.

" Do I like
Why, what an odd question

Why
"

me

do you ask

Nothing think of

that,

only

my

my

the

father.

^- sometimes."
" Did he? " The

dear ?

"

way you

He

looked.

It

used to look

minister's voice

was

made

like that

polite,

but

Sermons and Woodboxes

!

had gone back

his eyes

223

Ill

II

on the

to the dried leaf

ground.
" Yes, and I used to ask
if

him

just as I did

you

he was g-lad he was a minister."

The man under the tree smiled a

"Well
what did he say?"

little

sadly.

Oh, he always said he was, of course, but 'most

''

always he
a minute

''Th^
left

said, too, that

if

he wouldn't stay a minister

'twasn't for the rejoicing texts."

whatf"

The Rev. Paul Ford's

eyes

the leaf and gazed wonderingly into Pollyanna's

merry

little face.

" Well, that's what father used to call 'em," she

" Of course the Bible didn't name 'em
laughed.

But

that.

Lord,'

and

or

it's all

Rejoice greatly,' or

'

you know

all that,

when

those that begin

father

felt

such

specially

'

'

Be glad

a lot of 'em.

bad,

in the

Shout for

joy,'

Once,

he counted 'em.

There were eight hundred of 'em."

"Eight hundred!"
"

Yes

you know;

that told
that's
"

you

why

to rejoice

father

and be glad,

named 'em

the 're-

joicing texts.'
"

Oh

"

ister's face.

There was an odd look on the minHis eyes had

the top paper in his hands

fallen to the

words on

" But woe unto yon.

Pollyanna

224
scribes

father

and Pharisees, hypocrites "

"

those

liked

And

so your

he mur-

'rejoicing texts/"

mured.

Oh,

''

"

He

nodded

yes,"

Pollyanna,

he thought to count 'em.

trouble to

^nd

emphatically.

day

said he felt better right away, that first

He must want

rejoice,

And

He

God took

said if

the

us eight hundred times to be glad

tell

ashamed

father felt

us to do

it

that he hadn't

some.
done

it

they got to be such a comfort

more.

After

to him,

you know, when things went wrong; when

the Ladies'

that,

Aiders got to fight

mean, when

they didn't agree about something," cqrrected Pollyanna, hastily.

father said, that

began with

"

Why, it was those texts,

made him think of the game

me on

the crutches

the rejoicing texts that started

"

And what game might

but he

him on

that be

too,

he

said 'twas

it."

"

asked the

minister.

"

About finding something

As I
glad about, you know.

me on

the crutches."

told her story

this

And

in everything to
said,

be

he began with

once more Pollyanna

time to a

man who

listened

with tender eyes and understanding ears.

little

scended the

later
hill,

Pollyanna and the minister de-

hand

in hand.

Pollyanna's face

Sermons and Woodboxes

was radiant.

Pollyanna loved to

talk,

and she had

now for some time there seemed to

be so many, many things about the game, her father,
and the old home life that the minister wanted to
been talking

know.

At

the foot of the

Pollyanna

down one

hill their

road,

ways

parted,

and

and the minister down

another, walked on alone.

In the Rev. Paul Ford's study that evening the

Near him on the desk lay

of paper
his sermon notes.

minister sat thinking.

a few loose sheets

Under the suspended

sheets of paper, blank

pencil in his fingers lay other

his

sermon to

be.

But the

was not thinking either of what he had

written, or of what he intended to write.
In his
imagination he was far away in a little Western
town with a missionary minister who was poor,
minister

sick,

worried, and almost alone in the world

but

who was poring over the Bible to find how many

times his Lord and Master had told him to " rejoice

and be glad."

After a time, with a long

sigh, the

Rev. Paul

Ford roused himself, came back from the far Westtown, and adjusted the sheets of paper under

em

his hand.

"Matthew

twenty-third:

13

14

and 23," he

Foiiyanna

226
wrote;

with

then,

gesture

of

he

impatience,

dropped his pencil and pulled toward him a maga-

few minutes

zine left on the desk by his wife a

from para-

Listlessly his tired eyes turned

before.

graph

to

paragraph

words arrested

these

until

them
"

he knev/, had refused to

that

Tom, who,
mother's woodbox

father one day said to his son,

morning:

go and bring

in

without a word
his father

his

fill

'Tom, I'm

sure you'll be glad to

And

some' ^YOod for your mother.'

Tom

Why?

went.

showed so

Just because

plainly that he expected

Suppose he had said

do the right thing.

overheard what you said to your mother

Go

morning, and I'm ashamed of you.

and

that

fill

woodbox

would be empty

On

I'll

'

yet, so far as

Tom

was concerned

paragraph somewhere

What men and women

this

at once

warrant that woodbox

and on read the minister

line there, a

"

*
:

him

Tom,

to

need

is

word

"
!

here, a

else

encouragement.

Their natural resisting powers should be strengthened, not weakened.

ing on a man's faults,

to pull
to

him

him out of

tell

Instead of always harp-

him

his rut of

Try
Hold up

of his virtues.

bad

habits.

his better self, his real self that can dare

and do and win out

The

influence of a beau-

Sermons and Woodboxes

tiful,

helpful, hopeful character

may

revolutionize a whole town.

ate

what

man

feels kindly

and obliging,

and scowls and

criticizes

But

get that.

be glad to
alert

and

The

fill

that

Later,

"

good

Tom

When

will get

you

you know

then watch him

it.

will
he'll

start,

"
!

minister dropped the paper and lifted his

In a

some time

dropped himself
"

woodbox

you

it,

will find the

Tell your son

interested

he scolds

moment he was on his feet, tramping

narrow room back and forth, back and forth.

chin.

the

if

his neighbors will re-

you look for the bad, expecting

you know you

If

his neighbors will

turn scowl for scowl, and add interest

When

People radi-

in their hearts.

way, too, before long.

feel that

contagious, and

is

minds and

in their

is

S27

God

in the chair at his desk.

helping me,

I'll tell all

he drew a long breath, and

later,

I'll

my Toms

do

know

it

" he cried softly.

they'll

be glad to

fill

woodbox! I'll give them work to do, and I'll

make them so full of the very joy of doing it that
that

they won't have time to look at their neighbors'

woodboxes "
!

And he

picked up his sermon notes,

tore straight through the

from him, so
"

sheets,

and

that on one side of his

But woe unto you," and on the

cast

them

chair lay

other, " scribes

PoUyanna

2^8
and

Pharisees,

hypocrites

"

while

smooth white paper before him

flew

after

his

drawing one black

first

across
pencil
line

the

fairly

through

"

Matthew twenty-third; 13
14 and 23."
Thus it happened that the Rev. Paul Ford's sermon the next Sunday was a veritable bugle-call
to the best that was in every man and woman and
child that heard it; and its text was one of Pollyanna's shining eight hundred
"

Be glad

in the

and shout for joy

Lord and

all

rejoice,

ye righteous,

ye that are upright in heart."

CHAPTER

XXIII

AN ACCIDENT

At

Mrs. Snow's request, Pollyanna went one

day to Dr. Chilton's

office to

name

get the

medicine which Mrs. Snow had forgotten.

of a

As

it

chanced, Pollyanna had never before seen the inside of Dr. Chilton's office.

" I've never been to your

your home,

isn't

home

before

This

is

it?" she said, looking interestedly

about her.

The

doctor smiled a little sadly.

" Yes
such as 'tis," he answered, as he wrote

something on the pad of paper

it's

in his

hand

" but

a pretty poor apology for a home, Pollyanna.

They're just rooms, that's

all

not a home."

Pollyanna nodded her head wisely.

Her

eyes

glowed with sympathetic understanding.

*'

know.

It takes

or a child's presence to

woman's hand and heart,

a home," she said.

make

"Eh?" The

doctor wheeled about abruptly.

" Mr. Pendleton told me," nodded Pollyanna,
229

PoUyanna

230

again; ''about the woman's hand and heart, or the

you know.

child's presence,

woman's hand and

don't

if

you get a

Or maybe

heart, Dr. Chilton?

Jimmy Bean

you'd take

Why

Mr. Pendleton doesn't

want him."
Dr. Chilton laughed a little constrainedly.
" So Mr. Pendleton says it takes a woman's hand

and heart to make a home, does he ? " he asked

evasively.

He

" Yes.

says his

don't 3^ou, Dr. Chilton?

"Why

don't

is

what?"

The doctor

turned back to his desk.

" Get a woman's hand and heart.
" I suppose

ful color.

Aunt Polly
and so we
see, I told

that

aren't

was

it

You

ought to

tell

you.

It

wasn't

going there to

but

made

live.

You

a mistake.

any one," she finished anxiously.

tell

didn't

" Oil, that's

"

you

plied the doctor, a

relief.

and I

Mr. Pendleton loved long ago;

we

hope you didn't

No

Oh

had

Pollyanna's face showed suddenly a pain-

forgot."

"

Why

just a house, too.

"

tell

little

all right,

any one, Pollyanna,"

re-

queerly.

then," sighed Pollyanna in

see you're the only

one

I told,

and

thought Mr. Pendleton looked sort of funny when

said I'd told you/'

An

Accident

2Si

" Did he? "

The

" Yes.

of course he wouldn't

And
know

people to

it

the doctor said

when

moment's

want many

'twasn't true.

woman's hand and

don't you get a

ton?"
There was

doctor's lips twitched.

silence

But whj<

heart, Dr. Chil-

then very gravely

" They're not always to be had

for the asking,

little girl."

Pollyanna frowned thoughtfully.

" But

should think you could get 'em," she

The flattering emphasis was unmistakable.

" Thank you," laughed the doctor, with uplifted
I'm afraid some
eyebrows. Then, gravely again

argued.

*'

of your older sisters would not be quite so

fident.

At

they

least,

selves to be so

they haven't shown them-

obliging," he observed.

Then her

Pollyanna frowned again.

dened
"

ey^s wi-

in surprise.

Why,

Dr.

Chilton,

you

didn't try to get somebody's

like

con-

Mr. Pendleton, and

don't

mean

you

hand and heart once,

and

couldn't, did

you?"

The doctor got

to his feet a little abruptly.

" There, there, Pollyanna, never mind about that

now.
little

Don't
head.

let

other people's troubles worry your

Suppose you run back

now

to

Mrs.

Pollyanna

232

Tve written down the name of the medicine,

Snow.

and the directions how she

anything

is

to take

Was

it.

there

"

else ?

Pollyanna shook her head.

"No,

thank you,

sir;

berly, as she turned

sir,"

she

murmured

so-

From

the

toward the door.

hallway she called back, her face suddenly

little

alight

"

Anyhow, I'm glad

'twasn't

my

mother's

hand and heart that you wanted and couldn't

Good-by!"

Dr. Chilton.

was on the

It

get,

last

day of October that the

hurrying

Pollyanna,

dent occurred.

school, crossed the road at

acci-

home from

an apparently safe

dis-

tance in front of a swiftly approaching motor car.

Just what happened, no one could seem to

afterward.

could
it

tell

Neither was there any one found

why

it

did happen.

was

tell

who

happened or who was to blame that

Pollyanna, however, at five o'clock,

borne, limp and unconscious, into the

little

room

was so dear to her. There, by a white-faced

Aunt Polly and a weeping Nancy she was unthat

dressed tenderly and put to bed, while from the

village, hastily

summoned by

telephone, Dr.

War-

ren was hurrying as fast as another motor car could

bring him

An
"

And

Accident

233

ye didn't need ter more'n look at her

Nancy was sobbing

aunt's face,"

to

Old

Tom

in the

garden, after the doctor had arrived and was closeted

hushed room; "ye didn't need

the

in

more'n look at her aunt's face

no duty that was

Yer hands don't shake,

ye was tryin' ter hold
Death himself, when you're jest

eatin' her.

and yer eyes don't look

back the Angel

o'

Mr.

doin' yer duty,

she hurt

''Is

ter

ter see that 'twa'n't

as

if

Tom they

don't, they don't!

bad?"

The

no

sobbed Nancy.

