An Old-fashioned Girl by Louisa M. Alcott

“God would bless the dear, kind girl up there, and give her all she

asked.” I think both prayers, although too humble to be put in

words, went up together, for in the fulness of time they were

beautifully answered.

CHAPTER X BROTHERS AND SISTERS

POLLY’S happiest day was Sunday, for Will never failed to spend

it with her. Instead of sleeping later than usual that morning, she

was always up bright and early, flying round to get ready for her

guest, for Will came to breakfast, and they made a long day of it.

Will considered his sister the best and prettiest girl going, and

Polly, knowing well that a time would come when he would find a

better and a prettier, was grateful for his good opinion, and tried to

deserve it. So she made her room and herself as neat and inviting

as possible, and always ran to meet him with a bright face and a

motherly greeting, when he came tramping in, ruddy, brisk, and

beaming, with the brown loaf and the little pot of beans from the

bake-house near by.

They liked a good country breakfast, and nothing gave Polly more

satisfaction than to see her big boy clear the dishes, empty the little

coffee-pot, and then sit and laugh at her across the ravaged table.

Another pleasure was to let him help clear away, as they used to do

at home, while the peals of laughter that always accompanied this

performance did Miss Mills’ heart good to hear, for the room was

so small and Will so big that he seemed to be everywhere at once,

and Polly and Puttel were continually dodging his long arms and

legs. Then they used to inspect the flower pots, pay Nick a visit,

and have a little music as a good beginning for the day, after which

they went to church and dined with Miss Mills, who considered

Will “an excellent young man.” If the afternoon was fair, they took

a long walk together over the bridges into the country, or about the

city streets full of Sabbath quietude. Most people meeting them

would have seen only an awkward young man, with a boy’s face

atop of his tall body, and a quietly dressed, fresh faced little

woman hanging on his arm; but a few people, with eyes to read

romances and pleasant histories everywhere, found something very

attractive in this couple, and smiled as they passed, wondering if

they were young, lovers, or country cousins “looking round.”

If the day was stormy, they stayed at home, reading, writing letters,

talking over their affairs, and giving each other good advice; for,

though Will was nearly three years younger than Polly, he could n’t

for the life of him help assuming amusingly venerable airs, when

he became a Freshman. In the twilight he had a good lounge on the

sofa, and Polly sung to him, which arrangement he particularly

enjoyed, it was so “cosy and homey.” At nine o’clock, Polly packed

his bag with clean clothes, nicely mended, such remnants of the

festive tea as were transportable, and kissed him “good-night,”

with many injunctions to muffle up his throat going over the

bridge, and be sure that his feet were dry and warm when he went

to bed. All of which Will laughed at, accepted graciously, and did

n’t obey; but he liked it, and trudged away for another week’s work,

rested, cheered, and strengthened by that quiet, happy day with

Polly, for he had been brought up to believe in home influences,

and this brother and sister loved one another dearly, and were not

ashamed to own it.

One other person enjoyed the humble pleasures of these Sundays

quite as much as Polly and Will. Maud used to beg to come to tea,

and Polly, glad to do anything for those who had done a good deal

for her, made a point of calling for the little girl as they came

home from their walk, or sending Will to escort her in the carriage,

which Maud always managed to secure if bad weather threatened

to quench her hopes. Tom and Fanny laughed at her fancy, but she

did not tire of it, for the child was lonely, and found something in

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