The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-02
TODDLES.

tclt Ike lady that morning. was
a lady, | thought, after all; quite as
much so as Mrs. Jones, who lived in the
great cupola-housc on the hill. Quite as
much of lady, said to myself, briskly,
as busted up my little shop, and ar,
ranged the sheeny ribbons and gay
striped goods in the window. The
window was hung with pretty lace cur
tains and there was globe of goldfish
in it that sailed about as courtcously y and
busily rs though they were getting theiI
living as head clerks,
1t was sweet, soft autumn morning;
the village street was grassy and quiet
and hummcd tune Us | glanced cheer.
lily out at little Toddles, fitting about in
her scarlet ribbons under the old willow
outside. Bless her little rosy face! why
shouldn't | be happy when lvc her tc
look after?
was happy, and ! hummed again that
old snatch of tune, and nodded gayIy
to Toddles, wondering vaguely to myself
what was moing to happcn that | felt
so uncannily bright. Nothing-simply
nothing; things were done happening mC
long since. My way was straig..t and
narrow, NV DAYS ouict and ,lneycntrul.
As I sipncd nv coffee that morning !
remember that held the cup up to the
light, and felt Il certain sense Of salts
faction in the translucencc of the rare
bit of china. 1t is 50 pleasant to know
that ones own election may keep one
aloof from the uglincss and squalor OF
poverty.
| Ii doesn't take much to keep one per,
son, Of course, and | don't count Ioddles
for anything. 1t needs but the odds and
ends of things-a bowl Of bread and
milk; 4 cup of coffee, with now and then
a lively bit of ribbon--to keep the little
one going famousiy.
Yes, | always wanted to be a lady.
And. as ] sat in my bright little room !
half felt inclined to forgive Richard
Gray the heartbreak he gave me long ago
And. o tod! it was a heart-break. But
if he had married me, perhaps he would
have shut me up in some gloomy city
house, 10 be a lady after his fashion, IL
>titlc for want OF bit of fresh air. to
walk softly under thousand petty con,
vcntionalitics, and to cease bcingmy own
mistress, All! that | never could endure.
So it is, perhaps, rs well that Richard
! left me and went off somcwhere-God
knows where.
You see. | like tiny little shop.
There's something 50 delightful IN seeing
the pretty girls Of the village, with row
Land then fine lady, hanging over my
dainty wares, and trying the tint3 Of
scarlet and blue and orange with many a
LAUGH and many glance in the mirror
/ call it nv reception when they p,ur in
of q holiday afternoon. love color,,
love grace and beauty; and perhaps !
might have been Il bit of an artist in my
way. if I'd eyer had the opportunity
Richard used to say 50. But ah, he sale
many a fattaring thing and many Il falls,
in those old days. And if I ever dreamcd
Of any higher life than contents me now
I-wciI, I've give up dreaming.
For there's Toddles, 50 round and
sweet and soft and real. She leaves ms
little time for building air-castles.
You see, | love the child as if she were
:, nav very own. Fer she came to me one
day, about four years ago. a wee littl.
baby thing, curIed up in a heap ON m,
: door-step when l went to open the shut
tiers. Wherever she came from ncve
knew: Toddles never cxplained; sh
lust stretched up her little fat arms t.
: me and rurylcd Tod-od-doddle." an,
: that wa, her sole introduction.
1t was surmised that the child ha,
> been droDped bv some travelling circu
nass;ng ihrourh the town. and ! had ey
$ reIIcnt nrigbborIv advice about putin
the treasure in the founding ho,pita
Rnt one seldom takes GOOD advice. and
f didn,r,
/. Tn tou tho trrib GROW 80 attached r.
$ tbe ch;lJ that 7 shou1d even have bee
:, wicked cnourh I fear, to regret AN
/, nne's t,,rning mn 10 claim il, Bit that
e not m at All liEnIy now. after 50 many veal
t no not at oll'likoly. more Iikrly tia
e That RirhgrJ and | should ever ME,
e aaain in Ills world. And tbat--tbat
:. amomg the thina, that never can haDpc,
+ II VAS on this wise, our parting:
o Dirhnrd's mother was old and fnrb
/ onJ n,i.nrlv she'd snrnt Good deal ,
d MONEY mon on Iim-sont him TO col,nrr m
l. rvnoctrd folks said TO "makr s0mrlhiI
< If him" She always expected to o,
e Iar n,oncv,. worth ont Of her trau5a
k t;ons C Ri|hord hrId her. in 4 sort Of aw
? snmchow thouah She WAS a littIc ";
l. pncI old woman That he could have Iigrr
II with his left hand But liked him +,
" rn.ncctipo his mother.
.c ''I 6ne DIV we two were sittino at tv
y. foht talkine Of the future dreamiIv.
l. was our wont