Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-18
TWO WAR-TINEp DOLLS
now THEY RAN THE BLOCKADE
AND WHAT THEY CARRIED.
The First Yankee General Brought
into Richmopd-Christm shop-
ping in baltimore tnder p
cultics.
dnda Barton Hays. in the Youths Com
panion)

panion)
"Dolls. ma'am? Yes, maam; me
assortment for the holiday trade said
the proprietor of the toy store. we've
got musical dolls and crying dols anu
II should think crying dolls would DE
in demand in poor Baltimore now IN
terruptod the pale. pretty lady, with
faint smile.
..Well. no. not more than usual. ma'am.
It's wonderful how folks do keep up
Christmas. for all the battles and mourn
ing. Children are children just the same
in wartime. s'pose.
"Please let me see those in the case
said the lady. with some air OF impa-
thence.
"Ah. theso?" he said. lifting out TWO
dolls. Heads fixed on firm. natural halr'
solid. substantial dolls-no inside WORKS
20 Get out of order. Good. sensible dolls
ma'am."
The little lady. who looked like young
mother. examined the two dolls WIN
great care. pinched their legs ana arms
as If 10 ascertain the strength OF the
stuffed material. moved their joints anu
at last said: Eyes, these will do. VIII
take the pair
"Pity TO part such handsome COUPE
said the storekeeper, rolling 'he uo'
first in tissue paper ard theh III Di ~,
'Where shall ! send theh' ma ~. a. az, cha
ooh III take them with me, SAID the
lady she paid for them, put the paroei
,Dto n deem pocket inside her long CLOAK
drew down her thick veil, and LETT the
store. l.. ora an, ~
,he stores. went the yelled lady' Whle
new parcels accumulated IN the ST.
roclsets OF her circular. At last she e".
,crcd a drugstore saw at glance that
- one was there except the proprietor
ana with a significant look at him. passeu
ON through the store to cosey room AT
the rear. -.
The druggist followed her. Their snort
,,bienera5 consultation was interrupted
nv a customer entering the outer store
When the proprietor came back the lauy
said. Nobody there now?
NO: bat another customer may coiii9
any minute VII, ,r,re,
wei. depend on you. Nouh Dr'"s
it yourself? .,.A o~yhoav
else. But aren't yo- afraid
Afraid2 No. Afraid-wsen It's SO
much needed, l should be ashamed OF
myself if i were not glad 10 nave tne
chance. Good-by. They shall Know
how you helped me. Some day "heh a., =,
This trouble IS over. 1t will DO you soCu,
The veled ladys next stopplnS-piace
Voc evidently her home. for the door
onened as she approached and sweet
voice greeted heI. -,
80 child I've been so uneasy! saio
The yyhite-haired lady in the halL
"sh, mother deari Help me upstairs.
rs it all right, Alice? You wereh
sp!ed on? ..or,, tired
She sank upon the sofa in tneir Deui
and began 10 empty her pockets
"See. [ have the dolls, mother anu sno
unwrapped them.
'Why. they're too nice Ahce'
"But afterward 1 can give them 10
Iilv and Willie on Christmas.
poor darlings, They'll be glad 10 see
n real good doll again. And these are
strong enough. too. III ,o,.o
ears W. ono
sNo one can hear us, Alice. we are
alo,e for this evening. Come, I've Kept
your tea waiting. .bo,. ,os+
With something Of fear in tneir ldst
chances round the handsome DeuIooui'
fbey locked the door and went down stars
In The closed room the confusion vas
,erv different from the ncatnesS else
where Heaps OF clothing, dry-goods'
packages Of all kinds Uttered the chalrs'
ON TOP Of the parcels on the bed lay the
two good sensible dolls III one ooi =
nor q large trunk stood OPEN
l. oopearcd that some one was gong
ON q tourney. The young, pale mother,
Win such brave. brown eyes. seemed
scarcely strong enough for long ulp'
OF 4
but Il soon became clear she was secicuy
rrsnaring for one Of a hazardous nature.
When mother and daughter returned
they locked themselves in again, ana
went 10 work in a strange way. Ricn
dress-goods were torn into skirt-lengtns'
rneu and cambric and flannel cut by
natterns. and basted together; all man
nor of garments they began and left
unfinished. while the old lady grumbled
at the wasted labor.
But you see, mamma smiled Alce'
her Ittle gold thimble cleaving the air.
.the goods would be stopped as contra
band if l tried to take them IN whole
pieces. And they'll make over just as
well"
"Oh. this dreadful war; lamented the
elder. If only john
..If John feels that he IS right. mother
broke in Alice. firmly, but blinking PACK
her tears. my duty is with him. ana
lily and Willie are as well there as
here. You never saw babies grow faster
than mine"
but it's hard TO part with you again.
child"
eyes. mother dear, I know. But even
this little visit has been such comfort
John said 1 might not get DAY
81 the provost marshal suspected
An, i wonder if that's it?" She listened
and started up as the street door-DeD
rang.
Alice went down stairs. and returned
with a parcel that she put between the
"Wen. that's safe here. thank good
ness" she said. 1--WE won't TX the dolis
till the last thing"
They worked steadily on. The truhf
began TO fill; the young mother seeihe1
more and more given over 10 destructive
ness. Lustrous ribbons. creamy faces
nlrny handkerchiefs, all the elegant trine
of dress. she crumpled and made 10 iooi
Old while she placed them promlscuousl.
in the trunk AT last ii was nearly iuii
and she patted the dolls WIN =.
Mother, think what blessing
can only get through with these.
Alice had you better try It? ThereI
be such a danger"
"Not exactly danger-though they ma.
cause the confiscation of my fine new
wardrobe. Have you the glue, mother Z
ayes. everything's ready, Alice
"come then. my Willie" SAT-
the little mother, picking up the ma
doll" wen see If you can be useiu
as well as beautiful.
She took the package from betwee
tho mattresses uiaccd IL on the taDl