Emma C. Dowd

“ As the bride stood to receive her guests, in her simple white silk gown, the necklace of pearly her only ornament, Polly gazed into her sweet, thoughtful face, and longed to throw her arms around her neck and give her a loving hug. But she had to be content with only one little decorous kiss, and she consoled herself with the words that had been singing in her heart all the day, "She is going to be my mother! She is going to be my mother!" ”

“ The introduction over, Polly found herself facing a worn little woman, with weary gray eyes, who looked more small and frail in contrast with the great oaken chair in which she was pillowed. Mrs. Jocelyn, the Doctor had called her, and Polly like the sound of the name; but she was not yet sure that she should like the owner of it. The lady did not smile when she said, almost as if having a visitor bored her:—
"So you are staying here at the hospital, Dr. Dudley tells me. What do you find to do with yourself all day long?" ”

“ A "Why!" of wonder was rounding Polly's lips, as the physician continued:—
"Perhaps you have done Mrs. Jocelyn more good than you will ever know. Since her husband and little boy died she has shut people out of her life, seldom leaving her home, and rarely entertaining a guest. From what she has said to me I judge that she has allowed herself to brood over her sorrows till she has become bitter and melancholy. Let's hope that your little story will open her eyes."
"Does she live all alone when she is home?" queried Polly. ”

“ Light raps at the door made Polly slip to her feet, and sent Dr. Dudley across the room. Polly hurriedly brushed away the only remaining tear, and looked up to greet Miss Hortensia Price.
The nurse had come to talk with Dr. Dudley about a patient, and Polly went over to the couch, and searched among the parcels for a certain package. Her fingers trembled with joyous excitement. The world had suddenly turned rose color. Every sorrow had flown away. Even the grief which had been ever present with her for nearly three years was for the moment swallowed up in the joy of believing that mamma knew! ”

“ The next morning's musicale was quite the feast that Polly had anticipated, and Mrs. Jocelyn's was a twofold enjoyment. The little girl had feared that her white dress was too wrinkled for grand a party; so her hostess's maid had smoothed it into its original perfection, and, to make good the hair ribbon that had been lost, Mrs. Jocelyn had bought an even prettier one—the palest blue sprinkled with forget-me-nots, and sash too match.
After luncheon came the delightful task of giving the presents pretty holiday touches with fancy tissue papers and gay ribbons. ”

“ The Doctor smoothed away the tiny wrinkle on her forehead, and smiled down into the clear brown eyes.
"It is perfectly right, Polly; in fact, it would be wrong to spoil so much pleasure for such a little reason. The pictures are far more lifelike than most people's are, and nobody will stop to compare them with the original, feature by feature."
"No, I guess they won't," she laughed. "You pick out the one you want to keep, and next I'll let Miss Lucy choose."
Dr. Dudley watched her, as she danced away happily up the stairs. ”

“ A Warning from Aunt Jane
Towards noon came a telephone call for Polly to go down to Dr. Dudley's office. Usually she sped gladly to obey such a summons; now she was assailed by a sudden fear.
"Have I made her very much worse?" was her instant inquiry, as the Doctor opened his door?
"Made whom worse?" he questioned.
"Why, Mrs. Jocelyn!"
"I have heard nothing from her. What is it?"
Polly told of her visit and of the reading.
"Is that all!" the Doctor laughed. "Don't worry about it any more, little girl! Your stories are not the kind that harm people. What did you read? One that I know?" ”

“ Polly went on. She was thinking of Aunt Jane. "Do you love everybody, Miss Lucy,—every single body?"
The nurse laughed softly. "I'm afraid I sometimes find it a difficult task," she admitted; "but even when we dislike people, or do not exactly love them, we can wish them well, and be ready to do them kindness whenever it is possible. And we can usually find something lovable in everybody, if we look for it deep enough and long enough."
There was a moment's hush, and then Elsie piped out:—
"David, can't you tell another story, please?"
"It is pretty nearly bedtime," Miss Lucy suggested. ”

“ Polly thought the occupants must all be out of doors, for lounging men and women filled the doorways, and the sidewalks were scattered with children. The air grew hot and stifling and full of disagreeable odors. The little girl half wished that she had not come. Then she remembered how pleased Brida would be to see her kitten again, and that gave her new strength and courage. ”

“ But Polly, having been several times a guest in the big house, now felt quite at home, and ran up and down the polished oaken stairs and through the grand, dimly lighted hallways as merrily as if she had always been used to such imposing surroundings.
"It is too bad Dorothy could n't stay over till this week," Mrs. Jocelyn said; "but never mind! She'll come again before long, and then you'll see her. ”

“ Leonora was first to discover it—the beautiful copy of the Sistine Madonna, hanging opposite David's bed. Then dinner had to wait, while they flocked over to look at Dr. Dudley's gift to the ward.
"Why, it's just like a story," cried Elsie. "Something keeps happening all the time."
Miss Lucy smiled mysteriously, which made Polly wonder if there were more happenings in reserve for the day.
Dinner was barely cleared away when a rap sent Moses to the door. There stood one of the porters grinning behind a pyramid of white boxes tied with gay ribbons. ”

“ What could it be but—! Yet what if it should n't be! With trembling fingers she hurriedly untied the blue ribbon. She hardly dared lift the cover; but—it was!
"Oh, Phebe!" she cried, with almost a sob, clasping the beautiful doll to her heart.
It was not Phebe, but so nearly like the cherished one it was not surprising in that first ecstatic moment Polly should think it was really her los darling. Golden curls, blue eyes, and a frock of white muslin with blue sprigs made the resemblance very true. In her own bliss, Polly for a minute, forgot her surroundings. ”

