Page 228 - pollyanna

‘Yes, dear.’ Miss Polly sternly forced her voice to be cheer-
fully matter-of-fact. ‘Nancy told me. I think it’s a beautiful
game. I’m going to play it now—with you.’
‘Oh, Aunt Polly—YOU? I’m so glad! You see, I’ve really
wanted you most of anybody, all the time.’
Aunt Polly caught her breath a little sharply. It was even
harder this time to keep her voice steady; but she did it.
‘Yes, dear; and there are all those others, too. Why, Pol-
lyanna, I think all the town is playing that game now with
you—even to the minister! I haven’t had a chance to tell you,
yet, but this morning I met Mr. Ford when I was down to
the village, and he told me to say to you that just as soon as
you could see him, he was coming to tell you that he hadn’t
stopped being glad over those eight hundred rejoicing texts
that you told him about. So you see, dear, it’s just you that
have done it. The whole town is playing the game, and the
whole town is wonderfully happier—and all because of one
little girl who taught the people a new game, and how to
play it.’
Pollyanna clapped her hands.
‘Oh, I’m so glad,’ she cried. Then, suddenly, a wonderful
light illumined her face. ‘Why, Aunt Polly, there IS some-
thing I can be glad about, after all. I can be glad I’ve HAD
my legs, anyway—else I couldn’t have done—that!’