Norwich bulletin., 1922-12-23
THE SOCIAL CORNER
GRATITUDE IS ONE OF THE AREsT OF VIRTUES.

them, jumped and ran toward the candy shop next door.
 ''Oh, look at that doll, Louise! Isn't she pretty?" exclaimed the younger O. them
 Yes, Tn way" replied the elder, girl of sixteen, but all dolls look alike with their staring eyes and shiny ringlets.'' And they passed into the candy shop.
 The shabby little girl looked at them first with envy-for those lucky creatures could purchase the doll if they wished and then with ama8enaent, to find they didn't want 1t She was glad they didn't flor it was something to come and look at the doll even though the cold window pane and she always stopped to gaze when she passed the shop every morn ing and then again at night before the shades were drawn.
 It was almost closing time now and the new boy, who had to come to help with the ChxiAtmas trade climbed into the window. He stood there with one foot on each of the Blue Dolls and, as he leaned forward to lower the shade. he knocked her over.
 '-Oh' crIed the little girl, peering 1 through the crack beneath the shade. | "Oh!" In her excitement she ran ro. the door and tried to open it, but it was iccK- ed.
 .'.I am sure she is broken; oh, deaH." and then a wild hope thrilled her heart Perhaps she will be marked down" The new. boy had climbed out of the window before he was aware of the ac- cident When he saw the "Bl2e Doll'' ly- ing of the floor. he andousiy examined her and discovered that her beautiful dress was badly torn, and one of her fingers was broken. He picked up the poor little finger and tried to fasten 1t on with chewing gum, but the operation was unsuccessful so he stood the doll on the shelf and turned out all the lights but one and went home. '-t-
 The "Blue Doll'' found herself on high
 dusty shelf beside a charming little dollie girl. carved from a solid haock of wood, she wore a little wooden hat with a tiny wooden feather perched on his wooden head; her jaunty skirt and high laced boots were extuisitely carved 1n wood 50 were her lips, which parted in a wfnsonae- smile. The Blue Doll had often seen ornaments carved in wood, but never 50 life like as this and she smiled at the wooden doll, who said very sweet
 '"That was too bad!. I saw your ac- cident and am afraid you will never be sold again now-and your poor finger does it hurt much? ?" -.-.'- '-Oh, no!" said Blue Doll, smiling te hide the pain. I'm afraid 1t doe8; 1t Is 50 badiJ mended. The same thing happened to rnt , when my master was making me; but ht mended me 30 carefully no one knows it Perhaps he could fix mine for me. I'm afraid not He is far away il Switzerland. am the only dolhe he eve' made He called me Annette The only doll, how lovely, that ii what always wanted to be. Did he kis you, and take you to bed with him, ever: night.
 , No, boys don't do that. am afraN shah never be sofd, though hay T been marked down to fifty cents. The maj who bought me praised his work, but the. h don't appreciate me in this country.
 do want to sec this world, don't you. = C '9Jo. just want little girl mother.
 Then let us change tickets" q That would be lovely for me-" said tn Blue Doll. Do you think any one woul give five dollars for you?
 "Who knows?" said the Swiss doll wit her charming smile. "At least I shal feel sif were worth something So they exchanged. tickets and Blu Doll could not aleep all night-she was 2 s excited. f
 Early next morning the clumsy bo
 came, cleaned the windows and dusre > the shop. A great many toys had bee
 sold on the previous doy, so he looked o Il the shelf for others to replace them.
 "Jtmninyr' he cried, "I fo1Eot a 2 about that doll what will the bos lRyT o He examined the Blue Doll 'PeoA he said, "oniy fifty cents anyway" 70 The Blue doll w:s very nervoIs-s A the red sleigh, that had stopped befse
 the window the day before and looke ,uI in the window.
 That doll isn't sold yet" said th
 lkt1e one.
 i'7To wonder!' said the elder. ''her nnl Ter is broken. But do look at that charm s ing little piece of carving. Let us buy
 for Christmas present fer Mother said the younger, really. Annette I b, ,. l;eve 1t looks. a tiny bit like you.
 Then we must surely buy 1t said u r- elder. smiling. and, together they entere
 the shop. t
 sel Just, as the carved doll was being If
 cd down from the window, the Blue Do v caught sight of the shabby little girl a1
 eEun her ticket around 90. the new prit n mark could not fail to attract her a
 tentSon. , The shabby girl, drew forth IT WOrn purse and entered the shop.
 "I want the Blue Doll, please" q III sa1d to the clumsy boy. You neean |. wrap it up. She put her money on ,ti
 counter and took the Blue Doh in h, ,e arm. You darling she said ''DId l
 break your finger and tear ycd dresg r Never Htnd, nother'H fix 1t.
 KITTY LOU.