The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-12-24
THE DOLLS RECEPTION.

George Washington and Gen. Grant spend
Pleasant Afternoon With Several Fine
Ladies'.
Gladys CARING had issued invitations
for dolls reception, to be held June
-. from four to six p. m. and that mo-
mentons afternoon had arrived, great to
Gladys joy. The little girl in pretty
white dress and blue silk sash was fit
ting about nnder the great elm tree, her
doll in her arms. when the first guest
was announced-"siiss Belinda Graves ;.
And in dainty carriage, with parasol
held over her head by her careful man.
ma. IN - the open gate rode the young
lady. she wa. dressed in the same ele-
giant sait il which she arrived from Paris
a few week. before. and she smiled in a
patrnnizing manner at George Washing
ton. who sat at her side with a very
dirty face, minus one eve. lie looked
decidedly out of place by the side of the
fine Partisan young lady, but his dear.
little golden-haired mamma regarded
him with loving chances, and would
suffer no rude remarks to be made
about his appearance. Gladys, like the
courteous little hostess she always is.
insisted upon giving him the place of
honor at her right hand, where he be-
haved in the most gentlemanly manner.
not stirring ut all, but keeping his one
eye fixed on the dish of ice-cream. Aunt
Ruth, a large. good-natured looking rag
doll, was placed ut the foot Of the table
'She did want to come so badly that
hadn't the heart to refuse her." said
little May Ford. .'Ier clothes are not
fashionable, and they don't fit her very
well, but her dear old face looks SO good
And when | was i'll she never left my
side, but stared at me as anxious as
possible all night and all day. Icouldn't
bear to leave her home, and SO brought
her along"
And quite right. too" said Gladys.
I'm very glad you did"
One darling little mamma came quite
.ate. and ran into the garden hngging
her doll closely to her heart .Oh.
dear!' she exclaimed. lis Gen. Grant
too late for his tea?"
mo, indeed" said Gladys; .here is
his chair standing ready for him. and
there's nice slice of cake on his plate y
And when the general was seated
among the company they looked at him
with admiration, for he presented a fine
and soldierly appearance with his
cooked hat (which he had forgot.
ten to remove), his gold-laced
coat and his sword by his side.
He bore the marks of battle about
him. but that only made the ladies nd.
mire him the more. The mammas OF
the guests acted as walters, and. really.
their children. for such very small peo-
pie, must have had tremendous appe-
titles, tor the good things disappeared 10
marvellous way. The ice.cream van
ished quickly, but George Washington
did not take his one eye from the dish.
Perhaps he thought it would be re-
filled, and wanted to be the 6rst one to
be aware of that fact.
Gen. Grants hat fell in the jam, but
it wasn't his fault -one of the mammas
accidentally knocked against him.
It was . very pleasant reception. and
when six o'clock came everybody was
sorry. But all made ready at once to
depart Miss Belinda Graves was put
in her carriage, and she rode away with
her usual sweet smile, which seemed to
have become still sweeter since the gen.
erals hat was treated to jam.
George Washington, at last forced to
remove his eye from the ice-cream dish,
was carried off with his face hidden
among Mamma Marjorie's golden curls
Gen. Grants brother told the hostess
that the general had had splendid
time, though the general himself main-
tanned his reputation for silence by say
ing not word.
All the guests, as they babe Gladys
good-by, thanked her for the pleasant
entertainment she had given them, and
expressed hope that they might be in
vited to the next dolls reception that
took place under the great elm tree
Nancy Lee, in Detroit Free Press.