"

man's voice

old

shook.
"

There

ain't

tellin',"

lay back that white an'

She

she might easy be dead

still

but Miss Polly said she wa'n't dead

Polly had oughter knov/,

''

if

Miss

an'

any one would

she

kept up such a listenin' an' a feelin' for her heartbeats an' her breath

"Couldn't ye
that

"
!

anythin'

tell

that "

what

Old Tom's

it

done to her?

face

worked con-

vulsively.

Nancy's
"

lips

relaxed a

wish ye would

an' somethin'

think of

its

good

runnin'

little.

call it

an' strong, too.

down our

hated, the evil-smellin' things,

did!"

Tom

somethin', Mr.

Drat

little girl!

anyhow

it!

Ter

always

did, I

PoUyanna

gS4
But where

''

is

she hurt?

"

" I don't know, I don't know,"

" There's a

bad

afraid

it's

cut on her blessed head, but 'tain't

little

Miss Polly

that ain't

" I guess

came

you mean

into

Old Tom's

in^^rnally,

" She's hurt infernally,

take that autymobile

but

Polly'd be usin' that word,

"Eh?

Well,

"

turned away.

as

washin' ter do
!

right

plague
Miss

don't guess

don't know,

Seems

eyes.

the same."
I

don't

know,"

of her head as she

if I jest

couldn't stand

that doctor gits out o' there.

do, I do

she's

Nancy," he said

all

all

moaned Nancy, with a shake

till

She says

says.

infernally she's hurt."

faint flicker

dryly.

moaned Nancy.

the biggest washin'

wish

it

had a

ever see,

" she wailed, v/ringing her

hands help-

lessly.

Even

after the doctor

seemed to be

little

There appeared

was of

slight

that

to be

was gone, however, there

Nancy could

tell

Mr. Tom.

no bones broken, and the cut

consequence;

but the doctor had

looked very grave, had shaken his head slowly, and

had said that time alone could

gone, Miss Polly had

shown a

more drawn looking than

tell.

After he had

face even whiter and

before.

The

patient

had

not fully recovered consciousness, but at present she

An
seemed

Accident

235

to be resting as comfortably as could be

expected.

would come

trained nurse had been sent for, and

That was

that night.

And Nancy

all.

turned sobbingly, and went back to her kitchen.

was sometime during the next forenoon that

Pollyanna opened conscious eyes and realized where
It

she was.
"

Why, Aunt

"

Why, Aunt

falling

Polly, what's the matter

Why

daytime?

don't

up?"

get

Isn't

she

Polly, I can't get up," she

it

cried.

moaned,

back on the pillow, after an ineffectual at-

tempt to

lift

herself.

" No, dear, I wouldn't try

just yet," soothed

her aunt quickly, but very quietly.

" But

what

is

the matter

W^hy

can't I get

up ?

"

Miss Polly's eyes asked an agonized question of

the

white-capped young

woman

standing in the

window, out of the range of Pollyanna's

eyes.

The young woman nodded.

''

Tell her," the lips said.

Miss Polly cleared her throat, and tried to swal-

low the lump that would scarcely

"

You were

night.

you
*'

But never mind that now.

to rest

and go to

Hurt?

Oh, yes;

let

her speak.

by the automobile

hurt, dear,

last

Auntie wants

sleep again."
I

ran."

Pollyanna's eye^

Pollyanna

236

were dazed.
''

lifted

her hand ^o her f^^rehead.

"Yes, dear;
" But,

Polly, I feel so funny,

My

She

hurts
but never mind. Just

Why,

it's

done

Aunt

up,

and

it

"

and so bad

so queer only they don't

legs feel so

feel

at all!"

With an imploring look

into the nurse's

Miss Polly struggled to her

The nurse came forward

''

gan

Suppose you

let

me

and turned away.

feet,

talk to

you now," she be-

" I'm sure I think

cheerily.

myself.

am

it's

high time

I'm going to do
pills

to introduce

is

to ask

And

you

to

the very

there

thing
little

for me."

not for long

From

first

swallow these

Pollyanna's eyes grew a bit wild.

" But I don't want to be taken care of

school.

we

Miss Hunt, and I've come to help

your aunt take care of you.

white

face,

quickly.

were getting acquainted, and I'm going

"

just rest."

want

to get up.

You know

that
I

is,

go to

I go to school to-morrow?"
window where Aunt Polly stood now

Can't
the

came a

half -stifled cry.

"To-morrow?" smiled the nurse, brightly.

Well, I may not let you out quite so soon as that.

Miss Pollyanna.
for me, please,

But

and

just

swallow these

we'll see

what

little pills

they'll do."

An

Accident

237

" All right," agreed Pollyanna,

somewhat doubt-

fully

" but I

must go

to school

day after to-morrow

there are examinations then,

She spoke again, a minute

school,

you know."

later.

She spoke of

and of the automobile, and of how her head

ached; but very soon her voice trailed into silence

under the blessed influence of the

she had swallowed.

little

white

pills

CHAPTER XXIV
JOHN PENDLETON
did not go to school " to-morrow,"

PoLLYANNA
nor the

''

day

to-morrow."

after

ever, did not realize this, except

PoUyanna, howmomentarily when

a brief period of full consciousness sent insistent

questions to her

Pollyanna did not realize

lips.

week had

anything, in fact, very clearly until a

passed;

then the fever subsided, the pain lessened

somewhat, and her mind awoke to

ness.

She had then

full

conscious-

to be told all over again

what

had occurred.
"

And

sighed at

so

it's

last.

hurt that I am, and not sick," she

" Well, I'm glad of that."

" G-glad, Pollyanna

sitting

" asked her aunt,

who was

by the bed.

" Yes.

rd

so

much

rather have broken legs like

Mr. Pendleton's than life-long-invalids

Snow, you know.

Broken

long-invalids don't."

legs get well,

like

and

Mrs.
life-

John Pendleton
Miss Polly

who

walked to the

had said nothing whatever

got

about broken legs

little

suddenly to her feet and

dressing table across the room.

She was picking up one object

and putting each down,

however;

all,

after another

now,

an aimless fashion quite

in

unlike her usual decisiveness.

aimless-looking at

239

Her
it

was not

face

was white and

drawn.

On

the bed Pollyanna lay blinking at the dancing

band of colors on the

ceiling,

which came from one

of the prisms in the window.

" I'm glad

it

murmured

she

than freckles.

I've

'tisn't

ing

had

contentedly.

And

'tisn't

that,

You seem

things,

I'm glad

and

are, I

my

all

bow.
gave

whooping cough

horrid and

it's

to

mean

I'm glad

to be glad for a

to her throat as

am.

and they wouldn't

dear," faltered

Pollyanna laughed
"

too,''

appendicitis nor measles, 'cause they're catch-

measles

hand

me,

ails

" That would be worse

you stay here."

"

smallpox that

isn't

if

Aunt

let

good manjr

Polly, putting her

her collar bound.

softly.

I've been thinking of 'em

lots of

'em

the time I've been looking up at that rainI love

me

rainbows.

those prisms!

I'm so 'glad Mr. Pendleton

I'm glad of some things

PoUyanna

240
haven't said yet.

was

I don't

know

but I'm 'most glad

hurt."

"Pollyanna!"
Polly anna

luminous eyes on her aunt.

times
'

" Well, you see, since

have been hurt, you've called

dear

Some

and you
by
'

She turned

laughed softly again.

didn't before.

folks

me
I

dear

'

'

lots of

love to be called

that belong to

you,

of the Ladies' Aiders did call

me

mean.

that;

and

of course that was pretty nice, but not so nice as

if

they had belonged to me, like you do.

Polly, I'm so glad

Aunt Polly

you belong

did not answer.

her throat again.

Her

to

me

Oh, Aunt

"
!

Her hand was

eyes were full of tears.

at

She

had turned away and was hurrying from the room

through the door by which the nurse had just entered.

It was that afternoon that Nancy ran out to Old

Tom, who was cleaning harnesses in the barn. Her

eyes were wild.

" Mr. Tom. Mr.

Tom,

sfuess

what's happened,''

"

sne panted.
You couldn^t guess in a thousand
years
you couldn't, you couldn't "
" Then I cal'late I won't try," retorted the man,

grimly, " specially as I hain't got more'n ten ter

"

John Pendleton

off,

You'd

anyhow, probably.

live,

241

better

tell

me

first

Nancy."

Who

" Well, listen, then.

parlor

Old

now

Tom

do you s'pose

Who,

with the mistress ?

is

say ?

in the

"

shook his head.

" There's no

he declared.

tellin',"

"Yes, there

is.

I'm

tellin'.

It's

John

Pen-

dleton!"
" Sho,
"
self

now!
Not much

You're
I

crutches

am

an' all

jokin', girl."

an'

me

An' the

him in myteam he come in

a-lettin'

a-waitin' this minute at the door for him, jest as

he wa'n't the cranky old crosspatch he

never talks ter no one
a-callin'

Jest think,

Mr.

is,

if

what

Tom him

on her!

"Well, why not?" demanded the old man, a

little

aggressively.

Nancy gave him a scornful glance.

" As if you didn't know better'n me

" she de-

rided.

"Eh?"
" Oh,

you needn't be so innercent," she retorted

with mock indignation

goose chasin' in the

"What

"

first

you what
place

me

wild-

barn

door

led

"
!

do ye mean?"

Nancy glanced through

the

open

PoUyanna

242

toward the house, and came a step nearer

to the

old man.
" Listen

'Twas you that was

first place,

one day

two and two, and

I thinks I finds

tergether an'
five

an'

With a
and
*'

fell

makes

no four

But

four.

at

wa'n't

Well,

it ?

puts 'em

turns out ter be

it

at all

all,

me Miss

telHn'

Polly had a lover in the

"
!

gesture of indifference Old

Tom

turned

to work.

If you're goin' ter talk ter me, you've got ter

talk plain horse sense,"

he declared

" I

testily.

never was no hand for figgers."

Nancy
''

Well,

thin' that

laughed.
it's

" I heard some-

this," she explained.

made me

think

him

an'

Miss Polly was

lovers."

''Mr. Pendleton!''
" Yes. Oh, I know

blessed child's mother he

why

he wanted

Tom

Old

now

was

hastily,

ise to

Pollyanna not to

remembering
tell

wished her to come and

mind

was

and

that

that's

that part," she

just in time her

prom-

that Mr. Pendleton had

live

I've been askin' folks about

I've

It

in love with,

but never

added

straightened up.

he wasn't.

with him.

him some,

" Well,

since,

and

found out that him an' Miss Polly hain't been

friends for years, an' that she's been hatin'

him

John Pendleton
owin' ter the

like pizen

silly

243

gossip that coupled

names tergether when she was eighteen or

their

twenty."
" Yes, I remember,"

" It

nodded Old Tom.

mitten and went off with the other chap.

Polly

knew about

him.

So she

overdid
so

it

who had

body begun

it,

of course, and

she

took off her

ter

make

sister.

trouble.

any man

after

Miss

Maybe

she

hated that minister chap

runnin' after him."

" Runnin'

the

was sorry for

tried ter be nice to him.

little

was

him

three or four years after Miss Jennie give

At any rate, someThey said she was

^her!"

interjected

Nancy.

"I know

it;

but they did," declared Old

Tom,

" and of course no gal of any spunk'll stand that.

Then about

that time

come her ow^n

lover an' the

After that she shut up like an

trouble with him.

oyster an' wouldn't have nothin' ter do with

fur a

Her

spell.

nobody

heart jest seemed to turn bitter at

the core."
''

Yes,

knocked

years

know.

Nancy;

joined

at the

I've

"an'

me down

door

But

heard about that now,"

that's

why you

with a feather when

re-

could
I see

'a'

him

him,

spol^e to for

I let

tola

what she hain't

him in an' went an'

hen"

Pollyanna

244
"

did she say? "

What

suspended.
" Nothin'

at

first.

and

she hadn't heard;

when

over

Old

Tom

She was so
I

was

Then

down

at once.'

still

thought

jest goin' ter say

she speaks up quiet like

dleton I will be

held his breath

'
:

An'

Tell

it

Mr. Pen-

come

an' told

come out here an' told you," finished

Nancy, casting another backward glance toward

him.

the house.

"

Humph

" grunted

Old Tom; and

fell

to

work

again.

