Pollyanna

  CHAPTER XI. INTRODUCING JIMMY

  August came. August brought several surprises and some changes--noneof which, however, were really a surprise to Nancy. Nancy, sincePollyanna's arrival, had come to look for surprises and changes.

  First there was the kitten.

  Pollyanna found the kitten mewing pitifully some distance down the road.When systematic questioning of the neighbors failed to find any one whoclaimed it, Pollyanna brought it home at once, as a matter of course.

  "And I was glad I didn't find any one who owned it, too," she told heraunt in happy confidence; "'cause I wanted to bring it home all thetime. I love kitties. I knew you'd be glad to let it live here."

  Miss Polly looked at the forlorn little gray bunch of neglected miseryin Pollyanna's arms, and shivered: Miss Polly did not care for cats--noteven pretty, healthy, clean ones.

  "Ugh! Pollyanna! What a dirty little beast! And it's sick, I'm sure, andall mangy and fleay."

  "I know it, poor little thing," crooned Pollyanna, tenderly, lookinginto the little creature's frightened eyes. "And it's all trembly, too,it's so scared. You see it doesn't know, yet, that we're going to keepit, of course."

  "No--nor anybody else," retorted Miss Polly, with meaning emphasis.

  "Oh, yes, they do," nodded Pollyanna, entirely misunderstanding heraunt's words. "I told everybody we should keep it, if I didn't findwhere it belonged. I knew you'd be glad to have it--poor little lonesomething!"

  Miss Polly opened her lips and tried to speak; but in vain. The curioushelpless feeling that had been hers so often since Pollyanna's arrival,had her now fast in its grip.

  "Of course I knew," hurried on Pollyanna, gratefully, "that you wouldn'tlet a dear little lonesome kitty go hunting for a home when you'd justtaken ME in; and I said so to Mrs. Ford when she asked if you'd let mekeep it. Why, I had the Ladies' Aid, you know, and kitty didn't haveanybody. I knew you'd feel that way," she nodded happily, as she ranfrom the room.

  "But, Pollyanna, Pollyanna," remonstrated Miss Polly. "I don't--" ButPollyanna was already halfway to the kitchen, calling:

  "Nancy, Nancy, just see this dear little kitty that Aunt Polly is goingto bring up along with me!" And Aunt Polly, in the sitting room--whoabhorred cats--fell back in her chair with a gasp of dismay, powerlessto remonstrate.

  The next day it was a dog, even dirtier and more forlorn, perhaps, thanwas the kitten; and again Miss Polly, to her dumfounded amazement, foundherself figuring as a kind protector and an angel of mercy--a role thatPollyanna so unhesitatingly thrust upon her as a matter of course,that the woman--who abhorred dogs even more than she did cats, ifpossible--found herself as before, powerless to remonstrate.

  When, in less than a week, however, Pollyanna brought home a small,ragged boy, and confidently claimed the same protection for him, MissPolly did have something to say. It happened after this wise.

  On a pleasant Thursday morning Pollyanna had been taking calf's-footjelly again to Mrs. Snow. Mrs. Snow and Pollyanna were the best offriends now. Their friendship had started from the third visit Pollyannahad made, the one after she had told Mrs. Snow of the game. Mrs. Snowherself was playing the game now, with Pollyanna. To be sure, she wasnot playing it very well--she had been sorry for everything for so long,that it was not easy to be glad for anything now. But under Pollyanna'scheery instructions and merry laughter at her mistakes, she was learningfast. To-day, even, to Pollyanna's huge delight, she had said that shewas glad Pollyanna brought calf's-foot jelly, because that was just whatshe had been wanting--she did not know that Milly, at the front door,had told Pollyanna that the minister's wife had already that day sentover a great bowlful of that same kind of jelly.

  Pollyanna was thinking of this now when suddenly she saw the boy.

  The boy was sitting in a disconsolate little heap by the roadside,whittling half-heartedly at a small stick.

  "Hullo," smiled Pollyanna, engagingly.

  The boy glanced up, but he looked away again, at once.

  "Hullo yourself," he mumbled.

  Pollyanna laughed.

  "Now you don't look as if you'd be glad even for calf's-foot jelly," shechuckled, stopping before him.

  The boy stirred restlessly, gave her a surprised look, and began towhittle again at his stick, with the dull, broken-bladed knife in hishand.

  Pollyanna hesitated, then dropped herself comfortably down on the grassnear him. In spite of Pollyanna's brave assertion that she was "usedto Ladies' Aiders," and "didn't mind," she had sighed at times for somecompanion of her own age. Hence her determination to make the most ofthis one.

  "My name's Pollyanna Whittier," she began pleasantly. "What's yours?"

  Again the boy stirred restlessly. He even almost got to his feet. But hesettled back.

  "Jimmy Bean," he grunted with ungracious indifference.

  "Good! Now we're introduced. I'm glad you did your part--some folksdon't, you know. I live at Miss Polly Harrington's house. Where do youlive?"

  "Nowhere."

  "Nowhere! Why, you can't do that--everybody lives somewhere," assertedPollyanna.

  "Well, I don't--just now. I'm huntin' up a new place."

