The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-08-27
HOW DOT PLAYED SHE WAS TWO.

.
HOW DOT PLAYED SHE WAS TWO.
Dot was eight years old. She had
very indulgent parents and beautiful
home, but she was the only child in it,
and it was 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 mother often read and told
stories to her, and often invited other
children to play with her, but still Dot
was lonely, and would have traded any,
thing she had for the tiniest bit of sis
ter. ''~ t'' t.. ...a. +.
" Mamma" she said, one day, 81
wish you'd play 1 was two."
"Play what, DottieP'' i" '.i3t''
Play was two, mamma. You've
only got one little girl, and we want an
other so dreadfully! So let's play
was taco little girls-one must be Dot,
and the other Dottie, and when you call
Dot, III come, and if you call Dottie,
I'll come all the same, only then, you
know, III be the other one. VIII you,
mammal
EYES," said mamma, smiling.
"And you must ask me, fWhere's
you're sister?' and I'll say, 'Oh, she's
upstairs, Or she's dressing her dolls,
or something viii you, mammal"
az 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
doesn't she look like me? See, her
7curls 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,
thenP''
"Why, no, mamma; I'm to be your
two, but I've got to have some one to be
the other one to me, you know"
1T is rather confusing arrange
ment, Think" said mamma, laughing,
"but I'm sure it will be very nice in
deed" VI a..p.. .# .s '~.f..
And oh! mainma-twins always
dress alike. Couldn't you make her
little dress just like nv new one! Please
now, you dear mamma!'' Il
Mamma patted the pretty face, and
thought she might if there was enough
of the blue bunting left, which was very
likely. Cook then came for orders, and
Dot, hearing the door-bell ring, settled
waxen "Dottie" on lounge and strayed
into the parlor to see who had been
shown in. VII"
A lady whom she had never seen be-
fore sat there. Dot spent so much time
with her mother that she was accustomed
to seeing visitors, SO she was soon chat
ting socially.
81 have not seen your mother for
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 twin sister-that is, you
KNOW" said Dot, contidentially, 81 play
she's my" but here her mother came
in, and with the EXPLANATIONS, "Why,
Janet, qou" and "My dear Ruth !" the
two ladies met eagerly. III. fH"f
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 sub
urbs of the city, and was now living but
a few miles from them. The friends
had not heard from each other for sey-
"eral years, and Dot sat quietly by for
short time, listening to their talk of old
times. But Mrs. Bright made but
short call, and soon left, with promises
of pleasant visits to come. Htt
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. ".0@l
The 'play was two" plan worked
very well. To be sure, Dots mother
sometimes forgot which of her was Dot
and which Dottie; but that really did
not matter much.E Dot found her twin
sister great comfort, for, if she was
not quite as lively as could have been
wished, ishe fully made up for it in other
ways. She was the most accommodate
ing 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 papering. 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
quarreled 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 mei' exclaimed mamma to
papa, SHOW strange it is that one or
other of these children is so often siokl