In the ceremonious " parlor " of the Harrington

homestead, Mr. John Pendleton did not have to

wait long before a swift step warned him of Miss
Polly's coming.

As he attempted

to rise, she

She did not

a gesture of remonstrance.

made

offer her

hand, however, and her face was coldly reserved.

" I called to ask for

once, a

"

little

Thank

Pollyanna," he began

at

brusquely,

you.

She

is

about the same," said Miss

Polly.

"

And
voice

flis

A
'*

that

is

won't you

was not

tell

me how

she

is ?

"

quite steady this time.

quick spasm of pain crossed the woman's face.

I can't,

wish

could

"
!

John Pendleton
"

You mean

you don't know

245
"

" Yes."

"But

the doctor?"

" Dr.

Warren himself seems

now

correspondence

in

with

They have arranged

ciaHst.

He

at sea.

New York

is

spe-

for a consultation

at once."

" But

but what were her

you do

injuries that

know?"
"

and

slight cut

on the head, one or two

and an injury the

from the

spine which has seemed

to

to cause

paralysis

down."

There was a

then, huskily, he asked

''And Pollyanna

how

really are.

And

Miss Polly

I can't tell

But she must know

take

does she

" She doesn't understand

*'

hips

low cry came from the man.

brief silence

bruises,

at

it?"

how things

all

her."

something

"
!

her hand to the collar at her

lifted

throat in the gesture that

had become so common

to her of late.

" Oh, yes.

She knows she

she thinks her legs are

glad

it's

broken legs

long-invalids

kgs get

'

well,

like

can't

broVer.

like

move
She says

yours rather than

Mrs. Snow's

and the other

but
she's

life-

because broker;

doesn't.

She

talks

PoUyanna

246

like that all the time,

until

it

seems as

it

if

die!"

should

Through

own

the blur of tears in his

eyes, the

man saw

the

emotion.

Involuntarily his thoughts went back to

drawn

what Pollyanna had

Polly

was

It

g-ently, as
**

hard

said

her presence

final plea for

Aunt

face opposite,

now

twisted with

when he had made

"

Oh,

his

couldn't leav^

"
!

thought that made him ask very

this

soon as he could control his voice:

wonder
I tried to

if

you know. Miss Harrington, how

get Pollyanna to

come and

live

with

me."

"

Pollyanna
With you!
The man winced a little at
but his

own

voice

was

still

''

the tone of her voice

impersonally cool

when

he spoke again
" Yes.

wanted

adopt her

to

understand; making her

It

my

heir,

legally,

you

of course."

The woman in the opposite chair relaxed a little.

came to her, suddenly, what a brilliant future it

would have meant

and she wondered

for Pollyanna
if

this

adoption;

Pollyanna were old enough

and mercenary enough

to

be tempted by this

man's money and position.

"

am

very fond of Pollyanna/' the

man was

John Pendleton
''

continuing.

and for

sake,

am

her

247

fond of her both for her

mother's.

own

stood ready to

give Pollyanna the love that had been twenty-five

years in storage."

Miss Polly remembered suddenly

''Love."

she had taken this child in the

own words

love to be called

you "

And

it

place

why

and with

came the remembrance of Polly-

the recollection

anna's

first

"I

uttered that very morning:

'

dear

'

by

folks that belong to

w^as this love-hungry little girl that

had been offered the stored-up affection of twentyfive

years

and she was old enough

With
With a sinking

by love
that.

to be tempted

a sinking heart Miss Polly realized

thing else

heart, too, she realized

the dreariness of her

own

future

some-

now

without Pollyanna.

**Well?" she

said.

And

the man, recognizing

the self-control that vibrated through the harshness

of the tone, smiled sadly.

''

She would not come," he answered.

"Why?"
''

She would not leave you.

been so good to her.

and

She said you had

She wanted

to stay with

you

she said she thought you w^anted her to

stay," he finished, as he pulled himself to his feet.

He

did not look toward Miss Polly.

He

turned

PoUyanna

248
his face resolutely

toward the door.

he heard a swift step at his

But instantly

side,

and found

sl

shaking hand thrust toward him.

"

When

thing

the specialist comes, and I

definite

about Pollyanna,

know any-

will

hear from me/' said a trembling voice.

and thank you

pleased."

for coming.

Pollyanna

"

let

you

Good-by

will be

CHAPTER XXV
A WAITING GAME

On

the day after John Pendleton's call at the

Harrington homestead, Miss Polly

set herself

to

the task of preparing Pollyanna for the visit of the

specialist.
'*

my

Pollyanna,

dear," she began gently, "

we

have decided that we v/ant another doctor besides

Warren to
something new

Dr.

Another one might

see you.

to

do

to help

you get well

tell

us

faster,

you know."

A
''

joyous light came to Pollyanna's

Dr. Chilton

have Dr. Chilton!

but

face.

Oh, Aunt Polly, Pd so love to

Pve wanted him

was afraid you

didn't,

all

ing you in the sun parlor that day, you

I

didn't like to say anything.

"

do want him

Aunt

the time,

on account of

But

Pm

his see-

know;

so glad

so

you

Polly's face

had turned white, then

then back to white again.

249

red,

But when she answered,

PoUyanna

250

she showed very plainly that she was trying to

speak lightly and cheerfully.

" Oh, no, dear
I

tor

wasn't Dr. Chilton at

It

all

that

a very famous doc who knows a great

new doctor
from New York, who

meant.

It is

deal about

about hurts

Pollyanna's face

yours."

like

fell.

" I don't believe he

knows

half so

much

as

Dn

Chilton."

" Oh, yes, he does, I'm sure, dear."

" But it was Dr. Chilton who doctored Mr. Pen-

dleton's broken leg,

Aunt

mind very much,

truly I would

zfould like to have Dr. Chilton

Polly.

If

you don't

"
!

distressed color suffused Miss

For a moment she did not speak

said gently

if

though yet with

Polly's

at all

face.

then she

a touch of her old

stern decisiveness

" But
I

do mind, Pollyanna.

would do anything

my

dear

but

to speak of
In

on

know
great

on

now,

almost

mind very much.

anything for you,

for reasons which I do not care

I

don't wish Dr. Chilton called

this case.

And

believe me, he can not

about your trouble, as this

much about
doctor does, who will come from New York
so

to-morrow."

Waiting

Game

251

Pollyanna still looked unconvinced.

" But, Aunt Polly, if you loved Dr. Chilton

Aunt Polly's
Her cheeks were very

''What, Pollyanna?"
very sharp now.
" I say, if

you loved Dr. Chilton, and

was

voice

red, too.

didn't love

the other one," sighed Pollyanna, " seems to

would make some difference

that

would do; and

I love

''

in the

me

good he

Dr. Chilton."

The nurse entered the room, at that moment, and

Aunt Polly rose to her feet abruptly, a look of relief
on her face.
""

am

''but

stiffly;

the

very sorry, Pollyanna," she said, a

judge,

Fm
this

afraid you'll have to let

time.

Besides,

it's

The New York doctor

ranged.

is

little

me

be

already

ar-

coming

to-

morrow."

As

it

did not

happened, however, the

come " to-morrow."

New York

At

the last

doctor

moment

a telegram told of an unavoidable delay owing to

the sudden illness of the specialist himself.
led Pollyanna into a

This

renewed pleading for the sub-

stitution of Dr. Chilton

" which would be so easy

now, you know."

But as before. Aunt Polly shook her head and

said " no, dear," very decisively, yet with a

still

Hiore anxious q^ssurance that she would do anything

PoUyanna

^52

anything

but that

to please her dear

PoUy-

anna.

As

by one,

the days of waiting passed, one

indeed,

it

did

seem that Aunt Polly was doing everything

(but that) that she could do to please her niece.

" I

wouldn't

made me

believed

'a'

believe

it,"

it

Nancy

you

said to

couldn't

Tom

Old

'a'

one

" There don't seem ter be a minute in

morning.

the day that Miss Polly ain't jest hangin' 'round

waitin' ter
'tain't

do somethin' for that blessed lamb,

more than

wouldn't

let

ter let in the cat

all

an'

now

over the bed jest 'cause

when

movin' them

it

she

lets

'em tumble

pleases Miss Polly-

she ain't doin' nothin'

little

else,

room

so the sun'll

rainbows dance,' as that blessed child

She's sent

Timothy down

ter

three times for fresh flowers

make

the

calls

it.

Cobb's greenhouse
an' that besides all

the posies fetched in ter her, too.

if I

she's

glass danglers 'round ter diff'-

rent winders in the

day,

if

what

" An'

an' her

Fluff nor Buff up-stairs for love nor

money a week ago;

anna

An' the other

didn't find her sittin' 'fore the bed with

the nurse actually doin' her hair, an' Miss Polly-

anna lookin' on
ail

an' bossin'

shinin' an' happy.

An'

from the bed, her eyes

declare ter goodness,

if

Waiting Game

Miss Polly hain't wore her hair

now

every day

like that

jest ter please that blessed child

Tom

Old

253

" Well,
lookin'

"
!

chuckled.
strikes

it

me

none the worse

Miss Polly herself

for

ain't

them

wearin'

'ere

curls 'round her forehead," he observed dryly.

" 'Course she ain't," retorted Nancy, indignantly.

"

She looks

most

like

folks,

now.

She's

actually

" Keerf ul,

now, Nancy " interrupted the old

!

grin.
You know what you
when I told ye she was handsome once."
Nancy shrugged her shoulders.

man, with a slow

''

" Oh, she ain't handsome, of course

own up

al-

"

but

said

I will

woman, what

she don't look like the same

with the ribbons an' lace jiggers Miss Pollyanna

makes her wear 'round her neck."

" I told ye so," nodded the man.
wa'n't

"

I told

ye she

old."

Nancy laughed.
" Well,

I'll

ow^n up she hain't got quite so good

an imitation of
Pollyanna come.
lover?

hain't

it

as she did have, 'fore

Say,

Miss

Mr. Tom, who was her

found that out, yet;

hain't,

hain't!"
" Hain't ye

" asked the old man, with an

odd

Pollyanna

254

" Well, I guess ye won't then

look on his face.

from me."
"

Oh, Mr. Tom, come on, now," wheedled the

''

girl.

Ye

see, there ain't

many

folks here that I

can ask."
"

Maybe

ain't

But

not.

ruptly, the light died

ter-day

the

there's

anyhow, that

one,

grinned Old Tom.

answerin',"

from

gal

little

Nancy shook her

Then,

''

his eyes.

How

abshe,

is

"
?

head.

Her

had

face, too,

so-

bered.

" Just the same, Mr.

can see

diff 'rence, as I

Tom. There

jest lays there an' sleeps an' talks

ter smile an' be

'

glad

moon rises, or some

make yer heart
know;

it's

no

special

guess.

She

some, an'

tries

'cause the sun sets or the

'

other such thing,

till it's

enough

break with achin'."

ter

''I

ain't

or anybody,

the

heart! " nodded Old

'game'

bless

Tom, bhnking a

" She told you, then,

"

too,

her sweeC

httle.

about that

'ere

game?

" Oh, yes.

She told me long ago."

hesitated, then

" I

went on,

was growlin' one day

and crooked;
aid?"

an'

The

old

his lips twitching a

'cause I

what do ye

was

s'pose the

man

little.

so bent
little

up

thing

Waiting

" I couldn't guess.

Game

255

wouldn't think she could

find anythin' about that ter be glad about

" She did.

She said

could be glad, anyhow,

that I didn't have ter stoop so far ter do

Nancy gave
Well,

know

game

her

she did speak of

You might

We've been

since almost the

wa'n't no one else she could play

^''

weedin'

a wistful laugh.

ain't surprised, after all.

she'd find somethin'.

that

my

was already bent part way over."

'cause I

^'

"
!

first,

with

it

playin'

it

'cause there

though

aunt."

Miss Polly!''

Nancy

chuckled.

" I guess

opinion

you

hain't got such an awful diff'rent

the mistress than I have," she bridled.

Tom

Old
" 1

o'

stiffened.

was only thinkin' 'twould be

prise-to
Nancy.

sur-

her," he explained with dignity.

