The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-12-18
How Dolls Kept the
Night Before Xmas

@HRISTAlAS eve had come and the
~ long, busy day was over at last.
The toys were not sorry, for they
were quite tired out with the hustle
and noise, though they had enjoyed the
company Of the crowds of children,
who had been about all day. But you
see even engines and trains, ener-
getic though they are, like to stop a
minute after they run down; jumping
jacks want to catch their breath be-
tween jumps and dogs that bark and
sheep that bleat and lions that roar
enjoy little spaces Of silence just like
other folks.
But every one of them had done his
best stunt over and over all day and
now, In quiet and darkness, they could
go to sleep-all but the dolls, who had
been left standing bolt upright and
who couldn't shut their eyes In conse-
quence. SO they stood up without a
wink and used the night to think and
think, when
Mamma, mamma" came from some
wherel Had some child been left in
the toy shop by mistake and locked int
Mamma, mamma, mamma" The
sound was familiar, when the toys
walked up enough to use their minds.
They had heard that squeaking call
all day.
Dear me, child" exclaimed the big
doll from Paris-the doll with the
beautiful face and delicate nerves, who
stands right behind the mamma doll"
"Stop that cryingi Take of that pla-
cardw you've seen the sign on dolls,
II can say Mamma Fanchon was
cross indeed, but wasn't she beautiful
You see her in the picture at the left
of Charlie Chaplin. She is in street
dress with mole-colored corduroy coat
and hat of the same material with pink
velvet facing. She has real lace at
her wrists and ermine furs.
Maybe 1t is time for first aid to
hurt feelings" thought the boy scout
who stood near, so he said, "Never
mind that French lady; she doesn't
know what 1t is to be afraid Of the
dark. You'll find mamma in the
morning." and the boy scout who was
covered with "merit badges" turned
back to his particular charge. You
see, he had picked up an Indian pap
poose as he came through the wood,
and there she hung in her funny bark
cradle on his arm-little Owaissa, the
bluebird.
Meanwhile Emil and Katrina Kru-
understand I'm Olich
very well, kept to themselves and
spoke In German. They were, many
people thought, the prettiest dolls In
the shop. (You should have seen the
Partisan shrug her aristocratic shout
ders, when she overheard that re-
mark y That was because the first
member of the Krusen family was
made by an artist who wanted her
own little girls doll to look like real
child. So she painted the face In what
painters call flesh tints," and saw to
II that there was a pleasant expression
on 1t. Katrina looks troubled In the
picture, but that is because she is a
little hOmesick for the kind of Chris
mas they have In Germany. She says,
Zach! Emil? Iwant to be in the lit
tie house where the Christmas tree
stands In the window. 1t has all its
candles lighted tonight and the shade
is pulled back. want to sing carols
and 60 to church tomorrow morning,
and have goose for dinner and play
games"
"When Is a doll not a DOLL" broke
in the Jester. over at the left, who
never would let anybody be sad If he
could help 1t. "When it's q doldrum"
"Or q dolphin" squeaked the Campbell
Kid; "Or dollar" put in Daddy Long
legs, who was standing in the back
ground.
"Cheap wit" remarked the college
girl dressed in rose and gray in honor
of Vassar, who stood behind the clown.
when it's dolicho podiae or dolomite.
These" she explained grandly, "mean
insects or stones, speaking in popular
language, such as you can underst-"
"Hello, are you ready?" 1t was the
voice Of the photographer. "rve come
for your pictures. Look pleasant
now!"
And they did. And so did Santa
Claus, who had been listening all the
time In the background.-Chicago
Daily News.