The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-10-31

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llously careful in all that cunc,tn'd uia q"
blowers he may have laughed at lll'm in his
- sleeve, but. whether it were from r"nsclrE
tious sense Of duty, or from iciu " conSr
uucnces in case OF detected nrglrri h" per
formed their order, rs regarded Themselves, t
the very letter.
Such was the man who sa' c"ntrntcdiy
smoking his pipe in the room wh'r" Dot lay
sleeping, and huging IN her arm, Il larg'
black doll, with merry black eyes, ltnghin!
mouth and grinning teeth, but without arm
not doll that most girls would iaay, bu
Dot loved il and fOndled il rs # il had been ,
paragon OF beauty. In Mr., po,tcn', section
of society no special smOhing.runn Is rrOyid
ed. and infants sleep peaccaby amidst thO
fumes of tobacco. Perhaps that may be
reason why fever, through rampant enough
is not more rampant in certain districts.
Well, Mr.. Potlen sa, smoking, Mrs. Potter
sat sewing, and Dot lay sleeping Mr. ana
Mrs. Potten had a deal table between
them; and on the table stood a common sort
of lamp, which gave vely good light by
means, if smell can be depended on of parai'
fine OIL Dot lay sleeping; but an body VINO
supposcs that she occupied hcrown l'l''r COT
with its snow.wh,c cOverlet, and other &C
ccssorles which make such pretty pictures "
s!umbcrIng childhood, would be very much
mistaken. Mr.. Potten's humble establish,
ment did not admit Of SO much luxury ana
independence. Mr.. and Mrs Po,tcn and Dot
all shared the same bed, which, though by
no means large, took up a considerable por-
ton of the apartment! The bed bad cover
let of patchwork, old and faded. And yet
lit was ANYTHING but On ugly spectacle that
presented itself to the husband and wife
whenever they looked in Dots direction. The
bed linen was clean, though course; and there
with her head between two pillows, lay Dot
Her fair hair, very long Tor her aye, stream
led out in all directions; the long lashes Of
her closed eyes dropped on her checks; her
smiling mouth, half showed n few while
teeth: her chubby little arms we're folded
around The neck and body, and her little
chin rested as has been said, upon the wool.
head Of the black doll. And the black doll,
with a ring through its nose, necklace of
beads round its throat, and flaring yellow
| frock upon its body, was gorgeous 10 behold,
Mr. Potten arose from his seat and went
softly up to the bed and there WAS a mOis,
ture in his eyes when he returned. He re-
sumcd his seat, and said chuckling: Lord
love her! How happy she does look'
She never had doll aforc, you know,
Potten.' rejoincd his wife, Il carc.worn but
cheerful, nice-looking woman, bar them lit
tie halfpenny ones"
but she's bin a-crylng," remarked Polien,
with look Of inquiry. Il see two little
stains on her nose"
"Ycs," ass2n;cd Mrs. Poucn with light
laugh. I'VE had Il few words about the doll
she'd had been playing with it all the bless
ed day, and thought she'd do b tier without
il ajcd. But she would have dear Blackic, !
as she calls it and wouldn't even have it TN.
dressed. So let her have her own way, and |
that storpcd her crying andmade her happy .
again.
"Whata The BARN o. growlcd Porcn. "B,cs,
her little heart
at must have cost Il lot of money, that
doll" said Mrs. Pottcn, "what with the size
on it, and the ornaments, and what not"
"Ah! | dare say observed Polten with
Indifference.
You'd never have been able to buy one
like it," continued Mrs Potten with much
emphasis
Not l." assentcd Pottcn with short
laugh. All! it's an i'll wind as blows no.
body any good"
But you never told me where you got 1t
from" remarked Mrs Potten. You only
said it was given TO you"
Whats the cdds:H said Pot,en, yawning
Here, I'm tired; I'm a going to bed. Come
make haste"
And Mr.. and Mrs. Pottcn were soon asleep,
with Dot and the black doll between them.
Let us change the time and scene. l,shall
be the same day, but earlier In the evening
and the place shall be comfortable house
On the Middlcsex side Of the River Thames,
and on the borders of 1yburna 1t is carly
spring about an hour after sunset, and lit.
lie girl some seven years old is being put to
bed She Is evidently an invalid Her pref.
t. little face is thin and pale; her hands are
almost transparent; she tottcrs if she attempts
10 walk alone. \ lady and maid.scrvant are
present in the room, and render the nccesSa-
- assistance. The little girl has Just had a
bath, to judge from plain indications; and
She is Row arraycd in the most dainty little
night dress, and gently laid in a dainty cot,
with Che most dainty applications. Other.
wise the room or indeed the whole house,
present, an unfinished appearance; all the
furniture seems 10 he huddlCd together in
out oiihc.way places, and there !, notable II
ahstncc OF carpets from The floors Whercv.
cr You turn yOu see basins or other utensils
iillrd a'lh red liquid, as If there had been a
general nose-blreding throughout the house II
Moreover, there is pcsvadng smell as Of SCOT, Il
from "hch the experienced would infer dis,
inteCtan's. In the little girls own room i
stands table on which are arranged, to
please the eye and smell and taste, Nallhow.
crs, ylolcts, plimro5es daIodl., jonquils,
grapes and bood-orangcs. Cheap photo.
graphs and cheap picture-books, which may
serve 10 GmuSc for the moment, and may be
discharged without compunCtion !
on the score of extravaganza are scattered in
all directions When the little girl has been
made quite comfortable, the lady sits down
by the side of the cot, and prepares 10 coax
the invalid to sleep.
"Am | well now, dear mum:' asks the in
valid.
Nearly well, dear" replies mamma, I'VE
are going to tAc seaside tomorrow, and then
you will get quite strong and well again"
But if I'm not well, why can't / 60 on
having Candacc to sleep with e." asked the
Invalid.
"Candacc has gone away, darling"
Where to, mum?"
81 don't know, darling She was taken
away by the man when he took The other
things"
"What will he do Ia her, mum? Cure