“Polly! Polly!” he screamed. “Where is she, mother?”
“I don't know,” said Mrs. Pepper, coming out of the bedroom. “Dear me! is anybody hurt, Ben?”
“I don't know,” said Ben, in a state to believe anything, “but Polly's got a letter.”
“Polly got a letter!” cried Mrs. Pepper; “what do you mean, Ben?”
“I don't know,” repeated the boy, still holding out the precious letter; “but Mr. Atkins gave it to me; where is Polly?”
“I know where she is,” said Joel; “she's up-stairs.” And he flew out in a twinkling, and just as soon reappeared with Polly scampering after him in the wildest excitement.
And then the kitchen was in an uproar as the precious missive was put into Polly's hand; and they all gathered around her, wondering and examining, till Ben thought he would go wild with the delay.
“I wonder where it did come from,” said Polly, in the greatest anxiety, examining again the address.
“Where does the postmark say?” asked Mrs. Pepper, looking over her shoulder.
“It's all rubbed out,” said Polly, peering at it “you can't see anything.”