21 Pollyanna - Read By Stephanie Poppins

Pollyanna Whittier, an eleven-year-old orphan, goes to live in the fictional town of Beldingsville, Vermont, with her wealthy but stern and cold spinster Aunt Polly Harrington, who does not want to take her in but feels it is her duty to her late sister Jennie.

Pollyanna's philosophy of life centers on what she calls "The Glad Game". This is an optimistic game she learned from her father. The game involves finding something to be glad about in every situation, regardless of how bleak it may seem.

In this episode, Mr Pendleton considers a new angle...

Transcript

Welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,

Your go-to podcast that offers you a calm and relaxing transition into a great night's sleep.

It is time to relax and fully let go.

There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.

Close your eyes and feel yourself sink into the support beneath you and let all the worries of the day drift away.

This is your time and your space.

Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.

There is nothing you need to be doing now and nowhere you need to go.

Happy listening.

Chapter 21 A Question Answered The sky was darkening fast with what appeared to be an approaching thundershower when Pollyanna hurried down the hill from John Pendleton's house.

Halfway home she met Nancy with an umbrella.

By that time,

However,

The clouds had shifted their position and the shower was not so imminent.

Guess it's going round to the north,

Announced Nancy,

Eyeing the sky critically.

Thought it was all the time but Miss Polly wanted me to come with this.

She was worried about you.

Was she?

Murmured Pollyanna abstractly,

Eyeing the clouds in her turn.

Nancy sniffed a little.

You don't seem to notice what I said,

She observed.

I said your aunt was worried about you.

Oh,

Sighed Pollyanna,

Remembering suddenly the question she was soon to ask her aunt.

I'm sorry,

I didn't mean to scare her.

Well,

I'm glad,

Retorted Nancy.

I am,

I'm glad she was worried.

Pollyanna stared,

Glad that Aunt Polly was scared about me.

That isn't the way to play the game,

Nancy,

To be glad for things like that.

There weren't no game in it,

Retorted Nancy,

Never thought of it.

You don't seem to sense what it means to have Miss Polly worried about your child.

Why,

It means worried and worried is horrid.

What else can it mean?

Nancy tossed her head.

Well,

I'll tell you what it means.

It means she's at last getting down somewhere near human,

Like folks,

And she ain't just doing her duty by you all the time,

You know.

Why,

Nancy,

Demurred the scandalised Pollyanna.

Aunt Polly always does her duty.

She's a very dutiful woman.

Nancy chuckled.

You're right she is,

And she always was,

I guess.

But she's something more now since you came.

Pollyanna's face changed.

Her brows drew into a troubled frown.

That's what I was going to ask you,

Nancy,

She sighed.

Do you think Aunt Polly likes to have me here?

Would she mind if I wasn't here anymore?

Nancy threw a quick look into the little girl's absorbed face.

She had expected to be asked this question long before,

And she had dreaded it.

She had wondered how she should answer it,

For how could she answer it honestly without cruelly hurting the questioner?

But now,

In the face of the new suspicions that had become convictions by the afternoon's umbrella sending,

Nancy only welcomed the question with open arms.

She was sure that with a clean conscience today she could tell the love-hungry little girl's heart.

She was wanted after all.

Likes to have you here?

She'd miss you if you weren't here.

As if that weren't jest I was telling of you,

Didn't she tell me post-haste,

Come with an umbrella because she sees a little cloud in the sky?

Didn't she make me take all those things downstairs so you could have the pretty room you wanted?

Why Miss Pollyanna,

When you remember how first she hated to have.

.

.

With a choking cough Nancy pulled herself up just in time.

It ain't just things I can put my fingers on neither,

She rushed on breathlessly.

It's little ways she has that shows how you've been softening her up and mellowing her down.

The cat and the dog and the way she speaks to me and lots of things.

Why Miss Pollyanna,

There ain't no telling how she'd miss you if you weren't here.

Nancy spoke with an enthusiastic certainty that was meant to hide the perilous admission she had almost made before.

Even then she was not quite prepared for the sudden joy that illuminated Pollyanna's face.

Oh Nancy,

I'm so glad,

Glad I am,

You don't know how glad I am.

Aunt Polly wants me.

As if I'd leave her now,

She thought as she climbed the stairs to her room a little later.

I always knew I wanted to live with Aunt Polly but I reckon maybe I didn't know quite how much.

The task of telling John Pendleton of her decision would not be an easy one.

She knew that and she dreaded it.