" Well, yes, I guess 'twould be

"

some of a

I ain't sayin'

believe anythin'

then/' retorted

what 'twould be now.

I'd

even

that

the mistress
"
she'd take ter playin' it herself
o'

now

''

But

hain't the

little

gal told her

told ev'ry one else, I guess.

ever?

I'm hearin' of

where, now, since she was hurted," said

"Well,

she

didn't

tell

Miss

Polly,"

it

She's
ev'ry-

Tom.
rejoined

PoUyanna

"156

" Miss Pollyanna told

Nancy.

she couldn't

tell

me

have her talk about her father;

father's
she.

"

did

game, an' she'd have

I see,

head slowly.
minister chap

Jennie
as she

that

"

The

see."

all

if

man nodded

his

bitter against the

of 'em, 'cause he took Miss

away from 'em. An' Miss Polly

couldn't never forgive him
was

young
she

fond of Miss Jennie

see.

about him

told her."

old

They was always

her

'twas

an'

ter talk

So she never

tell it.

Oh,

long ago that

her, 'cause her aunt didn't like ter

in

them

days.

was

I see, I

'Twas a bad mess," he sighed, as he turned

away.
" Yes,

Nancy

in

'twas

all

'round,

all

"round,"

sighed

her turn, as she went back to her kitchen.

For no one were those days of waiting

The

easy.

nurse tried to look cheerful, but her eyes were

troubled.
tient.

The doctor was openly nervous

Miss Polly said

little

waves of hair about her

face,

anc impa-

but even the softening

and the becoming

laces

at her throat, could not hide the fact that she

growing thin and

pale.

As

to Pollyanna

anna petted the dog, smoothed the

admired the flowers and ate the

cat's sleek

fruits

was

Polly-

and

head,
jellies

that were sent in to her; and returned innumerable

cheery answers to the

many messages

of love and

Waiting Game

257

inquiry that were brought to her bedside.

too,

grew

pale and thin;

and the nervous

But

she,

activity

of the poor Httle hands and arms only emphasized

the pitiful motionlessness of the once active
feet

and

legs

now

little

lying so woefully quiet under the

"

blankets.

As
days

go

to the

how

game

Pollyanna

to school again,

Nancy these
when she could

told

glad she was going to be

go to see Mrs. Snow, go to

call

on Mr. Pendleton, and go to ride with Dr. Chilton

nor did she seem to realize that

was

all

in the future, not the present.

did realize
alone.

and

it-

cry about

"
this " gladness

Nancy, however,
it,

when

she was

CHAPTER XXVI
A DOOR AJAR
Just a week from the time Dr. Mead, the specialHe was a tall,
ist, was first expected, he came.

man

broad-shouldered

Pollyanna liked him at once, and

cheerful smile.
told

him

"

You

with kind gray eyes, and a

so.

look quite a lot like

my

doctor,

you

see,"

she added engagingly.

surprise at Dr.

few

feet

eyed
*'

"

Your doctor ?

''

away.

man

My

isn't

my

doctor

doctor," smiled Pollyanna,

" Dr.
is

Warren

resting on Miss Polly,

turned hastily away.

" Yes."
Pollyanna

Aunt

Polly's

oddly, his eyes

little

who, with a vivid blush, had

hesitated,

with her usual truthfulness.

all

is

Dr. Chilton."

" Oh-h! " said Dr. Mead, a

Dr. Chilton

glanced in evident

Warren was a small, brownpointed brown beard.

divining his thought.

doctor.

Mead

Dr.

with a

Oh, that

Dr.

Warren, talking with the nurse a

the time, but

258

''

then

You

continued

see, /

wanted

Aunt Polly wanted

Door Ajar

250

She said you knew more than Dr. Chilton,

you.

anyway about
of course

if

about broken

you

legs like mine.

do, I can be glad for that.

And
Do

you?"

swift something crossed the doctor's face that

Pollyanna could not quite translate.

''

Only time can

tell

that,

Warren, who had just come

to the bedside.

Every one said afterward that

did

Certainly,

it.

paw and

if

was the cat that

Fluffy had not poked an init

nose against Pollyanna's unlatched

swung

door, the door would not have

open on

and

if

he said

then he turned a grave face toward Dr.

gently;

sistent

girl,"

little

its

hinges until

it

noiselessly

stood perhaps a foot ajar;

had not been open, Pollyanna would

the door

not have heard her aunt's words.

In the hall the two doctors, the nurse, and Miss
Polly stood talking.

had
"

just

meow

"

jumped
of

the
It

child

was

all

to the bed with a

when through
and sharply Aunt

joy

sounded clearly
exclamation.
" Not that

Doctor, not that

will

room

In Pollyanna's

purring

open

door

Polly's agonized

You

never walk again

confusion then.

little

the

Fluffy

First,

don't

mean

"
!

from the bed-

PoUyanna

260

room came Pollyanna's terrified

Aunt Polly " Then Miss Polly,

Aunt Polly

''

seeing the open

door and realizing that her words had been heard,

gave a low
her

life

The

little

moan and -^

for the

first

time in

fainted dead away.

nurse, with a choking

Mead had

Dr.

caught Miss Polly as she

by, helplessly.

It

She heard

The two

bled toward the open door.

with Miss Polly.

''

was not

"

stum-

doctors stayed

to stay

he had

Warren stood

Dr.

fell.

until

Pollyanna cried out

again sharply and the nurse closed the door, that

the two men, with a despairing glance into each
other's eyes,

ing the

awoke

woman

to the

in Dr.

immediate duty of bring-

Mead's arms back

to

unhappy

consciousness.

In Pollyanna's room, the nurse had found a purr=

ing gray cat on the bed vainly trying to attract the

attention of a white-faced, wild-eyed

" Miss Hunt, please,

want Aunt

The nurse
Her
" She

She

will

closed the door

face

she
a

was very

can't

come

little later.

Polly.

want

"

her right away, quick, please

riedly.

little girl.

and came forward hur-

pale.

just this minute, dear.

What

get it?"

P^Ijanna shook her head.

is

it?

Can't

A
" But I

Door Ajar

now.
Polly she
me
true

know what she

Did you hear her ? I want Aunt
want

something.
'tisn't

to

want her

to

tell

said

just

said

'tisn't

true!"

The nurse
Something

but no words came.

tried to speak,

in

her face sent an added terror to Polly-

anna's tyts.
" Miss Hunt, you did hear her
it

^61

isn't true

again?

You

don't

mean

It is true

can't ever

Oh,

walk

"

" There,

dear

there,

the nurse.

don't

don't,

Perhaps he didn't know.

''

was mistaken. There's

happen, you know."

lots

he knew more than anybody

"Yes,

like

mine

it

else

now

She said

about

about

"
!

mistakes sometimes.

more about

choked

Perhaps he

know

know, dear; but

yes, I

"

of things that could

" But Aunt Polly said he did

broken legs

Just

all

doctors

make

just don't think

any

please don't, dear."

Pollyanna flung out her arms wildly.

" But

"

It's all

can't help thinking about it," she sobbed.

there

am

Pendleton,

or

She

cauo-ht

now

is

Hunt, how

to think about.

Why, Miss

going to school, or to see Mr.

Mrs.

Snow,

or

or

anybody?"

her breath and sobbed wildly for a

PoUyanna

g62

moment.

new

Suddenly she stopped and looked up, a

how am

can't walk,

Miss Hunt did

know

did

Why, Miss Hunt,

no^know "the game;"

must be

that her patient

own

In spite of her

once.

quieted,

now

but she

and that

perturbation and

heartache, her hands had not been

stood

if

ever going to be glad for

"

anything?

at

"

terror in her eyes.

and she

idle,

at the bedside with the quieting

powder

ready.

" There, there, dear, just take this," she soothed

" and by and by we'll be

more

what can be done

Things aren't half as bad

then.

rested,

as they seem, dear, lots of times,

Obediently

and

we'll see

you know."

Pollyanna took the

medicine,

and

sipped the water from the glass in Miss Hunt's

hand.
" I

know

that sounds like things father used

to say," faltered Pollyanna, blinking off the tears.

"

He

said there

was always something about every-

thing that might be worse

just

see

but

reckon he'd never

heard he couldn't ever walk again.

how

don't

there can be anything about that, that could

be worse

do you

"
?

Miss Hunt did not

reply.

herself to speak juct then.

She could not

trust

CHAPTER
TWO
It was

:^XVII

VISITS

Nancy who was

Mr. John
Miss Polly had

sent to

Pendleton of Dr. Mead's verdict.

tell

remembered her promise to let him have direct

information from the house. To go herself, or to
write a
the

letter,

question.

she
It

felt to

be almost equally out of

occurred to

her

then to

send

Nancy.

There had been a time when Nancy would have

rejoiced greatly at this extraordinary opportunity
to see

something of the Plouse of Mystery and

rejoice at anything.

her at

all,

for Mr.

its

But to-day her heart was too heavy to

master.

She scarcely even looked about

indeed, during the few minutes she waited

John Pendleton

to appear.

" I'm Nancy, sir," she said respectfully, in re-

sponse to the surprised questioning of his eyes,

when he came
sent

me

to tell

into the room.

" Miss Harrington

you about Miss Pollyanna."

'^Well?"
263

Pollyanna

264

In spite of the curt terseness of the word,

Nancy

quite understood the anxiety that lay behind that

"well?"

short

" It ain't well, Mr. Pendleton," she choked.

"

You

mean

don't

bowed her head

" Yes,

He

"

and she

paused,

miserably.

He

sir.

says

she

can't

walk again

never.'*

For a moment there was absolute

room; then the man spoke,

silence in the

in a voice

shaken with

emotion.
"

Poor

little

Nancy glanced

girl

at him, but

John Pendleton could look

he spoke again,

still

My

little

prism

There was another

"

"
!

dropped her eyes at

sour, cross, stern

In a

moment

unsteady voice.

to dance in the sunshine

"

girl

silence;

then, abruptly, the

She herself doesn't know yet

of

course

"

But she does,

wnat makes

it

drat that cat!

girl,

girl

asked

does she?
'*

little

like that.

in the low,

never

seems cruel

It

again

man

She had not supposed that

once.

"

Poor

hurriedly.

sir."

all

"

sobbed Nancy

the harder.

''
;

an' that's

She found out-

begs yer pardon," apologized the

It's

only that the cat pushed open

Two

She found out

Poor

" Yes,

little

that way."

girl

since she

''

knew about

Ye

see

it's all

she keeps thmkin'

can't

do

can't

seem

" sighed the

You'd say

sir.

her," choked Nancy.

times.

265

Miss Pollyanna overheard 'em Ulkin'.

the door an'

''

Visits

jOw.

all

so,

I hain't

an'

it,

if

sir,

man

again.

you could

see

seen her but twice

me up

done

it

new
new

so fresh an'
the time of

both

to her, an'

things she

worries her, too, 'cause she

It

ter be glad

maybe

you don't know

about her game, though," broke off Nancy, apologetically.

game'?" asked
me of that."

the man.

''The 'glad
she told

yes;

" Oh,

she did

Well,

generally ter most folks.

she can't play

it

says she can't think of a

guess she has told

But ye

herself, an'

"Oh,

it

see,

now

worries her.

it

she

She

thing not a thing about

this not walkin' again, ter be

glad about."

"Well, why should she?" retorted the man,

almost savagely.

Nancy

shifted her feet uneasily.

" That's the

ter

think

it

way

too

easier

if

felt,

would be

somethin', ye know.
her."

So

till

happened

she could find

tried to

to remind


me
"

PoUyanna
To

voice was

"Of

how

she told

Mis' Snow, and the

said for
cries,

them

She says

it's

it

ye

rest,

others

know

ter

play

little

don't seem the same,

easy ter

tell

be glad, but 'tain't the

it"

and what she

But the poor

ter do.

says

an'

John Pendleton*s

angrily impatient.

still

of

"

Of what?

remind her!

lamb just

somehow.

lifelong invalids

how

lifelong invalid yerself, an' have ter try ter

do

She says

she's told herself over an' over again

glad she

is

that other folks ain't like her;

the time she's sayin'

all

of anythin' only

how

it,

it.

how

but that

she ain't really thinkiii'

she can't ever walk again."