  "Oh! Where is it?"

  The boy regarded her with scornful eyes.

  "Silly! As if I'd be a-huntin' for it--if I knew!"

  Pollyanna tossed her head a little. This was not a nice boy, and shedid not like to be called "silly." Still, he was somebody besides--oldfolks. "Where did you live--before?" she queried.

  "Well, if you ain't the beat'em for askin' questions!" sighed the boyimpatiently.

  "I have to be," retorted Pollyanna calmly, "else I couldn't find out athing about you. If you'd talk more I wouldn't talk so much."

  The boy gave a short laugh. It was a sheepish laugh, and not quite awilling one; but his face looked a little pleasanter when he spoke thistime.

  "All right then--here goes! I'm Jimmy Bean, and I'm ten years old goin'on eleven. I come last year ter live at the Orphans' Home; but they'vegot so many kids there ain't much room for me, an' I wa'n't neverwanted, anyhow, I don't believe. So I've quit. I'm goin' ter livesomewheres else--but I hain't found the place, yet. I'd LIKE ahome--jest a common one, ye know, with a mother in it, instead ofa Matron. If ye has a home, ye has folks; an' I hain't had folkssince--dad died. So I'm a-huntin' now. I've tried four houses, but--theydidn't want me--though I said I expected ter work, 'course. There! Isthat all you want ter know?" The boy's voice had broken a little overthe last two sentences.

  "Why, what a shame!" sympathized Pollyanna. "And didn't there anybodywant you? O dear! I know just how you feel, because after--after myfather died, too, there wasn't anybody but the Ladies' Aid for me, untilAunt Polly said she'd take--" Pollyanna stopped abruptly. The dawning ofa wonderful idea began to show in her face.

  "Oh, I know just the place for you," she cried. "Aunt Polly'll takeyou--I know she will! Didn't she take me? And didn't she take Fluffyand Buffy, when they didn't have any one to love them, or any place togo?--and they're only cats and dogs. Oh, come, I know Aunt Polly'll takeyou! You don't know how good and kind she is!"

  Jimmy Bean's thin little face brightened.

  "Honest Injun? Would she, now? I'd work, ye know, an' I'm real strong!"He bared a small, bony arm.

  "Of course she would! Why, my Aunt Polly is the nicest lady in theworld--now that my mama has gone to be a Heaven angel. And there'srooms--heaps of 'em," she continued, springing to her feet, and tuggingat his arm. "It's an awful big house. Maybe, though," she added a littleanxiously, as they hurried on, "maybe you'll have to sleep in the atticroom. I did, at first. But there's screens there now, so 'twon't be sohot, and the flies can't get in, either, to bring in the germ-things ontheir feet. Did you know about that? It's perfectly lovely! Maybe she'lllet you read the book if you're good--I mean, if you're bad. And you'vegot freckles, too,"--with a critical glance--"so you'll be glad thereisn't any looking-glass; and the outdoor picture is nicer than anywall-one could be, so you won't mind sle
eping in that room at all, I'msure," panted Pollyanna, finding suddenly that she needed the rest ofher breath for purposes other than talking.

  "Gorry!" exclaimed Jimmy Bean tersely and uncomprehendingly, butadmiringly. Then he added: "I shouldn't think anybody who could talklike that, runnin', would need ter ask no questions ter fill up timewith!"

  Pollyanna laughed.

  "Well, anyhow, you can be glad of that," she retorted; "for when I'mtalking, YOU don't have to!"

  When the house was reached, Pollyanna unhesitatingly piloted hercompanion straight into the presence of her amazed aunt.

  "Oh, Aunt Polly," she triumphed, "just look a-here! I've got somethingever so much nicer, even, than Fluffy and Buffy for you to bring up.It's a real live boy. He won't mind a bit sleeping in the attic, atfirst, you know, and he says he'll work; but I shall need him the mostof the time to play with, I reckon."

  Miss Polly grew white, then very red. She did not quite understand; butshe thought she understood enough.

  "Pollyanna, what does this mean? Who is this dirty little boy? Where didyou find him?" she demanded sharply.

  The "dirty little boy" fell back a step and looked toward the door.Pollyanna laughed merrily.

  "There, if I didn't forget to tell you his name! I'm as bad as the Man.And he is dirty, too, isn't he?--I mean, the boy is--just like Fluffyand Buffy were when you took them in. But I reckon he'll improve allright by washing, just as they did, and--Oh, I 'most forgot again," shebroke off with a laugh. "This is Jimmy Bean, Aunt Polly."

  "Well, what is he doing here?"

  "Why, Aunt Polly, I just told you!" Pollyanna's eyes were wide withsurprise. "He's for you. I brought him home--so he could live here, youknow. He wants a home and folks. I told him how good you were to me,and to Fluffy and Buffy, and that I knew you would be to him, because ofcourse he's even nicer than cats and dogs."

  Miss Polly dropped back in her chair and raised a shaking hand to herthroat. The old helplessness was threatening once more to overcome her.With a visible struggle, however, Miss Polly pulled herself suddenlyerect.

