The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1911-12-15
DoRA's UNLuckY STAR.
Augusta Gailliard.


own coral breastpin, dropped huge
cologne stand filed to the brim with
the very choicest violet perfume, de-
luging the Smyrna rug and overflow
ing her mothers heart with grief,
for it was a Christmas present just
received. Had she not fallen from
the chicken house into the duck
pond below, snagging her fine en-
broidered muslin dress and infiicting
severe injury to her unfortunate per-
son; was it not sporting with disas-
ter to entrust such a one with any
mission, who could not perform the
most trivial service without mishap? /
Her mother was a superstitious
woman and feryently avowed, my
child was born under an unlucky |
STAR" and indeed was not the sum- /
mary of her many misfortunes con-
elusive evidence of some evil agen-
cy at work at the very beginning Of |
her adventurous career, and for |
which her mother determined no
other remedy was so availing or more
potent than the rod. She was I'M
compromising in her convictions and +
kept always nearby stalwart hic-
kory as visible rmeinder of break |
ers ahead. She never finched nor
wavered, so she proudly admitted in
melting out the proper chastisement.
Sometimes in lieu of the regenerat-
ing power of the rod she inflicted,
from Doras point of view, a still
greater penalty; she compelled her
to forfeit some coveted pleasure or
outing, to repent in solitude and tears
her youthful transgressions.
The knowledge that ones special
calling is to be unlucky is not cheer
ing, and Dora so often reminded felt
greatly scandalized for having made
her advent under such unfaVorable
auspices, but she nevertheless was
very daring and reckless, always on
the alert for mischief, and as the
unsuspecting stars were held respon-
sibIe for her evil tendencies, she came
to regard herself in vague sort Of
way as destined Of heaven to spread
disaster, with her mother as a meme
sis behind her, whose ardor would
not relax nor whose judgments re-
lent.
Just here l shall tell you that Dora
was little southern Negro girl and
lived in the town of N--on the
Mississippi river in a neat little cot
tage, where the air was laden with
the perfume of the honeysuckle, sweet
ollie and magnolia; where the crepe
myrtle, nasturtian, verbena, rose and
violet bloomed rampant In the front
yard in a most artistic and delight
full profusion. Behind the cistern
house in big shady nook stood the
friendliest of old fig trees, waving
their ample boughs in the most south.
ern hospitality style, as If inviting
one to partake of their generous shade
and toothsome sweets.
To show you how subtle and In
sidious were the devices of Dora's
star, / shall tell you Of time when
the evil was in its ascendency and all
the bad luck came streaming upon
her. One night her aunt, who lived
in a little town in Louisiana, up the
Mississippi river, came down on the
boat to visit her sister. She was
a staunch ally of her niece and COM
rade, and had saved her in many
dilemma. Dora was asleep when her
aunt arrived, but the latter had
brought a lusty little pig with her
and he, in accordance to the tradl-
zion, proceeded TO squeal. This arous-
ed and startled Dora, who, at the same
time recognized her aunt's voice,
and bounded out of bed, wild with
rapture and saluted her with many
embraces and noisy queries. rs the
pig for me? Are you going to our
picnic day after tomorrow? How
many pigs have you? Will he eat up
the little chickens? Will Trailer get
him? Have you brought me anything
else?"
Hush and go to bed, your aunty
will be there in the morning and the
pig is fer the barbecue. Go on to
bed so you can help me get break
fast" shouted her mother from an
adjoining room, which she was put
ting in order for her sister.
Going on the porch, she took the
lamenting pig, sack and all, and emp
tied him into the coal bin. Return
ing to the house, she repeated her
command to Dora, who violently pro-
tested and begged to be allowed to
go and see the piggy. Mind your
mamma, honey" said aunty, who
wished for an opportunity to gossip
a little before retiring. Dora reluc-
family obeyed, but in her rapturous
mood, it was long before she slept.
The next morning she arose
very early and hastily dress
ing, quickly sped to the coal bin;
she slipped off plank of the box
cover and poked her head down to
view the unoffending prisoner, but
he. with grunt of satisfaction, leap
ed over her hand and with haste
passed her instinctiyely turning to