Nancy paused, but

sat

ter

same thing when you'.e the

with his hand over

the

man

He

did not speak.

his eyes.

"

Then I tried ter remind her how^ she used ter

say the game was all the nicer ter play when
when it was hard," resumed Nancy, in a dull voice.
" But she says that, too, is diff 'rent
when it really

is

hard.

An'

must be

goin',

now,

sir,"

she broke

off abruptly.

At

the door she hesitated, turned,

and asked tim-

idly:

"

couldn't be

that you'd seen

could

I?"

tellin'

Miss Pollyanna that

Jimmy Bean

again, I s'pose,

sir,

Two
"

don't see

how you could

man a little

him," observed the

''

Nothin',

him

couldn't take

only

sir,

was

the things that she

267

Visits

as I haven't seen
"
"

Why?

shortly.

ye

well,
feelin'

ter see you,

one of

see, that's

bad about, that she

She said she'd

now.

taken him once, but she didn't think he showed

off

YQxy well that day, and that she was afraid you

didn

ence, after

all.

by that; but
" Yes,
''

know

what she means."

sir.

It

was a lovely

can't

was only that she was wantin'

him again, she

ter take

don,

I didn't, sir."

All right,

really

make a very nice child's presMaybe you know what she means

think he would

sir.

drat that
Good-by

autymobile
"

show ye he

said, so's ter

And now

child's presence.
!

And Nancy

she

begs yer parfled

precipi-

tately.

It

did not take long for the entire

dingsville to learn that the great

town of Bel-

Nev/ York doctor

had said Pollyanna Whittier would never walk

again;

and certainly never before had the town

been so

stirred.

piquant

little

of greeting;
"

game

"

Everybody knew by

freckled face that

that

sight

now

the

had always a smile

and almost everybody knew of the

Pollyanna was playing.

To

think.

PoUyanna
now

that

never again would that smiHng face be

on their

seen

cheery

streets

never

again

would that

some

voice proclaim the gladness of

little

everyday experience!

It

seemed unbelievable, im-

possible, cruel.

In kitchens and sitting rooms, and over back-yard

fences

women

street corners

talked, too,

and wept openly.

On

in store lounging-places the

men
And

talked of

and

and wept

it,

though not

neither the talking nor the weeping

fast

on the heels of the news

so openly.

grew

itself,

pitiful story that Pollyanna, face to face

had come
that

not

when

with what

was bemoaning most of all the fact

she could not play the game; that she could

now

It

in

less

came Nancy's

to her,

be glad over

was then

anything.

that the

some way, come

same thought must have,

At all
of the^arring-

to Pollyanna's friends.

events, almost at once, the mistress

ton homestead, greatly to her surprise, began to

receive calls

calls

from people she knew, and peo-

know calls from men, women, and

children
many of whom Miss Polly had not supposed that her niece knew at all.
Some came in and sat down for a stiff five or ten
minutes.
Some stood awkwardly on the porch

ple she did not

steps,

fumbling with hats or hand-bags, according

Two

Some brought

to their sex.

flowers,

m9

Visits

bunch of

a book, a

Some

or a dainty to tempt the palate.

Some

cried frankly.

turned their backs and blew

But

their noses furioush^

iously for the

message and

her some

all

inquired very anx-

and

injured girl;

little

it

all

sent to

was these message?

which, after a time, stirred Miss Polly to action.

First

He came

came Mr. John Pendleton.

with-

out his crutches to-day.

"

don't need to

tell

you how shocked

" But

began almost harshly.

can

am," he

nothing

be

done?"
Miss Polly gave a gesture of despair.
" Oh, we're

Mead
that

doing,' of course, all the time.

Dr.

prescribed certain treatments and medicines

might

out to the
out

'

help,
letter,

and Dr. Warren

But

of course.

almo^ no hope."

is

carrying them

Dr.

Mead

held

though he had
John Pendleton rose abruptly
His face was white, and his m.outh

but just come.

was

set

him,

knew very

Miss Polly, looking

into stern lines.

well

why

he

stay longer in her presence.

"

" Will

have a message

you

Bean and

tell

for

felt

At

at

that he could not

the door he turned.

Pollyanna,"

her, please, that I

that he's going to be

he

said.

have seen Jimmy

my

boy hereafter.

PoUyanna

g70

would be

Tell her I thought she

I shall

glad

to

know.

adopt him, probably."

For a

brief

moment Miss

Polly lost her usual

well-bred self-control.
"

You will adopt Jimmy Bean "

The man lifted his chin a little.
" Yes.

''

You

think Pollyanna will understand.

"
her thought she would be glad?
Why, of of
Miss

will tell
*"

she gasped.

course/' faltered

Polly.

Thank you," bowed John Pendleton,

as

he

turned to go.
In the middle of the floor Miss Polly stood,

and amazed,

lent

had just

still

looking after the

Even

left her.

yet she could scarcely be-

what her ears had heard.

lieve

adopt

Jimmy Bean?

si-

man who

John Pendleton

John Pendleton, wealthy,

in-

dependent, morose, reputed to be miserly and su-

premely
little

selfish, to

adopt a

little

boy

and such a

boy?

With

somewhat dazed face Miss Polly went

up-stairs to Pollyanna's room.

''

Pollyanna,

have a message for you from Mr.

John Pendleton. He has just been here.

to teil you he has taken Jimm}^ Bean for
boy.
it.'*

He

He

says

his little

said he thought you'd be glad to

know

Two
Pollyanna's wistful

Visits

271

face flamed into

little

sudden

joy.

" Glad?

Aunt

Glad?

Well,

and

that's

reckon

wanted

Polly, I've so

am

glad!

to find a place for

such a lovely place!

Jimmy

Besides, I'm so

You

glad for Mr. Pendleton, too.

Oh,

see,

now

he'll

have the child's presence."

what?"

"The

Pollyanna colored painfully.

had never

that she

desire to adopt her

wish to

tell

her

and

now

The

that only a

this

dear Auht' Polly

stammered Pollyanna,

Pendleton told me once, you see,

woman's hand and heart or a child's

And now

he's

Miss Polly very gently;

more than Pollyanna

and

presence could
it

would not

had ever thought for

" Mr.

hastily.

got

presence,"

child's

Mr. Pendleton's

certainly she

that she

a minute of leaving her

"

She had forgotten

told her aunt of

make

home.

the child's presence."

" Oh, I

see," said

she did see

saw something

realized.

of the pressure that

She

was probably

brought to bear on Pollyanna herself

at the

time

John Pendleton was asking her to be the " child's

presence," which

was

to

transform his great

of gray stone into a home.

her eyes stinging with sudden tears.

pile

" I see," she finished,

Foiiyanna

272

Pollyanna, fearful that her aunt might ask further embarrassing questions, hastened to lead the

conversation

away from

the Pendleton house and

master.

its

" Dr.

Chilton

says

woman's hand and

make

so,

that

takes

it

heart, or a child's presence, to

How

"Dr. Chilton!

He

in just

told

me

'Twas when he

so.

rooms, you

start.

do you know

not

know

that?"
said he lived

a home."

Her

Miss Polly did not answer.

eyes were out

window.

the

"

So

asked him

woman's hand and

" Pollyanna "
!

Her

a home, you know," she remarked.

Miss Polly turned with a

"

too

why he

heart,

didn't get 'em

and have a home."

Miss Polly had turned sharply-

cheeks showed a sudden color.

" Well,

did.

He

looked

so

so

sorrow-

ful."

''What did he
question as
that

"

if

in

say?"

Miss Polly asked the

of

some force within her

spite

was urging her not

He

to ask

it.

didn't say anything for a minute

said very

then he

low that you couldn't always get 'em for

the asking."

There was a

brief silence.

Tvliss

Polly's eyes had

Two

273

Visits

turned again to the window.

Her

cheeks were

still

unnaturally pink.

Pollyanna sighed.

He

'*

wants one, anyhow,

know, and

wish

he could have one."

"

Why,

Pollyanna,

how do you know ?

"

" Because, afterwards, on another day, he said

something

He

him.
did

He

else.

said that low, too, but I heard

said that he'd give

all

the world

have one woman's hand and heart.

Aunt

Polly, what's the

risen hurriedly

and gone

" Nothing, dear.

of this prism," said

now was

matter?"

aflame.

to the

if

he

Why,

Aunt Polly had

window.

was changing the position

Aunt

Polly,

whose whole face

CHAPTER XXVIII
THE GAME AND

ITS

PLAYERS

It was not long after John Pendleton's second

visit that

Milly

Snow

called one afternoon.

Milly

Snow had

never before been to the Harrington

homestead.

She blushed and looked very embar-

rassed

when Miss Polly entered the room.

I came to inquire for the little girl," she

"I

stammered,
"

You

How

She

are very kind.

mother?"

your

is

about the same.

is

Miss

rejoined

Polly,

wearily.

" That

is

ask you to

came

to tell

awful so

so

done for

us, too

perfectly

how now

dear!

that

is,

to

"

We

think

awful that the

and after

all

it's

little

she's

for mother, you know, teaching

her to play the game, and

heard

Miss Pollyanna/' hurried on the

tell

thing can't ever walk again;

little

you

breathlessly and incoherently.

girl,

what

she couldn't play

I'm sure

in her condition

all that.

herself

poor

how she can, either,

when we remembered all

don't see

but

it

And when we

274

The Game and

Its Players

we thought

the things she'd said to us,

only

know what

help,

you know,

if

she had done for us, that

in her

own

because she could be glad

she could

would

it

about the game,

case,

that

275

is,

little

glad

"

Milly stopped helplessly, and seemed to be waiting

for Miss Polly to speak.

Miss Polly had

sat politely listening,

but with a

Only about

puzzled questioning in her eyes.

half

She

of what had been said, had she understood.

was thinking now

Milly

Snow was

she was crazy.

had known that

that she always

" queer," but she

had not supposed

In no other w^ay, however, could

she account for this incoherent, illogical,

When

ing rush of w^ords.

it

the pause

unmean-

came she

filled

with a quiet
" I don't think I quite understand, Milly.

what

that

is it

" Yes, that's

you want me
it;

the girl, feverishly.

Of

for us.

to

want you
"

Make

tell

my

niece

to tell her,"

course she's seen some things, because

been there, and she's known mother

ent

but

and me,
play

it

answered

her see what she's done

she's
;

Just
"

want her

too.

I'm

to

know how

different.

the game a

Miss Polly frowned.

is

differ-

different she

I've

is

been trying tc

little."

She would have asked what

Milly meant by this " game," but there was no

PoUyanna

276

was rushing on again with

Milly

opportunity.

nervous volubihty.
"

You know

She was always wanting 'em

for mother.

And,

nothing was ever right before

really, I don't

know

different.

as one could blame her

under circumstances. But now she

and she
shades
me keep
and her
and
things how she
And
begun
things
and baby blankets
and
glad
And
and
and was Miss
think she can do
much

the

lets

the

takes interest in

up,

nightdress,

looks,

actually

she's

that.

all

to knit

for

reins

she's so interested,

hospitals.

it

that

little

fairs

so

to

Polly-

all

anna's doings, you know, 'cause she told mother

she could be glad she'd got her hands and arms,

anyway; and

why

made mother wonder

And

so she began to do

you know.

ferent

room

it

is

And you

something

you
I

away

can't think

that she gave her

feel better just to

used to dread

to

what a

dif-

now, what with the red and blue

and yellow worsteds, and the prisms

dow

right

she didn't do something with her hands and

arms.
knit,

that

it

why,

go

it

in there

awfully,

gloomy, and mother was so

it

in

the win-

actually

makes

now; and before

was so dark and

so

unhappy, you

know.
"

And

so

we want you

to please tell

Miss Polly-

The Game and

anna that we understand

And

maybe

sighed

all,"

she

if

glad that she

a little

'^You'll

tell

Why,

Milly,

rising

it

her, that

we

would make her

And

and

hurriedly

that's

her

feet.

Polly,

won-

to

murmured Miss

how much

remember

she could

because of her.

we know

knew it,
knew us.

277

her?"

of course,"

dering just

all

it's

please say we're so glad

thought,

"

Its Players

of this remarkable discourse

to

tell.

