The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-01-11
Cousin Rob and the Paper Dolls.

Nan and Flo johnson had large
family of paper dolls.
The head of the household was named
the Countess of Cape Cod, and she lived
in the bay window Of the nursery. with
her five golden-haired daughters, two
sons, one son-inlaw, three grandchil-
dren and ten nieces.
No wonder the poor lady's face was
wrinkled and her hair gray, with the
care of all these people on her Shout
dersl
The little girls were so proud of their
dolls that they took all their visitors,
and some of their mammals, too, to
the nursery to see the Countess and her
! family.
Only one person had never heard of
them, and that was Cousin Rob- He
went to College in Briarsfeld and
took tea with his aunt every Sunday
night.
| The little girls did not like him.
He puts on airs and thinks he knows
more'n papa, and pulls our kitten s
TAIL" complained Nan; and we are not
| going to tell him one single word about
the Countess for she has too much care
school-boy to worry her.
So Rob knew nothing about the won
derful dolls, when he overheard con-
versation between his cousins one even
| ing.
''Ch, am so glad dear Miss Rose is
coming to visit us tomorrow said
Nan.
Now Miss Rose was the Countess of
Cape Cod s favorite niece. and she had
been in Europe for two years. THAT
means she had been shut up in drawer
for two days)
Of course, Cousin Rob did not know
this.
isn't she just perfectly lovelyp' he
heard Flo say, eagerly.
land so full of funr' from Nan.
'And wears such elegant clothesr'
added Flo.
How old is she?" asked Rob, sud-
denly looking up from his paper.
The little girls had not dreamed he
was listening, but Nan answered,
promptly: "Just se1 enteen and three
quarters this month
land she has been to Europe, and
can sing like mamma, and she is going
to stay three whole weeks put in Flo.
'Why hasn't Aunty Nanny told me
about herP'' asked Rob. Anyway,
will call on her very soon. If she is
stranger in Briarsfeld, she may like to
know some of the college fellows
What does ne mean?" cried Flo, as
he shut the door, Il wonder if he
really likes to play with dolls?'
why, Flo johnson! don't you see?''
said Nan. He thinks she is real, live,
grown-up young lady We muslin let
mamma tell him she is only a parer-
dol, and won't it be a joke when he
comes to see her?''
'Oh, what funi what fun cried
Flo, in great glee. "Cousin Rob
thinks he knows most everything, and
won't he be surprised when he finds he
doesn't?''
A few days after Rob male his APP
pearance, splendid in high hat, yell
low kid gloves, tight boots, and astand-
ing collar that nearly choked him.
The little girls made great effort to
look solemn, as they opened the door
for him.
"Come right into the library said
Nan. ''She has been sitting there
speeding you ever since she came.''
6 Miss Rose, low us to introduce our
cousin, " she added, finging open the
library door.
There in the big armchair sat blue
eyed, yellow-haired paper doll!
Rob grew very red in the face as he
stared at the small figure. Those saucy
little cousins of his had actually dared
TO play joke on him! For moment
he felt inclined to give them both a
good shaking, but his anger vanished
at the sight Of the broad grins on their
rosy faces, and he resolved to make the
best of it.
why, how do you do, Miss RoseP'
he said, to the children's great delight.
Il am happy to meet you. How do
you like Briarsfeid?''
Cousin Rob was actually 'playing pa
per-dolls. f" They had never imagined
such thing; and their opinion Of him
rose steadily for the next half hour.
| during which they introduced him to the
Countess of Cape Cod and every one of
her children.
Why, he treated them as if they
we're live people, Nan said. with SIGH
OF deep happiness, after he had gone.
And used to think he was horrid!''
moaned Flo, penitently.
''But he ism IT,
He is Just splendidi'
"As nice as Miss Rose
" A thousand times nicer they both
agreed next morning, when he sent to
| the house dainty box directed