Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-11-15

come, what will you buy? Which
shall it be-tea things, a drawing
slate, doll dressed in the latest fash
ion, or "a"
unless you wish to drive me away
in despair, donttease me to buy, Miss
Grahame. What on earth is that ?''
| asked, pointing to long wooden
box, with the front of a house, five
windows and door painted on it.
That? On, don't you know p
That's dolls house."
as it ?" | remarked, not a bit the
wiser.
Eyes, look here" she said; and she
threw open the whole side of the
house, windows and ala process
peculiarly airy and unexpected to the
inhabitants, ! should imagine.
There were five rooms within, two
sitting rooms, a kitchen, two bedrooms
and hall. all most exquisitely furn-
ished, from the smallest kitchen requi-
site, to a set of dressing case bottles
on the toilet table of the best bed
room, before which doll in a dress
ing gown was seated, at al angle pc
culiar to wooden joints.
could not tell which | admired
most, the exceedingly clever work
manship and skill displayed in this
complete miniature residence. or the
grace and vivacity with which Miss
| Grahame showed me all its merits
from cellar to garret. I praised the
dolls house and cicerone, and actual
ly yielded to her entreaty to purchase
/ something.
"You shall choose it," l said; aonly
for goodness sake use discretion in
your choice"
/ She selected a man of India-rubber
that squeaked and was squeezable
from among the heap of rubbish or
her stall. 1t was a valuable posses
sion to a man of my taste.
/ Thence wandered to another stall
and by and by found myself to be the
| posseSsor Of a set Of pen-wipers, more
or less hideous a smoking-cap, which
was particularly useful, as | never
smoked, considering it a nasty habit
pair of slippers, Of an outrageously
ugly pattern, and a book marker.
Surely l thought, I've bought
enough now; SO III be of.
| ought to mention here, that this
bazaar, though for a local purpose
and connected with Dorkhampton. was
being held in London, the committee
thinking thereby to secure more mon
ey. Now, though l never went into
society, regularly whenever the season
came round moved up to town, into
small and expensive lodgings, which
l preferred to more stylish ones
knowing them to be clean. | liked tC
be in London when so many scientific
men were there, and SO much Of in
tercst going on. Why Iallude to be
ing in lodgings will appear later.
must now return to the bazaar.
AsI was saying, | had just made
up my mind to go home, and wa:
threading my way through crowd OF
over-dressed people to the door,wher
was again caught by Miss Grahame
"Oh, Mr.. Chester, you are just il
time" she exclaimed. The dollt
house YOU admired so much is bein!
raffled for a chance"
mo, no, Miss Grahame,' said l.
Yes, Mr.. Chester, yes" she re
peated. You know YOU admired it
you can't deny that"
LAS a work of art, it is very curl
Gus" said l; "as a personal posses
sion it is simply loathsome. l beg t,
decline the honor"
But it is only half guinea ticket,
she urged.
"Only half guinea :" said I. "Wha
. an exorbitant sum for the chance Of
/ possessing a dolls houser
But YOU won't win it, Mr.. Chester
indeed you need not be afraid. Their
are thirty-uiue chances to one--I hav
got forty names to get. Pleas
yield
Impossible r. said l.
"WelI, let me put your name dowr
and if l can get forty without it,
will erase yours: if not"
"If nor" l groaned; "ah, me, wha
thcn?"
So l stayed a little longer till tn
matter should be decided, wanderin
about with Damocles sword hangin
over my head. At last the blow Eel
A whole chorus Of voices belongin
TO the young Moorles and Granville
/. came yelling out, Cousin Chester ha
won it! Cousin James has won tn
old houseT
1t was true-ludiCrously true:
had won it.
In vain reproached. Miss Gra
hame declared it was not her fau1
that | had been destined to have i
| cursed it as it stood there lookin
so clean and fresh; scolded mysel
for letting my name go down for a
tending the bazaar at all.
"What in the name of patience ca
: | do with the thing? ?" | asked.
"Well, Cousin James" says Mr.
: Moore, insinuatingly, Il should hoF
, that question might be answered wit
n ease. I know my little Mary woul
gladly own so splendid toy; l ha
almost promised to buy it for the des
child's birthday next Saturday wee
She will value it doubly from you"
"But my dear Mrs. Moore" eric
. my cousin, Mrs. Granville, II am rea
: ly surprised to hear you speak of MAJ
= in connection with the dolls hous
She is really far too big girl to thir
of playing with toys any longer, al
. if she cares for them, I should ss
the less you encourage that fancy Il
T better. Now to my little ones wi
a are so much younger, this prese
would be far more suitable"
,, "lndeed, | do not see that sa
T Mrs. Moore. "Of course cous
James can give it to whom he please
n but l should have thought"
! did not care to hear more,
h slipped away unperceived, while t
W worthy matrons carried or a wor,