John Pendleton and Milly Snow

were only the first of many; and always there were
These

visits of

the messages

the messages which were in

ways so curious
and more

that they caused

Miss Polly more

to puzzle over them.

One day

there

was

Miss Polly knew her

called

some

upon each

her as the saddest

was always

other.
little

in black.

the

well,

little

Widow

Benton.

though they had never

By reputation
woman in town

she

knew

one who

To-day, however, Mrs. Ben-

ton wore a knot of pale blue at the throat, though

there were tears in her eyes.

and horror
dently

if

She spoke of her grief

at the accident;

then she asked

diffi-

she mig-ht see PoUyanna.

Miss Polly shook her head.

" I
later

am

sorry, but she sees

perhaps."

no one

yet.

little

PoUyanna

^78

Mrs. Benton wiped her eyes, rose, and turned

But after she had almost reached the

to go.

door she came back hurriedly.

" Miss Harrington, perhaps you'd give her

hall

message," she stammered.

" Certainly, Mrs. Benton

shall

be very glad

to."

the

Still

" Will

on

woman

little

you

her, please, that

tell

Then,

then she spoke.

that I've put

touching the blue

this'' she said, just

her throat.

hesitated;

trying for so long to

''
:

The

httle girl has

She said that Freddy would be so glad

The

would.

You know

others have

all

"

head and turned away.

anna

shell

been

some color,
make me wear
glad to know I'd begun.

that I thought she'd be

at

Miss Polly's ill-concealed look

at

of surprise, she added

if

bow

Freddy's

a//. I

to see

it,

have now.

Mrs. Benton shook her

" If you'll just

understand."

And

tell

Polly-

the door closed

after her.

little later,

widow
IMiss

that

same day, there was the other

wore widow's garments.

Polly did not know her at all. She wondered

vaguely

at

least,

she

how Pollyanna

could have

known

as " Mrs. Tarbell."

her.

The

lady gave her name

" I'm a stranger to you, of course," she began

The Game and

"

at once.

and every day

niece

It

279

But I'm not a stranger to your

niece, Pollyanna.

health.

Its Players

I've been at the hotel all

had

I've

was on

little

summer,

my

to take long walks for

these walks that I've

she's such a dear little girl

wish

met your
I

could

make you understand what she's been to me. I was

very sad when I came up here and her bright face
;

snd cheery ways reminded me of

girl that I lost years ago.

was

little

so shocked to hear

and then when

of the accident;

my own

learned that the

poor child would never walk again, and that she

was so unhappy because she

longer

the

dear child

couldn't be glad

I just

any

had to come

to

you."
"

You

"

But

other.

are very kind,"

it is

"I

from me.
''

you who are

to be kind,"

want you

tell

Yes,

her, then, that

know

don't understand.

But

it

message

if

you'll

Sad

lines

mouth, and the smile

left

her eyes.

know

her.

just

what

mean

Mrs. Tarbell

sounds odd, and you

rather not explain."

tell

demurred the

to give her a

"

Will you?

glad now.

will

Polly.

Certainly."

" Will you just

is

murmured Miss

pardon

came

and

me

I'd

to the lady's
''

I felt

Your

niece

that I

must

Thank you; and pardon me,

please,

Pollyanna

g80
for

any seeming rudeness

in

my

call,"

she begged;

as she took her leave.

Thoroughly mystified now, Miss Polly hurried

up-stairs to Pollyanna' s room.

" Pollyanna, do

" Oh, yes.

'*

you know a Mrs. Tarbell ?

love Mrs. Tarbell.

She's sick, and

awfully sad; and she's at the hotel, and takes long

We

walks.

go together.

we used

mean

to."

Pollyanna's voice broke, and two big tears rolled

down

her cheeks.

Miss Polly cleared her throat hurriedly.

"Well,

she's just

message for you

but

She said to

it

meant.

is

glad now."

she wouldn't
tell

Why,

it's

really?

game,

the

Oh, I'm so glad!

mean ?

and

stopped short, her fingers to her

tell it

unless

to speak
It

I- tell

Aunt Polly

'^^^^'hec.

"

"

Pollyanna

"

lips.

"What game?"
" N-nothingymuch,

me what

tell

softly,

" But, Pollyanna, what did she

"

left

you that Mrs. Tarbell

Pollyanna clapped her hands

" Did she say that

She

been here, dear.

that

things that

is

I ean't

that I'm not

of.''

was on Miss

niece further:

Pollv^s

tongue to question her

but the obvious distress on the

little

The Game and

Its Players

281

-'

girl's face

stayed the words before they were ut-

tered.

Not long after Mrs. Tarbell's visit, the climax

came. It came in the shape of a call from a certain
young woman with unnaturally pink cheeks and
abnormally yellow hair a young woman who wore
high heels and cheap jewelry; a young woman
whom Miss Polly knew very well by reputation
but whom she was angrily amazed to meet beneath
;

the roof of the Harrington homestead.

Miss Polly did not offer her hand.

She drew

back, indeed, as she entered the room.

The woman
red, as if she

asked

if

Her

rose at once.

had been crying.

eyes were very

Half defiantly she

she might, for a moment, see the

little girl,

Pollyanna.

Miss Polly said no.

sternly;

eyes

She began to say

it

very

but something in the woman's pleading

made her add

was allowed

the civil explanation that no one

yet to see Pollyanna.

The woman hesitated

spc^e.
Her chin was

then a

still

little

at a

brusquely she

slightly

defiant

tilt.

"

Mrs. Tom Payson.

most of good

My

name is Mrs. Payson

presume youVe heard of me

people in the

town have

and

the

maybe some of

the

PoUyanna

282

But never mind

things you've heard ain't true.

that.

It's

about the

the accident,

week
and

well

trotting

and

how

heard

and

lessly

and

little girl I

me

broke

could give up

heard about
Last

up.

all

my

two use-

She'd do more good

for hers.

around on 'em one hour than

But never mind

always given to the one

who

could in

Legs

that.

ain't

can make the best use

I notice."

She paused, and cleared her throat

resumed her voice was
"

she couldn't ever walk again,

wished

legs

a hundred years.

of 'em,

it

came.

Maybe you

deal of that

don't

little girl

still

know

but

when she

husky.
it,

but I've seen a good

of yours.

We live on the Pen-

dleton Hill road, and she used to go by often

only she didn't always go by.

She came

played with the kids and talked to

man, when he

and

v\^as

home.

her kind of folks don't generally

Maybe
there

if

they did

call

wouldn't be so

and

me and

She seemed

She didn't know,

to like us.

in

to like

my
it,

I suspect, that

call

on

my

kind.

more. Miss Harrington,

many

of

my

kind,"

she

added, with sudden bitterness.

"

Be

that as

it

may, she came

and she didn't

a
know nor

do herself no harm, and she did do us good

lot

'

good.

How^ much she won't

The Game and

know,

can't

other things
" But

hope;

'cause

us this year, in

'most anything.

kids.

about the

We

was reckoning on
and

novv',

girl's

little

got to thinking

and

she used to

coax us to play

and

life

little

no more

that's

kids,

sit

and laugh,

then, one day, she told

know; and

tried

it.

" Well, we've heard

poor

And

come and

She was always being

just be glad.

us why, and about the game, you

And

get-

letting the kids

never walking again.

how

glad about something;

it

We've been

one.

on our doorstep and train with the

to

know.

to

been hard times with

we didn't know what we w^ould do with the

Then came the accident, and what we heard

well,

and

know

my man and me, and ready

ting a divorce about

Yve

want her

It's

283

she did, she'd

more ways than

blue and discouraged

for

if

that I don't

just this.

it's

Its Players

now

that she's fretting her

out of her, because she can't play

that there's nothing to be glad about.

what

came

maybe she can be

little

to

tell

her to-day

glad for us, 'cause we've

decided to stick to each other, and play the

knew

game

she would be glad, because she

ourselves.

used to

feel

kind of bad

times.

Just

how

that

the

at things

game

is

we

said,

going to help

can't say that I exactly see, 3^et;

but

maybe

someus,

'twill.

Pollyanna

284

Anyhow, we're going to try

us to. Will you tell her?"
" Yes, I will

tell

'cause she

wanted

her," promised Miss Polly, a

Then,

faintly.

little

sudden

with

impulse,

stepped forward and held out her hand.

thank you for coming,

Mrs.

^'

she

And

Payson," she said

simply.

The

defiant chin

With an

visibly.

The

fell.

lips

incoherently

above

it

trembled

mumbled something,

Mrs. Payson blindly clutched at the outstretched

hand, turned, and

The door had

fled.

scarcely closed behind her before

Miss Polly was confronting Nancy in the kitchen.

"Nancy!"
Miss Polly spoke sharply.

The

series of puzzling,

disconcerting visits of the last few days, culminating as they

had

in the

extraordinary experience of

the afternoon, had strained her nerves to the snap-

ping point.

Not

Miss Pollyanna's accident

since

had Nancy heard her mistress speak so

" Nancy,
*

game

about?

'

is

will

you

tell

that the whole

And

me what

town seems

what, please, has

my

sternly.

absurd

this

to be babbling

niece to do with

Why does everybody, from Milly Snow

Tom Payson, send word to her that they're
it ?

'

it

'

As near

as I can judge, half the

to Mrs.

playing

town are

The Game and

'ill

ft'

.J

Its Players

285

'
'
,

putting on blue ribbons, or stopping family quarrels,

or learning to like something they never liked before,

and

because of Pollyanna.

all

the child herself about

much headway, and

her

now.

you

to

them,

but

I can't

But from something

Now

too.

seem

to

ask

make

of course I don't like to worry

I

heard her say

should judge you were one of

last night, I

means ?

it,

I tried to

you

will

tell

me what

it

all

"

To Miss

Polly's

surprise

and dismay, Nancy

burst into tears.

" It

means

that ever since last June that blessed

town

glad,

they're turnin' 'round an' tryin' ter

make

child has jest been makin'

an'

now

her a

little

"Glad

the whole

glad, too."

of

what?"

" Just glad

That's the game."

Miss Polly actually stamped her

" There you go like
"

game ?
Nancy

lifted

her chin.

and looked her squarely

"I'll tell ye,

all

ma'am.

foot.

the rest, Nancy.

She faced her mistress

in the eye.
It's

game Miss

anna's father learned her ter play.

doll;

Polly-

She got a pair

of crutches once in a missionary barrel

was wantin' a

What

when

she

an' she cried, of course, like

Pollyanna

286

any

child would.

seems 'twas then her father

It

what

told her that there wasn't ever anythin' but

there

was somethin' about

about;

an'

she

that

it

that

you could be glad

could be glad about them

crutches."

crutches! " Miss

back a sob
she was thinking of
" Glad

choked

Polly

for

the helpless

legs

on the bed

" Yes'm.

That's what

what she

said that's

be glad

coxild

"

Oh-h

*'

And

of

it

I said, an'

Miss Pollyanna

But he told her she

said, too.

'cause she didn't need 'em!*

" cried

Miss Polly.

made

after that she said he

fmdin'

game

a regular

somethin' in everythin' ter be glad

An' she said ye could do

about.

little

up-stairs.

it,

too,

and that

ye didn't seem ter mind not havin' the doll so much,

'cause ye

was

so glad ye didnt need the crutches.

An' they called

That's the game,

it

the

jest

ma'am.

bein'

glad

game.

'

played

it

ever

Miss Polly came

to a

She's

since."

" But,

how

how "

helpless pause.
*'

An' you'd be surprised

ter find

how

cute

works, ma'am, too," maintained Nancy, with

most the eagerness of Pollyanna

I

could

tell

ye what a

lot she's

herself.

