The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-11-04
DOT AND DIXIE GO TO CHURCH.

DOT AND DIXIE GO TO CHURCH.
Dot and Dixie were twins. Their
names were Cora and Alfred, but
somebody called them Dot and Dixie
when they were wee bits of babies. and
Dot and Dixie they had been ever
since.
They were four years old, "doin' on
five," Dot always added, when asked
to tell her age; and "doin' on five"
Dixie would chime in like a refrain.
He was Dots "echo," and generally
her shadow. Whatever she said, he
said, and wherever she went, he went.
1t was Sunday morning. Mrs. Yer
nor complained of a headache at break
fast, and said she didn't believe she d
try to 60 to church that day. Mr..
Vernon had been confined to the house
for week with inflammation of the
eyes, and this morning they were
worse, and he had to keep in dark
ened room.
Ned and Susie were in their rooms,
getting ready for church.
"Oh, I'D like to go to churts." said
Dot, hearing Susie bustling about her
room.
"Me, too," said Dixie. "Let's do,
Dot"
I'm 'fraid they wouldn't let us, if
we asked 'em," said Dot.
"We needn't ask, them" said Dixie.
Lets do 'thout sayin' nothin' to
'em.''
1--WE might do that" said Dot,
thoughtfully. ''We'u have to wait till
Ned an Susy have coed off, anyway;
but we might be gittin' ready
"'Es, we might be dittin' ready"
said Dixie, Let's"
"Well, come on" said Dot.
And upstairs they went. to the room
where their clothes were kept.
The first thing that caught Dots eye
was her mothers new dolman.
"Oh, l wish could wear thatr' she
said. II wonder if she wouldn't let me?
I'm dom to ask her,
And away she ran, forgetting that
they had decided to say nothing to any
one about their church going plan.
Mrs. Vernon head was aching severe
ly, and she lay on the bed with a wet
handkerchief over her face, when Dot
came in.
"Mayn't I wear your dolIum an bun
nit?' asked Dot, in a great f1utter of
excitement.
Eyes. if you'll keep quiet" answered
her mother. who thought she had asked
to wear her sun-bonnet.
Dot had happened to remember, as
she was going down stairs, that her
mother had a new bonnet. and so had
included that with the ''dollum'' in her
"Oh, goody. goodyr'. cried Dot; and
was off as fast as her legs could carry
her.
ssShe said might" she said. as
Dixie looked at her questioningly.
''Said 1 might wear her dollum an bum
nit, too. An you can wear papa's new
hat. know he'd let you.'
"Mebbe not" said Dixie, with mis-
givings.
"Oh, pshaw, yes! Course he would,
if mammal let me wear her new bum
nit," said Dot, and Dixie concluded she
knew best.
Dot got down the handbook and took
out the new bonnet. 1t was of black
lace. with a cluster of red roses and
buds on the top, and she looked at it
admiringly before she proceeded.to put
it on.
won't l look just lov'ly?" she said.
.'Yes, dest lovely" said Dixie, turn
ing longing eyes to the place where, in
a box all by itself, his fathers new silk
hat was waiting for him to initiate it
into the ceremony of church-going.
"Pve got to do up my hair" said
Dot, and fell to making an elaborate
couture.
It eliminated in a comical bunch on
the back of her head, kept in place by
q dozen hairpins and her mothers
Then she put the bonnet
on.
"It's most too big, but I guess it'll
stay" she said.
Eyes. dess it'll stay" said Dixie.
''Ou dit fazzer's hat down. Dot.''
Dot climbed up on the bureau and
in reaching the hat-box on
the shelf over the door.
.'Ain't it purty?' cried Dixie. "See
it shine, Dot! / most know it's too
bid for me!''
Too big it certainly was, for when he
tried it on it slipped over his ears, and
his head disappeared entirely in the
depth of il.
II tan't wear it." caid Dixie rue
fully.
"You wait-rn fix it." said Dot,
ready for the emergency.
Eyes, you fits it, said Dixie, with
serene faith in Dots ability to help him
put of the dilemma.
Dot hunted about and found one of
her mothers aprons. This she put into
The top of the hat, and then mounted it
On Dixie head. 1t was pretty loose,
but it didn't come down over his eyes,
80 they concluded it would do"
''Hark! there goes Ned and Susy,"
,aid Dot. "We'n wait till they're out
Of sight. then we'll do, too"
And she adjusted the dolman about
her shoulders. 1t came nearly to her
feet al round, and gave her most