Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-18
THE ORIGINAL Of FAUNTLERoY.
some Interesting Facts About the Begin-
ming OF His Career.

II anything could be as delightful as
! Little Lord Faun'leroy." T. would be
Mrs. Burnetts account OF how Taunt-
leroy really occurred now running In
| the Ladies' Home Journal She tells the
story Of l;tlc Vivian Burnett, who was
made over Into the hero Of the popular
story very charmingly. Speaking Ok his
first appearance she says. Il saw no.
thing 10 warrant any suspicion that he
had descended 10 earth with practical
Intentions; that he frlYely cherished
plans OF making himself into the small
| hero OF book, the picturesque subject
OK Illustrations, the inspiration OF
fashion ia costume. the very jeune pre-
| mlcr in Il play over which people Ia two
continents would laugh and cry
she tells with what disapproyinS
haughtiness his elder brother. Lionel, re-
garded him, ana how on one ocoasion
he gave his ultimatum on the subject
Of infant inteIiOpers by remarking sue
cinctly. gov hlm IN 'er fire
Vivian, however, was not thrown IN the
| fire but grew in grace and graclOusness
day By day. lie WAS as friendly towards
all the world, according TO Mrs. Burnett,
! as the young nero whom she drew from
him. She tells a pretty story Of his
| abOunding cordially
one morning, before he was 3 years
old, he trOtted into the dining room with
a beautifully preOccupied expression, evil
IDENTIFY on business thoughts intent. The
breakfast was over. but his mamma was
still sitting at the table reading.
She heard the tiny patteriny OF feet
coming down the hall before he entered.
She had thought him with his nurse,
but H. appeared to be returning from
some unusual expedition TO the front door,
which, As IL was a warm, early summer
morning. stood open.
She was always curiO ~ about his mental
processes. and 50 when he trOtted 20 the
table with his absorbed air and stood
upon his tiptoes, making serious efforts
10 gain possession Of IA long loaf OF French
bread. she regarded him with interest.
lie was SO little and the roll Of bread so
long. and his intentions to do something
practical with IL were so evident Some
how one OF his al!urements was that he
was always funny. and ne was 80 purely
because his small point OF view was al
WAYS 80 innOccntly serious.
what does mammals baby w3nt?" she
asked. He looked at her with an air OF
sweet. good faith. and secured The bread.
tucking it. in all It's dignity Of proper
ton. under the very shortest possible
arm.
Lady" he said. lady. FONT door
want bead" Ana ne trotted of with a
simple security in the sense OF doing the
right and only admissible thing. which IL
was reposeful To behold.
His mamma left her book hurriedly and
trOtled after him. Such quaint BABY
figure he was with the long French roll
under his arm, And he headed straight
FOR the front door.
standing upon the top step was an ex-
ceedingly diapidated and disreputabie lit
tie negro girl with an exceedingly dirty and
broken basket on her arm. This basket
was intended to contain such scraps OF
food as she might beg Tor. She was
grinning a little and At the same time
looking a little anxious as the baby came
toddliDg to her. the sun on his short curls,
the loaf under his short arm.
lie dropped the LOAF into her basket
with sweet friendllness.
"B'ead, lady" he said. And as she
scurried away he turned To smile at his
approaching mamma with the confidence
OF a 2-year-old angel.
Lady, bead" he remarked sucelnctly
and the situation was explained.
The dirty little colored girl was hu-
man thing in pettlcOats, consequently she
was a lady. His tender mind saw no other
conclusion to be arrived at. She had ex-
pressed a desire for bread. On his ma
mas breakfast table there was a beauti-
full long loaf. OF course Il must be given
10 her. The question OF demand and sup
ply was so easily settled. so he trotted
after the bread The mere circumstances
OF short legs and short arms did not de-
ter a spirit like his
And it was this simple and unquestion-
ing point of view which made him adora-
Bile.