The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-10-21
ChiIdren'S Corner
A LITTLE MOUNTAIN MAID.



the shop window; but ! suppose
you've never en- the toy-s' OPP
"Ao," Geo gia. said AGAR. Sh |
came up to where he WAS bu ing
"Aud ] never seed MN p'ayin'
with dolls afore, either" che added.
Doesn't you-uns have no work ter
do.
The m n had taken IF box and
u bundle of queer-looking sticks
which had been slung from bis
shou'de-. Now he left the jail aud
begun uufsstenirg the box. "Per-
hsps you'll thiuk my work a good
deal the same az doll-play," he saiI
lie took two o. three boards with
picture on tl,m from the boz, ana
leaned them up against the tree.
"Oh-hi" breathed Georgia.
'Those are the dolls mai e." he
said.
"But tt ats the livin' face Of Ja' k
son Barker" she cried, pointing to
one Of them. ado you.uns claim
ter ba' made bit ter look like that"
"Yes," he answered.
"Whst you'd tell me how"
The artist smiled. Jt's JUS by
trying--a good deal as it u with
you in making dolls" he explained.
She bent mp, close, and l1okei at
the board with it's BIT OF cIp,as
tackta on it. Then sbe turned II
puzzled face toward dim. "Bu-
this hyar's flat" she said, "an yet it
looks like it was and n out. !
couldn't do that. couldn't noways
make a dol tn a flat piece o
wood"
"Would you Ike to see me do it?"
She nodd d silently.
"Thep we'll b. gin with the for
eigner," he said. 81 suppose there's
no danger in letting him out now
that you're here to guard him while
paint" He lifted his lat & ngerly
with his finger and thumb, and he
and Georgia both laughed as they
saw the helpless way in which the
c5rncob doll glared up into the sun
light. Georgia set him up against
q tree in the severely upright posi-
ton which his construction demand
ed, ard then stood by the strangers
elbow, watching. His bunch of
brushes, the shioing tubes from
which he fquefzed d4b5tf color on
to his palette, the jointed easel which
he put together and set up so quick
ly and the camp-stool On which he
seated himself, were all fascinating
accessories to the making Of dolls,
either flat or round, ard she forgot
to be afraid. The st glanced at
the corn-shuch clothing of the for
eigner, and matched it with a mix
ture Of paint he Blended back and
foith with a brush. while h. asked
Georgia questions about the people
.on the mountain. When he began
to pant she drew closer and cl ser
until she was leaning at his very
elbow. Suddenly che car gh5 her
breath.
Happy Kingdom she murmnred
"you begun it fat, an now you've
made him look ter be a-standing' out,
an l was keepin' watch an, Wit |
didn't see you when YOU did h,.'
lie returned round TO laugh at
her, but when he saw that her face
was not only surprised but frighteu-
ed, he did not laugh. 'Pll paint
anotn,r and paint it slower" he
said, "and then perhaps you'll see,"
and, STOPPING, he picked up the gay
est of her dolls. 1t was dressed in
dark-red oak leaves slashed with
sumGc, and its head was hickory
nut on which she had traced features
with the faint red juice of berry.
M'll try to keep a pearter WATCH"
she said, grave'y, as the man touch
ed the oak.leaf dress upon the can
vas. In spite of his promise he was
temped to work so fest that for a
second time she would mis-, "seeing
him do it," but he was afraid that
she would run awav, and so he began
explaining to her how the form be-
gan to stand out when he put in the
shadows. She partly understood
him, and when he finished the doll
and began painting a background of
rough brown bark and shadow be-
hind it, she scarelv drew her breath.
"Oh, see You! | seed you this
time" she cried at the end; "an' be-
l'eve / could do hit too"
I" Do you know what want to do
next?' he asked, without looking up.
III want to make a picture of YOU"
An'put me over where you'd look
at me an l couldn't see tn, picture
begin to stand out?' she objected.
"You may come round once in
while and lcok." the younger man
promised. This seemed to be the
keenest person he had f1uud vet in
the mountains, where most Of the
people in their own obscure way are
shrewd.
She stood a moment ponderipg.
''Pll do HIT" she said. 'if yo1-uns'
I'll keep talkin' 10 me bout tbem are
dolls, like You was talkin' t. the fur
eigner. You know | amt never
seed a real doll. Nanny had O
when she was little, cause sh. lived
In the settlements: but nv amt that
lived at Crookneck Cove, smashed
hits head on stone a-playin' with
hit, so l amt never seed doll"
Her face was very wisful-too
wlstful for tie picture that the ar
list wanted. odd l tell you but
the kind that have eyes that open
and shut!' he asked, as he chose a
brush.
Georgia looked at linn eagerly. 81
wisht you'd tell hit eve. ter me-"
,he said