CHAPTER III. POLLY'S TROUBLES

teredlikeFanny's,andreceivedthisreply:“No,dearthedressisproperandbecomingasitis,andtheoldfashionofsimplicitythebestforallofus.Idon'twantmyPollytobelovedforherclothes,butforherselfsoweartheplainfrocksmothertooksuchpleasureinmakingforyou,andletthepanniersgo.TheleastofushavesomeinfluenceinthisbigworldandperhapsmylittlegirlcandosomegoodbyshowingothersthatacontentedheartandahappyfacearebetterornamentsthananyPariscangiveher.Youwantalocket,dearysoIsendonethatmymothergavemeyearsago.Youwillfindfather'sfaceononeside,mineontheotherandwhenthingstroubleyou,justlookatyourtalisman,andIthinkthesunshinewillcomebackagain.” Ofcourseitdid,forthebestofallmagicwasshutupinthequaintlittlecasethatPollyworeinsideherfrock,andkissedsotenderlyeachnightandmorning.Thethoughtthat,insignificantasshewas,sheyetmightdosomegood,madeherverycarefulofheractsandwords,andsoanxioustokeepheadcontentedandfacehappy,thatsheforgotherclothes,andmadeothersdothesame.Shedidnotknowit,butthatgoodoldfashionofsimplicitymadetheplaingownspretty,andthegraceofunconsciousnessbeautifiedtheirlittlewearerwiththecharmthatmakesgirlhoodsweetesttothosewhotrulyloveandreverenceit.OnetemptationPollyhadalreadyyieldedtobeforethelettercame,andrepentedheartilyofafterward. “Polly,Iwishyou'dletmecallyouMarie,”saidFannyoneday,astheywereshoppingtogether. “YoumaycallmeMary,ifyoulikebutIwon'thaveanyieputontomyname.I'mPollyathomeandI'mfondofbeingcalledsobutMarieisFrenchifiedandsilly.” “Ispellmyownnamewithanie,andsodoallthegirls.” “AndwhatajumbleofNetties,Nellies,Hatties,andSalliesthereis.How'Pollie'wouldlookspeltso!” “Well,nevermindthatwasn'twhatIbegantosay.There'sonethingyoumusthave,andthatis,bronzeboots,”saidFan,impressively. “WhymustI,whenI'vegotenoughwithout?” “Becauseit'sthefashiontohavethem,andyoucan'tbefinishedoffproperlywithout.I'mgoingtogetapair,andsomustyou.” “Don'ttheycostagreatdeal?” “Eightorninedollars,Ibelieve.Ihaveminechargedbutitdon'tmatterifyouhaven'tgotthemoney.Icanlendyousome.” “I'vegottendollarstodowhatIlikewithbutit'smeanttogetsomepresentsforthechildren.”AndPollytookoutherpurseinanundecidedway. “Youcanmakepresentseasyenough.Grandmaknowsallsortsofnicecontrivances.They'lldojustaswellandthenyoucangetyourboots.” “WellI'lllookatthem,”saidPolly,followingFannyintothestore,feelingratherrichandimportanttobeshoppinginthiselegantmanner. “Aren'ttheylovely?Yourfootisperfectlydivineinthatboot,Polly.Getthemformypartyyou'lldancelikeafairy,”whisperedFan. Pollysurveyedthedainty,shiningbootwiththescallopedtop,thejauntyheel,andthedelicatetoe,thoughtherfootdidlookverywellinit,andafteralittlepause,saidshewouldhavethem.Itwasallverydelightfultillshegothome,andwasalonethen,onlookingintoherpurse,shesawonedollarandthelistofthingsshemeanttogetformotherandthechildren.Howmeanthedollarlookedallalone!andhowlongthelistgrewwhentherewasnothingtobuythearticles. “Ican'tmakeskatesforNed,noradeskforWillandthosearewhattheyhavesettheirheartsupon.Father'sbookandmother'scollarareimpossiblenowandI'maselfishthingtogoandspendallmymoneyformyself.HowcouldIdoit?”AndPollyeyedthenewbootsreproachfully,astheystoodinthefirstpositionasifreadyfortheparty.“TheyarelovelybutIdon'tbelievetheywillfeelgood,forIshallbethinkingaboutmylostpresentsallthetime,”sighedPolly,pushingtheenticingbootsoutofsight.“I'llgoandaskgrandmawhatIcandoforifI'vegottomakesomethingforeveryone,Imustbeginrightaway,orIshan'tgetdone”andoffshebustled,gladtoforgetherremorseinhardwork. Grandmaprovedequaltotheemergency,andplannedsomethingforeveryone,supplyingmaterials,taste,andskillinthemostdelightfulmanner.Pollyfeltmuchcomfortedbutwhileshebegantoknitaprettypairofwhitebed-socks,tobetiedwithrose-coloredribbons,forhermother,shethoughtsomeverysoberthoughtsuponthesubjectoftemptationandifanyonehadaskedherjustthenwhatmadehersigh,asifsomethinglayheavyonherconscience,shewouldhaveanswered,“Bronzeboots.”