The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-18
,'DOE THE NEXTE THYNGE."
MRS. ]. H. PARSONS.

We sat together in her quiet room, my
friend and T, one lovely morning last
June, and with very few pauses III our
talk, were trying to bridge over the in
terval Of two years of separation.
One year ago on account of failing
health, she had been compelled to relin-
quish plan of literary work toward
which all her hopes and dreams had
tended, and I, who perhaps had known
better than any one else the greatness of
the disappointment, had almost dreaded
to meet her again. We had scarcely re-
ferred to the subject in our letters; as
she said, "The lesson has been read and
the book closed" but had often won
dered whether she would find any work to
take the place in her heart and life made
SO sadly vacant by the failure of these
plane.
In the course Of our conyeIs ation she
wished to refer to something in an old
letter, and by mistake opened the wrong
box in a drawer near her. CHANGING at
the contents with a curious little smile,
she said, ooh, this is lot the box, these
are only my paper dolls"
"Your what?" quoth astonished.
"My paper dolls. Perhaps you would
like to be introduced to them. One of
them is poet. She makes her own poe
try and sings it, too. She is our best
prima donna"
1t is quite possible that looked be-
wildered, for l was thinking. "Can it be
that my friend is losing her mind?" but
asked calmly,
"Will you please explain2"
"It is a very simple explanation if you
care to hear it," she replied. Last win
ter when the weather was too cold for
Robbie to play out of doors, and Lulu
had whole afternoon to dispose of
after the close of the morning school ses-
sion, mother and I were often quite at
our wits end to invent plays to help
them pass away the time. Older people
sometimes have too much of that valua-
BILE commodity at their disposal have
found"
Here Unjust say that fye-year-old Rob-
bic and bis sister Lulu, four years older,
are the orphan children OF my friends
favorite brother. There mother Is q stem
ographer in large business house in the
city close by, and only returns in time to
kiss the little folks good night at the
close of each busy day, and grandma Is
an invalid. She continued, "Father must
not be disturbed IN his afternoon rest,
and it became serious problem how to
keep the children pleasantly busy for
that part of the day. One particularly
cherries afternoon, when even the ve-
locipede had lost all power to charm,
and there was no virtue left in single
story book, L bethought myself of de-
light of my own childhood. Acting on
the thought inspired by the memory, /
wrapped myself mummy-like in veil and
gossamer cloak, and in half an hour was
a passenger to town on board the forlorn
little dummy engine that painted its
dreary way down the hill through slush
and snow. Two hours later returned
damp, but triumphant, with four paper
dolls as my travelling companions.
The next day was stormy still, and
the children appeared at the lunch table
with very cloudy faces, but the smiles
shone out when they found two tiny
notes beside their napkins, saying, Miss
Grace Maytlower and her friend request
the pleasure of your company in the Ii
brary at four O'Clock This afternoon
There was decided clearing up OF skies
indoors, a. once, and promptly at the
hour specified the company assembled
small but select, consisting Of Lulu, Rob-
bic myself, and this paper box, whose
opening was attended by as much Gu
riosity as Psudora's of old, and the de-
lighted children beheld four beautiful
damsels emerge, Respondent as to toilette
for had sat up late the night before, to
prepare them for their first party. Each
child was given one TO have and to hold.
and have always kept these two.
THAT was the beginning. The end is
not yet Little notes of invitation are
now eften found by the children's plates
at lunch time, and that means TO them a
whole afternoon Of happy anticipation
and pleasant employment preparing their
rapidly increasing family for high teas
lecture or concert, and when my doll
and are invited in return, We never fail
10 respond in person. Would yon like
10 see the opera houee?"
She led the way to the upper hall and
lifted the cover of a strong pasteboard