Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1880-12-30
DOTS NEW.YEAR'S PARTY.

Dor LEONARD sat listening to her
father as he read at morning prayers,
her little chair drawn up beside her
mothers, and her hand in hers. They
always sat so. Dot thought she could
listen best that way, and mamma liked
it, too.
This morning DR.. Leonard read the
fourteenth chapter of Luke, and Dot
listened attentively, though mamma
wondered what brought such a pre-
picked look on her little daughter 8
face at the twelfth, thirteenth and
fourteenth verses.
She forgot to ask her, after prayers,
for word came that Mrs. Gray's baby
was dying, and she went right over to
help the poor mother bear her great
trouble, so she did not learn about it
till some hours after, when she and Dot
were sitting together in the sunny
nursery.
Then mamma said, "Whose birth
day is it next Saturdays"
'Mine, and New ear Day, too,"
said Dot. looking up with quick smile;
for birthdays and holidays meant much
happiness to this little girl, the only
child of loving parents, in a beautiful
home.
"What do you want to do, little
woman, because you are eight years
old" asked mamma
"May l say just what 1 wantP"
answered Dot.
Certainly, darling" said mamma,
wondering.
"Then mamma, if you are perfectly
willing" said Dot, hesitating, and
dropping stitch in the dolly's afghan
she was crocheting, II should like to
make feast"
Mrs. Leonard believed in letting little
girls talk frankly, especially to their
mothers, so without seeming to notice
Dots peculiar way of speaking, she
said, "Yes, dear, if that is what you
would like best; and whom will you in
vite to your feast?" and drawing away
the pretty worsted, she took Dot on her
lap.
"Grandma Baine first" said Dot,
smoothing her mothers brown hair with
quiet hands.
" Grandma Bai1aer' exclaimed MAN.
ma, this time so much surprised she
could not help showing it, for Grandma
Baine was a poor, blind woman who
lived in the neighborhood, and knit
mittens and stockings. "What made
you think of herP'
"She knit my play-mittens for me-"
said Dot, "and gave me bright ball
made of ends of yarn, and want her to
come"
"Who elseP" asked mamma.
"Jane Hesler," promptly answered
Dot, showing that her list had been
made up in her mind before. Jane t
Iesler was alame girl in the little brown !
louse on the corner; she could not S
cave her chair, but made baskets for a (
wing, one of which had found its way {
nto Dots hand, full of flowers from her
able in the south window.
"Who nextP" again asked Mrs. {
leonard. L
al would like the Washerwoman's {
tile girls to come, mamma, for when a
he washed my doll clothes Monday she h
aid she wondered what Kitty and Mol n
2 would say if they saw them; and l {
'ant them to have a good play in my 0
il
SWELL" said Mrs. Leonard, "any h
thers?" {
' Yes, mother dear, do you suppose h
e could find that little boy who begged "
ere Yesterday He was so ragged 81
nd dirty, and looked at Mary's cakes A
J if he had never tasted anything like
lem; so 1 gave him two, though Mary
lid mustn't. I'd like to have him 81
,me if we could find him, for he would Il
ke the cake and nice things So" tt