St. Landry democrat., 1883-02-10

Dear children are going to school. ..,r
--Margaret d. sqngster, ~ Haipeef aipe o'a'ss 1'A
People
WHO STOLE DOLLY'Sf CLOTHES?
It was quiet summer afternoon, and
I was sitting at my window. locking OUT
upon the lovely view that lay IN the
lengthening shadows before NE. Inc
hills were, ! deepening from a delicate l le
violet to deeper purple, the sunllght
was fading from the sky, WhlchWas flch
with it's crimson softness, and not a.
breath stirred to rouse the flowers from
their long afternoon nap. g81
/ .Baby.,' now six years old, Syas busy
with her doll, Joan D. Arc" by name;
so-called, because of her mysterious
I eyes, which. Baby thought, borf5 strlk-
| ing resemblance to those OF that ne
roine's picture Her wardrpbe dis
turbed her motherly notion ofstidiness,
and a small toy wash-tub had been
brought out from the baby horse, with
all the laundry appurtenances, and the
| little maiden, with the sleeves OF her
CAMP rolled up and an important look
on her 9aby face, was emulating the
| laundress' skill, with a consummate gut
for acting, that filled my mother heart
with tender pride.
At last the little dress was ready to be
| whitened, and I watched Baby with q
/ lazy smile, as, utterly ignoring the fact
| that the sun was almost ready to say
goodnight, she stepped out onthe little
grass-plot in front of the cottage, and
Stretched its, small proportions into
proper place. and, turning back. re-
sun1ed her stand at the little wash-tub.
How pretty she was, with the long, fair
/ curls caught back with a tortoise-she
pin she had taken from my cashion,
and her little apron turned up to ena-
! BILE her to realize more vivldiy her
!" situation"
But even with so enchanting a pict-
ure. before me, my eyelids slowly
dropped. and l only knew that had
fallen asleep by being aroused BY an ex-
cited little cry of trouble. "What has
happenedP'' I asked, starting anxiously
"Why! Joan D'Arc's dress has gone,
mamma" came the quiet reply; and
looking out, / saw Baby standing, 8
very picture Of astonishment, with the
rest of the dolls wardrobe wet ane
crumpled between her little hands, the
work of bleaching being summarily ant
completely brought to an end. @ S..
!. 1s5 ssGone!, OH that is impossible, -.
said, calmly; z Of course curse it is there e
dear. ...f Si*s.
But where, mammal came tht
question, so practical. that my Vagu.
assertion proved itself at once valueless
/ leaned forward, and looked out of tn
window, feeling bound toproduce proc
/ of nv superior wisdom. But, seeing
! no speck of white visible on the grass
/ plot, said quietly, with ready ingenui
. ty: ..Why, Baby, the wind must hav
t blown it away BAY y. .3 s3s.I .s..
i She turned her deep blue eyes to
t wards me, and stood quite still for
: moment, and then said, slowly: Blu
4 where is the yiaad, mammal .t
; Seeing it was the still, sultry day
> was, this logical question. only aug
= menting the difficulty as to the where
! abouts Of the wind as well as OF th
!, dress, reused me from my romancing
/, immediate action. got up from m
!, chair, and Joined Baby in the garden.
: After asking the usual questions ]
such cases. W.: .sExactly where di
YOU put it?'' .stThen where did yo
. gop'' How long did you staya" etc
!. i ad snJfnitun,, I sat down again. wit
q Baby standing by my side. an1d and tried
8 solve the curious mystery. s.sf.
: Perhaps some little child had straye
q into the garden, and, coveting Joan
dress, had absconded with it, whil
+ Baby was husy at the little tub; and
9 comforting her with the promise OF Al
!, other, which promise Itimmediatel
b proceeded to fulfil / went back to th
q little cottage parlor. q
d Baby, having spread the remaind'
Q of the dolls garments on the gras
came and, drawing her little chair b
Il nv side, watched me as / began n
n dress-making. 3, t3 E !.
n I drew from my scrap basket a dain1
ir bit Of dotted muslin and some prett
IS lace, and Joan's robe was fairly und
II way, when Baby, sprineging from h
b little chair, cried out. between despa
n and dismay:
d ssWhy, mamma, then Sc gone tool !
n followed her gaze to the empty gras
Ie plot, in utter bewilderment.
4, s.Some one must be the thiei3'
= exclaimed, at last: Here! Baby as
sudden thought flashed across my min
g. i.Take these little scraps of muslin al
lace, and dampen them. and lay the