The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-08
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 50. 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 attentiyely, though mamma
wondered what brought such a pre-
picked look on her little daughters
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 Saturday."
:.Nline, and New-Year' Shay, 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 | say just what / want?'
answered Dot.
"Cer,ainly, darling," said mamma,
wondering.
"Then mamma, if you are perfectly
wiling" said Dot, hesitating. and
dropping stitch in the dolly's afghan
she was crocheting, Il should like to
make feast"
Mrs. Leonard believed in letting little
girls talk frankly. especially to theil
mothers, so without seeming to notice
Dots peculiar way of speaking, sht
said, Eyes. dear, if that is what YOU
would like best; and whom will you in
, yite to your feast?" and drawing ava,
the pretty worsted, she took Dot on he
3 lap.
"Grandma Baine first" said Dot
smoothing her mother brown hair witt
quiet hands.
"Gyuudma Boiner' exclaimed nam
: ma. this time so much surprised sh
u could not help showing it, for Grandm
=. Baine was a poor, blind woman VIII
lived in the neighborhood. and kni
mittens and stockings. "What mad
you think of herr"
Z. "She knit my play.mittens for me,
y said Dot, ''anG gave me a bright ba
- made of ends Of yarn, and l want her
) come.'
- - "Who else?" asked mamma.
- "Jane Hesler,' promptly answere
~ Dot, showing that her list had bee
~ made up in her mind before. jar
= Hesler was lame girl in the little brow
~ house on the corner; she could n
= leave her chair, but made baskets for
a. living, one of which had found its W;
H. into Dots hand, full of flowers from h
y table in the south window.
r. "Who next?' again asked MI
"" Leonard.
q IL would like the washerwomar
~ little girls to come, mamma, for win
III she washed my doll clothes Monday s
. AZ said she wondered what Kitty and Nj
~ ly would say if they saw them; and
- want them to have good play in \
w w playhouse"
,r' "Wel," said Mrs. Leonard, "a
ne others?'
'e; Eyes, mother dear, do you suppc
'lu we could find that little boy who begg
V here Yesterday? He was so ragg
J. and dirty, and looked at Mary's cal
ler as if he had never tasted anything Ii
me them: so gave him two. though Ms
ny said / mustn't. I'd like to have h
~; come if we could find him, for he wo'
leu like the cake and nice things So
.es "Dot, darling said Mrs. teona1
l leu drawing her closer and giving her OF
Inc two and three kisses, "why don't y
leo want your cousins and schoolmates
vited?'' :,
,tlv "Why, mamma said Dot, look
rty up with surprise, what ala papa n
me this morning in the Bible? When
en-. make feast do not invite your trlel
or rich neighbors, for they will inv
you again; but ask the poor, the Ia
Bull and the blind, and ye shat be b'essed
afty want Grandma Baine and Jane He'
met and Kitty and Molly Flanagan and
lip poor little boy. if we can find him. >
Mamma answered, cheerily, "
will try, dear; he said he lived
Water Street, near the wharf, and