Year: 1876




Dolly Hackett, who lived with her pa.
rents in the pretty town of Bellmead, was
one of the dearest little children you ever
saw-as pretty as a pink, and every one
in town knew her and loved her. She was
a very sociable little body, and felt it
duty as well as pleasure to visit her
neghbors at least once day and, though
she was only three years old. she would
sit down in the most old.fashioned way
and gossip as busily as one of her older
sisters might.


After sitting some time in one neigh.
bor's house, chatting away busily about
this and that, telling all the news she had
gathered and getting what other news she
could. she would say:


"Well, you must 'scuse me. I've dot
to do and see Mrs. Brown, cause l hasn't
seen her since yesterday"


Then she would 90 10 some other house
and do the same thing. Sometimes she
would tell things that the neighbors did
not want to have known; but she was so
cunning every one said. that they for
gave it. They all said she was "a little
DEAR" and she went round from place to
place like butterfly.


She was in fact o little busybody, with
a hnger in everybody's mess. and often
she would be gone from home half day
at time on her visits without causing
alarm. She was such grave and pru-
dent little thing that her parents had no
cause for fear; and when gone the long
est she would come home and tell them
every place she had visited and all that
she had said, heard or suspected. 1t had
rained one summer morning, and she
could not make her usual calls till the at.
ternoon and then she left her home, from
which moment she was missing. About
the time that she should have returned
her mother went to the door, but could
see nothing of her. Then she went to the
nearest neighbours to see if she was there
but the neighbor had not seen her. She
felt little uneasy, and when an hour had
passed and little Dolly had not come her
sisters were sent all over the place to find
her. but could not. Then there was ral-
lying of everybody to find the little wan.
derer.


There had been for month band OF
gypsies on the outside of Bellmead, and
they had left their camp that very after
noon. going away very hastily; and the
people were afraid that the gypsies had
stolen the little pet. They searched the
woods, dragged the lakes, looked into
wells. and went into all sorts OF places
but could find no trace of the child. When
it became dark tied lantern to the neck
Of big dog, and he ran here and there,
So that if she saw the light she might cry
out; but they heard no cry from her.
Then they went shouting through the
woods for the purpose of letting her know
they were near; but there was no reply.


Then they knew the gypsies had goi
her, and people went off on horseback in
several directions to try to overtake them.
But they returned without finding them,
and everybody was very sad to think that
they might not see their dear little neigh
Dor any more, while her parents and sis
ters were almost crazy with their grief.
There never was more afflicted town.
and everybody sat up to talk the matter
over and prepare for new search in the
morning.


Old Mr.. Clapper, the sexton, who had
rung the village bell for church for more
than thirty years. had been very busy In
search, for the little girl was great fa-
vorite of his. He had tied the lantern to
the dogs neck, which was bright idea,
and had made himself very tired. 1t was
with a sad heart he took his way home
about midnight, recalling in his mind
what a lovely little fairy Dolly was, and
almost crying as he moved along.


His wife met him with very mournfui
face, and, after taking the matter over for
little while, they prepared to retire. A
moment after the old sexton had laid down
be started suddenly up on his elbow.


"Whal's the matter ?" asked Mrs Clap
per.


Nothing" he replied. But after mo
ment he leaped out of bed and began has
tily to dress himself. making all sorts OF
ridiculous mistakes, by getting his clothes
on hind part before and acting as if he
were crazy.


What is the matter" his wife repeat
ed.


Nothing he replied again. "Tve
got to 90 down to the church. Ill
have forgot something"


As soon as he was dressed he lighted
his lantern and started out OF the door as
fast as he could run. He ran all the way
to the church, which, however, was only
short distance, and. without stopping 10
breathe, he unlocked the door and went
lu AAC AhoNSu up ouC oislC auu OOW ii tuG
other, swinging his lantern. which made
great shadows on the ceiling and walls,
till at last he came to a big, comfortable
pew, and there he saw. all rolled up in
heap on the cushioned seat. little Dolly,
sleeping as sweetly as if she were in her
own bed. The good old mans heart al
most rose up into his throat as he saw the
sight and this explained the secret Of his
queer conduct. As he laid his head on
his pillow he remembered that the choir
had been rehearsng in the church that
very afternoon, and he thoughts what
if the little girl had wandered in there and
got shut in p Full of this thought, no
wonder he acted as he did.
Without waking her up he rushed fer
the bell-rope, and the sound OF the bell
called out everybody in Bellmead, who
went to the church to learn what was the
matter. Mr.. Hackett, Dolly's father. came
first; and all the sexton said to him, as he
pulled away, was; "Look in Deacon
Smiths pew!'


Then such a time as they had and such
rejoicing. Why. Fourth OF July was moth
ing compared to it. The little girl was