East Saginaw courier., 1860-08-09

w
live baby" of the future, who shall come
to the overthrow and dispersion of all
pets, and the disjointing Of all doll-noses,
be they of wax, china, or caoutchoue.-
This comforting thought she naively ex-
pressed-seeming to consider her pretty
little vehicle as small variety Of the
wonderful one-horse shay"
But meanwhile, an occupant of that
inviting little seat must be found. Miss
Kitty, doll of Brobdignagian proper
tions, was first inducted therein, but be-
ing a remarkably heavy-headed young
lady, disastrous consequences speedily
followed-a backward upsetting of the
chariot. Master Bod was next tried;
but he was evidently intended for a
member of a standing committee, or a
car-driver, as no provisions had been
made for his sitting down, on any &C.
casion whatever. Had the cab been a
coach, he would have filled the footman's
place to admiration, as he has jaunty
air, his legs are surprisingly straight, and
his calves quite unexceptionable;-but
wanting in hip and kneejoints, he plain
ly can never be gentleman-bend be.
fore greatness kneel to beauty, and drive
his own cabriolet, or dog-cart.
"Blue-eyed-Mary stout little lady
of China, is simily unfortunate. She was
probably meant to figure as chorous-
woman at the Opera, or to serve some
Queen Charlotte of Dolldom as Maid Of
honor. Then there was little Bessie, a
wax crying baby, in long clothes, with a
very bare head, that Topped about in a
limp and infantile way; of course, she
couldn't reasonably be expected to sit up
alone in carriage. AS for the whole
set of mutilated china dollettes, they were
not to be thought of. One might sup
pose on seeing the seat filled with these
unfortunates, that it was bringing home
the victims of some railroad accident in
Lilliput. The upshot was that an ad-
dition to the play-household was urged,
and agitated with such power, passion,
and paths that all petty pecuniary con-
sderations gave way;--the doll-mart was
visited and a young damsel evidently
from her fairness and plumpness a Cir
cassion, was selected to fill the place OF
honor in the little harem of mute beau
ties, and ride in the cab Of state.
Since the eventful day of the express
mans visit through the lifetime of a
moon, small eternity of child-constancy,
that toy-cab has been the chief pride and
treasure of our little daughter; mother
for the toy cab has history that is writ
ten in her heart.
A few bright days of last winter /
spent in Columbus, Ohio, the guest of a
friend, who is one Of the Contractors in
the State Penitentiary. In his house,
saw a pretty toy-cab, made in the
prison, the property of his little daughter
and conceived an ardent desire for one
like it, for my darling at home. So
rave an order to that effect,-but the
fairy vehicle came at last, as gift, from
one little lady to another. For the sake
of the gentle, fair-haired child, and fol
the sake of the parents, the little carriage
is dear to me-but it has other associa'
tions that touch yet tenderer, because
sadder chords in my heart.
This peculiar interest in toy, has it'
! source in one of the most memorable ex
periences of my life.
One Sunday morning. during the visit
of which have spoken, at the request o
the Chaplain of the Penitentiary, | reaC
lecture on The Heroic in Common
Life" before the officers and convicts o
the prison.
Never before when brought face t.
face with large audience, had L felt my
heart stormed with emotions powerful, s.
painful, and so varied. AsI gazed about m
those many hundred haplessmen in their Of
dreadful zebric costume, with their mark
ed faces, detected or sullen, brutally har
or forlonly weak, despairing or defiant
passion Scared or unutterably sad, sens
of the humanity before me, fallen, dimme
but not lost--of the dirmity within, fo
ever indcstructible, came upon me wit
almost overwhelming force. l never S
deeply felt the misfortune, the exceedin
pitiableness of sn--never felt my soul S
yearn and brood over great multitud
/ Of my fellow-creatures, with sympathy
charity, commiseration, and q might
voiceless prayer.
My thoughts swept back to the tim
when the worst of these men were innC
cent babies, awaking every morning frol
"milky dreams," to turn their brave eye
| upon the day, and smile into the unknow
) face of life;--to the time when the pc
Q urer's lips were pure as a chcrub's-
when the counterfeiter's cheek blushe
: with sweeter bloom than those dead
/ roses of shame and consumption--whe
D no lily-leaf was fairer or softer than Il
1 burglars blood-stained hand.
Visions of their far-away homes, b
n reaved and desecrated, of groups
v mourners who "would not be comforted
d seemed painted on the cold prison-wal
: and the air about me to grow heavy wi
t the sobs Of wives and mothers, the moa
c of old men, and the sighs of little childre
II the saddest sounds in all life. Feelin
# thus, could not speak coldly or incffe
If tively--my heart shook along my word
: and my lecture, which in some respec
d was peculiarly suited to my auditor
o with an introduction expressly writ
for them, was received with an intere
y and sympathy / could not else chop
: for.
l. think l gained the ears and reach
- the hearts Of these unfortunate men a
| 4 .l~.. L. .xk