Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1885-01-29
Bessie, ana buy some toys for them as

His wife eagerly assented, and they
spent the afternoon and good many
sovereigns in buying such an assort-
ment as they felt convinced would do
much to relieve the misery of many
friendlcss little sufferer.
"By the way, dear" said Mrs. Pol
and. II see that there is competition
for the best homemade toy. used
to be rather clever at that sort of
thing The mothers voice failed her
as she thought of the lost darling
whose eagerly expectant face had
done so much to inspire her dexterity.
The colonel pressed her arm in mute
sympathy. "Do, dear" he replied;
il will be n nice occupation for you"
They spent good part of the even
ing in deciding what form the pro-
posed toy should take.
What do you say to dolls houscP"
asked Mrs. POLAND, after several 9TH
er suggestions had been discarded as
impracticablo, ''made, you know, as n
model of our old bungalow. | don't
think it would be difficult
"Capital, my dear; you must set to
work at once, and | Il help YOU"
So the bungalow was duly begun,
and in time finished Off to admiration.
Mrs. Poland was really sorry when
the moment came to part with it; the
sweet and bitter memories it called up,
although they cost her many tears,
seemed to lift her out Of her terrible
sorrow, and, woman-lkc, she took
sad pleasure in reproducing IN minia-
turc the house whore she had endured
so much misery. The little model seem
ed to bring her nearer to her lost boy,
and she loved it almost as friend.
81 wonder who will get the bunga-
low she said to the colonel, when
the dolls house had been duly packed
and sent oil to its destination.
"l'm afraid cant say, dear" an
swcrcd her husband, "but believe we
can easily find out"
Il think | should like to know what
/ becomes of it,"
$50 You shall, Bessie; I'll see to
that, said Col. Poland, always eager
to crafty her every. fancy.
!
The scene was a ward for an East
end hospital for children.
Low-yoiced, ncat!y-dresSed nurses
were passing to and FRO among num-
bers OF little cots, each OF which con
tained some tiny scraps OF suffering
humanity. But the restless limbs were
quietcr than usual, the querulouS cries
less frequent; there was Il rare look of
delighted expectation upon the up.
turned faces eyes were brighter
checks flushed with n color that was
not altogether hectic, and small
tongues showed IN invincible DISPOSE
ton to chatter, which the nurses au-
thOrity could not alt 'gcther restrain.
For Christmas was close at hand, and
with Christmas came, so the children
had heard, all sorts of beautiful toys.
such as none had ever dreamed of be-
ing able to call their own; Christmas
cards, new siXpences, and joys won.
dorful and altogether beyond imagin-
alton. And presently rapturous eN-
pectation ended in blissful reality; a
chorus Of delight and surprise filled
the long, formal room, where cries OF
pain were, alas much more frequent,
and every child in the ward fondlcd
some toy which chased the look OF suf-
fering from its face and infused into
itsdull life new and exquisite pleas
urc.
One little fellow alone did not seem
satisfied with the splendid woolly don
key which had fallen to his share lie
cast wisttul and wondering looks upon
the prize which had been bestowed
upon his neighbor-a dolls house of 4
somewhat unusual pattern.
"What'9 the matter, BOb?" asked n
nurse, with whom Bob was an especial
favorite.
"Please, nurse, may l see Ada''
dolls house ?' pleaded the child.
'But, Bob, you know you ought tC
content with your own donkey"
80, please, nurse, may look al
it?'
And the good woman had not the
heart to refuse. Ada was II contcnteC
child, and was easily prevailed upon t'
rclinqush her claim to the dolls hous,
and to transfer her affections to thu
donkey. And Bob lay staring at hi
new toy asif he could never take hi
eyes off it.
care you satisfied now, young
man?"
But Bohs eyes filled with tears, ant
he touched the house with trembling
and careful fingers, rs though he hal
expected it to vanish away from hi
sight
Its like the house we used to liv,
in, nurse, ever so long ago" he said
This is where the nursery was; an,
mamma used to sleep here. o, nurse
nurse, shall ever see mamma again?'
'Of course you will, Bob, " answcrc,
, the nurse. with catch in her threat
and wondering what the little fellow
could be thinking about. "But chee
, up, darling; you mustn't cry to-day, o
Ill DAYS in the year"
There was stir at the other end O
: the ward, as some visitors entered t.
see the children and their toys, Tw
of them were u tall, gray-haired gen
, leman, very erect and stiff, accom-
1 panied by lady some years youngc
l lhan himself, with Il sad expression
: and wistful ewes.
al think, madam, your toy was sen
into this ward" said the superintend
[ ent, who acted as guide; ''but Mrs
: pricc will know. A dolls house. Mrs