Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-10-22


other accessories which make such
pretty pictures of slumbering child
hood, would be very much mistaken.
Mr.. Potten's humble establishment did
not admit of so much luxury and indie
pendence. Mr.. and Mrs. Potten and
Dot all shared the same bed, Which,
though by no means large, took up
considerable portion OF the apartment.
The bed had coverlet of patchwork,
old and faded. And yet it was anything
but an ugly spectacle that presented it
self to the husband and wife whenever
they looked in Dots direction. The
bed linen was clean, though coarse and
there, with her head between two pill
lows, lay Dot. Her fair hair, very long
for her age, streamed out In all direc
tons the long lashes OF her closed
eyes dropped ON her cheeks {; her smil-
ing mouth, half open, showed few
white teeth; her chubby little arms
were folded around the neck and body,
and her little chin rested, as has been
said, upon the woolly head of the black
doll. And the black doll, with ring
through its nose, a necklace of beads
round its throat, and Iaring yellow
frock upon its body, was gorgeous to
behold.
Mr.. Potten arose from his seat, and
went softly up to the bed; and there
was moisture in his eyes when he re-
turned. He resumed his seat, and said
chuckling: "Lord love her! How hap
Ply she does look -
"She never had q doll afore, you
know, Potten," reioined his wife, a
care-worn but cheerful, nice looking
woman, "bar them little hafpenny
Ones"
''But she's bin a-cryin'," remarked
Potten. with look of inquiry. 81 see
two little stains on her little nose"
"Yes," assented Mrs. Potten with a
light laugh. "We had few words
about the doll: she'd had it playing
with all the blessed day, and I thought
she'd do better without it abed. But
she would have dear Blackie, as she
calls it; and woulant even have it un-
dressed. So 1 let her have her OWL
way, and that stopped her cryin' ano
made her happy again.
Whats the harm ?" growled Potten.
"Bless her little heart.
II uluSb udNt COSb d JOb " y,
that DOLL" said Mrs. Potten, "what
with tbe size on it, and the ornaments,
and WHIT not"
''Ahl 1 dare say" observed Potten
with indifference.
"You'd never have bin able to buy
one like it." continued Mrs. Potten with
much emphasis.
"Not T." assented Potten with a
short laugh. ''Ah! it's an Ill wind as
blows nobody any good"
"But you never told me where you
got il fIom," remarked Mrs. Pottsn.
You only said it was given to you"
whats the udds?' said Potten,
yawning. "Here, I'm tired; I'm goin'
to bed. Come, make haste"
And Mr.. and Mrs. Potten were soon
asleep, with Dot and the black doll be-
tween them.
Let us change the time and scene. 1t
shall be the same day, but earlier in the
evening; and the place shall be COM
Portable house on the Middlesex side of
the River Thames, and on the borders
of Tyburnia. It is early spring. about
an hour after sunset, and little girl
some seven years of age is being put to
bed She is evidently an invalid. Her
pretty little face is e. in and pale her
hands are almost ira sparent she tot
tiers If she attempts to walk alone. A
lady and maid-servant are present in the
room, and BENDER the necessary as
sistance. The little girl has just had a
bath, to Judge from plain indications
and she is now being arrayed in the
most dainty little night dress, and
gently laid in the most dainty little cot,
with the most dainty appliances.
Otherwise the room and indeed the
whole house, presents an unfinished
appearance all the furniture seems to
be huddled together in out-of-way
places, and there is notable absence
of carpets from the floors. Wherever
you turn you see basins or other uten-
sils filed with red liquid, as if there
had been general nose-bleeding
throughout the house. Moreover, there
is pervading smell as of SCOT, from
which the experienced would infer dis
infectaDts. In the little girls own room
stands table on which are arranged, to
please the eye and smell and taste, wall
flowers, violets, primroses, datfodis,
jonquils, grapes and blood-oranges.
Cheap photographs and cheap picture
books, which may serve to amuse for
the moment, and may be afterwards d :
str yed without conjunction 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 IF the cot, and
prepares to coax the invalid to sleep.
"Am well nos, dear mum ?" asks
the invalid.
NEARLY well, DEAR" replies mamma.
eve are going to the seaside to-mor-
row, and then you will get quite strong
and well again"
"But if I'm not well, why can't I go
on having Candace to sleep with NE 2?
asked the invalid.
"Candace 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 lie do to her, mum? Cure
herr"
81 hope so, DEAR"
"Then why can't / have her back
when she's cured, dear mum ?"
Because, though che might not dc
Tor, opv borr, 1oor 80 oofor IN, IN