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

Most little girls are fond Of stories.
and Annie MacFarlane was no excep-
ton to the rule; but then, she was the
fortunate possessor Of grandmother
who could tell the most charming sto-
ries in the world. OF these Armies
favorite was a really, truly, live story
that had happened to grandmother
herself when she was a little girl An
ME called it the Lydia Tree story
and twice a year, for . few days at
Christmas and for q good long time
in summer, when she went to visit her
grandmother, they began at once with
poor Lydia.
Haven't heard anything from Lydia
Tree yet, have you, grandmother!
Annie would call from the carriage
door.
And grandmother always shook her
head and smiled, 1t seemed little
sadly, as she said: Nothing yet, my
DEAR"
This was the story:
When grandmother was little BIT
of a girl she did rot have as many
playthings as little girls have now,
and the few she had were SO plain and
homemade that the children OF to-day
would consider them very poor affairs
indeed; but to grandmother they were
simply beautiful. never having
dreamed of anything any finer than
her simple toys, it never occurred to
her that they could be thought ugly
or ridiculous.
Grandmother lived on a large fran
not far from the city OF Boston. AS
she was the only little girl in the fam
ily. she was greatly petted by every
one. In the long winter evenings,
when there was little to do, some or
the farm hands who were clever with
their pen-knives used to employ their
skill in whiting out toys for grand
mother
Sometimes they were rough block
houses that came apart, which you
fitted together puzzle fashion. Some
times they were curious trick boxes
made Of countless small pieces OF wood.
which only those who were admitteo
to the secret could open. Sometimes
they were wooden chains made OF
small links which had been cut from
a long strip of wood, which grand
mother thought made beautiful neck
laces. Poor grandmother! You see
this was long ago and she didn't know
any better.
But the toy of toys which had sim
ply filed her little heart with rapture
was-what do you suppose?-a wnite
birch doll. Can you fancy such
thing?
It's head was made of knot OF white
birch wood upon which eyes. nose ane
mouth had been painted with yellow
paint. It had a little blue calico sun
bonnet, from under which hung two
long yellow braids made Of braidet
silk. 1t had blue calico dress hk'
the sunbonnet. Its sleeves wer'
stuffed with rags for arms. and 1t hat
two little pieces Of wood for hands
Legs 1t had none; but then its dress
was very long, and grandmother neve
missed them.
III must De LudI lltIiC gins "hO -
intended to grow up into good grand
mothers have grandmothers' hearts
from the first. When this beautiful
doll was given to grandmother, sh
took it without a. word, and simpi'
sank down on the floor and Rugged
to her small breast with raptur
which made her speechless.
Haven't you a word Of thanks t
give John, my aear?" said grand
mothers father. He wished his littl
daughter to grow up well-mannere
and not to be ungrateful. Grand
mother simply could not speak; bu
she looked at John with such beamin
eyes that he understood.
That's all right, little 'un," ht
said, as he gave her brown hand pat
John must have had grandmother
aeart. sss
Grandmother does not remembe
how the doll came to be called Lydi
Tree; but Lydia Tree she was fror
the first. Never-until the terribl
day which we are coming to-wa
grandmother separated from Lydi
Tree day or night. From that day SD
forgot to be lonely or to feel sorry tbs
there were no little girls with whoI
she could play. Lydia Tree filled .
the empty places in her heart.
What secrets they shared! VIII
plans they made! And they playt
together SO happily! Lydia Tree WI
always thinking of new games-th'
Is. grandmother pretended that 1t vi
Ldyia Tree who thought of them.
One day in the early summer 1t ma
pened that there was great deal
work to be done for some reason
other, so grandmother was told
take Lydia Tree and 60 out and pls
In the front yard. where they wouldn
be under peoples feet"
So they went out and sat beside Il
horse block, as it was called, for
was the place where the wagons
ways stopped and where Peep
mounted their horses. The hors
block was the stump of an old tr
with a smoothly planned top, WIFI
made the most beautiful place In c
world to play store.
It was Lydia Trees turn to be stor
keeper that day. She was standil
propped up against the side OF t
block, trying to persuade grandmoth
to buy some very expensive kind
calico, which grandmother was
sure she could afford. They were d
cussing the important matter
whether it would wash or not, VIII
grandmother heard the clatter
horses hoofs coming up the road. Bo
she and Lydia Tree forgot the excl
ment of driving bargain In tn
interest In seeing who was coming