Polly laughed again at Anne's words, but the latter added:
"It's true, Polly. How many people trouble themselves to eat politely,
and act or talk from the highest motives? The Zulus follow traditional
customs. If we did we would follow the refined court manners of our
English and Dutch ancestors. Instead, we are in such haste to eat and
get back to the business of making money, that we lose all the pleasure
along the way there."
Polly listened anxiously and understood that Anne was gently
criticizing what she saw and heard in the kitchen the night before.
Anne watched Polly's face and knew she comprehended, then she continued:
"If we have breakfast in the open air it will be much cooler for every
one, and Sary need not stop her routine work on account of our being in
her way in the kitchen. If we help and wait on ourselves Sary need not
be delayed by our tardiness in appearing at table."
"Miss Stewart, I think you're right. And one good thing about eating
out here is that we won't feel crowded together with nothing to look at
but each other. At least we have the mountains, if we make the
oak-trees our new dining-room."
Anne laughed at the manner of Polly's approval and said: "Yes, Polly,
the mountains are great and wonderful and so silent, besides."
"Let's go now and ask Maw what she thinks of the plan."
"In a moment, Polly. You know I am anxious to help you in every way,
and to teach you if you express yourself poorly?"
"Yes; that's the only good thing about this awful visit," admitted the
girl.
"Then allow me to correct an error in speech. If you wish to go to
Denver High this fall, I want you to use refined expressions."
Anne looked at her companion and smiled kindly, and Polly said: "Oh,
I'll be so glad to correct any mistakes. Tell me what?"
"Just now you called your mother 'Maw.' And I have heard you call your
father 'Paw.' They are western terms, but they are not considered
correct or refined, elsewhere. The name of Father or Mother is a term
of respect and loving reverence from the children. I would like to have
you accustom yourself to the use of these titles for your parents and
see how the very sound of it will cause you to _feel_ more affection."
Polly weighed this news thoughtfully but she was surprised at the
information that her customary "Maw" and "Paw" were not the most
desirable terms to use. She knew that Anne Stewart knew better than she
what was the proper manner of speech and she thanked her for her
interest in helping her.
"Then another thing I want you to do, Polly, is that you call me
'Anne.' I am to be with you as one of the family all this summer, and
the 'Miss' is too formal for members in the same family. I want to ask
this favor of your mother and father too. If you were to use Eleanor's
and Barbara's first names for them as I do, I think they would feel
more at home."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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