Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-12-03
Minuie's Bedtime.

Minnie was keeping house in the
bay-window, and talking with great
animation to her dolls, Hosanna, Clau
d1a and Seraphine. Hosanna her lat
est acquisition in the doll line, was a
beautiful wax blonde, arrayed in the
latest style; Claudia, propped UP on a
little stool IN the corner, was attired in
limp dress that gave her rather de-
Jected air; while poor Seraphine was a
battered and limbless wreck, dear to
the maternal heart of Minnie, who
said that when SeIaph was in bed and
covered up, she looked as well as any
doll. AS a consequence Seraph was
usually on the sick list.
CHOW, Hosanna, you must be as
still as a mousse" said Minnie; "and
Cloddy, you must not run about any
more, for your poor sister Seraph is
drefful sick with the measles, and
must undress her and put her to bed,
and give her some saffum tea''
"The clock has just struck seven, y
said Mrs. Gray, laying aside the book
she had been reading. 1T is Minnie s
bedtime"
so mamma - and the merry voice of
minute before was now one of mourn
full pleading, which sounded as if tears
were not far off. CT don't want to go
to bed. isn't sleepy. I want to play
with my dolls
No matter what the hour was, little
Minnie was never quite ready to go to
bed, and she always entreated that she
might sit up little longer. Indeed,
when her head was so heavy that she
could not keep from nodding, and the
sandman had sprinkled SO much
sand IN her eyes that she could
by no possibility keep them open,
she would say, all the same, 81
don't want to go to bed yet. [ isn't
seepy, mamma And even when she
had fallen sound asleep on the sofa,
and her mamma began to undress her,
being quite unable to get her eyes open
or to command her voice in uttering
her usual protest against going to bed,
Minnie would instinctively put her
little fat hands behind her, covering
the buttons to her dress so that her
mamma should not unfasten it. [ won
der if there are any other little girls
like Minnie
"What" said Mrs. Gray, "has my
little girl been playing all this long
day without being tired of play yet %
Pease, dear mamma" said Min
ME, prolonging the "pease" IL a
tone of most persuasive sweetness,
g let me play just tiny little while
longer, and then [ will go to bed"
every WE'LL" said Mrs. Gray. Sup
pose you leave your dolls and come
and play with me little while."
O yes" that will be so NICE" said
Minnie; and she dropped Serahine
and her clothes IN a confused heap on
the little bed, and turned towards her
mamma, with whom she was always de-
lighted to play.
"What shall we playa" asked Mrs.
Gray.
"Tll be young lady come to visit
You," responded Minnie, promptly
@'I'll be Miss Hosanna Lane, and I'll
rap on the corner of the piano for the
door, you know, and you will say,
How do you do, Miss Lane? Won't
you walk in 20
So presently Miss Lane, with a queer
little bonnet Of her own manufacture
atop of her curls, and carrying in her
hand a tiny blue parasol which was
one of her most fondly cherished pos
sessions, was invited in by Mrs. Gray,
and seated with much ceremony in a
large armchair.
81 am very glad to see you, Miss
Lane" said Mrs. Gray; q was hoping
some one would call in Is not this a
beautiful day?
eyes, it's boofnl weather." respond
ed Miss Lane; adding, after very
brief pause, with fond look at the
blue parasol sit rains dreful hard,
so I had to bring my umbrella"
1t is very nice umbrella, [ think, -
said Mrs. Gray, smiling. "How do
your folks do! I hope they are all
well"
"My chillun are very well, I thank
you. Mo- forgot-Seraph is sick
with the measles, and Cloddy's leg is
broken!"
81 am very sorry to hear that" said
Mrs. Gray; cit must occupy most of
your time to take care of thGm.n
Ono, 1t DOESN'T" said Miss Lane.
with a little laugh. ''They are very
good. They take care OF themselves.
And" with long-drawn sigh, Sim
drefful busy sewing. I am going to be
married pretty soon!" And here Miss
Lane dropped her company tone and
confdentially explained, "It's all make
believe, you know, mamma Mrs.
Gray smiled and nodded.
81 am quite surprised to hear it, -
she said. 81 had not thought of such
a thing. When does your wedding
take place."
90, "a Frursday!" reioined Miss
Lane, with some little hesitation, =" a
Thursday in November" she conclu-
ded. with a smile of satisfaction.