The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-05-08


are accustomed to play with. So An
rie and her mother went one after
neon.
IL would take too long to tell of all
the curious things that made up that
wonderful collection--of the tops from
Iceland kites from Japan. stilts from
the Marcuesas islands. and what An
ME called "Noah's Arks," from Africa.
OF course what interested her most
was the collection of dolls. Annie
thought most of them frightful. and
felt great deal of pity for the un-
fortunate children who had nothing
better to play with.
There was very kind man there
who explained great many things
to Annie and her mother in faultless
English. He showed them the most
primitive form of doll from Mashona-
land. Africa. Simply a small lump Of
wood, polished and blackened with
age. with a few scratches on top to
represent features. The dolls of the
Kafflr tribes were little better; they
at least could boast of arms and legs.
Then there were dolls from West Az
rica, made of hard brown wood highly
polished The strangest thing about
these dolls was that their bodies were
made bell shaped. Within the bell
hung a bunch of clappers made of
reeds. whlsh were supposed TO repre-
sent the voice of the doll.
II do not think that the little girl
finds these strange dolls very beauti-
full" said their guide laughing. "ln
one moment will show you some that
you will admire more. fo~ they have
come from the city of Paris. But first
| will show you quaint doll from
your own America. She is not very
beautiful, either"
AS they walked on, Annies mother
stopped a moment to examine some OBJ
ject that had attracted her eye. She
was startled by a cry of Mother.
mother, mother! Oh, do come here!"
She found Annie dancing up and
down in excitement, waving something
about. to the great astonishment Of
their new friend.
ITS Lydia Tree, | know II is, I
know 1t is!" cried Annie, nearly in
tears.
1t certainly was. In every particu-
lar the outlandish looking doll baby
answered grandmother's careful de-
scriptlon. There was the knotted
wooden head with the yellow paint
features; the blue calico dress and
sunbonnet, the yellow silk braids. the
legless body. Annie's mother was
nearly as excited as her little daugh-
ter. With few words of explanation
she asked permission to take off the
sunbonnet. She had suddenly remem-
bered part of the story that Annie
had forgotten. If this really were the
long-lost Lydia Tree, her name would
be found cut in the back of her head
where John had carved 1t so many
years before; and there it was! The
curator was very much amused and in
terested but Of course Lydia Tree had
to be returned to her shelf for the
time being, as she was q part of the
collection
do not know just how 1t was man
aged, but the curator and Annie's
father laid their heads together and
managed it; but first one of the Am
sterdam papers published long ac-
count of the Travelled Miss Trees"
life and adventures. Annie could not
read it, to be sure, as it was all in
Dutch, but the paper Is one of her
most treasured possessions today. 1t
tells how Miss Tree had been sent to
the fair by the granddaughter OF a
long dead Dutch sea captain. who had
bought the queer doll from one of his
sailors, presumably the very man who
had robbed grandmother of Miss Tree.
At all events Lydia Tree crossed the
Atlantic once more in Annie's own
trunk. After landing in New York
they went almost Immediately to pay
grandmother visit. You can imag-
inc how excited Annie was when, al
most tumbliEg out of the carriage in
her eagerness, she asked the old ques-
ton;
Haven't heard anything from Lydia
Tree yet, have you, grandmother"
Nothing yet, my dear" said grand
mother
"Well, ! have." shriekcd Annie. and
waving Lydia Tree before grandmoth-
er's amazed eyes, she threw herself
into her arms.
1t was certainly complete sur
prise; and when. after happy day,
Annie came to grandmother for her
goodnight kiss. she received one Of
even more than usual tenderness. ut
was the most beautiful present l ever
received in my lfe," she said.
For many years aiterward Lydia
Tree, after her stormy and adventur-
GUS life, passed her time sitting in a
low chair beside grandmother's bed.
Grandmother's glance was some
times little dimmed when she looked
at the old companion of her childhood.
So many things had happened while
Lydia Tree was on her travels
Youths Companion.