Полліанна
Before the Ladies’ Aid
Agreatmanyladiestalkedthen,andseveralofthemtalkedallatonce,andevenmoreloudlyandmoreunpleasantlythanbefore. ItseemedthattheirsocietywasfamousforitsofferingtoHindumissions,andseveralsaidtheyshoulddieofmortificationifitshouldbelessthisyear. SomeofwhatwassaidatthistimePollyannaagainthoughtshecouldnothaveunderstood,too,foritsoundedalmostasiftheydidnotcareatallwhatthemoneyDID,solongasthesumoppositethenameoftheirsocietyinacertain"report""headedthelist"—andofcoursethatcouldnotbewhattheymeantatall! Butitwasallveryconfusing,andnotquitepleasant,sothatPollyannawasglad,indeed,whenatlastshefoundherselfoutsideinthehushed,sweetair —onlyshewasverysorry,too:forsheknewitwasnotgoingtobeeasy,oranythingbutsad,totellJimmyBeanto-morrowthattheLadies’AidhaddecidedthattheywouldrathersendalltheirmoneytobringupthelittleIndiaboysthantosaveoutenoughtobringuponelittleboyintheirowntown,forwhichtheywouldnotget"abitofcreditinthereport,"accordingtothetallladywhoworespectacles.
"Notbutthatit’sgood,ofcourse,tosendmoneytotheheathen,andIshouldn’twant‘emnottosendSOMEthere,"sighedPollyannatoherself,asshetrudgedsorrowfullyalong"ButtheyactedasiflittleboysHEREweren’tanyaccount—onlylittleboys‘wayoff.
