Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-08-20
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.
Mamma" she said, one day, al
wish you'd play | was two"
"Play what, DottieP"
"Play | was two, mamma. You've
only got one little girl, and we vast an
other so dreadtully So let's play
was tIcO little girls-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, III be the other one. VIII you,
mammaPn
eyes" said mamma, smiling.
"And YOU must ask me, where's
you're siSter?' and I'll say, 'Oh, she's
upstairs, Or she's dressing her dolls,
or something. VIII you, mammal"
ayes"
81 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
curls are yellow, and so are mine; and
her eyes are blue and her cheeks are
red, just like NINE
"But | don't quite understand" said
mamma. Gam to have three twins,
thenP"
"Why, no, mamma; I'm to he y0ur
two, but I've got to have some one to be
the other one to me, you know"
1T is rather a confusing arrange
ment, | think" said mamma, laughing,
"but I'm sure it will be very nice in
deed"
"And oh! mamma-twins always
dress alike. Couldn't you make her a
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
of the blue bunting left, which was very
likely. Cook then came for orders, and
Dot, hearing the door bell ring, settled
waXen "Dotte" on lounge and strayed
into the parlor to see who had been
shown in.
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.
4" l have not seen your mother for a
long time" the lady said; "has she any
little girls besides you, or any little
boysP"
"Wen, we haven't any little boys
but | have twin sister-that is, yor
know" said Dot, coniidentially, 81 Plal
she's my" but here her mother came
in, and with the EXPLANATIONS, "Why
Janet, gOum and "My dear Ruth" the
two ladies met eagerly.
The visitor was an old schoolmate o
Mrs. Prince, Dots mother, who wa,
very glad to learn that she, with hel
family, had moved into one of the sub
urbs of the city, and was now living bu
few miles from them. The friend.
had not heard from each other for sey
cral years, and Dot sat quietly by for ;
short time, listening to their talk of ole
times. But Mrs. Bright made but ,
short call, and soon left, with promises
of pleasant visits to come.
Dot went for Dottie, and carried he1
up to the sewing-roOm to consult will
the seamstress as to whether there wa
enough stuff left, surety, to make her
dress exactly like her own.
The ''play | was two plan WORKED
very well. To be sure, Dots mothe
sometimes forgot which of her was Do
and which Dottie; but that really dit
not matter much. Dot found her twi
sister great comfort, for, if she wa
not quite as lively as could have bcel
wished, she fully male up for it in othe
ways. She was the most accommodate
ing little thing in the world. If Do
did not feel like dressing her in tn
morning, she would lie in her little be-
all day, cOntentedly staring at chubb
cherub on the ceiling papcring. Or,
she were set to learn lesson, she woul
sit for hours with her eyes fixed on he
book. She never wanted more than he
share of nuts or candy. She neve
quarreled with her sister, or NEEDLE
with her toys, and always did exactl
what she was told. All this, you know
is more than can be said of some twi
sisters.
Dot came one morning into the breal
fast-room, got her kiss, and eXplaine
that Dottie had slight attack of 9Th
nervous and would take her breakfa
in bed to-day.
"Dear metz exclaimed mamma {
papa, "IIow strange it is that one {
other OF these children is so often sick
We scarcely ever see both of them {
the table AZ once. You must be SUI
and see that the poor little thing has
good breakfast, Dot Something
this kind was expected to be said ever
morning, and gave a delightful tingc
"sure enough" to the make-belieye.
"Listen, dear" went on mamma, ;
she opened letter. "ThiS is from Mr.
Bright, the lady who came here In
week. She read:
MY children are 70 have little lawn par
ON Friday afternoon and l want YOU t0 con-
"a out and bring Che little daughter / saw
~ Your house, and the twin sister -hc told me g
whom did not see. Come hy the early ate
noon uoin. Nh BRIGHT viii Callfor Mr.. lrin
to como uy @ late train 60 dinner. Don't di
titF9W JCE JNNEt BRIGHT