Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-11-23
A FASHIONABLE DOLL.

matter with Flossie, Myrtle2" said little
Daisy Walters, despairingly, as she
sat on the back piazza with her chubby
legs hanging over the edge. She
wagged them back and forth, knock
ing her heels until her mother called
out in q nervous tone, "lf you don't
stop making that noise, Daisy, shall
go wild"
Daisy stopped, but her little red lips
puckered up, and she had wee cry,
all alone. 1t was too hard to be spoken
to like that, for she loved her mother
dearly, and wouldn't have made her
wild for anything. Presently, how
ever, she thought about her doll again,
and stopped crying. II WONDER" she
said again, what can be the matter
with Flossie2"
There didn't seem, to any ordinary
observer to be anything the matter
with the little one, but mothers eye
is not easily deceived. There was a
disconnected look on the tiny face,
evident enough after keen scrutiny,
and Daisy had noticed for two days
that Flossie had neglected her meals
and had taken no interest in her after
noon toilet.
picked There wasn't another doll in
the whole village that was as well
cared for or lived as luXuriously as
Flossie. Daisy's big brother had built
her complete house, cutting all the
pieces out with his scroll saw and fast
ening them securely together, and the
entire Walters family had combined
in furnishing it as handsomely as the
most exacting doll could wish-at
least Daisy thought so. And the ward
robe that doll had! 1t was certainly
more extensive, SO far as the number
of dresses went, than Daisy's own.
Flossie was no baby. 1t was ira
dition in the Walters family that she
had been brought from England many
years ago for Daisy's grandmother,
when that good old lady was little
girl, and because they made dolls well
in those days, and because good New
England people keep their dolls from
one generation to another, Flossie was
still in good order and was Just as
precious as ever. Today, however,
Flossie was certainly not like herself
She sulked all the afternoon, and
although Daisy took her to the table at
the early tea and filled her plate with
the daintiest Elorsels there were, she
never once smiled at her little mother
and when she was put safely to bed
and kissed good night as usual her lips
never moved, nor did she answer even
when Daisy asked if there was any
thing more that could be done for her.
She slept in beautiful little crib close
beside her mothers trundle bed, and
was covered over with q silken crazy
quilt that was the very first piece of
real sewing that Daisy ever did. She
was usually sound sleeper, and SO it
was with considerable surprise, as well
as alarm, that Daisy heard her.
What is it," my darling2 Tell
your own mamma what the matter
is" exclaimed the anxious mother,
jumping out of her own bed and pick
ing the little one up SIS one of 90
tickle tootsies tummin' froo" This
she said, because it occurred to her
that her darling might be teething,
and she knew that was not only pain
full, but sometimes little dangerous.
Flossie had never talked before. She
had never even been taught to say
Gated dolls always do nowadays; SO il
SuTDrlSS
that Daisy heard he talk this time.
Il amt q bit happy" she said, petu'
lantly. you don't do half as much
for me as you ought to, and now it's
coming on for Thanksgiving and the
holidays, and / want so many things. y
Daisy almost let her fall. why
Flossie Myrtle" she said in blank
amazement. why, Flossic Myrtle
Walters, you ungrateful child Tn
sure there never was anybody that
tried harder to be a good mother than
l do, and I'm sure l never knew c
dollie that has so many things as you
have"
That's because you never trav
eled," said wicked Flossie, poutine
until her naturally pretty mouth
looked almost homely. Il had a let
ter from my cousin, Alice Hatherton
in New York, last week and the things
she told me about that she is going tC
have after she is married fairly make
me sick"
Married. A doll going to get mar
ried gasped Daisy.
why, certainly" said Flossie
scornfully. How old fashioned you
are. Don't you suppose that in these
modern days dolls grow up and ge
married to gentlemen dolls, and go t.
housekeeping, and have families, anc
keep servantsa Oh! it is enough tc
make any poor country doll sick will
vexation TO hear about such thing.
and not be able to have any of then
or even to see them"
Perhaps you do not know" sale
Flossie Myrtle, breaking off suddenly
''how many kinds of dolls there are IL
the world and how much has beer
done toward improving the social con
dition Of dolls of the first class"
Indeed do not" said Daisy, earn
sstly. do you2"
Il know something about it," sale
Slossie, though l suppose that living
u the country, as we do, l am no