The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-04

~ ERTRUDE never belleVed that
her doll, Jennie links, could talk
land walk and act just like she
l could herself, but think that
~ she believes it now. She told me
all about it the other night when she
was sitting down on the floor by the
sitting room fire.
You know Gertie has a whole family
of dolls, all sizes and shapes, colors
and nationalities. But her prime
favorite is her big doll. Clarisse de
Montague, who Is great big, beauti-
full French doll, dressed in blue satin
and a lovely white hat with a curling
ostrich feather winding around 1t. and
with finely worked silk and linen
underclothes. Clarisse has wonderful
real brown curls and big brown eyes
that open and shut. She can talk
that is, she can say Mamma" ana
Papa and "Ough," just like Gertie's
little baby brother, Louis, does.
There are so many dolls that 1t would
take too much time to tell about them
here, but she had one doll that she
always detested. She called her Jennie
links. She is about foot and half
long and is dreadfully homely, but
that isn't her fault. for her little
mamma has totally neglected her.
She has but one gown to her name and
that is dirty red calico dress.
Gertie was very sleepy the other
day-that day 1t was so holland she
went to sleep under the pepper tree out
on the lawn. In about five minutes
so it seemed to Gertie-she was awak-
ened by small but angry voice at her
side, and raising herself UP on one
elbow she peered over the side of the
hammock. Well, of all things! If there
wasn't Jennie links standing on the
grass, a most disreputable sight, with
her matted straw-colored hair stray
4, = -
fashion.
well, WELL" cried Gertie in great
surprise, 81 didn't know that dolls
could walk and talk"
well, they can" replied Jennie, with
a great show Of indignation, land / am
very angry at you because you treat
me so.'
Gertie had left her lying face down
in the dust near the WoodShed in the
back yard. Gertie was speechless from
mingled surprise and shame. The doll
went on talking.
You treat me just like an old stick
of wood. You haven't washed my face
for at least a month, and I haven't had
on any other dress but this old filthy
red thing for at least three months. l
think it's q shame to dress me too
badly for people to look at and I am
only good enough for people to step on
and knock around"
Gertie knew this very we'll, but she
had no defense, so the doll continued
her lecture.
There isn't button on this red
dress and you put in two pins and they
hurt dreadfully. You have just jabbed'
them into the very flesh and I wish
you would take them out!''
With a penitent sigh Gertie pulled
out the pins and tucked them under
the frill of her guimpe.
That's so much better" cried the
doll in relief "They have been stuck
into me for over six weeks.
and besides all this you leave me
and cold. while you put that conceited
!. cradle and tuck the silk and wool
blankets all around her precious
shoulders" with a sniff Of disdain)
land me you leave out here in the
damp night. That's a lovely way to
treat doll. Suppose your mother
should do that"
81 didn't know that dolls had feel
ings," said Gertie alphabetically. You
didn't" shrieked the doll, It'll show you
if they have feelings, and with this
she rushed up to Gertie and tried to
throw her out of the hammock. But,
of course, the little thing couldn't do
it, and, as Gertie heartlessly laughed,
she suddenly sprouted up faster and
faster until she grew as high as Gertie
no, higher-and started to throw her
out of the hammock. Gertie screamed
and sprang forward-but the doll had
fed; gone to doll land.