She was very fond of John Pendleton and she was very sorry for him because he seemed to be so sorry for himself.

Pollyanna was sorry too for the long lonely life that had made him so unhappy.

She was grieved it had been there because of her mother.

She pictured the great grey house as it would have been after its mast was well again with its silent rooms,

Its littered floors,

Its disordered desk and her heart ached for Mr Pendleton's loneliness.

She wished that somewhere someone might be found and it was at this point she sprang to her feet with a little cry of joy at the thought that had come to her.

As soon as she could after that she hurried up the hill to John Pendleton's house and in due time she found herself in the great dim library.

He was sitting near her with long thin hands lying idle on the arms of his chair and his faithful little dog was at his feet.

Well Pollyanna,

It's to be the glad game with me all the rest of my life?

He asked gently.

Oh yes!

Cried Pollyanna I thought of the very gladdest thing for you to do.

With you?

Asked John Pendleton his mouth growing a little stern at the corners.

No,

But.

.

.

Pollyanna,

You aren't going to say no?

I've got to Mr Pendleton truly I have.

Aunt Polly.

.

.

Did she refuse to let you come?

I didn't ask her.

Pollyanna?

Pollyanna turned away her eyes she could not meet the hurt,

Grieved gaze of her friend.

So you didn't even ask her?

I couldn't sir,

Truly,

Thought Pollyanna you see,

I found out without asking Aunt Polly wants me with her and I want to stay too.

You don't know how good she's been to me and I think really sometimes she's beginning to be glad about things lots of things,

And you know she never used to be you said it yourself Oh Mr Pendleton,

I couldn't leave Aunt Polly now.

There was a long pause only the snapping of the wood fire in the grate broke the silence at last however the man spoke No,

I see,

You couldn't leave her now I won't ask you again The last word was so low it was almost inaudible You don't know about the rest of it though she reminded him eagerly there's the very gladdest thing you can do,

Truly there is Not for me,

Pollyanna Yes sir,

For you you said it,

You said only a woman's hand and heart or a child's present could make a home and I can do that for you,

A child's present not me you know,

But another one as if I would have any but you but you will when you know you're so kind and good Why,

Think of the prisms and the gold pieces and all that money you save for the heathen Pollyanna interrupted Mr Pendleton savagely once and for all let us end that nonsense I've tried to tell you half a dozen times there's no money for the heathen I never sent a penny to them in my life there there he lifted his chin and braced himself to meet what he expected the grieved disappointment of Pollyanna's eyes but to his amazement there was neither grief nor disappointment there was only surprised joy Oh,

I'm so glad she cried clapping her hands that is,

I don't mean that I'm not sorry for the heathen only just now I can't help being glad that you don't want the little India boys because all the rest have wanted them and I'm so glad you'd rather have Jimmy Bean now I know you'll take him Take who?

Jimmy Bean he's the child's present you know and he'll be so glad to be it I had to tell him last week even my lady's aide out west wouldn't take him and he was so disappointed but now when he hears of this he'll be so glad will he?

Well I won't you don't mean you won't take him I certainly do mean just that but he'd be a lovely child's present Pollyanna was almost crying now and you couldn't be lonesome with Jimmy around I don't doubt it rejoined the man but I think I prefer the lonesomeness it was then that Pollyanna for the first time in weeks suddenly remembered something Nancy had told her once and she raised her chin aggrievedly maybe you think a nice live little boy wouldn't be better than that old dead skeleton you keep somewhere but I think it would skeleton?

Yes Nancy said you had one in your closet somewhere what?

Suddenly the man threw back his head and laughed he laughed very heartily indeed so heartily that Pollyanna began to cry from pure nervousness when he saw that John Pendleton sat erect very promptly and his face grew grave at once Pollyanna I suspect you're right more right than you know in fact I know that a nice live little boy would be far better than my skeleton in the closet only we aren't always willing to make the exchange we're apt to still cling to our skeletons Pollyanna however suppose you tell me a little more about this nice little boy and Pollyanna told him all about Jimmy Bean perhaps John Pendleton's laugh had cleared the air or perhaps the pathos of Jimmy Bean's story as told by Pollyanna touched a heart already strangely softened at all events when Pollyanna went home that night she carried with her an invitation for Jimmy Bean himself to call at the great house with Pollyanna the very next Saturday afternoon and I'm so glad she said and I'm sure you'll like him I do so want Jimmy Bean to have a home and folks that care about him you know