The National tribune., 1881-08-27
HOW DOT PLAYED SHE WAS TWO.

hOW DOI FLAI6D "Ho IHO'
Sidney Dayre in Wide Awake for August.
Dot was eight years old. She had very indul-
gent parents and beautiful home, but she was
the only child in it, and it the great grief of
her little life that she had no sister. She had
play-roOm full of toys and bookcase full OF
wonderful pictures and story-boOks. Her mann
ma often read and told stories to her and often in
yited other children to play with her, but still
Dot was lonely and would have traded everything
she had for the tiniest bit of a sister.
Mamma" she said one day, " | wish you'd play
was two"
"Play what, Dottie?"
"Play l was two, mamma You've only got
8ne little girl, and want another so dreadfully!
SO let's play | was t,ro little grls-one must be
Dot and the other Dottie, and when You call Dot,
I'll come, and if you call 'Dottie,' I'll come all
the same, only then you know, I'll be the other
one. Will you, mammal"
ayes" said mamma, smiling
"And you must ask me. Where is your sister,
and I'll say oh, she's upstairs, she's dressing
her dolls or something. Will You, mammal"
"Yes"
Il shall have this doll for my sister, mamma"
and Dot held UP her largest doll. "She shall be
my twin sister Twins always look alike, you
know-doesnt she look like me? See, her curls
are yellow and so are mine; and her eyes are blue
and her cheeks are red, just like mine
"But | don't quite understand" said mamma.
"Am 1 to have three twins, them"
"Why, no, ma'am; I'm to be yOur two, but I've
got to have some one to be the other one to me,
you know"
I" 1t is rather confusing arrangement, think"
said mamma, laughing, /" but I'm sure it will be
very nice indeed"
And oh! mamma-twins always dress alike.
Couldn't you make her little dress just like my
new one? Please now, you dear mammal"
Mamma patted the pretty face, and thought she
might if there was enough blue bunting left which
was very likely Cook then came for orders, and
Dot, hearing the dOor-bell ring, settled "waxen"
DOttie" Oh lounge and strayed into the parlor to
see who had been shown in.
lady whom she had never seen before sat
there. Dot spent so much time with her mother
that she was accustomed to seeing visitors, she
was soon chatting sOciably.
/ have not seen your mother for a long time"
the lady said: has she any little girls besides
you or any little boys?"
well, we haven't any little boys, but have a
twin sister-that is, you know" said Dot, conf
dentially, II play she's my" but here her mother
came in, and with the exclamations Why, Janet,
gOu!" and MY dear Ruth" the two ladies met
eagerly
The visitor was an old schOolmate of Mrs.
Prince, Dots mother, who was very glad to learn
that she, with her family, had moved into one OF
the suburbs of the city, and was now living but
few miles from them. The friends had not
heard from each other for several wears and Dot
sat quietly by for a short time listening to their
talk Of old times. But Mrs Bright made but a
short CALL and soon left, with promises of pleas
ant visits TO come.
Dot went for Dottie, and carried her up to the
sewing-room to consult with the seamstress as TO
whether there was enough stuff left, surely, to
make her dress exactly like her own
The play | was two" plan worked very well
To be sure, Dots mother sometimes forgot which
of her was Dot and which was Dotte but that
really did not matter much. Dot found her twin
sister great comfort for, if she was not quite as
lively as could have been wished she fully made
mp for it in other ways She was the most accom-
mOdating little thing in the world. If Dot did
not feel like dressing her in the morning she
would lie in her little bed all day contentedly,
staring at a chubby cherub on the ceiling paper
ing. Or, if she were set to learn a lesson she
would sit for hours with her eyes fixed on her
book. She never wanted more than her share of
nuts or candy. She never quarrelled with her
sister, or meddled with her toys, and always did
exactly what she was told. All this, you know.
is more than can be said of some twin sisters.
Dot came one morning into the break fast room
got her kiss, and explained that Dottie had a
slight attack of the nervous" and would take
her breakfast in bed to-day.
"Dear met" exclaimed mamma to papa "How
strange it is that one or other of these children
is so often sick! We scarcely both of them
at the table at once. You must be sure and see
that the poor little thing has good break fast
Dot" Something Of this kind expected to
be said every morning, and gave delightful tinge
of sure enough" to the make-beleve.
Listen, dear" went on mamma as she opened
"a letter This is from Mrs. Bright the lady
who came here last week" She read
My children are to have little lawn party on
Friday afternoon and want you to come out and
bring the little daughter | saw at your house.
and the twin sister she told me of whom / did
not see. Come by the early afternoon train. Mr.
Bright will call for Mr. Prince to come by a late