The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-06-18

lHHt oHc nittN cun no WHAT anOIUtE tdO.
Tie story is plain-and need not say more
One Kitty had two feet, the other had four!
-Zitella Cooke. in our Little Men and Women.
ALFRED HORNS DAUGHTER.
The Many Trials an Innocent Rag saby
Caused = small boy.
Alfred Horn was seven years old, hut
teen at least TO have heard him talk;
there was nothing he resented quite SO
much as being called IA little fellow"
or "Alfie," and he never omitted an OPP
portunitv of telling that he was Alfred
Horn, jr. He had worn boots for two
years. and had actually begged for a
coat with tails.
You would never have suspected such
manly young fellow as this playing
with a doll, would you? But he did let
himself down to it, and that is what my
story is about.
Alfred had neither brother nor sister.
but he was very social and longed for a
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 beautiful creature with
long silky ears and spotted. curly coat
of white and yellow, and Billy. 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 IL merchant. and
had lately taken partner. Mr.. Grill.
into his firm: this gentleman had bought
house 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 bcdstcais or
tables a dog or eat, but there were
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
a 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 jus,
then nobody ever could tell. but just as
Alfred had set foot on the other sid,
and Carlos paws We're on the bar ready
, to follow. the dog gave a ferocious bark
and Billy darted away with bumped
back and eyes blazing like emcralds
, The little girls all screamed and raI
! into the house. Alfred was mortified
enough. lie boxed poor Carlos ears 81
soundly that he hung his head. foldct
his tail between his legs and did no
look up for half an hour. Billy climbc,
! upon the barn and sat looking at then
with very injured air. ;y and by TIN
little girls stole shyly back. and ALFRED
told them very politely that his do.
would not hurt them. and as he locke,
SD meek they finally venturcd to cone
up and pat his head Then they al
grew quite talkative, and he found tina
their names were Mary Jane. Nanni
and Lottie. At first he thought the,
looked exactly alike, but soon he foun,
that Mary Jane was very sober an,
honest: that Mamie laughed all TIN
time. and that Lottie lisped-quit
difference, you see. The doll
rejoiced in the names of Geraldine
Susannah and Belinda. Alfred ad
mircd them as much as ii was possibl
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 an,
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 Mr.. Grill's yard, and Carl
made himself useful by drawing Behind
and her companions in little wagon
) and Billy SO far redeemed himself rs :
submit to being dressed in a hat an
coat and riding behind the dolls i'm tn
, capacity, suppose, Of a black footmar
much to the loss of his ministerial dig
nifty. But Alfred sometimes felt him
self at loss, especially at their receI
: tons and dinner-parties, because h
had no doll to train and Introduce +
nally, Mamie said one day: II wis
you had a doll, Alt Wouldn't
be niece" So Alfred begged HI
mother to make him one, b,
|, she said she could not lie must as
!, his grandmother. Now, his grandmotl
!, er was very fond of Alfred, as he wa
: her only grandson, and she set to wor
:. ! at once. She made him IA doll larg.
:, than any of those belonging to the Ii
:, tie Grills, and he insisted that it shoul
!, be dressed like her, SO she, quite fla
= tered. made it little Vandyke and ca
). with frill, and pair of spectacles 0,
!. of piece Of wire. Il expect to see VI
y put back into dresses every day, All
= said his father, who was great teas
- But his mother came to the rescu
!. Now, Alfred, stop! The child has new
: had anyone to play with. and if he "a
), take any comfort with those girls,
"a won't have him bothered.
|. All the little Grills were delight,
il with this addition TO the circle OF the
e acquaintance, and decided that 81
I should he called Grandmother Hor
- The old lady bore her honors with gre
satisfaction to all concerned for sever
weeks then there came misunde
II standing. Carlo was giving the dolls