Chapter 9 Just a Matter of Jelly.
Pollyanna could not tell her aunt about Mr Pendleton's accident because Miss Polly was called away suddenly.
A cousin in Boston had died, so Miss Polly'd caught the next train.
Pollyanna shared her story with Nancy, of course, and anyone else who might listen.
Miss Polly found out when she returned a week later.
They were having breakfast when Pollyanna brought up the subject.
Aunt Polly, she asked.
Would you mind terribly if I took Mrs. Snow's jelly to someone else today?
I know that Mrs Snow wants the jelly and that she likes having visitors, but Mrs Snow is always going to be in that bed.
People with broken legs aren't like lifelong invalids.
His broken leg won't last forever, so I think I should take him the jelly instead.
Oh, child, Miss Polly sighed.
Why did this child have to be so tiring first thing in the morning?
Whatever are you talking about?
Who is he?
What broken leg are you talking about?
Oh, I forgot, Pollyanna said.
You haven't heard anything about this.
So Pollyanna told her aunt the story of walking through the woods and finding the man.
That was very good of you, Pollyanna. her aunt said.
You fulfilled your duty very well.
Who did you say this man was?
I don't think I did, Pollyanna answered.
It was Mr. John Pendleton.
Mr. John Pendleton, Miss Polly exclaimed.
Yes, the girl said.
Do you know him?
Her aunt did not answer her.
Instead, she asked another question.
Do you know him?
Pollyanna nodded.
Yes, he always says hello to me now.
At least he did.
Now, of course, he's lying in a bed with a broken leg.
That's why I want to take him the jelly.
I'm sure he's all alone.
He's so cross on the outside that most people don't pay him much attention.
I know that he's not cross on the inside, but most other people don't see that.
I'm worried that he's all by himself except when Dr. Chilton comes to visit.
Dr. Chilton, Miss Polly stuttered.
Did you meet Dr. Chilton as well?
Yes, that's who I called on the telephone.
Pollyanna did not notice that all the color had drained from her aunt's face.
He's a very nice and handsome man, Pollyanna added.
He even called me a little nurse because I was holding Mr. Pendleton's hand when the men arrived.
Does Mr. Pendleton or Dr. Chilton know that I am your aunt?
Miss Polly asked softly.
No, I reckon not, Pollyanna said.
I told them my name, but I didn't say where I lived.
The two sat quietly at the table for a few minutes.
Finally Miss Polly cleared her throat to speak.
Very well, Pollyanna.
She said you may take the jelly to Mr Pendleton.
Just remember that it is a gift from you.
I did not send it.
Please make sure that he doesn't think I did.
Thank you, Aunt Polly.
The girl hugged her aunt.
I promise.
She ran out the door with the jar of jelly in her hand.
Mr. Pendleton's house looked very different this time.
All the windows were open.
There was an old woman hanging out clothes in the backyard.
Pollyanna went to the side door and rang the doorbell.
She had to wait a few minutes for the old woman to come in from the yard to answer the door.
The woman looked at Pollyanna with curiosity.
She clearly did not expect a young girl to arrive.
Good morning, Pollyanna said brightly.
I've come to see Mr. Pendleton, and I brought him some jelly.
Who shall I say brought the jelly? the woman asked.
Dr. Chilton walked into the hall at that moment.
He saw Pollyanna at the door and smiled broadly.
Well, "'Well, if it's not our little nurse,' he said.
"'Have you met Mrs. Johnson?
She's here to help Mr. Pendleton while his leg heals.
Why don't you come in?
Maybe you would like to see our patient.'
Mrs. Johnson looked confused.
"'But Mr. Pendleton said he wanted absolutely no visitors,' she whispered to the doctor.
"'This visit is under doctor's orders,' he replied.'
I believe Miss Pollyanna has exactly the tonic Mr. Pendleton needs.
Thank you, Dr. Tilton, Pollyanna said.
I have been looking forward to seeing Mr. Pendleton all morning.
After Pollyanna was sent down the hall, the old woman turned to Dr. Tilton.
Who is that girl?
I don't believe I've seen her before.
Ah, you don't know the marvellous Miss Pollyanna Whittier?
She's a young girl of extraordinary powers.
I can't pinpoint it exactly, but I think her secret is an overwhelming, endless sense of gladness.
She's already come in contact with many of my patients, so I'm familiar with her work.
There appears to be something that she refers to as the Just be glad, game.
It has had an incredible effect on people.
Men and women who barely noticed that the sun was shining can now talk for twenty minutes about its perfect color.
It's astonishing, really.
I don't know why someone didn't think of it sooner.
Pollyanna, meanwhile, was making her way down a long hallway.
She passed by a large, rather dark dining room.
She quickly looked inside the library.
The walls were filled from top to bottom with books.
A tall ladder was attached to the shelves so Mr. Pendleton could reach the books at the top.
She knocked on Mr. Pendleton's door.
