The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-11-09

soft, rosy cheeks between her two
hands, pressed loving kiss on the lit
tie mouth.
Cant | go, gamma" the pleading
voice repeated; but grandma hesitated.
why are you so afraid to have her
play in the attic, mother?" said Auntie
Nan. "She is careful little girl, and
she enjoys it so much. Do let her go,"
"Weli. darling" said grandma, slow
ly, you may: but wait Il moment" as
Midget started to fly off
"fou won't play at the head of the
stairs?"
mo, gamma"
Nor lean out the Window"
The yellow curls shook vigorously.
Nor get into any of the trunks?'
mo, no, gamma" and the curls
shook harder than ever. 'Tll member
it all--every single bit. Come on, dolly;
gamma says we can go up to the akkit,"
and seizing her favorite Betscy, Midget
rushed away,
"She thinks more of that old doll
than any of the rest" laughed Aunt
Nan, looking at the row of handsome,
finely-dressed dollies seated primly on
the sofa. at used to be my favorite,
too: but didn't have such as these to
compare it with
ut would have made no difference if
you had," said grandama. children
can take more solid comfort with an
every day sort of doll like that than
with any of the fine ones.
what comfort Midget isl said
auntie, lovingly. II wish Sarah would
let us have her all the time, though
don't see how she can spare her an
hour"
"She is staying up there long time"
said grandma, after awhile. 81 believe
I'll just go up and see what she is
about"
Now, mother" Aunt Nan replied
"what is the use of your firing your.
self in that way? Midget is all rights
she always does as she promises. I'm
going to get supper now: then I'll call
her" and the brisk young auntie bus
tied out into the kitchen, and soon was
at the foot of the attic stairs calling
merrily: Anybody up there that
wants raspberry shortcake for supper?'
There was no response, so saying:
"She must be asleep" auntie ran light
ly upstairs and looked all around.
No Midget was to be seen, so sh'
began calling, but suddenly stoppei
and sank to the floor with both hands
over her face.
There in a corner, she suddenly saw
peeping from beneath the lid of an OLD
trunk, was bit of Midgets little pink
dress.
Only moment Aunt Nan sat thus
then nerving herself, she quickly rost
and grasped the lid, faint and sick, but
thinking: at may have been very
long"
The trunk opened, and then she sank
on the floor again, laughing and crying
together, for there on a pile of blanket:
lay Betsey, robed in her mistress pinl
dress, and gazing sweetly up into Aun
Mans face.
Aunt Nan soon got up again, ant
grabbing the doll, gave it shake, say
! ing; 81 could almost shake Midget her
self for giving me such fright"
e = JusfEas she was beginning to hunt TO
her small niece again, she heard grand
| ma calling at the foot of the stairs
} "Are you up there looking for Midget
| You may as well stop. See here" s.
, with Betsy still in her arms, Aunt Maj
ran down and followed grandma to he
} own room There in the middle of tn
l bed was midget, fast asleep.
Her rosy little face was half-hidde
, in the depths of an old frilled musli
cap, not SO very unlike her own daint
{ bonnet
t A white Grape shawl was wrappe
v around her, and black silk skirt com
pleted her costume.
4 ITO think" exclaimed grandma, SC
e her coming downstairs in that dress
r What if she had tripped on it! That wa
e something didn't think of"
e Aunt Nan was laughing at the funn
little figure; and soon Midgets eyes be
, gan to open, falling first of all on tn
e doll which auntie was holding absent
mindedly under her arm, head dowr
ward.
{ 20 Auntie Man," Midget cried, i
{ tones of distress; you're holding Betse
Y so the blood'll all run into her heaC
:" Don't, don't. Give her to me-"
1 Aunt Nan hastily restored the doll
n a proper position, then laid her in tn
little mothers arms, where she wa
i Rugged tenderly.
Didn't her have nice bed, Aunt
o Nan?" said Midget. "What made 70
n wake her up for?'
n Then Aunt Nan told her story.
Grandma was shocked and felt yer
e sorry for her, but Midget said, a lit
l. severely: 81 t'lled gramma i wouldn
n get in the trunk, didn't |? So course
G wasn't me. You'd ought to have b'lieve
o me, auntie, and then you wouldn't hay
e scarf yourself SC. Is supper mo-
|, ready? Betsey and Use so hungry. -
{ A. Parker, in Youths Companion.
bA in