Polly of Pebbly Pit

of the kitchen doorway in a ranch-house, and reached

aid Mr. Brewster, who was working faithfully

ion of the volcanic crater which had made such a wonderful farm for the Brewsters.

Polly, she called:

waving her sun-bonnet to sign

back to her father's side. He glanced up as she enter

d dinner

ow, Poll," said the rancher, as he s

ld be, Paw," returne

directions about the medicine, till we-all get back from dinner,"

r life, too! I reckon not! I'll stop here myself and watch her," declared Polly with finality, as

ly bend over her pet and whisper affe

say you used witchcraf

ng buried under that s

fuse to live, with me right here calling her back, you know. She loves me so, she had

you back again. It beats me, how the beavers, and foxes, and even the bears treat you as if you were one of them, instead o

's creatures roamed unrestrained. And then her eyes rested upon the pastures nearer

Poll. What shall Maw

out me. I'll wash the dish

back to the time when Noddy was but three days old. The mother had died and left the tiny bundle of brown wool to be brought up on a nursing bottle. To keep the baby burro warm it had been wr

ed very appropriate but, as the burro grew older, it showed suc

ce like a dog. And when the burro was full-grown, she became the daily comp

al intelligence and their devotion to their masters. They will seek for water or edible her

e pasturage. These cliffs were the local wonder and gave the farm its name. They were a section of jagged "pudding-stone" wall composed of large and small fragments of gorgeously hued stones massed together in loose fo

nose fearfully, and wheeled to run away to a more desirable locality. But in that quick turn she loosened the shale at the base of a steep descent. The treacherous

to the barn where he had left Mr. Brewster, and in a short time master and man had the tools and "cradle" back at the spot, and Noddy was soon unearthed. She was uncons

and who will say that Noddy's instinct did not respond to love, even though the physical sense of hearing w

a bowl of gruel for the burro, and Jeb foll

while Polly runs to the house f

wait here and hel

a letter for you. Jim Melvin stopped off

what you must find out. It looks like a girl's writing and it i

" cried she eagerly, and Mr. Brewster smiled at the s

her ranch-home, Pebbly Pit. The farm was oddly located in the crater of an extinct volcano, known on the maps as "The Devil

other ranches with its fine alkali dust. The snows in winter, lodging in the crevices of the cliffs, slowly melted during the progress of summer, thus fu

and called the place "Pebbly Pit." But the young man had studied agriculture thoroughly

he valley of Bear Forks River; so they settled in the crater, and named the farm Rainbow Cliffs, but the

the size and quality of a rancher's house and out-buildings expresses his character. Sam Brewster's buildings and fences were as solid and comforta

known college in Chicago. And now that Polly, seven years John's junior, had finished her grammar cou

ver where Polly might board, and commutation was out of the question. But he knew, and so did his wife, that the truth of his

to see if she could find any friends who would prove to be desirable for Polly to assoc

swiftly towards the house while every possible correspondent she could think of passed through her thoug

are you-is there

ed Mrs. Brewster, coming to the kitchen do

time back. I just had to pray and pray with all my might, Maw-you know how!" s

and flesh till I thought she was dead! Oh, I am so glad sh

he object of her love was lapping up the gruel. Mrs. Brewster smiled indulgently

down again. But who do you suppose would write to me?" queried Polly

suppose you open it and see for

t goes!" murmured Polly, severing an end of the envelo

her you ever eat again, but I would suggest that at least you strive to ward off star

gasped Polly, as she r

re, and Polly gave another hurried gla

me the teacher got sick and had to leave for a few months. You know-the pretty

said was so happy to be i

what she writes me?" And Polly wave

to her about High School?" h

h her," returned Polly, her expression changing in

ion. Now tell me what she wrote," decla

est sit down and listen," advised Polly, nibbling at

eading, Maw. It's something terribly surprising and goodness only knows why she

o, and you are so very ancient now!" retort

u the letter and I know just how you'll gasp wh