The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-02-05
DEATH OF THE DOLL.
The Strange, Sad Story Of the Two
Minis.

Twenty-three years ago was at the
village of Bocage, in Central France.
In one of the little cottages of that
village, into which hunger had acct
dentally driven me-this story is not an
invention, it actually occurred as | re-
late it-a little girl of, perhaps, seven
years of age was dying.
She was, it seems, the child of Pa
risian, but Partisan who was born and
grew to young womanhood at Bocage.
One morning in May carriage
stopped before the door of Mother Ger
ard, who now took care of a vineyard,
but in her younger days had been a
nurse for children.
A young woman alighted from the
carriage, followed by maid and lit
pretty, nevertheless.
Mother Gerard, said the young wom-
an to the peasant, Il have brought my
little girl to you; she needs the country
air and goats milk. Well you keep her
few months?" =
The husband of Mother Gerard made
an impatient movement, but before he
could speak the young woman said: Il
will pay you thousand francs"
"A thousand francs," said the man;
'she is very sick, and the doctor will
have to be paid"
doctor or no DOCTOR" said Mother
Gerard brusquely, 81 will take care of
your child, Mini; will care for her as
tenderly as l did for you, my nurse
ling"
II am sure of it."
"Kiss me, little one" continued the
good woman, taking the child in her
arms.
The little girl did not wait to be urged,
but kissed her affectionately.
''You will pay in advanced" said the
man.
Here are the thousand francs; give
me a receipt"
The young mother then brought from
the carriage the child's clothing daintily
arranged in small trunk.
The maid brought large paper box
in which lay beautiful doll that could
say mammal" when one pressed a
spring.
The little girl had been perfectly 81
lent during this time, but the great tears
were rolling down her thin, white
cheeks.
When her mother noticed that the
child was crying she made an impatient
gesture, which she quickly suppressed,
but not before Mother Gerard saw it,.
The little girl also saw her mothers
displeasure, and stretched toward her
the little, emaciated hands.
1t was touching appeal, mute
carcss, a silent prayer, but irresistible
in it's eloquence. The maid turned
away her head to conceal her tears. The
mother was greatly moved, and taking
the child in her arms kissed her again
and again.
"My dear Mini, do not cry, do not cry
any more. shall come back for you
very soon."
"Will you surely Gomez" said the
child between her sobs, and covering
her mothers face with kisses; ''surely,
surely" she added, clasping her little
hands as she did when she said her
prayers.
Mother Gerard looked sharply at her
former foster-child, who turned away
her head with n flushed face.
Twill you really come back for her,
Nini?" she said in low tone.
Certainly"
$40 not be too long about it," Mother
Gerard said, significantly.
Truly, mamma, you will return"
Surely, yes, but do not be impatient.
Goodbye; take good care of dolly.
Listen how beautifully she says
mammal" and the mother made the
doll repeat many times its one word,
mamma! The child was silent,
"She will be your little girl, and you
will love her very much!'
''0h, yes" said the child with deep
sigh, almost sob. and she pressed the
doll to her heart The doll murmured:
mamma"
She really loved the little inanimate
thing that called her mammal She
spent hours in looking at it, in rocking
it, and in talking to it in low tone, at
the same time crying for her own
mamma.
"Do not fear, Nini"-she had named
it for herself. 81 will never leave you,
never! am your very own mamma, do
You hear? Your real mammal! And she
pressed the spring and the doll repeated:
"Mamma!'
Then Mini took it in her arms and
Rugged it tightly, as If she feared some
one would take it from her.
The consumption was slowly butsurely
accomplishing its deadly work. Her
eyes became more and more brilliant,