Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-07-10
GRANDMOTHER HORN.
The Many Trials an Innocent Rag Bah
Caused Small Boy.

The Many Trials an Innocent Rag Baby
Caused Small Boy.
Alfred Horn was seven years old, but
You would have thought he was seven
teen at least to have heard him talk;
there was nothing he resented quite so
much as being called "a little fellow"
or "Alfie," and he never omitted an OPP
portunity of telling that he was Alfred
Horn, jr. He had worn boots for two
years, and had actually begged for
coat with tails
You would never have suspected such
a manly young fellow as this playing
with Il doll, would you? But he did let
himself down to 1t, and that is what my
story is about.
Alfred had neither brother nor sister,
but he was very social and longed for
playmate. His mother did not like him
to associate with the boys in their vii
lage, SO he was shut up mostly to the
society of Carlo, his water spaniel,
which was a beautiful creature with
long silky ears and spotted curly coat
of white and yellow, and Billy, a cat
with fur as black as ink, except one
white spot under his chin, which made
Alfred's father call him Reverend.
Alfred's father was merchant, and
had lately taken a partner, Mr.. Grill,
into his firm; this gentleman had bought
ahouse on the street next to Mr.. Horns
and.the back-yards joined. You may be
sure when they were moving in Alfred
was very much interested in all of the
operations, and sat on the back fence
most of one day. Much to his disap-
pointment, he did not find out that they
had among any of their bedsteads or
tables dog or cat, but there We're
three little girls.
In day or two they came into the
yard to play with their dolls. They
looked very pretty to Alfred but sup
pose they would not to the little people
of to-day, for it was forty years ago, and
though their dresses looked very much
like the dresses of to-day, they wore
pantalets that came down to their
shoes, and their curls instead of being
tied back with ribbons hung over their
faces, almost in their eyes. Alfred was
not at all bashful, and he determined to
get acquainted without delay; SO he tied
string to Carlos collar by which
to lead him, took Billy under
his other arm and started to
crawl through the fence. Now
Carlo and Billy were generally
the best OF friends, and what in the
world possessed them to quarrel just
then nobody ever could tell but just as
Alfred had set foot on the other side
and Carlos paws were on the bar ready
to follow, the dog gave ferocious bark
and Billy darted away with a bumped
back and eyes blazing like emeralds.
The little girls all screamed and ran
into the house. Alfred was mortified
enough. He boxed poor Carlos ears SC
soundly that he hung his head, folded
his tall between his legs and did moi
look tip for half an hour. Billy climbed
upon the barn and sat looking at them
with very injured air, by and by the
little girls stole shyly back, and Alfred
told them very politely that his dog
would not hurt them, and as he looked
SO meek they finally ventured to come
up and pat his head Then they al
grew quite taltative, and he found that
their names were Mary Jane, Mamie
and Lottie. AT first he thought they
looked exactly alike, but soon he founC
that Mary Jane was very sober ant
honest; that Mamie laughed all thu
time, and that Lottie lisped-quit'
difference, you see. The doll
reioiced in the names of Geraldine
Susannah and Belinda. Alfred ad
mired them as much as 1t was possible
for a boy to do. / fear you would no
have thought them pretty or lovely,
isn't that your word? They were mad
of cloth, with the hair and eyes ant
mouth painted ON, and they did star
dreadfully. But these girls loved then
Just as well as you do your dolls wit
their blonde hair and bright black eye
that open and shut.
After this, Alfred spent much of hi
time in MIR. Grill's yard, and Carl
made himself Useful by drawing Behind
and her companions in little wagor
, and Billy so far redeemed himself as I
submit to being dressed in a hat an
coat and riding behind the dolls in tn
! capacity, suppose, of black footmal
, much to the iSss of his ministerial dit
nifty. But Ataed sometimes felt him
self at a loss H7oeciallY NJ their reeel