  "That will do, Pollyanna. This is a little the most absurd thing you'vedone yet. As if tramp cats and mangy dogs weren't bad enough but youmust needs bring home ragged little beggars from the street, who--"

  There was a sudden stir from the boy. His eyes flashed and his chin cameup. With two strides of his sturdy little legs he confronted Miss Pollyfearlessly.

  "I ain't a beggar, marm, an' I don't want nothin' o' you. I wascal'latin' ter work, of course, fur my board an' keep. I wouldn't havecome ter your old house, anyhow, if this 'ere girl hadn't 'a' made me,a-tellin' me how you was so good an' kind that you'd be jest dyin' tertake me in. So, there!" And he wheeled about and stalked from the roomwith a dignity that would have been absurd had it not been so pitiful.

  "Oh, Aunt Polly," choked Pollyanna. "Why, I thought you'd be GLAD tohave him here! I'm sure, I should think you'd be glad--"

  Miss Polly raised her hand with a peremptory gesture of silence. MissPolly's nerves had snapped at last. The "good and kind" of the boy'swords were still ringing in her ears, and the old helplessness wasalmost upon her, she knew. Yet she rallied her forces with the last atomof her will power.

  "Pollyanna," she cried sharply, "WILL you stop using that everlastingword 'glad'! It's 'glad'--'glad'--'glad' from morning till night until Ithink I shall grow wild!"

  From sheer amazement Pollyanna's jaw dropped.

  "Why, Aunt Polly," she breathed, "I should think you'd be glad to haveme gl--Oh!" she broke off, clapping her hand to her lips and hurryingblindly from the room.

  Before the boy had reached the end of the driveway, Pollyanna overtookhim.

  "Boy! Boy! Jimmy Bean, I want you to know how--how sorry I am," shepanted, catching him with a detaining hand.

  "Sorry nothin'! I ain't blamin' you," retorted the boy, sullenly. "But Iain't no beggar!" he added, with sudden spirit.

  "Of course you aren't! But you mustn't blame auntie," appealedPollyanna. "Probably I didn't do the introducing right, anyhow; andI reckon I didn't tell her much who you were. She is good and kind,really--she's always been; but I probably didn't explain it right. I dowish I could find some place for you, though!"

  The boy shrugged his shoulders and half turned away.

  "Never mind. I guess I can find one myself. I ain't no beggar, youknow."

  Pollyanna was frowning thoughtfully. Of a sudden she turned, her faceillumined.

  "Say, I'll tell you what I WILL do! The Ladies' Aid meets thisafternoon. I heard Aunt Polly say so. I'll lay your case before them.That's what father always did, when he wanted anything--educating theheathen and new carpets, you know."

  The boy turned fiercely.

  "Well, I ain't a heathen or a new carpet. Besides--what is a Ladies'Aid?"

  Pollyanna stared in shocked disapproval.

  "Why, Jimmy Bean, wherever have you been brought up?--not to know what aLadies' Aid is!"

  "Oh, all right--if you ain't tellin'," grunted the boy, turning andbeginning to walk away indifferently.

  Pollyanna sprang to his side at once.

  "It's--it's--why, it's just a lot of ladies that meet and sew and givesuppers and raise money and--and talk; that's what a Ladies' Aid is.They're awfully kind--that is, most of mine was, back home. I haven'tseen this one here, but they're always good, I reckon. I'm going to tellthem about you this afternoon."

  Again the boy turned fiercely.

  "Not much you will! Maybe you think I'm goin' ter stand 'round an' heara whole LOT o' women call me a beggar, instead of jest ONE! Not much!"

  "Oh, but you wouldn't be there," argued Pollyanna, quickly. "I'd goalone, of course, and tell them."

  "You would?"

  "Yes; and I'd tell it better this time," hurried on Pollyanna, quick tosee the signs of relenting in the boy's face. "And there'd be some of'em, I know, that would be glad to give you a home."

  "I'd work--don't forget ter say that," cautioned the boy.

  "Of course not," promised Pollyanna, happily, sure now that her pointwas gained. "Then I'll let you know to-morrow."

  "Where?"

  "By the road--where I found you to-day; near Mrs. Snow's house."

  "All right. I'll be there." The boy paused before he went on slowly:"Maybe I'd better go back, then, for ter-night, ter the Home. You seeI hain't no other place ter stay; and--and I didn't leave till thismornin'. I slipped out. I didn't tell 'em I wasn't comin' back, elsethey'd pretend I couldn't come--though I'm thinkin' they won't do noworryin' when I don't show up sometime. They ain't like FOLKS, ye know.They don't CARE!"

  "I know," nodded Pollyanna, with understanding eyes. "But I'm sure, whenI see you to-morrow, I'll have just a common home and folks that do careall ready for you. Good-by!" she called brightly, as she turned backtoward the house.

  In the sitting-room window at that moment, Miss Polly, who had beenwatching the two children, followed with sombre eyes the boy until abend of the road hid him from sight. Then she sighed, turned, and walkedlistlesly up-stairs--and Miss Polly did not usually move listlessly. Inher ears still was the boy's scornful "you was so good and kind." In herheart was a curious sense of desolation--as of something lost.