Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-07-10
NUMBER 40.

had no doll to train and Introduce. Hi.
nally, Mamie said one day: 81 wish
you had doll, Alf. Wouldn't it
be nice?" So Alfred begged his
mother to make him one, but
she said she could not, He must ask
his grandmother. Now. his grandmoth-
er was very fond of Alfred, as he was
her only grandson, and she set to work
at once. She made him doll larger
than any of those belonging to the lit
tie Grills, and he insisted that it should
be dressed like her, so she, quite fiat
tered, made it a little Vandylxe and cap
with frill, and pair of spectacles out
of piece of wire, II expect to see you
put back into dresses every day, Alf,"
said his father, who was great tease.
But his mother came to the rescue,
"Now, Alfred, stop! The child has never
had anyone to play with, and if he can
take any comfort with those girls, |
won't have him bothered.
All the little Grills were delighted
with this addition to the circle of their
acquaintance, and decided that she
should be called Grandmother Horn
The old lady bore her honors with greaa
satisfaction to all concerned for several
weeks; then there came misunder
standing. Carlo was giving the dolls a
ride, and taken them each in turn,
except Grandmother Horn, when, rs
Alfred was about to put her into the
wagon, Mamie insisted that her Belinda
inc Il. nj
old folks at home, she said. Alfred was
not willing that Grandmother Horn
should be deprived of her rights, and
they began to quarrel. 1t went on from
bad to worse, till Nannie's face was
like flame, and Alfred unhitched Carlo
and started for home. at looks silly
for great boy to be playing with a
doll, anyhow" said Mamie. ''rho
thilly," lisped Lottie. Now, Alfred
liked Mamie the best of the three, and
the words struck home, for he had not
yet lost his manly ideas, and to be
twitted by girl is humiliating indeed.
He never went out of his own yard for
three days, and lost all affection for
Grandmother; in fact, grew ashamed cf
her, and denied TO visitors that she be-
longed to him, but said she was Aunt
Elvira's, which was dreadful, for Aunt
Elvira was very grave and proper young
lady, who was shortly to be married to
minister And at last, to get her out
of his sight, he carried her up in the
garret and shut her into valise of his
| fathers,
Five years passed Poor Grandmoth
er was quite forgotten. Alfred was
twelve years old, quite ambitious at
school and on the best of terms with
the Grill girls. Carlo was getting old,
and did not do much but lie in the sun.
Billy had died two years before, much
wept over. Alfred's favorite amuse-
ment at this time was keeping store in
the barn, where he had veritable
counter and shelves and carried on a
thriving trade, being patronized by the
whole school, He sold shavings for
gingersnaps, and sawdust for sugar,
and newspapers for silk and calico, and
he had three jars of genuine candy,
which brought him as much profit as
anything. He still liked Nanny Grill
best, though she was q fearful tease
Once, when she and Mary Jane came
to buy candy-three cents worth
he rolled up five sticks, and
Nan suspected why, but Mary Jane
was slow, and insisted that they
should carry it directly back and
tell him that he had made a mistake.
SO they did, and Nan said, moclkingly.
81 thought you learned to count, Alf.
long ago." Alfred colored to the roots
of his hair, and said it was all right,
but honest Mary Jane sturdily laid
down two more cents, and Nan looked
as though she enjoyed his confusion.
1t happened about this time that Mr..
Grill was going on a journey, and wanted
an extra valise. ! have one up in my
garret that is just the thing, and will
sell 1t to you for song"
"Run over and get it, ALI"
The valise was brought to the store
and opened, and their lay Grandmother
Horn in all the dignity of her cap-border
and Vandyke. The gentlemen burst
into loud laugh "Alf, this belongs to
you, believe" But at the first glimpse
Alfred had shot through the door like
lightning. He looked on the time that
he spent in playing with dolls much DIS
an old man looks on the follies of youth
'Well l have paid for this, at any
rate" said Mr.. Grill, and locked it up,
and carried it home to his girls. They
recognized it at once. ut will be just
the thing to plague Alf with" said
Mamie.
The next morning, when Alfred went
out to open his store, he found grand
mother lying serenely upon the counter,
with u paper pinn ed on her Vandyke,
, bearing these words:
| GRANDMOTHER Horn, the beloved
/ property of Alfred Horn, Jr., after be-
| ing lost for period of years is now re-
turned to her sorrowing owner by tho
, hands of friends"
Aired was wrathy enough. He took
, poor grandmother to the woodhouse,
| mutilated her horribly with an ak,
, and stuffed her into the ragbag, and
! he did not speak to one of the Grills for
/ two weel1s.--J. d. Underwood, in N, Y.
! Tribune.