Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-18
The Lost Doll

| her.
No, indeed said the ball who had
no special name of his own.
Jennie Buebell had black hair and
| blue eyes and rosy cheeks. and on her
| feet were painted gilt shoes that
shonc like gold
Il am made of china" she said to
| the ball, and so4are the vases in the
parlor. They are my near relations.
We are all most refined and delicate.
if do say it myself. and must be hand
led with care"
Can you bounce?' asked the ball,
politely.
Bounce cried the doll. Horrible.
Not one of our family ever did such
thing
1T is easy to do, said the ball. And
he rolled off the table where he had
been lying and bounced on the floor.
Tor he was very active.
While he was doing this. the little
boy and girl to whom the toys belong
ed came running in. 1t was their play
time and they were going TO meadow
near their home.
I'll beat you there" said the little
boy to his sister. And he picked up
the ball from the floor and hurried
away. The little girl followed him;
but she was so afraid of dropping Jen.
ME Bluebell. whom she carried in her
| arms. that she could not run fast. and
she was still on the road when the
little boy climbed the meadow stile.
There was grass planted in the
meadow: but on one side near the
| renee there was a narrow path which
| led to an oak tree. and under the tree
no grass had been planted for it was
the children's play place. Their father
mad hung a swing in the tree for them,
and there was sand pile on the
ground underneath the spreading
branches, and the birds sang overhead
the llvelons day-oh, it was pleasant
place, and the children loved to be
| there.
Let's play catch with my ball" said
the boy. when his sister had reached
him.
AS soon as make bed for NV
coll, she answered And she parted
the long grass that grew like hedge
about the playground, and laid Jennie
bluebell down in it very tenderlv.
How glad am" thought the doll.
mat am not thrown about like that
poor rubber ball. My nerves could
never stand it,"
The rubber ball would have laughed
to hear her. for he was having a elor
lous time. "How glad am he said
| 10 himself, as he flew from one child
! TO the other, that do not have to
Keep still all the time like the china
. doll, This is what l call fun"
The children thought it was fun,
too: and they played until the dinner
bell called them to dinner
TN get to the house before you do"
said the little boy.
Wait. wait till get Jennie" called
his sister 81 put her right here. at
least thought did. Why. can't find
her" she cried as she hurried from
place to place. The green grass all
looked alike to the anxious child and.
though she parted it with her hands
again and again, hoping each time to
see Jennie Bluebell's smiling face look
ing up at her. the dear doll was no
where to be found
The little boy ran back to help her
search; but it did no good, and at last
they both gave up looking and went
away sorrowfu1ly.
Perhaps the fairies have taken her
away said the little girl, who was al.
most crying.
"Or rabbit" suggested her broth.
er. Father saw one in the field yes.
ter1lay"
But rabbits or fairies had NOTHING
to do with the lost doll. She lay all
the while in the very sDot where the
little girl had put her. The grass had
swayed back into place and hidden her
from sight: and though she called.
Here | am. here | am" with all her
| might. she could not make herself
heard.
81 shall have to lie here all the rest
| OF my life she cried And | wish
| something would fall on me and break
| me to pieces right now"
She did not really wish this though
for when cow that had gotten into
the meadow came walking by with her
| heavy tread. the doll called out. BE
careful where you step"
II was lonesome in the mea dow. am,
the doll longed for some one to keep
| her company. It's true that family
Of beetles. who had their home under
| an old log in corner of the field. came
out to look at her and even crawled
on her dress but she had nothing TO
say TO them and was glad when they
went away.
Il shall not close my eyes all night"
she said 10 herself when it began to
grow dark: ard she did not. She lay
on her back and stared into the dark
ness till the rooster crowed for morn
ing. and the sky grew bright again.
Almost as soon as it was light she
heard noise in the meadow. Swish.
swash.. Swish. swash, it sounded.
The farmer was cutting his grass with
his sharp bladed scythe. but the doll
did not know this: and when the grass
in which, she lay fell down in a heap
upon her. she thought the end of every
thing had come
What in the world has tappened?"
she asked a srasshopper. who had
been caught in the fall
That is Just what | should like to
know myself" answered he. And he
struggled up toward the sunlight. and
never came back: for it was difficult
travelling in a new mown field