"Never mind, mammy," called back Polly, longing to spring out of
bed and fix up a bit.

"I'm sorry to hear the children are sick," said Mrs. Henderson,
coming in, in her sweet, gentle way.

"We didn't know it," said the minister, "until this morning--can we
see them?"

"Oh yes, sir," said Mrs. Pepper; "Ben's upstairs; and Polly and
Phronsie are in here."

"Poor little things!" said Mrs. Henderson, compassionately; "hadn't
you better," turning to the minister, "go up and see Ben first, while
I will visit the little girls?"

So the minister mounted the crooked stairs; and Mrs. Henderson
went straight up to Polly's side; and the first thing Polly knew, a
cool, gentle hand was laid on her hot head, and a voice said, "I've
come to see my little chicken now I"

"Oh, ma'am," said Polly, bursting into a sob, "I don't care about my
eyes--only maminy--" and she broke right down.

"I know," said the minister's wife, soothingly; "but it's for you to
bear patiently, Polly--what do you suppose the chicks were doing
when I came away?" And Mrs. Henderson, while she held Polly's
hand, smiled and nodded encouragingly to Phronsie, who was
staring at her from the other side of the bed.