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Introducing Jimmy
"Allrightthen—heregoes! I’mJimmyBean,andI’mtenyearsoldgoin’oneleven. IcomelastyearterliveattheOrphans’Home; butthey’vegotsomanykidsthereain’tmuchroomforme,an’Iwa’n’tneverwanted,anyhow,Idon’tbelieve. SoI’vequit. I’mgoin’terlivesomewhereselse—butIhain’tfoundtheplace,yet. I’dLIKEahome—jestacommonone,yeknow,withamotherinit,insteadofaMatron. Ifyehasahome,yehasfolks; an’Ihain’thadfolkssince—daddied. SoI’ma-huntin’now. I’vetriedfourhouses,but—theydidn’twantme—thoughIsaidIexpectedterwork,‘course. There! Isthatallyouwantterknow?" Theboy’svoicehadbrokenalittleoverthelasttwosentences.
"Why,whatashame!"sympathizedPollyanna. "Anddidn’tthereanybodywantyou? Odear! Iknowjusthowyoufeel,becauseafter—aftermyfatherdied,too,therewasn’tanybodybuttheLadies’Aidforme,untilAuntPollysaidshe’dtake—"Pollyannastoppedabruptly. Thedawningofawonderfulideabegantoshowinherface.
"Oh,Iknowjusttheplaceforyou,"shecried. "AuntPolly’lltakeyou—Iknowshewill! Didn’tshetakeme? Anddidn’tshetakeFluffyandBuffy,whentheydidn’thaveanyonetolovethem,oranyplacetogo? —andthey’reonlycatsanddogs. Oh,come,IknowAuntPolly’lltakeyou! Youdon’tknowhowgoodandkindsheis!"
JimmyBean’sthinlittlefacebrightened.
