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All right thenhere goes! Im Jimmy Bean, and Im ten years old goin on eleven. I come last year ter live at the Orphans Home; but theyve got so many kids there aint much room for me, an I want never wanted, anyhow, I dont believe. So Ive quit. Im goin ter live somewheres elsebut I haint found the place, yet. Id like a homejest a common one, ye know, with a mother in it, instead of a Matron. If ye has a home, ye has folks; an I haint had folks sincedad died. So Im a-huntin now. Ive tried four houses, butthey didnt want methough I said I expected ter work, course. There! Is that all you want ter know? The boys voice had broken a little over the last two sentences. Why, what a shame! sympathized Pollyanna. And didnt there anybody want you? O dear! I know just how you feel, because afterafter my father died, too, there wasnt anybody but the Ladies Aid for me, until Aunt Polly said shed take Pollyanna stopped abruptly. The dawning of a wonderful idea began to show in her face. Oh, I know just the place for you, she cried. Aunt Pollyll take youI know she will! Didnt she take me? And didnt she take Fluffy and Buffy, when they didnt have any one to love them, or any place to go?and theyre only cats and dogs. Oh, come, I know Aunt Pollyll take you! You dont know how good and kind she is! Jimmy Beans thin little face brightened. Honest Injun? Would she, now? Id work, ye know, an Im real strong! He bared a small, bony arm. Of course she would! Why, my Aunt Polly is the nicest lady in the worldnow that my mama has gone to be a Heaven angel. And theres roomsheaps of em, she continued, springing to her feet, and tugging at his arm. Its an awful big house. Maybe, though, she added a little anxiously, as they hurried on, maybe youll have to sleep in the attic room. I did, at first. But theres screens there now, so twont be so hot, and the flies cant get in, either, to bring in the germ-things on their feet. Did you know about that? Its perfectly lovely! Maybe shell let you read the book if youre goodI mean, if youre bad. And youve got freckles, too, with a critical glance so youll be glad there isnt any looking-glass; and the outdoor picture is nicer than any wall-one could be, so you wont mind sleeping in that room at all, Im sure, panted Pollyanna, finding suddenly that she needed the rest of her breath for purposes other than talking. Gorry! exclaimed Jimmy Bean tersely and uncomprehendingly, but admiringly. Then he added: I shouldnt think anybody who could talk like that, runnin, would need ter ask no questions ter fill up time with! Pollyanna laughed. Well, anyhow, you can be glad of that, she retorted; for when Im talking, you dont have to! When the house was reached, Pollyanna unhesitatingly piloted her companion straight into the presence of her amazed aunt. Oh, Aunt Polly, she triumphed. just look a-here! Ive got something ever so much nicer, even, than Fluffy and Buffy for you to bring up. Its a real live boy. He wont mind a bit sleeping in the attic, at first, you know, and he says hell work; but I shall need him the most of the time to play with, I reckon. Miss Polly grew white, then very red. She did not quite understand; but she thought she understood enough. Pollyanna, what does this mean? Who is this dirty little boy? Where did you find him? she demanded sharply. The dirty little boy fell back a step and looked toward the door. Pollyanna laughed merrily. |
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