Pollyanna

Miss Polly Harrington lived alone in a big house in a small town.She was not poor. She had plenty of money.But she was not a happy woman, and she did not smile very often.

One June morning, Miss Polly got a letter.The letter had bad news in it.Miss Polly had a sister who lived far away. Years ago, that sister left home to marry a poor man.

Now the letter said that the sister and her husband had both died.They had one child, a little girl named Pollyanna. She was eleven years old.The girl had no home and no family now. Only Miss Polly was left.

Miss Polly put down the letter and frowned.She did not want a child in her house. She liked her quiet life.But Pollyanna was her sister’s child, and there was no one else.

“It is my duty,” Miss Polly said to herself. “I will take her.”She called her servant, a young woman named Nancy.“My niece is coming to live here,” she said. “Get the little room in the attic ready for her.”

Nancy was surprised. The attic room was small, hot, and far from everyone. But she did not say anything.Miss Polly went back to her work. In a few weeks, the child would arrive.