dma Bascom said, "Go." "I
can't go and leave mammy to do all the work."

"But don't you see, Polly," said Mrs. Henderson, drawing her to her
side, "that you will help your mother twice as much as you possibly
could here, by getting a good education? Think what your music will be;
only think, Polly!"

Polly drew a long breath at this and turned away.

"Oh, Polly!" cried Ben, though his voice choked, "if you give this up,
there never'll be another chance," and the boy put his arm around her,
and whispered something in her ear.

"I know," said Polly quietly--and then she burst out, "oh, but I can't!
'tisn't right."

"Polly," said Mrs. Pepper--and never in all their lives had the children
seen such a look in mamsie's eyes as met them then; "it does seem as
if my heart would be broken if you didn't go!" And then she burst out
crying, right before them all!

"Oh mammy," cried Polly, breaking away from everybody, and flinging
herself into her arms. "I'll go--if you think I ought to. But it's too
good! don't cry--don't, mammy dear," and Polly stroked the careworn face
lovingly, and patted the smooth hair that was still so black.

"And, Polly," said Mrs. Pepper, smiling through her tears, "just think
what a comfort you'll be to me, and us all," she added, taking in the
children who were crowding around Polly as the centre of attraction.
"Why, you'll be the making of us," she added hopefully.

"I'll do something," said Polly, her brown eyes kindling, "or I shan't
be worthy of you, mammy."

"O, you'll do it," said Mrs. Pepper, confidently, "now that you're
going."

But when Polly stepped into the stage, with her little hair trunk
strapped on behind, containing her one brown merino that Mrs. Henderson
had made over for her out of one of her own, and her two new ginghams,
her courage failed again, and she astonished everybody, and nearly upset
a mild-faced old lady who was in the corner placidly eating doughnuts,
by springing out and rushing up through the little brown gate, past
all the family, drawn up to see her off. She flew over the old flat
door-stone, and into the bedroom, where she flung herself down between
the old bed and Phronsie's crib, in a sudden torrent of tears. "I can't
go!" she sobbed--"oh I can't!"

"Why, Polly!" cried Mrs. Pepper, hurrying in, followed by Joel and the
rest of the troops at his heels. "What are you thinking of!"

"Think of by-and-by, Polly," put in Ben, patting her on the back with