Polly's First Year at Boarding School

nnounced after school, that there would

n in history. Choose the particular heroine you admire most, find a picture of her in the library, and try to copy it. The attic will be open this afternoon and you may take what you want from the

e not so well known, and whom you really admire. There will be lots

smissed and she, Lois and Polly were in the l

you had a splendid costume last year; di

ave my In

suggested. "Your hair isn't black, but i

b that suit before any of the others g

hat just like Bet, she ought to go as a l

w, let's ask

pose we can

probably i

rridor, and tapped gently a

ed a voice, not

ing on the window box, a bunch of artificial flowers in

rter here?"

truggling in the depths of her closet.

iss King asked, when they

r would help us decide what

retch Martha, who works in the laundry, out yesterday without a hat. I told her she'd catch her

d," Polly's symp

er to wear every day," she

had your talk with Miss Porter. Thank you. I was trying to rig up something

ng on, Lois had been explaining

ought for a minute. "Mrs. Baird really wants you to go as y

" Lois replied dramatically. "Do you think I

was to be a Jeanne d'Arc. Oh, well, I give up my rights for this once;

hard to imitate?

dow and took down a framed picture fro

ever seen the Jeanne d'Arc painting by Jules Bastien

woods, just in peasant clothes. I love it. She looks as if she we

lare you look like her. There, you may keep this print to refer to, it ought to

ir, hesitated, and r

" she answered, "but I think she's the bravest woman that ever lived. We ha

name?" Lois dema

e Angel of the Crimea," P

er, too?" Miss King's eye

Miss Porter spoke up. "You'll find the Seniors know all abo

, I never even heard of her

ought for their country, the least their country could do for them was to give them proper care when they were wounded. At

turn and kiss her shadow on the wall as she passed, and they named her the Angel of the Crimea. Oh, she was so brave. All the hardships she went through, cold and hunger." Polly sto

my 'kerchiefs will do, and I know how to make a Nightingale cap. W

the dressing hour that Polly and Lois saw Betty again. She had apparently f

greeted them. "Where have

id you find your cos

Have you decided wh

ing," Lois teased. "We t

ple

nev

t any of the oth

was being shouted

do

going as La

storical, she's Shakesp

speare knew all about her. Anyway, she says she's go

her voice so that it could be hea

what?" came C

dy Macbeth a

am. She was a

ell known," Angela added

," Connie said loftily, "but

laughter, that ended as the st

weighty problem of costumes off thei

re are no really good ones at the store," Lois said

are no good. How do you send them

oom valentine morning, and everybody puts their letters in it. T

some red cardboard hearts

m up, do

bout th

ry-but first l

ashion on a bed surrounded by pillows, with j

oad and cozy, and you could always look ou

sitting down. "Give me a

nd I'll take Con

for a minute, an

Thompson,

this please

at's n

ested feebly, "but it's

sisted, drawing a heavy

yours to

musician, a va

he gets this she wi

But there's nothing the matter with Co

elessly. "We can't write sense tha

et her to help. You

jam before I get back," and Polly left

a," she said when the plan had been expl

t think it necessary to say that t

ith valentine? Columbine, turpentine-aha! I've

tell yo

rop of t

blood stain

this val

id you ever think of it?" Pol

that's all," Betty laughed. "Now

in for her, don't yo

for Betty. "Fine, dine, pi

so fair

us sad

, but could

n vale

tty, now thoroughly started, wrote absurd jingles to all the gir

Polly said, delighted. And Lois spread a cra

"I haven't a laurel wreat

l you've read the poem

t." Betty con

sigh, and wis

l gone, and the

world were

dn't ca

ere alway

arts her b

it, the meter changes,"

't change in the same verse," Polly re

etty groaned, "give me m

oes the silence b

put the whole cracker in her mouth

s called after her, but she

here was every known character from Agrippa of Roman fame, to Queen Victoria, among the upper school. High ruffs danced with 'kerchiefs, and French heels, with sandals. In fact,

s to her parted hair, her face was smeared with grease paint, and she had tribal marks all over her forehead and cheeks. Polly looked very efficient in her immaculate nurse's costume, her hair was parted severely, an

nd a bodice, that laced over a white blouse, and an old patched skirt. Miss Porter had fixed her hair in a soft careless knot, and as she stood beside Pol

her that valentine," Lois sa

her we did?" P

sweetest one she'd received, and I just

that?" and changed the subject by asking

ngela, who was Catharine of R

m, "have you established your claim to

Mrs. Baird says so, and, 'sure she is an honorable man, woman,' I mean, 'There

, she's been talking like this all evening," she said. "

where are they?

here were three, just alike, and

," Betty said, starting for

h the crowd of dancing girls,

is said as she reached

re enough there were three packages,

nnie commanded. "I am

was a shout of joy as three hea

wonde

vorite

dorable

painted

swe

ve sent them?

, perhaps," Be

g," Polly said; "besides, he sent

or something inside," Angela sugg

first, and the res

dear friend of yours,'" she read.

emembrance of a c

irer, once mayor of a certain city.' Don't you see, it'

ear friend of mine is Uncle Rodd

we went to see 'Peter Pan,'" Lois said

r of a certain city'?" Connie i

Lord Mayor of London," Polly explained

a candy, and munche

s," a voice called suddenly from the

ss-room," Lois answ

d her head in

upstairs, rig

horused

Dot said, mysterio

Hall again before Mrs. Baird tappe

ize of the evening to Jeanne D'Arc, impersonated

ly up to the platform. Mrs. Baird presented her with a tiny silver loving cup. "This gives me very g

on stepped forward with a wreath of laurel. "Here's the

step, and Louise place

re of the evening," she said. And the

She's exquisite. See how her eyes sparkle when she blushes. S

awarding of the prize, Polly would have had it. She's a splendid girl,

d the praise she had received. She smiled d

er tell Mother about this. I would like he