American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-05-17
FLYING DOLLY.

Dolly Darlington was little girl, bu
she was SO full of fun and mischief tina
; she got into great deal of trouble. Sh
was just eight years old, and had a grea
many curious notions in her head, one o
which was that she believed she might fly
in the air like the birds. She though
about it, dreamed about it, and tried ,
great many times. She climbed the grea
apple-tree in the garden, and jumped of
the branches without the least fear O.
bumps and thumps. She jumped off the
fences, the arbors, anything where the
hight was not TOO great, rejoicing in the
delightful sensation of being in mid-air
and, though her flight was always down
ward and ended always with dreadful
jouncing, still she persevered. Taking
advantage of the windy weather, she al
ways flew her kite secretly, hoping il
would pull her up. If it only would, she
could float around SO nicely! But moth
| ing of the kind ever happened. Still Dolly
| chung to the idea that she could fly, and
have a splendid time looking into birds
nests and touching the tree-tops. Per
haps she might touch cloud! And what
| if she should meet An angel, Dolly trem-
| bled with hope and fear while she imagin-
ed these beautiful things which were sure
| to happen some day, but just ho,o, she did
MT know. But this notion was one of her
| private ones, of which she never told any
| body.
Dolly's grandpa, who lived in the coun-
| try, sent to have her come and visit him,
| saying "Aunt Mary would take good care
of her" As mamma was quite ill and
could not watch over her, and the servants
only laughed at Dolly's funny ways, it
was decided that it would be good thing
for her to go. Aunt Mary and grandpa
were delighted to see her, but they didn't
know then that they would be as glad
when she went away.
Escaping into the garden, Dolly at once
began combat with the bees by poking
the hive with a long pole, and finally over
turning it. The bees flew out, buzzing
angrily. Away ran Dolly, frightened out
of her wits, the bees all after her. She
rushed into the barn, shut the door, and
scrambled up into the hay-loft, where she
buried herself under the hay. Here she
lay and listened, but hearing no buZzing
sound, she ventured forth to explore. She
had gone but step, when she espied a
turkey sitting quietly in the hay, but it
and, to Dolly's delight, there was large
nest of eggs!
"Ohl OH" she cried, "what a surprise
for Aunt Mary!' So, putting the eggs
into her apron, she started to go, when she
saw large hole in the floor, and went to
see what it was for. Looking down into
the stalls, old Molly" the horse, and
"Brindle," the COW, were soberly eating
hay. Il guess I'll surprise EN-" thought
Dolly, and, taking an egg, she dropped it
upon Molly's back. The horse started and
whinnied. That tickled her, and she
thought the horse was laughing because
he liked it, so she dropped another and
another, until poor Molly was covered
with saddle of broken eggs streaming all
over her. Then treating the COW to the
remaining eggs, she finished the whole by
sprinkling meal and eggs over them.
Hearing voices outside and approaching
footsteps, Dolly hurried down the ladder
and reached the door just as Tom, the
hired man, went into the stall to harness
the horse for grandpa to go to the city.
She saw the look of dismay on Toms face,
and heard him exclaim, "By the holy po-
kers! what has happened to We, old mare?"
Then spying Dolly, he called out angrily,
" I'll be after you, you young spalpeen
and"
Dolly stopped to hear no more. With
a frightened look she turned and fled. |
Away she went down the lane, past the |
brook, through the meadow, never stop |
ping until she reached the woods. Here |
she sat down on stone and watched two |
squirrels leaping and playing in the |
branches of tree. Then she wandered |
around, gathering wild flowers and moss
es, making pretty playhouse among the
rocks, all the time thinking, III never, |
never, never go back again. AT noon
she ate her dinner of berries and drank |
water out of the brook running through |
the dark wood. Then the thought came,
IF | should die, would the birds cover
me with leaves, like the Babes in the
Woods?" In a moment she was lying on
the ground, with her eyes shut, keeping
quite still, and expecting the birds to
The air was soft and sweet and filed with
the hum of insects. Dolly forgot her
trouble and fell fast asleep.
Late in the afternoon she awoke quite
refreshed. But it seemed to be growing
dark. She started and ran towards home.
1t was wind clouds that made it so gloomy,
and on reaching the lane it blew a per-
feet gale. There was storm coming up
in the west. Hurrying up the lane and
past the barn, she peeped out through the
rack in the door to see if there was any
)ne around. But no, it was very quiet
md still, nobody to be seen. The side
loor stood open, SO she stole carefully up
o it and looked through the hall into
he sitting-room-no one there. Dolly
elt gloomy and lonely. Nobody cared for
Ter, she thought, and she was SO hungry!
|
Umbrella from the rack, she hurried across
he yard, dragging it after her. Some
,ody would be sorry" Her face was set
md determined. She mounted the tall
adder that leaned against the carriage
lOuse. On reaching the roof, she went
lose to the edge and opened the umbrella
Nobody cares anything for me, and I'll
ly away" said poor Dolly, with wild
yes. The wind had increased in its fury,
terrible hurricane swept through the vii
age. In the fields the corn and..grain
lowed and broke, the trees whirled their
the cattle huddled under the
rees, shingles were torn from houses and ,
arms, blinds and doors slammed in great ,
ury, people were hurrying homeward or
o some sheltering place. Aunt Mary,
wakened from an afternoon nap, rushed ,
o the window lust as grandpa came driv !
ng rapidly up the road. What was he
boxing at in that frightened way" She
ew to the door and stood transfixed with
error Dolly had just taken the leap! !
he wind under the umbrella bore her ur
Or a few seconds and carried her as far as I
he apple trees, and then the umbrella {
lrned inside out.
Good heavens,'' cried grandpa, in dis &
lay. Aunt Mary rushed out screaming, !
She will be killed! OH she will be
lied" Tom heard the cries and rushed
, learn the reason. The cook flew out,
'aving the poker in her distraction. All l
ood in speechless fright Dolly came t
rashing down through the tree falling v
enseless to the ground. Poor, foolish 9
'Olly-was she deads I
Carefully Tom carried her into the house Q
nd laid her on the sofa. Her face and f