Polly Burdoo Character Analysis

“I’m not wanting Lois Burdoo to live in hardship but I’m thinking you’ve got a right to live in dignity.”

“But Violet—” he began.

While the words were strong within her she knew she must speak them. “With all the help the town gave her she never made herself any better,” Violet insisted. “The children are getting older. They’re the ones to help and help themselves too. You’ll do more for them all by giving work to the boys than by giving money to Lois.”

“But Violet—”

She would not listen to him until she had had her say. “There’s a fire that burns fast the more fuel goes on it and that’s shiftlessness,” Violet said stoutly. “Lois is a shiftless woman and money is just so much fuel to her fire.”

The town had again been helping Lois Burdoo with firewood and foodstuffs. But no matter what help she received she never seemed to be able to rise above her wretched lot. The children went to school in tatters, and even when given new clothes they would appear the next day with them dirty and torn. They could not seem to keep from falling down or tearing themselves on briar bushes.

After years of ineffective help, the town felt that it could not bolster Lois Burdoo any longer. She was given warning that the two oldest children would be put up to Public Vendue on the thirty first day of December. Vendues were auctions at which townspeople could bid for the privilege of affording care to the indigent.

One night in early November Polly asked Amos to help her sit up. He put his arms around her and held her up. She was so light that he felt if he held a flower on its stalk it could be no heavier. She held out her hands, resting her right hand in Violet’s that were worn and coarse with the care she had given others, and her left hand in Celyndia’s that were supple and strong. Her eyes she kept on Amos. Peace dwelt in her face, a smile hovered over her lips, and for the first time she seemed to be seeing clearly those who were close to her. Her gaze that had always been so far away had come near at last. A small shudder passed over her body. She sat up very straight for a moment, even without the aid of Amos’ arms; then she fell back into his arms.

“I’m not wanting Lois Burdoo to live in hardship but I’m thinking you’ve got a right to live in dignity.”

“But Violet—” he began.

While the words were strong within her she knew she must speak them. “With all the help the town gave her she never made herself any better,” Violet insisted. “The children are getting older. They’re the ones to help and help themselves too. You’ll do more for them all by giving work to the boys than by giving money to Lois.”

“But Violet—”

She would not listen to him until she had had her say. “There’s a fire that burns fast the more fuel goes on it and that’s shiftlessness,” Violet said stoutly. “Lois is a shiftless woman and money is just so much fuel to her fire.”

The town had again been helping Lois Burdoo with firewood and foodstuffs. But no matter what help she received she never seemed to be able to rise above her wretched lot. The children went to school in tatters, and even when given new clothes they would appear the next day with them dirty and torn. They could not seem to keep from falling down or tearing themselves on briar bushes.

After years of ineffective help, the town felt that it could not bolster Lois Burdoo any longer. She was given warning that the two oldest children would be put up to Public Vendue on the thirty first day of December. Vendues were auctions at which townspeople could bid for the privilege of affording care to the indigent.

One night in early November Polly asked Amos to help her sit up. He put his arms around her and held her up. She was so light that he felt if he held a flower on its stalk it could be no heavier. She held out her hands, resting her right hand in Violet’s that were worn and coarse with the care she had given others, and her left hand in Celyndia’s that were supple and strong. Her eyes she kept on Amos. Peace dwelt in her face, a smile hovered over her lips, and for the first time she seemed to be seeing clearly those who were close to her. Her gaze that had always been so far away had come near at last. A small shudder passed over her body. She sat up very straight for a moment, even without the aid of Amos’ arms; then she fell back into his arms.