The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-01-24
HOW EDITH WON THE PARIS
DOLL.
A Story for the Little Folks.
Chicago Journal

beforehand, and the Willing Workers
themselves dated their preparations
months back. Such an assortment Of
tides, toiletrsets, mats, dusting-caps,
aprons, match-receiyers, pin cushions,
and other fancy articles too numerous to
mention, must certainly have necessitated
some time and industry bestowed upon
them.
Now the festive evening had arrived,
the parlors of the church had been gar
nished with evergreen and berries, and
decked with flags, banners and pretty
tissue paper devices, the tables had been
most temptingly arranged, and behind
each stood two beaming members of the
society, gay in muslin aprons and fanci-
fully-bowed caps. The center of attrac-
ton promised to be the doll-table, where
a whole regiment Of miniature men and
women were displayed, and in their midst,
as the cynosure Of all eyes was the lovely
Paris doll that Hattie Windsor, the rec
tors daughter, had brought on her return
from Europe in the Fall, and which was
10 be awarded this evening to the lucky
guessor of her ladyship's name.
There was not little girl in all the
village but would have given her best
Sunday gown and bonnet too, for the
possession of that coveted Parisienne.
Already it had proved bone of conten-
ton among the Willing Workers them
selves, who had debated long and earn
eBtly about the best way to dispose of it,
and would probably have restored it to
its donor in despair had not New York
lady, who was visiting the rcctor's fami-
ly, suggested selling it by gucsses for its
name.
Of all the little girls whose longing
hearts were filled with aspirations for
the waxen beauty, none, perhaps, wished
for it with more fervor than Edith Coles,
the village doctors daughter Miss
Windsor was her Sunday school teacher,
and with her Edith was great favorite
SO once or twice when the doctors little
girl had called at the rectory, she had
been permitted to look ut and caress the
beautiful, daintily-dressed young-lady
doll from over the water. And now, as
she stood behind the flower-table with
her colleague, Bertha Kimball, her eyes
were wistfully fixed on the pink satin
robe that adorned the beloved object,
who Mt the opposite table held regal sway
over the other dolls there assembled.
Edith had thirty cents that evening
to spend as she pleased, and every penny
was destined to swell the receipts of the
doll-table, in guesses. Scores of names
ran through the busy little brain be-
meath the muslin cap, and ambitious
hopes throbbed in the heart under the
snowy pinafore. O, if she only knew
just which name was the magic one if
some good fairy would but help her to
divine i'll
"Well, little Miss Coles, are you for
sale with the rest of your rosesW the
CHEEKY interrogative broke in upon her
reverie
30, Mr.. Robinson~ she cried eagerly,
not needing his query, edo tell me some
names, some that you think might be-
long to the guess-doll my head is per-
feet tumble of Lilies, Jessies, Claras,
Mables and ever so may more, and Just
as soon as decide on one, then I'm sure
some of the otlt't3 are more likely right.
What do 20 appose is her name?"
Mr.. Robinsn vas a kindly old bache-
lor, and Edith With her bright, indepen-
dent ways e1 happy face, he was
very fond of / but he had never been
little girl himself, and could not under
stand how deeply this little girls heart
was set on that particular doll nor how
serious matter it was to her SO he re.
piled with grave face, but II twinkle in
his eye
"Why, if you want my candid opinion,
my dear, / think that Euphrosyne,
Aphrodite, Calliope, Euryclea, Selene,
SchehercZade are as likely MS any others,
or perhaps Aglara, Lachesis, Polyhym-
MIA, Melpomene, or Euterpe would suit
you better, or possibly Juliet, who aptly
says What's in nameY that which
we'---,"
But Edith, who had looked ut him a
moment in bland amazement as the hail
storm of hard words fell on her ears, had
already vexed and disappointed, flown
for refuge to the library, which had
been transformed for the occasion into
general receiving and arranging room,
and here, girl-like, she INDUCED in the
luxury of hearty cry.
'No one will or can realize how aw-
fully want that doll she moaned, rs
she lay her head down on the desk
Mr.. Robinson makes fun of me, and
papa says he reckons can live without
it, and | know whatever name ! guess
will be the wrong oner' With which
melancholy presage, Edith's tears broke
out afresh. This second shower over
however, she lifted her head again anC
began abstractedly to tear bits from {
piece of paper that lay on the desk, wher
she was startled to read on the side to
ward her the plain subscription, Nam,
of Paris Doll" A food OF conflicting
feelings rushed upon her; here was thu
open sesame" to the wished for knowl
edge; she had but to open the paper SO
temptingly left there without envelop,
or seal, as if on purpose for her, and the
treasure was hers. Already her finger
were unfolding the leaves, when con
science pricked her keenly, and she hasti
y dropped it. No, no, she must not
How could she ever look good DR.
Windsor or Miss Hattie in the face agail
after such deed And yet, while thu
wayering, she glanced out the half-opel
door into the bazar-room, and there sh
saw, as If to complete the spell, the love
l.. Il - a. IL