Nebraska advertiser., 1882-05-11
RAG-BABIES.


years old, used to spend great many
happy hours under the table, playing
with my ag-babies
There were not many dolls in those
days in the town where l lived, but
children did not feel the want of them
who had plenty of rag-babies. Every
now ana then mother made me a new
one.
They were very simple. Mother
rolled up piece of white cloth to the
right size, sewed the top together to
round the head off, tied thread about
the neck to make it slender, and then
sewed another roll of cloth, long and
thin, tight to the back for arms There
were no feet, but as the dresses were
always made TO touch the floor, that
was no matter
AT one time | was the happy possess
sor of twelve rag-babies, more or less
beautiful. Many of the little girls /
played with had rag-babies. too, but
mine were thought the prettiest, be-
cause, whenever mother made me one,
she always took her water-colors and
painted face on it. So mine always
had brown hair curling about their fore
heads, little eyebrows, blue eyes, rosy
cheeks and red lips, and were always
smiling.
They all had names, but l can only
remember now Susanna and Alice.
Susanna was rather large, and had a
pink artificial rose sewed on the top of
her head, which made her look always
dressed for n party.
But Alice was my darling. She was
the smallest rag-baby of all, and had
the sweetest little face, and little
blue dress. | do believe she would
| look pretty to me now if | had her back
again.
Susie Bradley used to come some
times with her rag-babies, and we
played house on different figures on the
carpet Julia Davitt came. too, but
she had a doll, and liked to play
! queen.
One day they were both at my house,
and the Cohen girls came in little
while after because it was wet, and their
mother would not let them play out of
| doors.
1--WE haven't brought any rag
babies said Fanny Cohen. "But
you Il let us play with yours, won't you,
| Maidie?"
SO let them each take two of mine
to play with, and we had beautiful
! time.
Julia took the easy-chair for her
house. | had mine under the table,
Sadie and Fanny chose figures on the
carpet, and Lofty Cohen took the
hearth-rug, because her mother had
said she must stay where it was warm,
for she had a sore throat. | remember
she looked pale.
She seemed very fond of the two rag
babies | lent her, and. said:
81 never had any so pretty as yours,
Maidie"
We went visiting each other, and
mother let us have cookies and sliced
apples TO pass around. My rag-babies
appeared to great advantage, and SUI
sanna looked really brilliant with her
pink roses on her head.
81 have a rag-baby bigger'n she is, at
home said Fanny, ''but I'll change
with you if you'll give me Susanna. "
But | had seen Fanny's, and
wouldn't change, would you? For a
rag baby with no eyes and mouth, and
with tlnger-marks where her cheeks
ought to be! | didn't care if her dress
10aS made out of an old silk apron.
AT last the little girls had to 90. Julia
carried her doll in her arms, and Sadie
huddled all herrag- babies into her apron.
"Come along, Lottie," said Fanny
Cohen.
Lofty laid down my two rag-babies re-
gretfully, and said:
81 love EN- dearly, and most hate
to leave emf
However she did leave them, and I
set up the whole twelve in row, with
Susanna at one end and Alice at the
other. Andyou don't know how cunning
and pretty Alice looked.
She had more timid smile than the
others, and her arms kept down, while
the rest held theirs straight out. If [
had known what was going to happen,
L should have hid her!
The next morning was sitting, inno-
cent and unsuspecting, at the window,
sewing some patchwork, when Lofty
Cohen came in and stood around. She
did not want to take her bonnet off, and
she seemed to have something on her
mind