Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-11-27
Minnic's Bedtime.

MAunle was keeping mouse In the
bay-window, and talking with great
animation to her dolls, H0sanna, Clau.
dia and Serapline. Hosanna, her lat
est acquisition in the doll line, was a
beautiful wax blonde, arrayed in the
latest style; Claudia, propped up on 4
little stool in the corner, was attired in
o limp dress that gave her rather de-
jected air; while poor Seraphine was q
battered and limbless wreck, dear to
the maternal heart of Minnie, who
said that when Seraph was in bed and
covered up, she looked as we'll as any
doll. As consequence Seraph was
usually on the sick list.
"Now, Hosanna, you must be as
still as mouse" said Minnie; "and
Cloddy, you must not run about any
more, for your poor sister Seraph is
drefful sick with the measles, and I
must undress her and put her to bed,
and give her some saffum tea.'
"The clock has just struck seven, "
said Mrs. Gray, laying aside the book
she had been reading. 1T is Minnie's
bedtime"
20 mamma - and the merry voice of
minute before was now one Of mourn
full pleading, which sounded as if tears
were not far off. 81 don't want to 20
to bed. I 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
"sand-man had sprinkled so much
sand in her eyes that she could
BY no possibility keep them open,
she would say, all the same, Sc
don't want to go to bed yet. I isn't
seepy, mamma =" And even whom she
had fallen sound asleep on the sofa,
ana her mamma began to uDdress her.
being quite unable to get her eyes open
or to command her voice in utteripR
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. Iwon-
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 p
"Pease, dear mamma" said Min
ME, prolonging the "pease" in a
tone of most persuasive sweetness,
" let me play just q tiny little while
longer, and then I will go to bed"
Every WE'LL" said Mrs. Gray. ''Sup.
pose you leave your dolls and CON 9
and play with me little while.'
o yes" that will be 80 NICE" said
Minnie; and she dropped Serahine
and her clothes IN q confused heap on
tue little bed, and turned towards her
mamma, with whom she was always de-
lighted to play.
What shall we playa" asked Mrs.
Gray.
"1'n be young lady come to visit
You, responded Minnie, promptly.
"Tll 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 in2'"
So presently Miss Lane, with a queer
little bonnet of her own manufacture
atop of her curls, and carrying in her
hand O tiny blue parasol which was
one of her most fondly cherished DOS
sessions, was invited in by Mrs. Gray,
and seated with much ceremony in a
large armchair.
II am very glad to see you, Miss
Lane, said Mrs. Gray; II was hoping
some one would call in. Is not this q
beautiful daya'
Yes, it's booful weather." respond
ed Miss Lane; adding, after very
brief pause, with fond look at the
blue parasol SIT rains. drefful hard,
so I had to bring my UMBRELLA
ut is a very nice umbrella, Think, !"
said Mrs. Gray, smiling. s'How do
well.'
"My ch,llun are very well, I thank
you. No. forgot-Seraph is sick
with the measles, and Cloddy's leg is
broken!''
II am very sorry to hear that, ~ said
Mrs. Gray; sit must occupy most of
your time to take care Of them"
mo, it DOESN'T" said Miss Lane,
with little laugh. "They are very
good. They take care OF themselves.
And, with long-arawn sigh, "I'm
drefful busy sewing. am going to be
married pretty soon!" And here Miss
Lane dropped her company tone and
confidentially explained, cts all make
believe, You know. mamma" Mrs.
Gray smiled and nodded
L am quite surprised to hear it. -
she said. IL had not thought of such
thing. When does your wedding
take place."
30, IA Frursday!" rejoined Miss
Lane, with some little hesitation,-"
Thursday in November" she conclu-
ded, with smile Of satisfaction.
And since you are SO busy sewing.
l conclude that you are making q great
many pretty clothes for the occasion. -
20 yes, shall have q great many
booful cloves.
Tell me about some of Them
please" said Mrs. Gray.
Miss Lane became very thoughtful.
Well, said she, slowly, IT have got
sixteen oversquirts, and IL am going
to bave-to have lots and lots of ham.
erchiefs, nd-and-and-" Here.
fortunately, her eye rested on
the blue parasol, and her thoughtful
face relaxed into smile of supreme
satisfaction as she extricated herself
from her dilemma and concluded her
list with "and two free umbrellas"
Mrs. Gray bad considerable Difficult.
ty in restraining the laugh which was
ready to break forth in hearing of this
extraordinary trousseau; but she knew
Miss Lane would consider q lauob
quite objectionable. She turned her
face aside and had recourse to her
handkerchief for minute. Miss Lane
waited with exemplary patience. As
soon as Mrs. Gray could trust he1
voice, she said, ''And what is you1
wedding dress to be,-s1lk or satin ~
It's going to be lavumder," 10
sponded Miss Lane with triumphant
promptness. Mrs. Gray had recently
had suit of lavender poplin. and
Minnie, hearing the word lavender y
several times bad fallen in love with
1t, and added it to her vocabulary,
without understanding in the least
what it meant. In the same way the
word "hosanna had arrested her at
tention one Sunday in church, and sh.
instantly adopted it, believing it to b,
something nice.
''But brides are usually dressed il
white, said Mrs. Gray. "Don't 20,
think you would prefer white brida
dress2"
80 yes 'm,' said Minnie, serenely
TITS going to be white, -white layum
der" BY this tn @ Minnie's blu.
eyes looked so very sleepy that Mrs.
Gray did not think it best to attempt
to explain tho impossibility Of q dres.