St. Landry democrat., 1891-01-03

presents. In telling about them, she was
not so enthusiastic IS Nell would have
been, and ended by saying, in sweet, lady
like tones:
"My aunties are always so very, very
kind you know" =,
"I am sure they are, dear" said Mrs.
Hurd, land you are very fortunate IN u
having such good aunts to take care OF
YOU but what would you think If l were
to tell you of present here that has been
waiting for you since before you were
born p
Bessies eyes opened wide. and so did
Nell's, as they both looked at Mrs. Hurd
in surprise. =,
''Come and sit in my lap while / tell
you about it," said Mrs. Hurd. THAT is
the way Nell and l have our talks" she
added, smiling.
Bessie rose in a bewildered way, hesi-
tsting and looking from Nell to her
m other, until Mrs. Hurd drew her to her
self tenderly, and resting the delicate
little head on her shoulder, said:
This is the way Nell and l like to
talk"
Bessie burst into tears at this, and Mrs.
Hurd did not try to stop her for few
moments, then said quietly
81 want to tell you, Bessie, how dearly
loved your mamma"
You knew my mamma |" exclaimed
Bessie, raising her head. and looking earn,
estly at Mrs Hurd through her tears.
Yes, dear; we were little girls together,
| just as you and Nell are."
ooh, tell me about her please do
For some time Mrs. Hurd talked Of their
| girlhood days, while the child listened
eagerly to every word. AT last she asked
"And did you know her always as long
az she lived?'
Eyes, dear, but when 1 married came
here to live, and did not see her for sew
eral years. Then had dear little baby
| girl lust learning to walk and talk, and
sent for your mamma to come and visit
me- When she came she brought my little
| girl beautiful doll, dressed by her owr
hands, and she had made it look just as
much as she could like one we each hae
when we were little girls. She was very
proud of it, and said that if she ever had {
little girl herself she was going to dres:
one Just like it for her.
"Dld my mamma really say that? p asked
Bessie, and Nell thought she had nevsl
seen her look so pretty F.; for brig ut colo
had come into her face, and her eye'
spsrkled.
Yes" said Mrs. Hurd; and then sh'
told how her own little girl had beel
taken sick and died in a little while, ant
the doll had been laid away with he
other playthings, where it had been KEEP
ever since.
81 think now, dear, that it would pleas
both your mamma and my little girl i
they could know you were to have it
Nell, dear, it is on the table. Bring it t.
Bessie, please
As Nell went for it, Bessie sprang VI
and met her, taking the doll from her, ss
down and gazed at it as though she wer'
almost afraid to touch it.
"Does it please you to have itf aske'
Mrs. Hurd.
81 have never, never been so happy il
all my life before. 1t is just like having
little bit of my own mamma, and shall
love it so very, very dearly that 1t viii
help me 10 know that my mamma woul
have loved me, too Oh, can't tell yo1
how happy you have made me by telling
me what you did, and by giving ME this.
Mamma" said Nell that night whe
they were alone, 81 am so glad you neve
let US play with that doll. But didn't
hurt you to give it awsy?'
"Not under the circumstances, dear. ID
you think could have been SO selfish a
to keep it, when have so much to remin
me of my little girl, and she so little
remind her of her dear motherT
Mamma, think If it had been all 20
had, you would have given it just til
same. What grand thing good mothe
is, and how proud l am of mine ~
Chsldren's Neo Church Magazine.