The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-05-13
FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.

IL WAS only very surall cart she had
tn take her dolly out riding in; and n
very queer dolly at that SO queer,
that everybody looked and then turned
around twice and stared again.
And on they went-the little girl with
the ragged old shawl trailing after her,
as if it were the most elegant train in
the world; the cart an old oyster shell,
humping along the broad pavement;
and the doll, sitting erect, bundled up
to its eyes, silent yet most expressive
monument of woe.
"Sit up!' and the little girl suddenly,
and whiring around she dropped the
old knotted string, and bent over TO give
the fair rider u thump.
"Whcre did you get such dolly?'
asked fine lady, who couldn't for her
life help being moved by the pathos of
the craving lying so deep in every little
girls heart for something to pet. GLOW
can you bear to touch itT
"Outn McCrackin's garden" said the
child, taking pin out of her mouth to
fa0ten up the rags of her dress. "An'
he's splendid-he is! An Mc'Crackin
said he'd give me another if I'd catch him.
But | don't want but one; he eats aw-
fulW She pointed with her dirty little
thumb to the occupant of the cart, who
was rol ing his google eyes wildly in
every direction in way trightful to be-
hold.
"But toad an ugly. tat, disagreea-
hle tOadp exclaimed the lady in the
EXTREMIST tones of disgust, as she drew
aside her rich dress, lest she should
touch the object of her aversion, who,
attired in a bit of bright red flannel
closely pinned around the place where
his neck would have been if he had pos
sessed such desirable portion of his
anatomy, certainly was not very at
tractivc sight.
"a toad! A toad!' cried one or two
boys lowering near. ooh! Hi now for
funw
"You let him be!' cried the little
girl, her eyes fairly blazing; and squar-
ing her sturdy little figure in front of
the oyster shell, she took tirmer grip
on the string that served as handle to
the cart. "Ef you touch my things,
ri have you took up by the perlicc-l
willw
CHA! Ha! IIa" cried one and all, ooh,
here's lark"
81 guess the 'pcrlce' III be after you,
old rag-bag, if We give the word," said
q tall boy, in great derision,
"You lemmc al,new repeated the
child anxiousIy, robbng her bare toe
back and forth on the pavement. eco
way he's mine-he isl"
The lady, unable to make herself
heard, and unwilling TO contend with y
crowd of rude boys, whose numbers
were now augmenling, looked anxiouSly
around for policeman; but none were
in sight. The bluc-coats, for some rca
son, were marvcIousy quiet.
CHATS il, Joe upset the whole thing" "
cried the tall boy, who jumped into the
place of leader with his great cnthusi'
asm, "Now then, lend us your knife,
and we'Il set this fellow adrift."
With shrill scream, the little girl
started forward. "Oh, my dolly! My
beautiful dolly~'
She was too late. The string that tied
the toad securely to the seat was cut
with a quick hand the bright 'cd cloak
torn of rudely, and before anybody
could think twice, he was thrust ont,
frightened almost out of his wits, into
the big street, to be hustled to death by
his tOrmentOrs.
Its no use" cried the lady, stretch
ing out a kind hand to restrain the
little girl, who was rushing wildly for
ward. "You can't save him Come
with me. will get you another dolly
"A pretty one. Come with me, poor
child"
al don't want it!' shriekcd the little
dciraudcd girl, in voice heard far
above the din and laughter going ON
over the suiferiugs of her pet, whom they
were driving this way and that, with
every missile they could lay hands on,
cruelty humping him at every step.
"I want him. I've had him this good
while, an love him. Oh, make 'em
stop do, marmw She clasped her lit
tie thin, dirty hands, and gazed into
the lady's face imploringly.
Cdu I, CillHi, SAW, hNi NfNO
filling with tears. "There, see he's
dead and out of his misery, Come with
me-"
She took in her delicatcly-gloved
hand, with authoritative pressure, tine
now unresisting hand of the child, and
led her down narrow street. Not to
comfort don't believe that, children.
The toy she bought for her, the kind.
comforting words she poured into the
childish ears, could not appease the
poor, wounded little heart, nor stop the
rain of tears that ceaselessly fell over
the sad little face.
"'Tain't alive" she said, when fine
doll was put into her hand, smart in its
pink and white gown and gay bonnet.
"Oh, dear-dear! l want my own
Toady, do Il dol"
And that was all she would say, when
the lady bade her good-by at the cor
ner; bade her good-by, to watch sadly
the dropping little figure down the long
street.
And yet these boys must have their
fun; especially when nothing but a
poor, harmless child with her one treas
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