The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-12

Il want to take their measures FL
some new clothes. Jane she said a
the girl hesitated. land Won n,nstn'
say a word about it to Emma Ann"
Jane was interested at once, and il
less thai three minutes Emma Ann
treasured family lay in Milly's lap.
such clothes as they had on, Or,
dreSs was OF bed ticking. another of :
piece OF coarse bagging; a ragged dish
tower dld duty as a shawl, and piec,
OF an Old sheet was all that covered ;
big rubber doll minus an arm and ;
nose One young lady was fittinglv at
tired for warm weather in a costum,
consisting of faded green gauze veil
There was plenty of time to take a.
necessary measurements and restor,
the dolls 10 their places in the summer
mouse before Emma Ann returned, and
she saw no reason to suspect that they
had all been on journey during hel
absence
Milly found in the bundle drawer
all the pretty silk. satin and muslin
pieces she wanted, and her mother con.
tributed some morocco for shoes and
/
How Milly sewed that afternoon!
She had frequently dressed dolls for
fairs, and understood the work thor
oughly. She found sashes in her rib
bon-bOx, and ripped to pieces an old
straw bonnet to make little hats The
first dress she made was of blue gauze,
and she took from her box of embroid-
cry materials enough silver braid an
inch wide for a girdle. The time
passed so rapidly, now that she was in
terested and busy, that it was seven
o'clock before she was aware of it and
half the picnic party passed by before
she had given even one thought to their
return.
Half dozen girls came in to see her
! the next morning to tell her of the
events of the previous day. and were
very much surprised to find her so
cheerful and busy.
| But their surprise ceased when she
told them what she was doing for En-
ma Ann.
OF course they were interested at
once, and very naturally they wanted
to help, so as to have 4 right to share
in the little black girls pleasure. And
so. in less than half an hour there were
seven pairs of busy hands instead of
only one.
Alilly's mother gave the whole party
nice lunch at one o'clock, but there
was very little time spent over it. so
anxious were the girls to get at their
work again. And so untlring was their
industry that by five o clock every one
of al cd
with complete outfit
Emma Ann, unconscious that there
were fairies working for her, was giving
her family meager supper before put
ting them to bed.
How are we going TO get her away
from them?" asked Dolly Prentiss, anX-
iously. Il am just crazy to hear what
she'll say when she sees them all
dressed up"
Suppose have Jane send her on
an errand to the store?" said Milly's
mother. "She is an obliging little
thing, and is always ready to run on en-
rands for any one"
The girls agreed that this was very
bright idea, and they had the satisfac-
ton presently of seeing little Emma
Ann go out of the gate and down the
street, clutching tightly in one hand
the memoranda Jane had given her for
the grocer.
She had scarcely turned the corner
before Dolly was over the hedge and in
the summer-hOuse, gathering the dolls
in her arms.
Hurry! hurry! hurry!' she cried, as
she entered the sitting-room again, all
out OF breath. and flushed with excite
mcnt, there's no time to lose"
There was great anxiety for fear the
dolls would not be dressed and in their
places again before Emma Ann re-
turned, but this was needless, for she
was absent nearly half an hour.
She gave Jane the articles she had
brought, and then turned her steps at
once toward the summer-house. evil
IDENTITY intending to complete the task
of putting her family to bed,
The girls, peeping through the Stats
of the sitting-rOom window blinds, saw
her pause on the steps, and raise both
hands in aStonishment.
''De lan's sakeS." she calculated, and
too much surprised TO stand, fell in
little heap on the summer-house floor.
When she had recovered little, she
carefully examined each doll in turn,
her face expressing the liveliest salts
faction and curiosity. Then suddenly
she sprang to her feet and went spin
ming around like little teetotum.
''De fairy! dat's it! l was wishin'
she'd come along heah, an she's done
come while Use away. De Ian! dat
muster been pow'fu fine wan ter put
sech cloes on my chillensn'
She laughed, sang and danced in the
widest excitement, then, breathless,
sank down on the floor again, and again
carefully examined the dolls.
"Dey's mine! dey's cherry bit mine!'
she said. Won't nanny jis' shout |
when she sees EN-? Eben Eliza Liz
beth's got a dress" taking up the poor
squash, for which Dolly had made a
voluminous mother hubbard of green |
gingham. who'd a thought dat |
fairy'd 'membered Eliza Liz bethr'
She was still talking and laughing to
herself when the girls went home. and
she never knew who it was that had |
waved that wonderful fairy wand.
Florence b. HaltoUeil, in n. 7. Erans-
iner.