The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1912-12-21
A DOLLS
CHRISTMAS
1t Lasted but One Day
ByMHf MAR 4A4RY I BLAKE

! By mar rfARY BLAKE !
a*****s*sa** J: II
Human children remember nothing
| about their babyhood, and why shoult
]? My first recollection is being takel
out of big box with lot%gr other ar
ucies- toys-and being laid on q count
er in store for few minutes. the1
being carried to the show window
where | was propped up to be look
I'd at
1t was wintry scene without, snow
resting Oh the Ieafless branches of th'
trees and packed on the sidewalks
Hundreds. thousands of persons were
tramping by, many of them carrying
bundles. and every now and then ont
or more persons would stop before tht
window to look at all the attractive
things In It. Many Of these loiterers
were boys and girls. The boys were
lost in admiration of the footballs
rackets and other such articles. but
whenever girl came by could SEE
her eyes sparkle at looking upon me.
Across the street on corner stood
queer looking old man beside poi
supported on three sticks, ringing q
bell. He had fur cap on his head
and long white beard on his chin
His coat was lined with fur. A card
hung about his neck had ON it. Saliva
tion Army" Now and again some
passer would drop a coin into the pot
the old man would thank the giver
then go on ringing his bell till anotheI
person gave something.
Once in awhile some person would
stop to look at me. and few of these
went into the store. Then a hand
grasped me by the waist and. taking
me inside. exhibited me to my admirer.
But the price asked for me was al.
ways too high. and was put back into
the window. At last lady with re-
fined face stopped for look ut me.
went into the store, I was again re.
moved and this time was purchased.
/ was so delighted with the lady that
I was quite beside myself to be- pdr-
chased by her. felt sure that so nice
q person would have nice children. 81
was not put back into the window
but rolled in tissue paper and put In q
box just big enough to hold me alone
Excelsior was stuffed all about me. the
lid was put on the box. and that's the
last | knew for some time. l suppose
that. shut in there in the dark. must
have gone to sleep.
| was aroused by the opening Of
box containing me and felt my
HI ed ont Of II. Y. The a.
per about me was unwrappeO
should I see looking at me and
IDENTITY much pleased with me but th
lady who had bought me. And besid
her stood gentleman with a yer.
pleasant expression on his face. III
wore velvet jacket and on his feet
pair Of slippers.
by Jove" he exclaimed. She's
beauty. How Effie's eyes will sparkl(
when she sees her,"
was placed carefully on a lounge.
of which she took doll dressed asa
boy. This is for Jack" she said, to
the gentleman. !
Isn't Jack getting to be too old for
q doll:" he asked.
mo. Jack isn't FIVE yet. He'll be
ave next Christmas. and perhaps By
that time he'll need something differ
mt"
1t was evening, and the lights were
burning brightly. Illuminating lots Of
toys and other things lying about. ar
the lady and gentleman unpack 4
many more. We were all carried ihlo
a room where there was a beautiful
tree covered with glass beads and
balls and baubles of various kinds
and little wax candles. though none OF
the candles was lighted. was set
against the box. covered with green
cloth from which the tree appeared to
grow. and the lady placed in my lap a
card. on which was written. "For Ef-
fe."
Some of the smaller gifts were hung
OF the branches Of the tree. while the
larger ones were placed with me at
the base. The gentleman put the boy
doll beside me. saying. "rhey make
quite pretty couple. don't theyy' To
which the lady added: "Christmas eve
is An appropriate time for them to
meet. They'll probably be well ac-
quainted by morning." They went on
arranging the pretty things they had
provided till they were all in their
proper places. then turned off the lights
and went out, shutting the door be-
hind them, leaving us in the dark.
felt the hand of my companion doh
boy against mine. and it gave me com.
fort. for there is nothing l dread so
much as the dark. But there was no
warmth in it. such as there Is in
human hands. so that l only felt com.
forted at knowing there was some one
near me.
When morning came l could hear lit
tie voices somewhere in the house
shouting In great glee. | didn't know
what it meant till afterward. when
learned that the children were taking
down their stockings and diving into
them to see what Santa Claus had left
for them. After awhile the shouting
ceased and heard nothing more until
late in the afternoon when the lady
and gentleman and several other
grown persons came in. They closed
the blinds to the window-thought if
they did 1t to shut out the light. It
was useless, for the darkness had fall