On and on read the minister a word here, a line there, a paragraph somewhere else:
What men and women need is encouragement. Their natural resisting powers should be strengthened, not weakened Instead of always harping on a mans faults, tell him of his virtues. Try to pull him out of his rut of bad habits. Hold up to him his better self, his REAL self that can dare and do and win out!.. The influence of a beautiful, helpful, hopeful character is contagious, and may revolutionize a whole town People radiate what is in their minds and in their hearts. If a man feels kindly and obliging, his neighbors will feel that way, too, before long. But if he scolds and scowls and criticizes his neighbors will return scowl for scowl, and add interest![155] When you look for the bad, expecting it, you will get it. When you know you will find the good you will get that Tell your son Tom you KNOW hell be glad to fill that wood-box then watch him start, alert and interested!
The minister dropped the paper and lifted his chin. In a moment he was on his feet, tramping the narrow room back and forth, back and forth. Later, some time later, he drew a long breath, and dropped himself in the chair at his desk.
God helping me, Ill do it! he cried softly. Ill tell all my Toms I KNOW theyll be glad to fill that wood-box! Ill give them work to do, and Ill make them so full of the very joy of doing it that they wont have TIME to look at their neighbors woodboxes! And he picked up his sermon notes, tore straight through the sheets, and cast them from him, so that on one side of his chair lay But woe unto you, and on the other, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! while across the smooth white paper before him his pencil fairly flew after first drawing one black line through Matthew, twenty-third; 1314 and 23.
Thus it happened that the Rev. Paul Fords sermon the next Sunday was a veritable bugle-call to the best that was in every man and woman and child that heard it; and its text was one of Pollyannas shining eight hundred:
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, ye righteous, and shout for joy all ye that are upright in heart.
Chapter XXIII
An Accident
At Mrs. Snows request, Pollyanna went one day to Dr. Chiltons office to get the name of a medicine which Mrs. Snow had forgotten. As it chanced, Pollyanna had never before seen the inside of Dr. Chiltons office.
Ive never been to your home before! This IS your home, isnt it? she said, looking interestedly about her.
The doctor smiled a little sadly.
Yes such as tis, he answered, as he wrote something on the pad of paper in his hand; but its a pretty poor apology for a home[156], Pollyanna. Theyre just rooms, thats all not a home.
Pollyanna nodded her head wisely. Her eyes glowed with sympathetic understanding.
I know. It takes a womans hand and heart, or a childs presence to make a home, she said.
Eh? The doctor wheeled about abruptly.
Mr. Pendleton told me, nodded Pollyanna, again; about the womans hand and heart, or the childs presence, you know. Why dont you get a womans hand and heart, Dr. Chilton? Or maybe youd take Jimmy Bean if Mr. Pendleton doesnt want him.
Dr. Chilton laughed a little constrainedly.
So Mr. Pendleton says it takes a womans hand and heart to make a home, does he? he asked evasively.
Yes. He says his is just a house, too. Why dont you, Dr. Chilton?
Why dont I what? The doctor had turned back to his desk.
Get a womans hand and heart. Oh and I forgot. Pollyannas face showed suddenly a painful color. I suppose I ought to tell you. It wasnt Aunt Polly that Mr. Pendleton loved long ago; and so we we arent going there to live. You see, I told you it was but I made a mistake. I hope YOU didnt tell any one, she finished anxiously.
No I didnt tell any one, Pollyanna, replied the doctor, a little queerly.
Oh, thats all right, then, sighed Pollyanna in relief. You see youre the only one I told, and I thought Mr. Pendleton looked sort of funny when I said Id told YOU.
Did he? The doctors lips twitched.
Yes. And of course he wouldnt want many people to know it when twasnt true. But why dont you get a womans hand and heart, Dr. Chilton?
There was a moments silence; then very gravely the doctor said:
Theyre not always to be had for the asking[157], little girl.
Pollyanna frowned thoughtfully.
But I should think you could get em, she argued.
The flattering emphasis was unmistakable.
Thank you, laughed the doctor, with uplifted eyebrows. Then, gravely again: Im afraid some of your older sisters would not be quite so confident. At least, they they havent shown themselves to be so obliging, he observed.
Pollyanna frowned again. Then her eyes widened in surprise.
Why, Dr. Chilton, you dont mean you didnt try to get somebodys hand and heart once, like Mr. Pendleton, and and couldnt, did you?
The doctor got to his feet a little abruptly.
There, there, Pollyanna, never mind about that now. Dont let other peoples troubles worry your little head. Suppose you run back now to Mrs. Snow. Ive written down the name of the medicine, and the directions how she is to take it. Was there anything else?
Pollyanna shook her head.
No, Sir; thank you, Sir, she murmured soberly, as she turned toward the door. From the little hallway she called back, her face suddenly alight: Anyhow, Im glad twasnt my mothers hand and heart that you wanted and couldnt get, Dr. Chilton. Good-by!
