Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-02-06
DEATH OF THE DOLL.
The Strange, Sad Story of the Two
Minis.

vi i'OIdSts III Ntij'i al
In one of the little cottages of that
village, into which hunger had acct
dcntally driven mc--this story is not an
invention. it actually occurred as | re-
late it-a little girl of, perhaps, seven
years of age WI dying.
She was, it seems, the child of a Pa
risian, but u Partisan who was born and
grew to young womanhood at Bocagc.
One morning in May carriage
stopped before the door OF Mother Ger
ard, who now took care of vineyard,
but in her younger days had been a
nurse for children.
~ young woman alighted from the
carriage, followed by maid and a lit
tie girl, delicate and feeble, but very
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 goat; milk. Well you keep her
a 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, hrusquely, Il will take care of
your child, Mini: will care for her as
tcnderly 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 a large paper box
in which lay beautiful doll that could
say mammal" when one pressed a
spring.
The little girl had been perfectly ST.
lent during this time, but the great tears
were rolling down her thin, white
checks.
When her mother noticed that the
child was crying she made an inpatient
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 a touching appeal, mute
caress, q silent prayer, but irresistible
in its eloquence. The maid turned
away her head to conceal her tears The
mother was greatly moved, and taking
tho child in bpr lyiSso1 ~,
and again.
My dear Mini, do not cry, do not cry
any more. l shall como 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 flushed face.
Twill you really come back for her,
Nini?" she said in low tone.
"Certainly."
''Do not be too long about it, Mother
GelNrd said, significantly.
Truly, mamma, you will return"
surely, yes, but 40 not be impatient.
Goodbye; take good care of dolly.
Listen how beautifully she says
mammal" and the mother made the
doll repeat many times it's one word,
mamma! The child was silent
'She will be your little girl, and you
will love her very much"'
sob, yes" said the child with a 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, al
the same time crying for her owr
| mamma.
'Do not fear, Nini"-she had named
it for herself II will never leave you,
never! 1 am your very own mamma, dc
you hear? Your real mammal" And she