The Dead Doll

Southland Times, Issue 1331, 14 September 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Dead Doll

You need not bo trying to comfort me, I tell yon my dolly is dead : There's no use saying she isn’t, with a crack like that in her head. It’a just like you said it wouldn’t hurt much to have my tooth cut that day. And then when the man ’most pulled my head off you hadn’t a word to say I When my mamma gave me that ribbon— I was playing out in the yard— She said to me most expressly, ’ Here’s a ribbon for Hildegarde.’ And I went and put it on Tabby and Hildegarde saw me do it, And I said to myself. *O, never mind, I don’t believe she knew it !’ But I know that she knew it now, and I just believe, I do, That her poor little heart was broken, and so her head broke, too. O, my dolly ! my little baby 1 I wish my head had been hit, For I’ve hit it over and over and it hasn’t

cracked a bit! But, since the darling is dead, she’ll want to be buried, of course ; We will take my little waggon, nurse, and you shall be the horse, And I’ll walk behind and cry, and we'll put her in this, you see. This dear little box, and we’ll bury her then nnder the maple tree. And papa will make her a tombstone like the one he made for my bird, And he’ll put what I tell him on it—yes, every single word! I shall say, ‘Here lies Hildegarde, a beautiful doll, who is dead ! She died of a broken heart and a dreadful crack in her head 1’