"'What do you want?' a gruff voice said.
"'I thought I told you I didn't want any visitors.'
Pollyanna opened the door slowly.
Good morning, Mr. Pendleton, she called.
I stopped by to see how you were feeling and bring you some jelly.
Jelly, he asked.
Never eat it.
Then he saw Pollyanna walk into the room.
Ah, it's you.
Well, I guess it's all right if you come in for a bit.
The jelly was supposed to go to Mrs. Snow, but I thought it might be nicer if you had it.
You've got a broken leg, and broken legs don't last forever, so I thought you might need a bit of jelly in company.
Mrs. Snow is a lifelong invalid. so there'll be plenty of time to bring her jelly.
That sounds a bit mean, doesn't it?
I didn't mean it that way.
I only meant that Mrs. Snow is used to being in bed.
It's not pleasant for her, but it's the life that she knows.
You, on the other hand, are used to walking every day, so I thought the jelly might be more useful here.
You've put an awful lot of thought into this, haven't you?
Mr. Pendleton smiled slightly.
Pollyanna laughed at herself.
I do sometimes think myself into circles.
Mr. Pendleton laughed, too.
He tried to return to his grumpy look, but it was too late.
Pollyanna knew that she had made him laugh.
I think that you should learn how to play the just-be-glad game, Pollyanna said.
You'd be quite good at it, even though you tried to be the grumpiest man in town.
I don't like games, he said.
Games are for children.
Pollyanna ignored his comments and continued talking.
My father taught me the game.
No matter what happens to you, no matter how bad it may seem.
You just need to find something that makes you glad.
For instance, you should be glad that a broken leg doesn't last forever.
When my father went to heaven, I was glad that I finally got to meet my Aunt Polly.
So you see, even something as sad as that can have something good.
Polly.
Mr. you say Aunt Polly?
Yes, Pollyanna said.
When my father died, I moved here to live with my Aunt Polly.
What did you say your name was?
Mr. Pendleton was trying to sit up in bed.
He was clearly in distress.
My name is Pollyanna Whittier.
My aunt's name is Miss Polly Harrington.
Mr. Pendleton's face grew red with anger. am I to understand that Polly Harrington sent me jelly?
Oh, no, Pollyanna cried.
The jelly is from me.
It was entirely my idea.
As a matter of fact, Aunt Polly wanted you to know that the jelly most definitely did not come from her.
She said so very clearly.
I thought as much, he said and closed his eyes.
He turned his head away.
Poor Pollyanna did not know what to do.
She hoped that Mr. Pendleton was sleeping.
It would be awful to think that he did not want to talk to her.
Pollyanna tiptoed out of the room and softly closed the door behind her.
Dr. Chilton was waiting on the front porch as Pollyanna left the house.
"'May I offer you a ride home, Miss Whittier?'
She thanked him kindly and stepped into his buggy.
It was a pleasant ride.
Dr. Chilton was a kind man who enjoyed listening to Pollyanna.
The little girl was enjoying herself very much, although she did feel a bit sorry for the doctor.
Sometimes she looked at him and he looked so sad.
She wondered what he was thinking about.
"'You know, Dr. Chilton,' she said, "'I think being a doctor must be the gladdest job in the world.'
Glad, he said, when I have to see people that are sick or hurt.
But you are helping people, she said.
It must feel wonderful knowing that you are making a difference.
Dr. Chilton smiled at the little girl.
She was working her magic on him as well.
The next time he thought his day was too long or too hard, he would think of her words.
I suppose I could say the same thing to you, Miss Pollyanna. the doctor said.
You've made quite a difference in people's lives, too.
Pollyanna smiled.
It's all just part of living, she said.
What's the point of feeling glad if you can't share it with someone?
The buggy pulled into Miss Polly's yard and Pollyanna climbed down.
She waved a hearty goodbye to Dr. Chilton and went inside.
She found her Aunt Polly in the living room.
Her aunt was pacing across the room.
Who was that man who brought you home? she asked sharply.
It was Dr. Chilton, Pollyanna answered.
Don't you know him?
Dr. Chilton, what on earth was he doing here?
Miss Polly exclaimed.
I took the jelly to Mr. Pendleton and Dr. Chilton drove me home, the girl answered.
She wondered why her aunt was so upset.
Mr. Pendleton think that the jelly came from me?
Miss Polly asked.
No, I made sure to tell him that it did not come from you.
Excuse me, you told him that I did not send it.
Miss Polly was furious.
But Aunt Polly, you told me to say that.
Pollyanna stuttered.
I did nothing of the kind.
I didn't want him to think that I sent it, which is very different than telling him that I did not send it.
Pollyanna looked at her aunt.
She felt very confused at that moment.
Dear me, well, I don't see what the difference is.
Pollyanna left the living room.
She hung her coat in the hall and went up to her room.
She wondered if she would ever understand adults.
