The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-07-06

made bell shaped. Within the bsA
hung a bunch of clappers made OF
reeds, which were supposed to repre-
sent the voice of the doll.
Il do not think that the little girl
finds these strange dolls very beauti-
full" said their guide laughing. In
one moment l will show you some that
you will admire more. for they have
come from the city of Paris. But flrst
I will show you a quaint doll from
your own America. She is not very
beautiful. either"
AS they walked on, Annie's mother
stopped 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 TIE great establishment OF
their new friend.
"It's Lydia Tree, know 1t Is,
know it isl" cried Annie, nearly In
tears.
It certainly was. In every partlcu-
lar the outlandish+ looking doll baby
answered grandmother's careful de-
scription. There was the knotted
wooden head with tie 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 a few words of explanation
she asked permission to take on the
sunbonnet. She had suddenly remem-
bered a 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 it SO many
years before; and there 1t was! The
curator was very much amused and in
terested but of course Lydia Tree haS
to be returned to her shelf for tina
time being, as she was a part OF the
collection.
do not know just how it was man.
aged, but the curator and Armies
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 no,
read it, to be sure, as it was all in
Dutch, but the paper is one OF her
most treasured possessions today. l,
| tells how Miss Tree had been sent tc
the fair by the granddaughter OF
long dead Dutch sea captain, who hac
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 thu
Atlantic once more in Armies owl
trunk. After landing in New Yorl
they went almost Immediately to pa!
| grandmother a visit. You can imag
inc how excited Annie was when, al
most tumbling out of the carriage II
her eagerness, she asked the old ques
ton:
Haven't heard anything from Lydii
Tree yet, have you, grandmother"
Nothing yet. my dear" said grand
mother.
well. have!" shrieked Annie. an
waving Lydia Tree before grandmoth
er's amazed eyes, she threw hersel
into her arms.
It was certainly q complete sur
prise; and when, after happy day
Annie came to grandmother for ne
goodnight kiss, she received one 9
even more than usual tenderness.
was the most beautiful present eve
received in my life," she said.
For many years afterward Lydi
Tree, after her stormy and adventul
GUS life, passed her time sitting in
low chair beside grandmother's bed.
Grandmother's glance was some
times little dimmed when she locke
at the old companion of her childhoo'
So many things had happened viii
Lydia Tree was on her travels
Youths Companion.