Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-11-30
A Doll Party.

the scene which would have puzzled any
bnt those well acqn inted with the manners
and customs Of dolls A fourteenth rag
baby, with a china head, hung by her neck
I. from the rusty kn0cker in the middle of the
door A sprig of white and one of purple
lilac nodded over Ler, a dress of yellow
calico. richly trimmed with red AlnLel
scaliups, shruuled her slender form, gar
land ot small. flowers crowned her glussy
c1rls, and pair of blue boots toached toes
in the fliendliest, if no: the most graceful,
manner. An emotion of grief, as well rs
of surprise, might well have thrilled any
Youthful breast at such spectacle, for why,
OBJ why, was this resplendent dolly hung
ap there to be stared at by thilteen of her
kindred? Was she criminal, tue sight of
whose execution threw them Hat upon thcir
hacks in speechless horru7 0rwas she an
idol, TO be adured in that humble pustun?
Neither, my friends. She was blonde
Belinda, set, or rather hung, aluft, in the
lace OF honor. for this was her seventh
birthday, and superb ball was about to
celebrate the great event.
All were evidently awaiting a slmnoi
I the festive board, but such was the per
feet breeding Of these dolls that not sin
gle eye out Of the whole twenty-scven
Dutch Hans had lost one of the black
beads from his w,rsted c un., name turned
for moment toward tue table, or so much
as Ninked, as they lay in deeorous rows,
gazing with mute admiration at Belinda.
She, unal lie TO represS the joy and pride
which swelled her sawdustIbOsOm till the
seams gaped, gave an occasional bounce as
the wind waved he- yellow skirts TT made
the blue boots dance a sort OF iis upon
the door Hanging was evidently not a
painful operation, for she smiled 'ntented
", and looked as if the red ribbon around
her neck was not uncumfortably tight;
therefore, if slow suffucatiun suitrd her, who
else had any right to complaint So a
pleasing silence reigned, not even hrukeu
by a sn, re frem Dinah, the top of whose
turLan alone was visible above the coverlet,
OF a cry from baby Jane, though her bare
feet stuck ont in way that would have
produced shrieks from a less welltlained
infant.
Presently voices were heard approaching
and through the arch which led TO side
path came two little girls, one carrying a
small pitcher, the other proudly bearing a
basket covered with napkin. They look
ed ike twins, but were not-fOr Bah was
a year older than Betty, though only an
inch taller. Both had on brown calico
1rocks, much the worse for weeks wear,
but clean pink pinafores, in honor of the
occasion, made up for that, as well as the
gray stockings and thick boots. Both had
round rosy faces rather sUnburnt, pug noses
somewhat freckled, merry blue eyes, and
braided tails of hair hanging down their
backs ike those of the dear little Ken
wigses.
"Don't they look SWEET" cried Bah,
gazing with maternal pride upon the left
hand row of dolls, who might appropriately
have sung in chorus, ave are seven.
every nice; but my Belinda beats them
all. l do think she is the splendidest
child that ever was!" And Betty set down
the basket to run and embrace the suspen-
ded daring, Just then kicking up her heels
with joyful abandon.
"The cake can be cooling while we fix
the children. 1t does smell perfectly de-
licious" said Bah, lifting the napkin to
hang over the basket, fondly regarding the
little round loaf that lay inside.
'Leave some smell for me~ commanded
Betty, rushing back to get her fair share
of the spicy fragrance
The pug noses shifted it up luxuriously,
and the bright eyes feasted upon the love
iuess of the cake, so brown and shiny, with
tipsy-loOking B in pie crust staggering
down QUE side, instead of sitting properly
atop.
.lMa let me put it on the very last min.