Поллианна
Miss Polly
Heleftpracticallynothingelsesaveafewbooks; for,asyoudoubtlessknow,hewasthepastorofthissmallmissionchurch,andhadaverymeagresalary.
"Ibelievehewasyourdeceasedsister’shusband,buthegavemetounderstandthefamilieswerenotonthebestofterms. Hethought,however,thatforyoursister’ssakeyoumightwishtotakethechildandbringherupamongherownpeopleintheEast. HenceIamwritingtoyou.
"Thelittlegirlwillbeallreadytostartbythetimeyougetthisletter; andifyoucantakeher,wewouldappreciateitverymuchifyouwouldwritethatshemightcomeatonce,asthereisamanandhiswifeherewhoaregoingEastverysoon,andtheywouldtakeherwiththemtoBoston,andputherontheBeldingsvilletrain. OfcourseyouwouldbenotifiedwhatdayandtraintoexpectPollyannaon.
"Hopingtohearfavorablyfromyousoon,Iremain,
"Respectfullyyours,
"JeremiahO.White."
WithafrownMissPollyfoldedtheletterandtuckeditintoitsenvelope. Shehadanswereditthedaybefore,andshehadsaidshewouldtakethechild,ofcourse. SheHOPEDsheknewherdutywellenoughforthat! —disagreeableasthetaskwouldbe.
Asshesatnow,withtheletterinherhands,herthoughtswentbacktohersister,Jennie,whohadbeenthischild’smother,andtothetimewhenJennie,asagirloftwenty,hadinsisteduponmarryingtheyoungminister,inspiteofherfamily’sremonstrances.