"

it

al-

wish

done for mother

an'

"

The Game and

the folks out home.

things;

lot

an'

Monday

" Glad

glad, too,

things,

an'

big

'

An'

me

could be glad 'twa'n't

Monday

there's

that I used ter hate so.

for

made me

little

'

since she told

Hephzibah.'

made 'em so much easier. For

mind Nancy for a name half as

it's

instance, I don't

much

She's

things

o'

^87

She's been ter see 'em, ye

know, twice, with me.

on such a

Its Players

mornin's, too,

She's actually

made me glad

mornin's."
for

Monday mornings

Nancy laughed.
" I know it does sound

"
!

ma'am.

nutty,

But

let

me tell ye. That blessed lamb found out I hated

Monday mornin's somethin' awful; an' what does
she up an' tell me one day but this
Well, anyhow,
'

Nancy,

should think you could be gladder on

Monday mornin'

than on any other day in the

week, because 'twould be a whole week before

you'd have another one!

thought of
has helped,

it

does,

"But why

it

does

hasn't

"

it,

when

an' laughin' helps, ye

it;

"
!

she

faltered Miss Polly.

inystery of

blest if I hain't

ev'ry

ev/ry time I thought of

know

An' I'm

'

an' it
Monday mornin' since
ma'am. It m.ade me laugh, anyhow,

it

told

Why

me

the

has she

asked her?

game?"
made such a

PoUyanna

288

Nancy

hesitated.

" Beggin' yer pardon, ma'am,

speak of

ter

*Twas her

her

Miss Polly
" She

bit

her

wanted

ter

Nancy, a
ter play

tell ye.

see."

lip.

tell

ye,

unsteadily.

little

"

with, ye know.

it

told her not

so she couldn't

father;

game, ye

father's

you

continued

off,"

first

She wanted somebody

why

That's

so she could have some one."

" And and these others

"

begun

Miss

it,

Polly's

voice shook now.

" Oh, ev'rybody, 'most,

Anyhow,

it

now,

guess.

way

should think they did from the

I'm hearin' of
told a lot,

knows

it

Of

ev'ryv/here I go.

and they

told the rest.

course she

Them

ye know, when they gets started.

things go,

An' she was

always so smilin' an' pleasant ter ev'ry one, an'

so

so

jest

glad herself

couldn't help knowin'

it,

hurt, ev'rybody feels so

heard

how bad

thin' ter

hopin'

that'll

tell

her

help

wanted ev'rybody
" Well, I

bad

Now,

since she's

specially

when they

she feels 'cause she can't find any-

be glad about.

ev'ry day ter

the time, that they

all

anyhow.

An' so they've been comin'

how

some.

glad she's

Ye

ter play the

know somebody

see,

made
she's

game with

who'll play

it

them,

always

her."

now,"

The Game and

Its Players

289

choked Miss Polly, as she turned and sped through

the kitchen doorway.

Behind
''

her,

Well,

I'll

Nancy stood

believe

"

muttered to herself.
thin' I

staring amazedly.

any thin'

anythin' now," she

Ye can't stump me with any"

now
o' Miss Polly

wouldn't believe

in Pollyanna's roc

little later,

a,

the nurse left

Miss Polly and Pollyanna alone together.

"

And

you've had

still

another caller to-day,

my

dear," announced Miss Polly, in a voice she vainly

"

tried to steady.

Do you remember

Mrs. Pay-

son?"
" Mrs.

Payson ?

Why,

reckon I do

on the way to Mr. Pendleton's, and

prettiest little girl

'most

band

only they don't seem to

each other

is.

Sometimes they

they don't quite agree.

she's got the

old,

know how
fight

well,

he

nice

mean,

They're poor, too, they

'cause he isn't a missionary minister,

like

and a boy

and of course they don't ever have

say,

lives

She's awfully nice, and so's her hus-

five.

baby three years

She

barrels,

you know,

isn't."

faint color stole into Pollyanna's cheeks

which

was duplicated suddenly in those of her aunt.

" But she wears real pretty clothes, sometimes.
spite oi their

In

being so poor," resumed PollyanDa, t5

PoUyanna

290

some

"

haste.

And

she's

got perfectly beautiful

rings with diamonds and rubies and emeralds in

them; but she says

and that

one ring too many,

she's got

going to throw

she's

it

away and

get a

divorce instead.

What

I'm afraid

very nice, because she didn't look

isn't

it

is

a divorce, Aunt Polly?

happy when she talked about

she did get

children,

But

too.

keep the ring, even

Shouldn't you?
"

But they

Aunt

she said

if

they wouldn't live there any more, and

it,

Mr. Payson would go 'way

that

And

it.

they did have so

Aunt

Polly,

aren't going

what

'way

is

many more.
a divorce?"

dear," evaded

off,

" They're going to stay

hurriedly.

Polly,

and maybe the

should think they'd rather

I
if

off,

right there together."

" Oh, I'm so glad

I

go up

to see

"

miserably.
that

my

Aunt

legs don't

^ver, ever

go up

Then they'll be there when

dear " broke off the little girl,
!

to

Polly,

why

can't I

remember

go any more, and that I won't

"
see Mr. Pendleton again ?

" There, there, don't," choked her aunt.

haps

you'll

drive

up sometime.

But

that Mrs.

haven't told you, yet,

all

She wanted me

you that they

to

tell

" Per-

listen!

Payson

said.

they were

going to stay together and to play the game, just

as

you wanted them

to."

The Game and

Its Players

291

Pollyanna smiled through tear-wet eyes.

"Did

Did

they?

they, really?

Oh,

am

glad of

that!"
" Yes, she said she hoped you'd be.

she told you, to

That's

why

Pollyanna."
you you spoke

make you

glad,

Pollyanna looked up quickly.

"Why, Aunt Polly,

Do you know
you knew

just as

if

about the game, Aunt

Polly?"
" Yes,
voice

be

to

told me.
to play

"Oh,

it

Miss Polly sternly forced her

dear."

cheerfully

think

it's

"

matter-of-fact.

a beautiful game.

with you."
Aunt VoWy you?

Nancy

I'm going

now

see, I've really

You

I'm so glad!

wanted you most of anybody,

the

all

time."

Aunt Polly caught her breath a little sharply. It

was even harder this time to keep her voice steady
but she did

it.

"Yes, dear; and there are

all

those others, too.

Why, Pollyanna, I think all the town is playing

game now with you
even to the minister

haven't had a chance to

ing I met Mr. Ford

and he

told

you could

me

tell

when

to say to

see him, he

that
!

you, yet, but this morn-

was down

you that

was coming

to the village,

just as soon as
to tell

you that

Pollyanna

292

he hadn't stopped being glad over those eight hun-

dred rejoicing texts that you told him about.

you

see, dear, it's just

whole town

town
one

is

is

you that have done

So
The

playing the game, and the whole

and

wonderfully happier

little girl

it.

who

and how to play

all

because of

taught the people a

new game,

it."

Pollyanna clapped her hands.

" Oh, I'm so glad," she cried.

wonderful light illumined her

Then, suddenly, a

face.

"

Why, Aunt

Polly, there is something I can be glad about, after

all.

can be glad I've had

couldn't have done

my

that

"
!

legs,

anyway

else

CHAPTER XXIX
THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW

One

by one the short winter days came and went

= but they were not short to Pollyanna.

were long, and sometimes

lutely, these days,

full

Very

of pain.

a cheerful face toward whatever came.

Polly was playing

many

it,

too?

who

two poor

now

And Aunt

things to be glad about!

Polly, too,

the

reso-

however, Pollyanna was turning

not specially bound to play the game,

so

They

Was
that

she

Aunt

Polly found

It

was Aunt

discovered the story one day about

little

who found
and who won-

waifs in a snow-storm

a blown-down door to crawl under,

dered what poor folks did that didn't have any

door!

Arid

It

was Aunt Polly who brought home

the other story that she

old lady

who had

had heard about the poor

only two teeth, but

who was

so

glad that those two teeth " hit "

Pollyanna now,

like

Mrs. Snow, was knitting

wonderful things out of bright colored worsteds

293

Pollyanna

294

that trailed their cheery lengths across the white

and made Pollyanna again

Mrs.

Snow
so glad she had her hands and arms, anyspread,

like

way.
Pollyanna saw people now, occasionally, and always there were the loving messages from those
she could not see;

and always they brought her

something new to think about

and

Pollyanna

needed new things to think about.

Once she had seen John Pendleton, and twice she

had seen Jimmy Bean. John Pendleton had told
her what a fine boy Jimmy was getting to be, and
how well he was doing. Jimmy had told her what
"
a first-rate home he had, and what bang-up " folks
Mr. Pendleton made and both had said that it was
all owing to her.
" Which makes me all the gladder, you know,
;

that I have had

my

legs,"

Pollyanna confided to her

aunt afterwards.

The winter

passed, and spring came.

The anx-

ious watchers over Pollyanna's condition could see

little

change wrought by the prescribed treatment.

There seemed every reason

to believe, indeed, that

Dr. Mead's worst fears would be realized

Pollyanna would never walk again.

that

Through an Open Window

295

Beldingsville, of course, kept itself informed con-

cerning PoUyanna;
in particular

fretted himself into a fever

man-

of anxiety over the daily bulletins which he

aged

in

fering.

came

some way

As

to be

man

and of Beldingsville, one

fumed and

to procure

from the bed of

the days passed, however, and the

no

better, but rather worse,

suf-

news

something

show in the man's face:

despair, and a very dogged determination, each
fighting for the m.astery.
In the end, the dogged
determination won; and it was then that Mr. John
Pendleton, somewhat to his surprise, received one
Saturday morning a call from Dr. Thomas Chil^
besides anxiety began to

ton.
'^

come
in

'^

Pve

than any one

else

Pendleton," began the doctor, abruptly,

you because

to

town,

3^ou, better

know something

my

of

relations with

Miss

Polly Harrington."

John Pendleton was conscious that he must have

started visibly
affair

he

between Polly

ton, but the matter

them for
*'

know something of the

Harrington and Thomas Childid

had not been mentioned between

fifteen years, or

more.

Yes," he said, trying to

concerned enough

enough

for

for curiosity.

make

his voice

sound

sympathy, and not eager

In a

moment he saw

that

he

PoUyanna

296

need not have worried, however:

on

quite too intent

the doctor

was

how

that

his errand to notice

errand was received.

" Pendleton,

want

to see that child.

make an examination.

want to

must make an examina-

tion."
*^

Well

''

Can't

you?"

can't

know very

Pendleton, you

haven't been inside that door for

years.

You

know

don't

but

more than
I will tell

that the mistress of that house told

time she asked

she

was begging
before

as

me

to enter

my

which

it,

pardon, and that

couldn't

fifteen

you

that the next

all

it

that

would be

meant that she'd marry me.

Perhaps you see her summoning

don't!"
" But

me

might take

well

you

go

me now

without

but
a

sum-

mons ? "
The doctor frowned.
" Well,

hardly.

know."
" But

if

have

some

pride,

you

couldn't you swal"

forget the quarrel

you're so anxious

low your pride and

" Forget the quarrel " interrupted the doctor,

!

savagely.

So

" I'm not talking of that kind of pride.

far as that

is

concerned, I'd go from here there

Through an Open Window

on

my

knees

any good.
about.

head

if

that

pride

professional

would do

I'm

talking

a case of sickness, and I'm a doc-

It's

I can't butt in

tor.

my

or on

It's

297

and

say,

Here, take

me

'

can I?"
''

what was the quarrel ? " demanded

Chilton,

Pendleton.

The

doctor

made an

impatient gesture, and got to

his feet.

"

What was

after

it's

"

grily.

it ?

over?" he

silly

What's any

snarled, pacing the

wrangle over the

or the depth of a river, maybe

be, so far as its

lovers' quarrel

room

size of the

it

an-

moon

might as well

having any real significance com-

pared to the years of misery that follow them!

So far as I am concerned,
say there was no quarrel. Pendle-

Never mind the quarrel

I

am

willing to

ton, I

death.

must
It

see that child.

will

mean

It

may mean

honestly

life

or

believe nine

chances out of ten that Pollyanna Whittier will

"
walk again
!

The words were spoken

clearly,

impressively;

and they were spoken just as the one who uttered

them had almost reached the open window near
Thus it happened that
John Pendleton's chair.
very distinctly they reached the ears of a small boy

PoUyanna

g98

window on

kneeling beneath tLe

the ground out-

side.