It was on the last day of October that the accident occurred. Pollyanna, hurrying home from school, crossed the road at an apparently safe distance in front of a swiftly approaching motor car.
Just what happened, no one could seem to tell afterward. Neither was there any one found who could tell why it happened or who was to blame that it did happen[158]. Pollyanna, however, at five oclock, was borne, limp and unconscious, into the little room that was so dear to her. There, by a white-faced Aunt Polly and a weeping Nancy she was undressed tenderly and put to bed, while from the village, hastily summoned by telephone, Dr. Warren was hurrying as fast as another motor car could bring him.
And ye didnt need ter moren look at her aunts face, Nancy was sobbing to Old Tom in the garden, after the doctor had arrived and was closeted in the hushed room; ye didnt need ter moren look at her aunts face ter see that twant no duty that was eatin her. Yer hands dont shake, and yer eyes dont look as if ye was tryin ter hold back the Angel o Death himself, when youre jest doin yer DUTY, Mr. Tom they dont, they dont!
And ye didnt need ter moren look at her aunts face, Nancy was sobbing to Old Tom in the garden, after the doctor had arrived and was closeted in the hushed room; ye didnt need ter moren look at her aunts face ter see that twant no duty that was eatin her. Yer hands dont shake, and yer eyes dont look as if ye was tryin ter hold back the Angel o Death himself, when youre jest doin yer DUTY, Mr. Tom they dont, they dont!
Is she hurt bad? The old mans voice shook.
There aint no tellin[159], sobbed Nancy. She lay back that white an still she might easy be dead; but Miss Polly said she want dead an Miss Polly had oughter know, if any one would she kept up such a listenin an a feelin for her heartbeats an her breath!
Couldnt ye tell anythin what it done to her? that that Old Toms face worked convulsively.
Nancys lips relaxed a little.
I wish ye WOULD call it somethin, Mr. Tom an somethin good an strong, too. Drat it! Ter think of its runnin down our little girl! I always hated the evil-smellin things, anyhow I did, I did!
But where is she hurt?
I dont know, I dont know, moaned Nancy. Theres a little cut on her blessed head, but taint bad that aint Miss Polly says. She says shes afraid its infernally shes hurt.
A faint flicker came into Old Toms eyes.
I guess you mean internally, Nancy, he said dryly. Shes hurt infernally, all right plague take that autymobile! but I dont guess Miss Pollyd be usin that word, all the same.
Eh? Well, I dont know, I dont know, moaned Nancy, with a shake of her head as she turned away. Seems as if I jest couldnt stand it till that doctor gits out o there. I wish I had a washin ter do the biggest washin I ever see, I do, I do! she wailed, wringing her hands helplessly.
Even after the doctor was gone, however, there seemed to be little that Nancy could tell Mr. Tom. There appeared to be no bones broken, and the cut was of slight consequence; but the doctor had looked very grave, had shaken his head slowly, and had said that time alone could tell[160]. After he had gone, Miss Polly had shown a face even whiter and more drawn-looking than before. The patient had not fully recovered consciousness, but at present she seemed to be resting as comfortably as could be expected. A trained nurse had been sent for, and would come that night. That was all. And Nancy turned sobbingly, and went back to her kitchen.
It was sometime during the next forenoon that Pollyanna opened conscious eyes and realized where she was.
Why, Aunt Polly, whats the matter? Isnt it daytime? Why dont I get up? she cried. Why, Aunt Polly, I cant get up, she moaned, falling back on the pillow, after an ineffectual attempt to lift herself.
No, dear, I wouldnt try just yet, soothed her aunt quickly, but very quietly.
But what is the matter? Why cant I get up?
Miss Pollys eyes asked an agonized question of the white-capped young woman standing in the window, out of the range of Pollyannas eyes.
The young woman nodded.
Tell her, the lips said.
Miss Polly cleared her throat, and tried to swallow the lump that would scarcely let her speak.
You were hurt, dear, by the automobile last night. But never mind that now. Auntie wants you to rest and go to sleep again.
Hurt? Oh, yes; I I ran. Pollyannas eyes were dazed. She lifted her hand to her forehead. Why, its done up, and it hurts!
Yes, dear; but never mind. Just just rest.
But, Aunt Polly, I feel so funny, and so bad! My legs feel so so queer only they dont FEEL at all!
With an imploring look into the nurses face, Miss Polly struggled to her feet, and turned away. The nurse came forward quickly.
Suppose you let me talk to you now, she began cheerily. Im sure I think its high time[161] we were getting acquainted, and Im going to introduce myself. I am Miss Hunt, and Ive come to help your aunt take care of you. And the very first thing Im going to do is to ask you to swallow these little white pills for me.