Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1910-10-07
The Doll


He had more tin soldiers than he
was able TO count, he had a drum and
a bat and ball, fire engine with real
bells on 1t, marbles and black lamb
that made a loud "baa" when he wag.
gei It's head. But he didn't have q
doll. Ever since he could remember
Norman had wanted a doll. From
the time when he saw the little girl In
the train hugging the baby to her he
wanted to have one for his own. He
had been with his Aunt Martha at
the time, and had asked:
What is that, 'tisn't really baby,
is it?"
"It's a doll" she had replied, and
he had said no more at the time. But
later, when the family was all assem-
bled he had remarked with irrelevan-
cy:
Mother, wisht had doll"
90, little sissy, little girl boy!" his
aunt had returned. "The Idea OF a
boy wanting a doll They're only for
girls" And she had laughed at him.
Norman hated to be laughed at worse
than he hated anything else except
to be called little sissy. and he
said no more about the doll.
But the fact that he said nothing
did not prevent his thinking about IT.
When he went over to the park where
the children played he would look
wistfully at the little girls with dolls,
and wonder why dolls weren't made
for boys. too. One day he thought
that II he had doll nobody would
need to know. he could go back be-
hind the bushes where there wasn't
anybody. and play TO his hearts con-
tent. But how could he get doll?
He would have to ask for 1t, and then
they would all know.
Norman was out in the front yard,
playing store with red sand and peD-
bles and grass. and beautiful pair
of scales that his father had brought
him the night before. He had weigh
ed out and measured innumerable tiny
packages OF sugar and coffee, tying
them I'D In great leaves from the
maple tree under which he was play
ing. He had delivered so many par
GELS 10 his mother In the kitchen that
she said she wouldn't need anything
more from the store for two weeks.
Then he decided TO take some rice
and some dandelion stems, over 70
the neighbor's house. She must need
something from the store. He crawl
ed through a hole under the hedge
and started around 10 the back porch
next door. Half way around he stop
ned I'm amazement There was
strange little girl sitting there, 1T
tie girl with tight pigtails and pret-
" blue dress. He turned to go back,
then he thought that she would be q
good one to buy at his store. He hur
ried on down the walk, and when he
was quite near her he hailed:
"Missis. Want anything from the
groceries to-day? Got fine things to-
day, LADY,"
The little girl held up her finger
warningly, and beckoned him to come
closer.
"Shl" she said in a loud whisper.
"The babys asleep there; you'll wake
her up II you talk so loud, and 1t took
me so long to rock her to sleep to
day; she isn't feeling good"
She pointed with plump forefinger
10 a pillow on the chair behind her'
Norman approached on tiptoe, went
up the steps of the porch, and over
TO the rocker. There. sound asleep,
was the most beautiful doll he had
ever imagined. She had tight sunny
little curls all over her head, her
cheeks were as pink as the lovely
ribbon at her throat and she had such
a pretty dmple in her chin. Norman
drew in his breath sharply with de-
light. That was a doll! He turned
TO the little girl and asked in low
voice. so as not to disturb the sleeper,
"Where doesn't she feel good?"
81 don't know, 'zactly," returned
the dollies mother. But she didn't
want to go to sleep bit. and had TO
walk up and down, and rock her and
every time | thought she was asleep
and went to put her TO bed, she cried.
Poor doll" commented Norman
softly.
"Oh. you mustn't say DOLL She's
baby. and her names Ruth. My names
Bessie. What is your name?"
MY name is Norman Gray. live
over there; where do you live? l
never saw you before"
81 live in the city. just came here
TO see my Aunt Beatrice. Do you
Oh! I've been talking too loud, and
I've walked up the baby" Bessie
leaned over and picked up the doll.
carried ii to her breast and began to
Groom gently, "Hushaby, Baby, Hush
aby. Baby" The dolls eyes closed
again. and Norman thought she was
asleep.
Lets play house." he suggested.
"You can be mother and I'll be father,
and we can both take care or the
baby" Norman longed to lay his
hands upon the doll, but somehow ne
didn't like to ask. He was afraid that
Bessie would think he was sissy
boy. The doll seemed to snuggle
right into Bessie's neck, and Norman
suddenly felt lonesome. 1t was almost
as though he was Jealous OF Bessie
"Yes." the little girl answered his
question, Il like to play house. Where
will We play?"
Lets go over on that porch. NO
body lives there, and We can have
our house all to ourselves" Norman
pointed to new house across the
| street
"You stay here and mind the baby
ordered Bessie, "and I'll go In and get
her clothes. She's only got her night
gown on now, and she might get cold
II we took her over that way. ]
| couldn't bring her carriage with me
| 90 I'll have to carry her."
II was on the tip OF Normanb
tongue to say: "0h. let me carry her
for you," but Bessie didn't give him
chance, for, with final warning not
| TO make any noise or to touch the
baby. she disappeared in the doorway.