Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-01-28
HOW DOLLY WAS SAVED.


NV name is Hunt. Yes, sir; Anthony
Hunt. am a settler and drover on this
western prairie. Wilds? Yes, sir; it's
little else than wilds now, but you
Ihould have seen it when and my wife
first moved up here. There was not a
house within sight for miles. Even
now we have not many neighbors but
those we have are downright good ones.
To appreciate your neighhors as you
ought, sir, you must just live in these
lonely places, so far removed from the |
haunts of man.
What I am going to tell happened ten
years ago. I was going to the distant
town or settlement, to sell some fifty
head of cattle-fne creatures. sir, as
ever you saw. The journey was more
rare event with me than it is now, and
my wife had always plenty of commits
sions to charge me with in the shape
of dry goods and groceries, and such
like things.
Our youngest child was sweet little
gentle thing, who had been named after
her aunt, Dorothy. We called the child
Dolly. This time my commissions in
cluded one for her child-a doll. She
had never had real doll; that is, q
bought doll only the rag bundles her
mother made for her. For some days
before my departure the child could
talk Of nothing else-or we, either, for
the matter of that-for she was a great
pet, the darling of us all. 1t was to be
a big, big doll. with golden hair and
blue eyes. I shall never forget the
child's words the morning was start
ing, as she ran after me to the gate, Of
the pretty picture she made. There
are some children sweeter and prettiel
than others, as you can't have but no
ticed, and Dolly was one.
ga very great big doll, please
daddy" she called out after me. cane
please bring it very soon."
turned to nod "yes" to her, as sh
stood in her clean Whitley brown pima
fore against the gate, her nut-browl
hair falling in curls about her neck, an
the light breeze stirring them.
"A brave DOLL" I answered, "for m
little one. Almost as big as Dolly"
Nobody would believe, 1 daresay, ho'
full my thoughts were of that promise
doll, as rode along, or what mic
one I meant to buy. 1t was not ofte
spent money in what my good, thrift
wife would have called waste; bu
Dolly was Dolly, and I meant to do
now.
The cattle sold, went about my pun
chases, and soon had no end of parcel
to be packed in the saddle-bags. Tef
sugar, rice, candles / need M
weary you, sir, with telling of Their
together with the calicoes for shirts al
nightgowns, and the delaine for 81
children's new frocks. Last OF all,
went about the doll-and found
beauty. 1t was not as big as Dolly,
half as big (; but it had faxen curls al
sky-blue eyes; and by dint of pulli
wire you could open or shut the e
at will.
"Do it up carefully" I said to t
storekeeper. "My little daught
would cry sadly if any harm came to il
The day was pretty well ended befc
all my work was done; and just for
moment or two I hesitated whether
should not stay in the town and ST.
for home in the morning. 1t won
have been the more prudent cour
But I thought OF poor Dolly's ankle
to get her treasure, and of my o.
happiness in watching the rapture
her delighted eyes. So with my pare
packed in the best way they could bt
mounted my horse and started.
1t was as good and steady horse
you ever rode, sir but night began
set in before I was we'll mile av
from the town; it seemed as if it W