St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-04-07
SUSIE AS ssMIS, PEABODY. -

SUSIE AS ssMIs' PEABODY.''
There were FIVE little folks at the Hall
house, and Susie, only seven, was the
oldest. 't
A rubber doll had been given to Susie
when she was three years old, but the
twin boys next to her had played with
it, and the two little girls had cut their
teeth on it, so Rosa was most forlorn-
looking creature and many tears had
Susie She'd over her deficiencies; but,
like a true mother, none the less be-
cause she was not pretty she loved her.
Besides, she had a promise that, when
all the shoes and boots were bought and
paid for, all the new dresses, coats,
hats, caps. hoods, scarfs and aprons
were provided, she should have nice
new doll.
'.But shall love you most" Susie
had often told Rose since that old prom
isR made two years before, when Jack
split Rose Annabeps mouth from ear to
ear s
Susie's mother sewed it with white
thread, and Susie played the stitches,
were tee h; but Rose AnnabePs beauty
was not at all improved thereby.
Dolly Waite, an only child, livednext
door to Susie, and the large room that
was her nursery was strewed with play
things and dolls of all sizes and kinds;
but / am sorry to say that, while she
was very fond of having Susie come to
play with her, she had often compared
her wax and china darlings, in their
fresh silk and muslin dresses, with the
snub -nosed, ugly Rose. Annabel, till
Susie. with her mother-heart full of
grief, had gathered her sorrowful-look-
ing child to her bosom and gone home
to weep in secret.
But Susie was forgiving little puss.
and enjoyed seeing and sharing in the
luxuries of Dolly's home. So, when
Dolly called over the fence one morn
ing: .. Oh, Susie, mammals gone to stay
ali forenoon. You take Rose and come
over and visit me. I'll be Mis- Norris,
an you be Mis- Peabody an her baby.
I'll have a tea party. Bring your card
case with you,'' Susie ran into the house,
and after great deal of searching,
pulled Rose Annabela ont of the coal
box, where the twins had buried her
when she last died-they had funeral
over Rose nearly every day-and brush
ing her off, she dressed her in the best
she could find, and was soon on Dollie's
porch, where a tempting little table was
set in china and glass.
"Oh, my! where did you get this
candy?" asked Susie, dropping Rosein
her excitement.
e Now, Susie Hall, You srol every
bit. You must member you're Mis-
Peabody, an ring the bell, an leave
your card. an ask for Mis- Norris, as a
preachers wife ought to. You've
dropped your old rag doll on the floor,
too.n
Susie gathered up the doll. and an
swered fercely:
Now. Dolly Waite. if you're going
to say one word to me about Rose that
ISM tperlitc, / won't be- Mis- Peabody.
nor nobody else. = III II.
well, I won't any more if You only
do as said. = 8
So Dolly ran in the hall, and Susie
found a piece OF paper and tripped up
the steps and rang the bell.
Dolly hurried to the door, and with
many bows, said:
I'm much s prised to see you, Mis-
Peabody; take chair. No, let's go sit
on the porch You can play you don't
see the party-and call it the parlor,
Susie. [ see you have brought your
little daughter. How are her teeth
now, Mis- Peabody
.sOh, she's cut them every one! an
swered Susie, wincing with shame as
she looked at the long stitches, for
Rose mouth required to be sewed very
often.
..Do look and see how red Laura
Evelyn's cheeks are. I'm afraid she
has fever. I'll have to give her some
homely pathic pills, ! guess. Do feel
her pulse, Mis- Peabody, I'd be awful
sorry to have her die, for she's just got
this nice new dress and skirt!n and the
beautiful, rosy checked wax doll was
put down by the side Of poor Rose
Annabel, who looked shabbier than
ever. Don't you think Laura's
pulse is dreadful high, Mis- Peabody?n
Dolly's mother was an invalid, or
thought she was, and was always talk
ing about her '.high pulse" but Susie's
mother had so many children to look