The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-10-22
BLANCHE'S ADVENTURE.

BLANCHE'S ADVENTURE.
l WONDER how it feels to be little
beddar dirl, most f'wozen."
Blanche had mounted chair, opened
one of the nursery windows, and now,
! half dressed as she was, began thrusting
first one little pink foot, then the other,
| into the tiny snow bank on the cornice,
! giving little screams at each experiment,
as she tried to fancy herself most f'wo-
zen"
Whatever do We name, Miss Blanche9 ?
What would yer ma say?'
/ And Kate, the frowZy haired nurse,
pounced on the child as if she were some
| little mouse, and whiskcd her to the car
pet, then went on vigorously with the
task of dressing her, from which she had
been called away few minutes before.
What with being ierked into Il dress,
| fastened into sash, having her hair
pulled, and twisted into curls, and her
feet shut up in little prisons Of boots,
kate's tongue dinning in her ears al! the
while, Blanche was kept in such whirl
that she did not speak word till she
| found herself at last at the breakfast
| table
There was not much chance for her to
talk there, either. Herpapa and mamma
seemed to have great deal to say that
morning. Now and then she heard the
word stocks" and it did not sound a
infn oh nd
by, when there was only soft tinkling
Of spoons, Blanche looked straight into
her papa's eyes, and said: 81 ldess know
how it feels to be little beddar dirl,
most f'wozen."
"What do you know about beddar
dirls, pusss" asked her papa, laughing
"Yes," said Mrs Irvine, rather
sharply "what can you know about such
creatures? We never let them in here
II know, mamma; but sometimes see
em 60 by, and l feel SO sorry for 'em.
And you member my verse Aunt Nelly
learned me about poor little dirl-
| Little G'wetchen, little G'wetchen, wanders up
| and down the street,
The snow is on her yellow hair the frost is"
"That's enough, child" said Mrs r.
yJipe> Beeggars h"s and "i poor n"f folks needn't
trouble your head. They are tough,
and don't feel as we do. Now
run and ask Kate to get you ready to go
out in the carriage with me. shopping
Blanche's face was quite sober one
as she left the table. Her papa caught
her in his arms as she was passing, gave
her kiss, and slipped crisp bill into
her hand "There, that's to buy a new
dolly"
Kind Mr.. Irvine! Had he been wiser
he would have told her to help some poor
child with his gift, and SO comforted the
warm little heart he did not quite under.
stand.
But Blanche's heart was great deal
lighter now as she Skipped upstairs.
There was always room in her large doll
family for one more, and whether the
new conner should have black eyes or
blue, be a wee baby or young lady,
wear white muslin or pink silk with lace
overskirt. were puzzles that quite filled
her small brain for while. OF one
thing she was quite certain, her name
should be "Annabel Lee" after some
body in a song her papa sometimes sang.
An hour or two later the coachman
was driving Blanche and her mamma to-
ward Broadway. Mrs Irvine, lolling on
the cushions, wrapped in velvet and furs,
glanced at Blanche, saw that the jaunty
little hat, with its snowy plume, and the
feecy white sacque were arranged as
they should be, and paid no further at
tention to her.
Blanche was not enjoying herself at
all To ride primly in carriage, shut
up like little prisoner, didn't suit her.
If she looked out of the window her
mamma said it was vulgar to stare,
and if she curled up in corner she was
told not to "muss her flounces."
1t was so tiresome! She would have
liked far better riding to mill IN farm
er's wagon end looking around on the
beautiful things God has made. Country
girls and boys! Do not envy city chill
dren. Finely dressed though they may
be, they are not half so happy as you
free to romp and play at your will.
At last the carriage stopped before a
store almost as large and handsome as a
palace Blanche followed her mamma in
and stood beside her at the silk counter
such a long time Then they went to an
other room, called the trimming depart
ment, and Blanche was sure they would
have to stay here still longer So she
asked to go and sit in the carriage. Mrs
Irvine said yes" the clerk opened the
door-as politely as if the little lady had
been grown-up one-and Blanche stood
alone on the marble steps. After all, il
would be as dull in the carriage as in the
store, she thought. A little beyond was
toy-shop.
"Oh, my dolly! 1ljust have time to buy
her fore mamma comes" she said tc
herself, then darted toward the store ant
went in. There were crowds Of doll.
there, and the shop-keeper praised then
all as he showed them, but she shook hel
head at each one, and at last went out
for none of them were quite like thu
"Annabel Lee" she had pictured to her
self. She might find her in the gay-look
ing store across the street, perhaps. He
mamma had not come out yet, SO watching
till no stages or carriages were near sh'
ran across. 1t was not toy-store, afte
all, as she saw when she had gone in
!, so she hurried out without asking TO
dolls.
I But she must have gone out by tn
wrong door, for somehow the street didn'
look at all as before. What did it mean
Yet there was the carriage little wa.
off, and she crossed over to it. Yes, tn
! carriage was the same, with its bay horses
but it could not be theirs, for the coach
man, who seemed half asleep, was nc
Patrick. Blanche's little head was quit
( bewildered. She hurried on, looking 70
0 the store where her mamma was, and th
:. carriage, but she saw nothing OF then
81 s~<r oMnkhap ut In