The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-05-13

cause, whenever InOIner made me ono
she always took her water-colors and
painted face on it. So mine alwava
had brown hair curling about their FORE
heads, little eyebrows, blue ewes, rosr
cheeks and red lips, and were ALWAYS
smiling.
They all had names, but | can ONLY
remember now Susanna and Alice
Susanna was rather large, and had a
pink artificial rose sewed on the ton of
her head, which made her look always
dressed for 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 wouS
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 plav
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. "B1t
you'll let us play with yours, won't you,
Maidie?''
So let them each take two of mine
to play with. and we had a beautiful
time.
Julia took the easy-chair for her
house. l 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 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 Su.
sauna looked really brilliant with her
pink roses on her head. o..
Il have rag baby biggern 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
rag baby with no eyes and mouth, and
with flnger-marks where her cheeks
ought to be! didn't care if her dress
aOas 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 her rag babies into her apron.
"Come along, Lottie,'' said Fanny
Cohen.
Lofty laid down my two rag babiesr-
gretfully, and said:
81 love 'em dearly, and l most hate
to leave emp ..
However she did leave them, and
set up the whole twelve in a row. with
Susanna at one end and Alice at the
other. And you dom 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, limo
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.
Il wasn't very well last night" she
said, slowly, after while, coming near
er to me.
felt sorry for her. and she looked at
me with hesitating smile.
Il had to take castor-oa,~ she went
on, land | didn't want to take it, but
mother hired me-"
"What did she give you?" l asked
with interest.
"Oh, nothing, but she said if | would
take it she guessed Maidie Bolles would
give me one of her rag-babies, SO | took
it. and she told me this morning could
come over for the rag-baby."
There was Il minute of awkward
silence. l did not see then, and don't
see now, what business Mrs. Cohen
had to hire her little girl to take bad
medicine by promising her one OF my
rag-babies.
I felt sort of shyness about object
ing. and had queer feeling that II |
did not give Lofty rag-baby, then her
mother would have deceived her, and II
would be my fault.
My own mother had gone over 10
Aunt AIMS on an errand. so there was
no one to consult with. and when Lo1ty
said, hopefully: ....
"MayI pick out the one l want
now?" it seemed to me that there was
no help for it, and l crossed the room
with her to where my twelve rag-babless
sat in row. | had so many, surely
could spare her one. :,
But l thought of course she WOW
! pick out one of the two she had lovea
so dearly the day before. l almoS
knew which one it would be, the one
with the reddest cheeks
She hesitated, she looked up anu
down the row. began to be afraid sne
would choose Susanna; l never though
of anything worse than that! But she
looked up and down, and-she--tooK-
alice tfN fH'f .". .'''
l remember how badly / felt, and how
never thought of resisting. | suppose
thought must not. Perhaps felt
would not be polite.
At all events, she took Alice and WEN
home radiant. .......
And to this day I am sorry she did y,
| don't remember ever caring so MUCH
l