Jimmy

Bean, at his Saturday morning task of

pulling up the

first little

green weeds of the flower-

up with ears and eyes wide open

beds, sat

"

Walk Pollyanna " John Pendleton was say<

"
ing. " What do you mean ?
" I mean that from what I can hear and learn
!

bedside that

a mile from her

much

like

For years

helped.

he's been

studied, too, in a way.

but

very

is

want

making

this sort of

I've kept in touch with him,

thing a special study.

and

her case

one that a college friend of mine has just

And from what

hear

say,

John Pendleton came erect in his chair.

" You must see her, man
Couldn't you
!

through Dr. Warren ?

"

to see the girl

"

The other shook his head.

" I'm afraid not. Warren has been very decent,
though.

He

told

sultation with

me

me

himself that he suggested con-

at the

first,

but

Miss Harring-

ton said no so decisively that he didn't dare venture

it

again, even though he

the child.

come over
still more

Lately,
to

knew of my

some of

me so of course that

effectually.

desire to see

his best patients

ties

my

have
hands

But, Pendleton, I've got to

Through an Open Window

Think of what

see that child!

do!"
" Yes, and think of what

it

may mean

to her

if I

don't

will

it

mean

you

if

" retorted Pendleton,

" But

how

her aunt?

can

without a

which

" She must be

made

direct request

from

never get!"

I'll

to ask

you

"
!

"How?"
" I don't know/'
" No, I guess you don't

nor

She's too proud and too angry to

what she

said years

ago

ask me.

But when

to lifelong misery,

my

hands

lies

ask me

would mean

if

else.

after

she did

doomed
maybe in

think of that child,

and when

think that

a chance of escape, but for that con-

founded nonsense we
etiquette, I

it

anybody

"

He

pride and professional

call

did not finish his sentence, but

with his hands thrust deep into his pockets, he

turned and began to tramp up and

down

the

room

again, angrily.
"

But

if

she could be

made

to see

to

under-

stand," urged John Pendleton.

''

Yes; and who's going

to

do

it? "

demanded

the

doctor, with a savage turn.

"

don't know, I don't know," groaned the other,

miserablvo

PoUyanna

soo

Outside the window

denly.

Up

tently

had he

to

now he had

"

Fm

stirred

sud-

scarcely breathed, so in-

listened to every word.

" Well, by Jinks, I

ingly.

Jimmy Bean

know

a-goin' ter

do

" he whispered, exult-

it

"

And

forthwith he

rose to his feet, crept stealthily around the

of the house, and ran with

all

his

comer

might down Pen-

dleton HiiL

\
V

CHAPTER XXX
JIMMY TAKES THE HELM
" It's

He

Jimmy Bean.

ma'am/' announced Nancy

"Me?"
"

wants

in the

see

ter

ye,

doorway.

rejoined Miss Polly, plainly surprised.

Are you sure he did not mean Miss Pollyanna ?

He may

see her a

" Yes'm.

I told

few minutes to-day,

him.

But he said

he

if

likes."

was you he

it

wanted."
"

Very well. Til come down." And Miss Polly

arose from her chair a little wearily.
In the sitting room she found waiting for her a
round-eyed, flushed-faced boy,

who began

to speak

at once.
''

an'

Ma'am,

I s'pose it's

what I'm

sayin';

dreadful

but

what I'm

I can't

help

it.

doln',

It's

for

Pollyanna, and I'd walk over hot coals for her, or

face you, or
I

or anythin'

think you would, too,

if

like that,

come

An'

you thought there was a

chance for her ter walk again.

I

any time.

An' so

ter tell ye that as long as

301

it's

that's

why

only pride

Pollyanna

302
an

et

et-somethin'

walkin',

here

if

why

that's keepin' Pollyanna from

knew you would ask Dr. Chilton

you understood

"Wh-at?"

"

interrupted Miss Polly, the look of

stupefaction on her face changing to one of angry

indignation.

Jimmy

sighed despairingly.

" There, I didn't

why
I

begun by

tellin'

thought you'd
" Jimmy,

mean

ter

make ye mad.

That's

ye about her walkin' again.

listen ter that."

what are you talking about ? "

Jimmy

sighed again.
" That's what
tryin' ter tell ye.''
" Well, then tell me. But begin at the beginning,

Fm

and be sure

understand each thing as you go.

Don't plunge into the middle of

and mix everything

Jimmy wet

all

up

it

as

you did before

"
!

his lips determinedly.

" Well, ter begin with. Dr. Chilton

Mr. Pendleton,

come

ter see

an' they talked in the library.

you understand that ?

" Yes, Jimmy.''

Do

"

Miss Polly's voice was rather

faint.

" Well, the

window was

the flower-bed under

" Oh,

Jimmy

it;

open, and I

an' I

Listening f

^'

was weedin'

heard 'em talk."

Jimmy Takes

Helm

the

303

" 'Twa'n't about me, an' 'twa'n't sneak listenin'/'

bridled

Jimmy.

will be

when

anna

walk

You

"

And I'm glad I listened.

tell ye.
Why, it may make

Polly-

"
!

" Jimmy, what do you

mean?

"

Miss Polly was

leaning forward eagerly.

" There,

nodded Jimmy, conknows some doctor

ye so,"

told

" Well, Dr. Chilton

tentedly.

somewhere that can cure Pollyanna, he thinks

make her

till

know

walk, ye

he sees her.

And

but he can't

tell

sure

he wants ter see her somethin'

awful, but he told Mr. Pendleton that you wouldn't

let

him."

Miss Polly's face turned very

" But, Jimmy, I
I didn't

know

"

I can't

red.

I couldn't

That

Miss Polly was twisting her

is,

fin-

gers together helplessly.

" Yes, an' that's what I come ter

tell ye,

so

you

" They
would know," asserted Jimmy, eagerly.
said that for some reason
I didn't rightly catch

what

you wouldn't

told Dr.

himself,

Warren

so

let

an' Dr. Chilton couldn't

come

without you asked him, on account of

pride an' professional et

anyway.

Dr. Chilton come, an' you

et

well,

et-somethin,'

An' they was wishin' somebody could

make you understand,

-only

they didn't

know who

304

l^oilyanna

could;
ter
I

an'

was outside the winder,

an'

but,

have

By Jinks, I'll do it
made ye understand ? "

myself right away,

come
" Yes

an'
!

'

'

says

An'
'

Jimmy, about that doctor," implored

feverishly, " Who was he ? What did

Miss Polly,

Are they sure he could make Pollyanna

he do?

walk?"
" I don't

know who he

They

was.

didn't say.

Dr. Chilton knows him, an' he's just cured some-

body

just like her. Dr. Chilton thinks.

Anyhow,

they didn't seem ter be doin' no worryin' about him.

'Twas you they was worryin' about, 'cause you

wouldn't
will let

let

Dr. Chilton see her.

him come, won't you?

An' say

now you

you
under-

stand?"
Miss Polly turned her head from side to

Her

breath

gasps.

was coming

in

uneven,

little

side.

rapid

Jimmy, watching her with anxious eyes,

But she did not cry.

thought she was going to cry.

After a minute she said brokenly:

"

Yes

run home,

Dr. Chilton
got
Jimmy quick

Dr. Warren.
in

see her.

let

I'll

I've

He's up-stairs now,

Now

to speak to

saw him drive

a few minutes ago."

little later

Dr.

Warren was

surprised to meet

an agitated, flushed-faced Miss Polly

in the hall

Jimmy Takes
He was
little

still

more suq)rised

the

Helm

to hear the lady say, a

breathlessly

" Dr.

Warren, you asked me once

to allow Dr.

Chilton to be called in consultation, and

fused.

much

Since then
desire that

have reconsidered.

you should

call

Will you not ask him at once

you."

305

in

re-

very

Dr. Chilton.

please?

Thank

CHAPTER XXXI
A NEW UNCLE

The

next time Dr.

Warren

entered the chamber

where Pollyanna lay watching the dancing shimmer

of color on the ceiling, a

tall,

broad-shouldered

man

followed close behind him.

" Dr. Chilton

how glad I am
And at the joyous

oh, Dr. Chilton,

to see you! " cried Pollyanna.

rapture of the voice,

more than one

pair of eyes in

" But,

room brimmed hot with sudden tears.

of course, if Aunt Polly doesn't want
the

"

It is all right,

my

dear

''

don't worry," soothed

"

Miss Polly, agitatedly, hurrying forward.

Dr. Chilton that

over with Dr. Warren,

that I

told

*^

this

want him

to look

have

you

morning."

Oh, then you asked him to come," murmured

Pollyanna, contentedly.
" Yes, dear, I asked him.

was too

late.

That

is

The adoring happiness

"

But

that

it

had

leaped to Dr. Chilton's eyes was unmistakable, and

Miss Polly had seen

turned and

left

the

V/ith very pink cheeks she

it.

room

hurriedly.

9CI9

A New

Uncle

307

window

the nurse and Dr. AVarren

were talking earnestljo

Dr. Chilton held out both

Over
his

in the

hands to Pollyanna.

" Little girl, I'm thinking that one of the very

gladdest jobs you ever did has been done to-day,'*

he said in a voice shaken with emotion.

At

wonder-

twilight a wonderfully tremulous,

Aunt Polly crept to Pollyanna's bedThe nurse was at supper. They had the

fully different
side.

room

to themselves.

" Pollyanna, dear, I'm going to

very

first

one of

happy

And

so

it

you

Some day I'm going

all.

Dr. Chilton to you for your

that have done

tell

all.

And

uncle.

the

to give
it's

you

Oh, Pollyanna, I'm so

glad darling
!

"
!

Pollyanna began to clap her hands; but even as

she brought her small palms together the

first

time,

them suspended.
Aunt Polly, Aunt Polly, were you the woman's
hand and heart he wanted so long ago ? You were
I know you were
And that's what he meant by
she stopped, and held
"

saying I'd done the gladdest job of

I'm so glad!

Why, Aunt

I'm so glad that

don't

now! "
Aunt Polly swallowed

all

Polly, I don't

mind

a sob.

even

to-day.
know

my

but

legs,

"

PoUyanna

308
" Perhaps,
did not finish.

some day, dear

"

But she did say

quite wonderful

enough

" Pollyanna, next

journey.

On

who

this

had

yet,

her

to Pollyanna's

little

this was
mind

to take a

bed you're

and carriages to a great

has a big house

made on purpose

tell,

week you're going

in cars

to

'put into

and surely

a nice comfortable

going to be carried
doctor

But Aunt Polly

Aunt Polly did not dare

the great hope that Dr. Chilton

heart.

many

miles from here

for just such people as

you

are.

He's a dear friend of Dr. Chilton's, and we're going

to see

what he can do for you

CHAPTER XXXII
WHICH
**

can

A LETTER FROM POLLYANNA

IS

Dear Aunt Polly and Uncle Tom

can

my

from

can walk

did to-day

bed to the window!

My, how good

it

was

to be

It

on

was

Oh,
the

all

way

six steps.

legs again!

" All the doctors stood around and smiled, and

all

them and cried. A lady

in the next ward who walked last week first, peeked
into the dooi, and another one who hopes she can
walk next month, was invited in to the party, and

the nurses stood beside of

she laid on

my

Even Black

nurse's bed

Tilly

and clapped her hands.

who washes

the floor,

child

'

when she wasn't crying too

looked

me Honey,
much to call me

through the piazza window and called

'

anything,
" I don't see

and shout and

I

why
yell

walk-

can walk'

/ wanted to sing

they cried.

Oh

oh oh

zvalk!

Now

being here almost ten months, and

wedding, anyhow.

Wasn't that
809

Just think,
don't

mind

didn't miss the

just like you,

Aunt

PoUyanna

810
Polly, to

my

come on here and get married

of the gladdest things!

" Pretty soon, they say,
I

You

bed, so I could see you.

could walk

I shall

all

way

the

I shall

there.

right beside

always do think

go home.

I do.

wish

don't think

ever want to ride anywhere any more.

will be so

good

just to walk.

Why,

glad for everything.

legs for a while, for

till

Pm so glad

Pm

now I lost my
never know how

glad

you never,

perfectly lovely legs are

that go, I mean.

Oh,

Pm

It

you haven't got them

I'm going to walk eight steps

to-morrow.
"

With heaps of

love to everybody,

" POLLYANNA."

THE END.

fP

'>i?iSj

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