“ The story of the afternoon was narrated in Polly's most vivid style.
"Is n't it queer that High Price should come just then?" she sighed. "I don't like her; do you?"
"She is an excellent young woman and a good nurse," Dr. Dudley returned.
"Well, I don't want her for my nurse," Polly maintained soberly.
"Still, if you were very sick," smiled the Doctor, "I could not hope for better care than she would give you."
"Oh, if I were awfully sick, and out of my head, maybe High Price would do; but if I knew anything I should want Miss Lucy." And Polly's curls waved in emphasis. ”

“ Dudley did not laugh. Leonora had been of the band of anxious ones on that night of suspense, and he could understand how she still feared to have Polly venture for without a protector.
"You need not worry," he assured her. "I shall not let Polly out of my sight until she is safely inside Mrs. Jocelyn's house."
"I could go alone just as well," smiled the little girl. "There is n't any danger."
"It is too long a walk," returned the Doctor, "and don't you dare to come back, young lady, until you come with me!" ”

“ Dudley first; but I could n't wait, dearest! Don't you want to come and live with me? I know it's a gloomy old house, but I will make it all over into the sunshiniest home you ever saw. You shall have everything you wish! I will buy you the very prettiest pair of Shetland ponies I can find, and the loveliest little carriage! You can take your friends driving every day!"
"That would be beautiful," responded Polly, with a faint smile.
"And you shall have the nicest doll house you ever heard of, and a whole set of furniture for your biggest doll! ”

“ Dudley piled Polly's dish high.
When they returned to the office the story of the afternoon was finished, Polly holding back nothing, even repeating her saucy speech to the nurse.
The Doctor received it with a queer little smile.
"It was dreadfully impolite things when I get mad."
"Most people do," he responded. "One of the worst features of anger is that it robs us of self-control, and that is a terrible loss, if only for a moment." ”

“ Miss Lucy was reading the Colonel's note, which Dr. Dudley had given her. She ended it with a silent chuckle, and the Doctor passed it over to Mrs. Jocelyn.
"Just like David!" the little lady declared. "He enjoys a bit of quiet fun as well as any man I ever knew."
Polly had gone back to her present, hanging over it in delight.
"It is just the right kind of watch for a little girl like you," admired the Doctor; "neither too large nor too ornamental."
"It is beautiful!" sighed Polly rapturously. "Is n't Colonel Gresham nice to give it to me?" ”

“ Even Miss Lucy could n't quite understand it all. But Dr. Dudley knew; he had seen her face when she had been told that she was soon to go.
It was not strange that Polly should dread parting from the people with whom she had been so happy, for no mother or father or pleasant home was waiting for her,—only Aunt Jane, in the cramped, dingy little tenement,—Aunt Jane and her six unruly girls and boys. Poly did not permit herself to think much about going away, however, and the last evening found her cheerful still. Then Elsie Meyer began her doleful suggestions. ”

“ Popover's insistence for more air and a free outlook was causing the coverlet to rise and fall in a startling way.
"How came that cat here?" demanded the nurse, pulling aside the bedclothing.
"I brought her," answered Polly. "She's Brida's kitty, and we were going to give Miss Lucy a birthday surprise."
A faint smile flickered on the young woman's face. The she made a grab at the now frightened kitten; but the little creature slipped from her hand, and jumping to the floor dared towards the hall.
"Oh, me dirlin' kitty!" wailed Brida. "She'll be losted! Oh, Polly, ketch her!" ”

“ If the nurse so much as stirred, David was always looking her way.
The ward was greatly excited at the news; but Miss Lucy had been true in her predictions. Never had such noiseless toilets been made within its walls. Everybody went about on tiptoe, and Leonora Hewitt would not walk at all, lest the thump of her crutch on the floor might waken Polly.
The little girl was still asleep when Dr. Dudley came, but soon afterward she opened her eyes to find him at her side. Almost her first words were an inquiry about Burton Leonard.
"He is very much better," the Doctor replied. ”

“ Jack Brewster was in appearance the opposite of Dr. Dudley. The physician was tall and broad-shouldered, with no surplus flesh; yet none would have called him thin. The lawyer was slight almost as a boy, of fair complexion, with an abundance of wavy brown hair, and eyes that had a habit of shining as if their owner had just received a bit of good news. They shone now, as he took one of Polly's little hands in both his own, and told her how glad he was to make her acquaintance.
"I have n't any little girl at my house," he went on smilingly, "but there's a boy who makes things pretty lively. ”

“ Dudley smilingly shook his head. "She has more money than probably you or I will ever handle, little girl; but we'll have better riches than gold, won't we?"
"Yes; you'll make people well, and I'll try to make them happy," returned Polly, a sweet seriousness on her usually merry face. "I wish I could make everybody in the world happy," she added.
"That is too big a job for one little Thistledown," laughed Dr. Dudley. ”

“ She's all black concept [sic] a little spot o' white—oh, me kitty is the prettiest kitty in town!"
"How shall I ever get along without her!" sighed the young nurse, as she watched Polly flitting about like a sprite, comforting restless little patients, hushing, with her ready tact, quarrelsome tongues, and winning every heart by her gentle, loving ways. Oh, the ward would be lonely indeed without Polly May! None realized this more than Miss Lucy, unless it were Dr. Dudley, the cherry house physician, whom all the children adored. ”

“ Polly wished that Mrs. Jocelyn were there to see.
After the other smaller packages had been left with the several patients for whom they were marked, Polly said, in a voice that carried to all the cots:—
"This is n't all. There is something for everybody; but I could n't bring so many. Dr. Dudley and miss Price are coming up with the rest."
They started a babel of joyous questioning; but Polly was responsive and patient, and altogether so satisfactory, that the little sick people settled back on their pillows in supreme content, to await the coming of their presents. ”