The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-02-05
.-nnn Arrop1oeRApHY on A DOLL.


the larger species of human dolls, and
commence my autobiography by saying
that daylight first dawned upon me in
the neigh6orhood of Paris. My nursery
was the large atelier devoted to the crea-
ton of high-class dolls, and l was more
fortunate than my human friends, mas
much as / had several parents, each OF
whom was responsible for diffrent parts
of nv frame, but one and all worked
with such harmony and took such
pride in their production, that the result
was-a beauty. Thus, when my large
blue ewes were first pulled open, they
saw nothing but admiring faces around,
and my pretty little ears we're saluted
with chorus of acclamations.
Then the foreman came in and was
presented to him for inspection. He was
very rough for he pulled all my joints
about till they ached again, and opened
and shut my eyes till felt giddy. Next
he eoolly proceeded to wind me up. As
no doll of spirit could stand such an in
dignity, | walked away from him with
naughty air and mincing steps. Then his
great hands again seized me, and he
ruthlessly twisted another piece of mech
anism in my delicate interior. .
bThis fresh insult was too much, and l
spoke aloud, but. alas! not with the in.
dignation intended; Mamma /!
mamma! love you. Kiss your Bebe.'
As repeated this childish remark sew
eral times, all around enthusiastically
applauded the American wOrkmen
who had so cleverly arranged my gift OF
speech. ...,
THAT will do" said the foreman; tits
a most satisfactory piece of work.
10 Nl.n Engh
costumer's where was magnilicently
dressed. and, being intended for the
English market, l was carefully packed,
and with several companions in exile, !
crossed the Channel.
NV next home was an immense linen
diapers in London. Here | was placed
as the centre attraction on the principal
counter with the mechanical toys. II
was gettiug toward Christmas, and from
morning till evening our department
was crowded with happy little boys and
girls, eager to see and purchase toys fol
themselves or for their friends. "Prin
cess Bebe' was written over my head
and had no reason to complain of lack
of appreciation from my court, but hao
the modification of seeing many OF my
companions bought and carried away 10y
their joyful owners, while still reigned
Impoverished
One very cold and foggy afteroon, wher
visitors came in reduced numbers, n lady
and her young daughter passed through
the rooms just before closing time. They
were selecting toys for charity bazaar
and were followed by an attendant witt
a large basket to put them in.
"Oh! mother DEAR" cried the little
girl, whose delicate complexion, fail
hair and violet eyes gave me my frs
throb of jealousy, "do look at that lovely
doll" and she pointed to me.
Eyes, miss said the attendant
princess Bebe is our show doll, and she
can walk and talk"
The child's pretty eyes sparkled, ant
she gave vent to a very round "oh!' o
astOnishment.
"Shall wind it up, my Lady," asked
the woman.
IF you please" was the reply, and
was wound up and placed on the floor
Lifting my limbs with dainty precision
| walked toward the little girl, repeating
my favorite speech, this time with a
much fervor as my small bosom would
allow-"Mamma mamma! | love you
Kiss your Bebe.n
The little girl was kneeling ant
when, as | approached her, she raiSet
me rapturously in her arms. exclaiming
"Oh. you darling! | wish l were you
mamma, you sweet Bebe."
A tender smile came into the lady
face.
"Should you like to have her YER
much, Violet?'
Il should love it, said Violet, huggini
me warmly.
Take care, dear, or you will crusI
Bebe's dress" said Lady TendertOn 10
that heard afterward was her name.
Then turning to the shOpwOman, sh
asked the price, and eventually it wa
arranged that should be added to tn
other purchases.
That same evening | was sent to m
new home, ritter, fear, a somewhat dis
dalnful e-taking of my acquaintance
on the counter, but it is not every dol
that is adopted at the first glance by til
aristOcracy.
"Ah! hal" laughed fierce little gen
eral who could only lift his sword as h
marched along, and who paid me marke,
attentions during my stay in the shop
"Ah! ha! My beautiful Miss Bebe, prid,
comes befare fall. When next we NEE
you may be glad to accept the addresse
of an officer and gentleman"
| only laughed at this remark, for
always thought the general with his alb
surd little airs, supremacy ridiculous
and took no pains to conceal my opinion
As for the rest of the men, the sailo
dolls, the little professional bicyclists
the trotting postman and the vulga
clown, whom had several times caugh
making faces at me from corner wher,
he stOOd-I left them all without wore
of any kind. | felt that l had nov
entered upon sphere in which acquaint
ances of this kind were unbecoming.
Lady TendertOn,I found, was a widow
and her whole existence was Centered il
her little daughter. Her ladyship pre-
scented me on the morning of my arriva
to Violet, and / could not help feelin,
flattered at the fresh protestatiOns o
delight with which she received me. Fo
the next few days was her inseparabl
companion, and was introduced to al
her friends as well as TO Lady Tender
toms. On all sides | heard nothing bu
expressions of qualification at my ap
peaTance.
Ata5 o'clock tea one afternoon on
drawing room was particularly full, an,
had | proved a greater success. On
elderly lady, whom afterward found h
be Violet's aunt, recognized me.
81 wanted very much to purchase tina
doll myself" she said, "but the price wa
rather too high for my pocket, and
when | found it had gone, | cOntente,
myself with mechanical soldier tina
marches along and raises his sword a
he goes ,,
"My fierce little general l thought.
Violet was standing with me in he
arms by the lady's side.
"Auntie, dear" she said. "what di,
you want toys for? You have no littl
Children
THAT is partly true, my darling, ''sai
the old lady, and she sighed deeply
"but have several children-I may sa,
tllousands-that look upon as belong
ing to me, and to you, too, Violet"
The child looked puzzled for a mo
ment, then said softly "Ahl ! know
auntie: you mean poor little children
whom you call 'gutter-babies, and VIII,
have no toys, no mothers, too, some
timeso .s:.
''Quite right. little Violet; and it i
for my 'gutter-babies' that 1 want the
toys"
How I shuddered in my young mis-
tress' arms to think of the degradation
had 50 narrowly ESCAPED.
Every Christians, my pet" the lad,
continued, "Truth gets up grand toll
show, to add TO the few pleasures tina
fall to the lot of the children in th,
warehouses and hospitals. When tn,
poor mites.are lying on their sick beds
think what comfort it must be fo
them to have doll of their very own t.
play with, and how they would appre
ciaIe beautiful creature like Princes
Rnhn rs an n1namnnt in fheir ward =