Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-04-22

| were far too economical to seek to nave re-
placed by dentist.
Still they were as fond of each other 81
ever, and very happy in the little frame
house, with a small garden about it, whict
they bought and furnished from their ssv
ings. Hans was also promised partner
ship in the grocery, and it seemed asthougt
their good angels had looked favorably up
on these humble and honest lovers. Theil
house shone with cleanliness. In their lit
tie paror vera the brightest carpet, tht
whitest curtains and the most highly color
ed religious pictures to be bought. A clock
set 10 Swiss cottage of carved wood tick
ed away between German china shepherd
and shepherdess. There was an escortoire
in which the bankbooks were locked up
and tho usual number of chairs and table,
also an enlarged photograph of Hans and
Ana, hand in hand. taken in their early
counting DAYS. Sacred indeed was this
apartment, but the other rooms were just
as tidy, and for while Aua seemed psf
fectly happy.
| There came time, however, when she
seemed to her late mistress to have grown
grayer-to be anxious about something,
She sighed, and when questioned answered
s;Yes, have some droubles."
Pressed to say what they were, she short
ly added:
81 Wait now a good vile for de good Lord
to send dose leetle childrens, and dose leetle
childreus did not come. And Hans, he waits
too.
But children did not come to them.
One day Hans, having been, as in duty
bound, to the church fair with his wife on
his arm and his money in his pocket. had
bought several pretty and useful things,
fob ,nt,oy ,afh ira rto ton
table--he hardly knew what-beeause that
worthy lady, the PASTORS sister, had re-
euested him to do so. Hans was economi-
cal, but to spend money at church fair
was religious duty in his eyes and Ana's.
It was the last day of the fair. and just as
he was about to leave the building the pas.
tors sister touched him on the arm and
said:
"Well, Hans, don't 60 without your
DOLL"
sMy dollp" said Hans.
"You drew the DOLL" said the PASTORS
sister. 'You had the lucky number"
"Ah, have no children to give doll
to-" said Hans, in his native language; but
he went back to the toy table and took the
parcel that was handed to him.
81 will take it," said Ana.
She carried it home in her arms, saying
to Hans every now and then:
''Tbis is heavy-heavy as teal baby, as
large and soft as if it were alive"
When they reached home she lighted a
light, and sitting down began to unwrap
the folds of muslin and paper, and shortly
looked upon one of the most beautiful OBJ
.jects they had ever seen.
1t was one of those wonderfully fine i'm
ported dolls that are really artistic. It's
face was as sweet as cherub's, its waxen
arms and shoulders had dimples in them,
its faxen hair curled about it's temples. It
had the face of little child of two years
old, and was es large as baby of six
months. When it was held up its eyes
opened; when it was laid upon its back they
closed. Ana stared at it solemply, and
suddenly uttered cry of rapture. Then
Hans, all this time attentive but remote,
stepped forward and knelt down beside ;his
wife. He timidly touched the coll with his
finger.
kiss it, then, my beloved" said Ana.
He obeyed.
This is no common DOLL" said his wife.
''This is doll child. The dear Lord has
sent it to US to compensate.'
Then they kissed it. That sht it lay
between them folded 10 a shawl The next
day the neighbors were astonishe1 by see
ing q cradle carried into Ana'e house.
Curiosity leading them to call, they found
Ana Sitting in her parlor sewing and softly
rocking the doll, which looked as though |
alive. She was making a nightgown for
it, No one dared to laugh-somehow no |
one wanted to laugh, for Ana repeated SOL
emmy a German phrase, which Can only be |
translated thus, at is by the love of God
given"
A certain superstitious admiration, such |
as they felt when they looked at holy |
shrines in the church on Christmas night, |
possessed them, and Ana played the mother |
tc her doll in peace. She dressed it as she |
would have dressed her own baby, held it |
on her knee, folded it in her arms and babe
it kiss Hans ON his return home at night, |
and actually in very little while there sp- |
peared in the entry of the little house per |
ambuator, in which Hans and Ana took |
the doll to ride every Sunday afternoon ex-
actly as other parents took their real ba- |
bies.
Just as quietly rs they had carried cut |
their long engagement these two grown up |
children carried Oh their pretense Of being |
parents, and the nine days wonder ceased |
to interest the neighbors in time, save when |
they told it to astonish sore stranger.
Alasl who could have thought that this |
curious play would end tragicalls? But it
did.
One morning Ana, disheveled and in
tears, appeared at her late mistress's !
house. Her sobs choked her utteranoe, but |
at last she contrived to say:
"Oh, madam! great droubles-great
droubles-de worst droubles dot can come!
oh, madame
sis Hans sick?'' the lady asked, fearing
that even worse hsd happened,
But Ana replied;
"His heart is broke like mine! Oh! never
can ve laugh any more-all is goner'
The lady waited for an explanation. 1t |
came at last.
''My baby doll-my dear, God given bs
by dolls dead!"
''Ana, what are you saying? A doll can
not die" said her mistress.
"My doll baby ia desd-she is killed
pens: Last night justfput dot child asleep,
put on her de little nightgown and set de
cradle in de parlor we're all vos still, ven
comes my goot friend Gretchen und her
husband und her leetle dog, upd make
some coffee On de table, und we drinks una
laughs. | links noding and Hans links
no6ng, but all de while Gretchen say:
''Vere goes dat bad dog?"
"Oh, ] say, he plays-never mind"
~ viah to be polite, but she say:
"Vere goes dat bad doga"
Oh, say, he plays-never mind
II Wish to be polite, but she say:
oven be is like dot still he does mis-.
chief
$50 ven We laughs und eat laetio cakes
und drink coffee a long time dey go away,
und she calls de dog und he comes
IT like not dot dogs looks my friend
say. He has stole someding. # you
have got some meat put away for breakfast
you find it not
''Qh, guess all right I say. But de
leetle dog lick SO on his mouth, und she
say:
"All wrong, l am sure.'
$50 laugh, und We all shakes hands
und go, und We goes in und locks up, und
Gays:
Now get my doll child and goes straight
away to bed,' und goes into dot psrlor
door Enit q candle, und see my child Bit
ten and eaten by cot dog on dot floor, uud
falls down und knows noddings."