The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-01-05

whether Monday next Will do, ana say
ing this in an imperative way the gen
tleman picked up his parcels and left.
There was some grumbling behind tn,
screen. st want them now," said JohI
Austin, if you and have TO stay here
all night" In about fifteen minutes
afterward, when the young gentleman
had blacked his boots in the most care
full manner and washed his hands, il
sign of capitulation broom-handlt
was protruded over the partition, on the
end of which broom-stick there was 8
letter, and both were pitched over on tC
the floor. Indifferent as to the further
insult, John picked up his letter, tooh
his doll package from the table, and wen,
horoeward. In moment he had re-
gained his e1uanimity.
"You will come into my room for O
moment, little sister," said John as he
met the child, "always providing youl
dress is done. But how shall ever tel
whether it will fit 2"
"You have not real, true doll foi
me 2" cried ont the child, bounding up
the stairs after him.
I" have such grave doubts whether
your dress will become her." said John,
exhibiting the package.
1T wouldn't matter" exclaimed the
child
"Well, tnen." John united the string,
glanced at the contents, but amaze
ment 1t was not his doll. What he
held concealed, for he had run now into
a corner of the room, was the personifi-
cation of beauty. French doll--one of
| thAcA Atalx hA alanonf al,
deign to play with. A doll of Paris
make, in all the supple grace of kid
epidermis and with coiffure of elabo-
rate character. A doll such as finds its
way to South America, which, dressed
in silk and decked with gems, Indians
and negroes worship at their feStas.
John even dared to exert a gentle pres
sure on the bosom and back of the doll,
but no rough sound came. 1t struck
him that such superlative dolls must be
necessarily soulless images, mere tulips,
in fact, wanting perfume. They were
made daintily pretty, but dumb and
voiceless. There was no room in them
for anything more. All had to be sacri-
feed to outward appearances. Fortu-
nately the child knew nothing of what
was passing in the mans mind. My
little GIRL" said he, "you know now, at
least, that have something for you. You
must be satisfied with an outside look
now. Go finish your dress, and, if in
deed tomorrow is Christmas, think
you may count on some kind of doll. !"
"All right. am so glad. Please kiss
me. May tell mother"
"Yes-now clear out, John Austin
passed his bands through his short gray
hair, and was dazed for q moment, then
looked at the paper which enveloped
the doll. 1t bore an address, somewhere
up one of the avenues. "It's longish
walk for a man who has only breakfast
ed-but think of the disappointment in
store for that gentleman's daughter"
and with this John hurried out, bent on
the interchange. OF course it was
fine house in the vestibule of which
John Austin stood in about an hour and
a half afterward.
"All right" said the man servant.
"Leave your bundle"
I" But it amt all right. Your master
took my package and left his in its place.
do not want to trouble him, but only
ask him to give me back my own. He
will understand all about it."
John Austin may not have been said
to have been forced to cool his heels
very long in the vestibule, for, tired out
with his long walk, he sank into hall
chair, and the surroundings were 80
warm and comfortable that ne awoke
from doze when voice said "Quite
curious, indeed. My fault entirely. See
here, my good man, | must positively
have made away with your package,
but exactly how or under what
circumstances / am completely in the
dark about. Would you kindly inform
me2 Yes, p think this is my doll. /
am quite decided on this point, and this
ought to be yours. My wife laughed in
quite an astounding way when / dis
played what, if / may be allowed to des
ignate it, not being familiar with the
subject, is rather substantial and solid
piece of work in the doll way-quite
lasting, in fact. But, notwithstanding
its comparative excellence, L am rather
inclined to think my little girl might not
have cherished your doll as it deserved. I"
Here the master of the house put on a
pair of eye glasses and looked at both
dolls critically. and then at John Austin.
"I am exceedingly Obliged to you for
your kindness and the trouble you must
have taken about this trife, for we were
in the very act of sending out for another
doll-more dolls, in fact. But, as l was
saying, might request some clue as to
how this quite ludicrous, may / say
ridiculous, interchange was accom-
plisheda My curiosity is quite
aroused"
John Austin was on the point of tell
ing him the prettiest of Perrault's
stories, and would have embroidered
into the theme the arabian Nights, for
he felt he might have an audience; but
he checked himself and only said, "I
was a disappointed shipping clerk to-
day; / was one of tho unlucky, not
wanted. You must have put your doll
on the table, and, as you left first, you
took NINE"
"Bless me It must be exactly as
you state it. You will excuse the alb.
surd blunder on my part have not
the faintest recollection of ever having
seen you before. Ahl indeed we
wanted a shipping clerk, did wel"
4" suppose so, !" said John bluntly.
" You lcok tired, will you not take q
glass OF wine2 Would you allow me to
4 nffa II. l.