The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-04-03


Fanthorne. the principal.
What can Il be-" echoed MISS
Nuns, the teacher OF drawing.
The family of dolls that lived n
the upper dormitory knew what IL
was James r, the rubber doll, was
being burned at the stake. He stooo
bolt upright in the wash basin, prop
ped there by pieces Of wood, TO one
OF which he was securely tied the
basin was heaped with paper, which
burned fltfully. From time to time
Mildred Alice. the Lord High Execu-
uoneer. encouraged the flames with
fresh paper.
Hell blaze away for dear life.
presently" she said, cheerfuliy, and
when he does the sorrowing friends
must shrek terribly"
The sorrowing friends were repre-
scented by Mary Marcella, the doll's
mistress. who, attired in the cooks
black shawl and Grape draped bonnet.
borrowed by Mildred Alice for the &C.
casion. looked mournfully on at the
sad spectacle. Real tears stood in her
eyes. FOR she felt for James r.
Little Jennie Dearborn. who had
. the next room TO Mary Marcella, and
who loved the dolls as much as their
mistress, also looked mournfully on.
You can sell his ashes to the sor-
rowing friends after he is al burned
M: that is half the fun" Mildred
Alice encouraged her.
but I don't want his ashes; want
him" declared Mary Marcella, OBJ
stinately.
Mildred Alice paid no heed to this
remonstrance. She WAS the only girl
IN a large family. and at home with
her brothers her dolls had been DOOM
ed 10 lives Of unceasing adventure. in
which such tragedies as burning at
the stake were an everyday occur
renee When she had come 10 the
school several days before Mary Mar
celia and Jennie were pleased that the
new girl showed an interest in the
dolls and had eagerly accepted her
offer to show them how she and her
brothers played dolls at home.
You know they always burned per-
sons at the stake in the histories,
she said, and especially the royal
persons. so let US begin with James r.
he sounds nice and kingly. Next we
can take Mary Queen of Scots, or"
and she cast dark glance at Miss
Fanchon. the beautiful French doll,
I'VE might behead the Princess Lam
bale"
Miss Fanchon turned her dazzling
glances away from the martyred
James r and bestowed them on the
Indian doll, the Young Brave OF the
Wabash.
And. OH" said Mildred Alice, en-
Enthusiastically. 1--WE can scalp the
Young Brave; that would be fun"
The Young Brave said nothing, but
il was noticed that he did not respond
to Miss Fanchon's bewitchments. He
seemed to be thinking deeply.
James r burned very slowly. He
is only smoldering a little at the
toes" complained Mildred Alice. She
heaped the paper around him and
lighted il again so that it broke into a
brilliant blaze.
Now, shrieks of sorrowing
Friends" cried Mildred Alice, excited
ly.
Mary MarceHa tried to shrek, but
her tongue Glove to the roof Of her
mouth.
Friends, I call upon you TO avenge
my death" pronounced Mildred Alice.
in q sepulchral voice. She was about
TO continue the speech Of the dying
man, which she gave in proxy, when
the door opened suddenly. There
stood Miss FanthOrne, the principal.
'Oh," explained Mildred Alice.
blandly. I'VE are burning James r at
the stake. His ashes are to be dis
tributed presently"
But Miss Fanthorne had not wait
ed for an explanation She picked up
James r by his head and dou=ed him
IN the water pitcher.
Go TO your ROOM" she said stern
ly TO the late lord high executioner.
.'.All three Of YOU Will report to your
class teacher for extra lesson punish
ment"
Mary MarceIla and Jennie did not
care. They would gladly have saved
James r at a much greater cost than
this
And what might have happened II
The frightfui holocaust had not been
discovered you and / cannot contem-
plate without a shudder," said Miss
Fanchon 10 the Young Brave OF the
Wabash, when the dolls were talking
II over that night