Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-03
MY SISTERS DEVICE.
A True Sketch of Life in the South
at the Close of the War.


Written for the Evening Star.
Think naurht trine. though 9, small appear:
moments make the year
And trihes life"
A ND SO IT PROVED WITH BELINDA's
"A half dollar II was after the war. and of
course, all Of our confederate money was
worthless. BIT for that Belinda would not
have felt the necessity of putting her wits to
work 10 earn what proved to be our deliver
ance from poverty. Our pecuniary situation
was this: We had plenty Of the worthless cur
rency and silver 5o-cent piece. which was Be-
linda's. Our old house. with its dilapidated
furniture, our scanty wardrobe, few books
and the silver piece made up the earthly pos
sessions Of John. Belinda and myself
And now how were we to better this state Of
! affairsS We talked over our position one lovely
baiiny night out in the open air. assisted. of
course, by our old NANNY. She was almost a
mother to us, a friend, n monitor. who ruled
us and told as our duty in q truly maternal
manner.
After an exhaustive research into everything
which seemed to offer even the remotest likeli-
hood OF being profitable. we came practically
10 no conclusion. As soon as John had lett
belinda said that she had brilliant idea and
as 1t was the first of its kind, she would tell mo
about it yet.
Accordingly the nc St day she sailed forth to
carry out the aforesaid idea. whatever il might
be- L watched her go, wondering what the
child intended to do. / had not long TO wait.
Tor she soon returned. carrying in her hand a
small parcel, which. after some hesitation. she
slowly unrolied and revealed TO my startled
gaZe-two dolls heads.
belinda" gasped. what does this mean2
Dia YOU spend your money for these worthless
dolls! What are you going 10 do with them
a "a hpal. f,rfl 49,,
Then play with them, suppose. returned
with whitening scorn.
Dear old nanny here broke in: Deed L
knows what dc chile means. You's gwine ter
sell en-, amt yer. hcney?"
Yes, that was what Belinda intended TO do
and clever idea it proved. elived in Charles
ton, 5. G. As every one knows that city has
always been great health resort and The visit
ors were ever in search OF amusement, of some
new interest, however email.
Belinda s idea 10 make bodies for the
heads. dress the dolls and sell them at one of
the hotels. As the child had spent her money
there was nothing to be done but to make the
pest OF the matter. SO did not express my dis
approval, but sat down with her. and in a
snort time the busts were fitted with bodies A
picture of Highland Mary and a bit of gay plaid
heiped US TO produce q Scotch iassie. A binck
velvet bodice over a white dress with chains
and ornaments of steel beads transformed the
other into Swiss peasant. Nanny was proud
them to the hotel and Try to dispose of them.
Then the momentous question arose-whst are
they worth, or rather, what can we get for
them? After some hesitation We decided that
aammy should ask 81 apiece, but that she
should take what she could get
In short time her broad shining black
lace appeared at my door wreathed in smiles,
While Ia her hand she held s6 Union money
Shrewd OLD nanny had taken advantage of
the admiration expressed for our handiwork
a N<l th.a,.
deed Oh, the bliss of success-the deligh, of
IL. Bus better was to come. Nanny had or
ders Tor four more and said that il she had
taken dozen she could have sold them all
Them northe-ners certainly is jes made uh
money. day is, she ch uckled. IA little missy
wants a dolly jes' like me-"
Here was a difficulty. White heads were to
be had, but where to find black ones That
puzzled US. However, in rummaging through
some OF the Old shops the next day We found
two India rubber heads which could be made
to answer our purpose. One of these was taken
FOR mammys order from the little girl. and
was great success. With the other we made
a waiter, just like those at the hotel. These.
with two white dolls dressed as fashionable
young ladies, were carried off by NANNY. VINO
brought us back Sl2. So the total earnings
OF our four days work was els. Pretty good
for beginners.
And SO Beliuda's half dollar grew and multi
piied ms long as the hotel season lasted Bot
"Aeu WIG "hlmSr weatner came the
northern people gradually departed for
their homes and our new enterprise was at
an END. had, however, saved all 1 could spare
from actual expenses aud mad quite snug
niue sum. This l determined should be de-
voted 10 the use OF my darling Belinda. She
and Jack Spencer had long been engaged to
each other. and. Jacks prospects were
Frightening they hoped before very long to be
married Tho sum l had saved would buy
Dehnaa Wedding anery, such as ali girls love
10 nave. when told her OF my plan she would
not consent at first but L finally oyercsme
her objections. and we entered into
deiighuul discussion Of the wedding outfit.
While we were thus engaged our brother rushed
into the room and informed US dehghtediy that
he had at last chance of securing employ
ment, something which the poor fellow had
been IN daily search of for long time After
telling us that the position was that of con-
ductor on the railroad to Gummerville he left
US to see 'the directors of the company When
he had gone Belinda sat in thoughtful silence
u