American citizen., 1875-03-20
DOT HAMILrON'S DREAM.


"CoME, Dot" called her mother. ," 1t i.
more than half an hour"
"Oh! mamma, faint more'n forty
minutes. That clock is just as slow as
ever can be-" answered Dot, with dole
full face.
"Dotty," said Mrs. Hamilton, sternIy
don't let me have to speak to you
again"
So Dot left her heap of shells and mud
pies and her little playmate and came
slowly into the house. .
"Go up to the nursery and ask Susan
to wash you and brush your hair" said
her mother. "Then come down and
will have everything ready for you"
In few minutes Miss Dot was under
the skillful hands of Susan, her nurse.
"Susan," she said, 81 don't care how
long you take to curl my hair to day
You can take six hours, if you like; be-
cause, Susan, when it is done have got
something very ungreeable to do. l
have got to write letter to my grand
ma"
"Why, Dot Hamilton" cried Susan.
" You don't mean to say you think it is
disagreeable to write to your dear, good
grandma, who sent you that beautiful
locket and chain?"
"She is dear, good grandma; but it
is ungreeable to write to her," said Dot,
"'ceuse writin' is so hard. You jest have
to hold the pen so in your hand, Susan"
and Dot pinched her thumb and forefin-
ger together and put her hand up for
Susan to see, nearly putting her eye out
as she did it.
"Oh! please 'scuse me, Susan. l did
not know you kept your eye SO near"
said Dot, penitently. "Bvt you have to
hold the pen so, then the ink splatters
all over the paper, and oh! it's dreadful,
it's dreadful to write letters. When my
papa is the President l mean to get him
to make laws so people won't have to
write letters"
There, now, you look as fresh as a
rose," said Susan, tying Dots sash; land
you had better go and write your letter
and have it over"
"Mamma," said Dot, coming into her
mothers room, Pm ready, and | s'pose
I'll have to do it."
"What do you think grandma would
say if she knew in what spirit you
wrote to herr" asked Mrs. Hamilton,
gravely.
81 'spose she'd say: 'Pd rather Dot
such feelings rs that,'n said Dot, looking
up earnestly, as if she hoped her mother
would let her off.
But no, she was doomed to write that
letter Mrs. Hamilton laid clean sheet
of paper and a nicely y-sharpened pencil on
the table.
"Now have to go down to the k1tch-
en-" she said, land | hope to see
beautifully written letter when l come
up. Go and see what tine it is, Dot;
tell me just how the hands of the clock
are" For Dot had not learned to tell the
time, and when Mrs. Hamilton was in a
hurry hp ypul1 send her n see how the
hands of the clock were, and could judge
from that of the time
cone is sticking right straight out"
said Dot, coming back, land the other is
kind of sideways. They look just like a
piece of pie. Not big piece, like you
give papa; juss IA little piece, like you
give me when it's rich"
a Quarter past four" said Mrs Ham,
ilton, smiling, for she had learned to un-
derstand Dots expressions. Then she
went away, leaving Dot perched up in
chair and screwing her dimpled face into
all sorts of Fuckers over her letter.
She wrote away for a little while, then
she stopped, then she wrote "A little more,
then she stopped again, and so on till
one. page was nearly filled with funny,
sprawling words.
Think b" it's time to take good long
stop now," she said to herself-and fold
ing her arms upon the table she laid her
curly head upon them, and the next
that she was fast asleep and |
dreaming.
You may be sure that she did not |
know it was IA dream or she would not |
nave had such fright as she did.
She thought she had just finished her |
ctter when who should walk into lne |
,oom but Grandma Hamilton, the very |
person to whom she was writing.
"Why, grandma, did you come all the |
way from Boston," cried Dot, in sur.
Prise. " | was just wiring letter to |
you, grandma"
Yes, | came ali the way from Boston,
Dot; and have brought you present." |
aid grandma, laying Il tiny little box on |
he table.
"Oh! what is it," asked Dot, taking it |
lp eagerly and opening it.
There, on IA bed of blue velvet, lay Il |
Inning gold ring with two beautiful |
,earls i'll it,
sOh, you dear grandma" )" she screamed |
n her joy, how did you know | wanted |
ring more'n anything in the world -
norm Iocket and chain, cause you
rave me one before? Oh, you do give
ne such clegant jewerelly"
But grandma did not say word. and
when Dot looked up in her face she saw
he was reading her letter.
"Oh! Grandma, don't read it now" she
"'cause it's all got to be
critcd over into clean paper, with ink "
"Dotty Hamilton, is his the letter you
we're going to copy and send me" said |
And Dot was So frightened by |
he grave voice that she jumped up and |
TODD on II chair, looking over her grand
mas shoulders while she read
les, that was surely her letter; but how
,rcat was her surprise and terror to see
here not only the sprawlng big-priut |
etters she had made, but the thoughts
hat had come into her head while she
vas writing. This was the way il read:
Ny Dear GIundfHd:
| got the lockct and chain and wore them
o Il party Mamma said to thank You very
much for them and | do. 90 dear, don't
ike to write letters do wish my Grandma
lid not 'spect letter from me) | wcared
hem two times. Il wish my Grandma was
,lind Then 'twouldnt be no use writing