an unsteady hand, while Joel varied the proceedings by running back
and forth, screaming at the top of his lungs, "The stage's going! your
trunk'll be taken!"

"Dear me!" ejaculated Mrs. Pepper, "do stop it somebody! there, Polly,
come now! Do as mother says!"

"I'll try again," said poor Polly, choking back her sobs, and getting on
her feet.

Then Polly's tears were wiped away, her hat straightened, after which
she was kissed all round again by the whole family, Phronsie waiting
for the last two, and then was helped again into the stage, the bags and
parcels, and a box for Jappy, which, as it wouldn't go into the trunk,
Joel had insisted Polly should carry in her hand, were again piled
around her, and Mr. Tisbett mounted to his seat, and with a crack of the
whip, bore her safely off this time.

The doughnut lady, viewing poor Polly with extreme sympathy, immediately
forced upon her acceptance three of the largest and sugariest.

"Twill do you good," she said, falling to, herself, on another with
good zeal. "I always eat 'em, and then there ain't any room for
homesickness!"

And away, and away, and away they rumbled and jumbled to the cars.

Here Mr. Tisbett put Polly and her numerous bundles under the care of
the conductor, with manifold charges and explicit directions, to see her
safely into Mr. King's own hands. He left her sitting straight up among
her parcels, her sturdy little figure drawn up to its full height, and
the clear brown eyes regaining a little of their dancing light; for
although a dreadful feeling tugged at her heart, as she thought of the
little brown house she was fast flying away from, there was something
else; our Polly had begun to realize that now she was going to "help
mother."

And now they neared the big city, and everybody began to bustle around,
and get ready to jump out, and the minute the train stopped, the crowd
poured out from the cars, making way for the crowd pouring in, for this
was a through train.

"All aboard!" sang the conductor. "Oh my senses!" springing to Polly; "I
forgot you--here!"

But as quick as a flash he was pushed aside, and a bright, boyish figure
dashed up.

"Oh, Polly!" he said in such a ringing voice! and in another second,
Polly and her bag, and the bundle of cakes and apples that Grandma
Bascom had put up for her, and Joel's box, were one and all bundled
out upon the platform, and the train whizzed on, and there Mr. King was
fuming up and down, be