Pollyanna by Eleanor H.
Porter Chapter 9 Which Tells of the Man It rained the next time Pollyanna saw the man.
She greeted him,
However,
With a bright smile.
It isn't so nice today,
Is it?
She called blithesomely.
I'm glad it doesn't rain always,
Anyhow.
The man did not even grunt this time,
Nor turn his head.
Pollyanna decided that,
Of course,
He did not hear her.
The next time,
Therefore,
Which happened to be the following day,
She spoke up louder.
She thought it particularly necessary to do this,
Anyways,
For the man was striding along,
His hands behind his back,
And his eyes on the ground,
Which seemed to Pollyanna preposterous in the face of the glorious sunshine and the freshly washed morning air.
Pollyanna,
As a special treat,
Was on a morning errand today.
How do you do?
She chirped.
I'm so glad it isn't yesterday,
Aren't you?
The man stopped abruptly.
There was an angry scowl on his face.
See here,
Little girl,
We might just as well settle this thing right now,
Once for all,
He began testedly.
I've got something besides the weather to think of.
I don't know whether the sun shines or not.
Pollyanna beamed joyously.
No,
Sir,
I thought you didn't.
That's why I told you.
Yes,
Well,
A what?
He broke off sharply,
In sudden understanding of her words.
I say,
That's why I told you,
So you would notice it.
You know,
That the sun shines and all that.
I knew you'd be glad,
If you only stopped to think of it,
And you didn't look a bit as if you were thinking of it.
Well,
Of all the,
Stated the man with an oddly impotent gesture.
He started forward again,
But after the second step,
He turned back,
Still frowning.
See here,
Why don't you find someone your own age to talk to?
I'd like to,
Sir,
But there aren't any around here,
Nancy says.
Still,
I don't mind so very much.
I like old folks just as well,
Maybe better,
Sometimes.
Being used to the ladies' aid,
So.
The ladies' aid,
Indeed.
Is that what you took me for?
The man's lips were threatening to smile,
But the scowl above them was still trying to hold them grimly stern.
Pollyanna laughed gleefully.
Oh no,
Sir,
You don't look a mite like ladies' aid-er.
But now,
You're just as good,
Of course,
Maybe better,
She added in hurried politeness.
You see,
I'm sure you're much nicer than you look.
The man made a queer noise in his throat.
Well,
Of all the… he ejaculated again,
As he turned and strode on as before.
The next time Pollyanna met the man,
His eyes were gazing straight into hers,
With a quizzical directness that made his face look really pleasant,
Pollyanna thought.
Good afternoon,
He greeted her a little stiffly.
Perhaps I'd better say right away that I know the sun is shining today.
But you don't have to tell me,
Nodded Pollyanna brightly.
I knew you knew just as soon as I saw you.
Oh,
You did,
Did you?
Yes,
Sir,
I saw it in your eyes,
You know,
And in your smile.
Grunted the man as he passed on.
The man always spoke to Pollyanna after this,
And frequently he spoke first,
Though usually he said little but good afternoon.
Even that,
However,
Was a great surprise to Nancy,
Who chanced to be with Pollyanna one day,
When the greeting was given.
Sakes alive,
Miss Pollyanna,
She gasped,
Did that man speak to you?
Why,
Yes,
He always does now,
Smiled Pollyanna.
He always does?
Goodness,
Do you know who he is?
Demanded Nancy.
Pollyanna frowned and shook her head.
I reckon he forgot to tell me one day.
You see,
I did my part of the introducing,
But he didn't.
Nancy's eyes widened.
But he never speaks to nobody,
Child.
He hadn't for years,
I guess,
Except when he just has to for business and all that.
He's John Pendleton.
He lives all by himself in the big house on Pendleton Hill.
He won't even have anyone round to cook for him.
Comes down to hotel for his meals three times a day.
I know Sally Minor,
Who waits on him,
And she says he hardly opens his head enough to tell her what he wants to eat.
She has to guess more than half the time.
Only it'll be something cheap.
She knows that without telling.
Pollyanna nodded sympathetically.
I know,
You have to look for cheap things when you're poor.
Father and I took meals out a lot.
We had beans and fish balls most generally.
We used to say how glad we were we liked beans,
That is.
We said especially when we were looking at the roast turkey place.
You know,
That was 60 cents.
Does Mr.
Pendleton like beans?
Like them.
What if he does or don't?
Why,
Miss Pollyanna,
He ain't poor.
He's got loads of money.
John Pendleton has from his father.
There ain't nobody in town as rich as he is.
He could eat dollar bills if he wanted to and not know it.
Pollyanna giggled.
As if anybody could eat dollar bills and not know it,
Nancy.
When they come to try to chew it.
Oh,
I mean he's rich enough to do it,
Shrugged Nancy.
He ain't spending his money,
That's all.
He's a saving of it.
Oh,
For the heathen,
Surmised Pollyanna.
How perfectly splendid.
That's denying yourself and taking up your cross.
I know.
Father told me.
Nancy's lips parted abruptly.
As if they were angry words all ready to come out.
But her eyes resting on Pollyanna's jubilantly trustful face saw something that prevented the words from being spoken.
Huh.
Then showing her old-time interest,
She went on.
But say it.
It is queer.
He's speaking to you honestly,
Miss Pollyanna.
He don't speak to no one.
And he lives all alone in a great big lovely house.
All full of just grand things,
They say.
Some says he's crazy.
And some just cross.
And some says he's got skeletons in the closet.
Oh,
Nancy,
Shuddered Pollyanna.
How can he keep such a dreadful thing?
I should think he'd throw it away.
Nancy chuckled.
That Pollyanna had taken the skeleton literally instead of figuratively.
She knew very well.
But perversely she refrained from correcting the mistake.
And everybody says he's mysterious,
She went on.
Some years he just travels.
Week in and week out.
And it's always in heathen countries.
Egypt and Asia and the desert of Sarah,
You know.
Oh,
A missionary,
Nodded Pollyanna.
Nancy laughed oddly.
Well,
I didn't say that,
Miss Pollyanna.
When he comes back,
He writes books.
Queer,
Odd books,
They say.
About some gimcrack he's found in the heathen countries.
But he don't ever seem to want to spend no money here.
Leastways,
Not just for living.
Of course not.
If he's saving it for the heathen,
Declared Pollyanna.
But he is a funny man.
And he's different,
Too.
Just like Miss Snow.
Only he's a different different.
Well,
I guess he is,
Rather,
Chuckled Nancy.
I'm gladder and even now,
Knowing that he speaks to me,
Sighed Pollyanna contentedly.
And that is the end of our story this evening.
Until next time,
Sweet dreams.
