Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-01-29
THE FIRST OF HER RACE.
A DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN OF
BEDFORD.
Patty. tho First Doll Ever Brought to
America, Who Is Now the Delight
OF tho Children of the Fourth
Generatio

III ING garry years Ol Tue reVOluOlOu
Boston merchant, who, like many
others was greatly disturbed in h1
business and domestic relations rather
than have his family undergo the pri-
vat'ons to which they might be sub
yected. removed them TO q place which
he hoped would be free from warliko
scenes. They set up q homo in
Andover and became the parishoners
OF Rev. Jonathan French, the famous
minister OF that town.
The cordial welcome extended by
the minister and his family to those
who had fled from the troubles of
Boston led the merchant to do some-
thing as testimonial of appreciation.
He had seen in London some remarka-
BILE specimens OF carved wood i'm dolls
and he resolved 10 import two OF these
limitations OF human life whenever re-
lations with the mother country would
admit
This he did in 1884. importing the
first. dolls ever brought to this coun-
try.
The two were exactly alike and
were called as twins. One of them
was for the daughter OF the importer
and the other for tho daughter OF the
Andoyer minister
The two dolls were regarded as rare
specimens Of art says the Boston
Globe, and the children who were so
fortunate as to possess them were the
envied OF the community.
When the war had ceased, independ-
ence had been acknowledged and af-
fairs in Boston assumed their wonted
condition. the merchant went back to
his old home and the intimate rela-
tions OF the families ceased to exist.
The doll that had been kept in the
merchants family was lost sight OF.
1t was doubtless destroyed more than
a century ago.
But not so with Patty. the pet OF
the parsonage. Abigail French. the
minister's daughter, was born on the
last day of May, 1875. She was 8
years Of age when she received the
treasure
Mrs. French did not fail to use the
London doll as n means of teaching
lasting object lessons She insisted
upon its being carefully tended and
thoughtfully and affectionately spoken
to. In Abigairs treatment OF the doll
the mother saw reflected her own
management OF the children OF that
old parsonage.
In 1896 Abigail French became the
wife OF Rev. Samuel Stearns, young
man who had studied theology under
the direction OF her father; from being
the daughter OF one parsonage she be-
came the mistress OF another.
Dressed ia a scarlet cloak and hat,
which are still in existence. she ac-
companied her young husband to Bed
ford. He had just been made the
minister of the town; but her duties
as the leading lady OF the parish did
not cause her to forget Patty, who was
brought to the new parsonage with
the brides wedding outfit and has
been kept there ninety-five years.
What Patty was to her first owner
she was to the thirteen children of the
parsonage and was always an object
of household regard. While the bows
OF course had other pets for close
companionship, they were taught TO
treat Patty with due regard for their
mothers and sisters feelings.
Cuff. the old family negro servant
and slave, never scorned to rock the
cradle with its two occupants if Patty
was one.
A little worse for wear Patty came
down to the third generation and the
grandchildren OF Abigail French found
their visits to the old parsonage of
added pleasure because OF the presence
"Old Fat Patty" as they began to
call her.
Members OF the fourth generation
still derive peculiar satifaction from
tending the household dol, although
they are loaded. as are other children.
with dolls that sing, cry and close
their eyes.
, Patty has been the solace for four
generations, through all sorts OF ex-
periences and is still stout and strong.
Her costume has been somewhat
modernized, but evidences OF the
colonial age are still apparent.
Her nose never OF the Roman pat
tern. has suffered compound fracture
and her cheeks are somewhat speckled.
presumably from her various ex-
posures of measles. chicken. pox and
the like
Among those who have tenderly
fondled Patty are eminent clergymen.
professors. artists. merchants. authors
and college presidents. Many OF them
have done their work and gone, but
Patty Is still at home at the old par
sonage in Bedford.