Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 March 1891 — CHILDREN’S CORNER. [ARTICLE]

CHILDREN’S CORNER.

KITTIE’S DOLL CLOTHES ALL SHRUNK IN THE WASH. , .. i J Couldn't Help It—Doll Clothes A*» B<* Tluy that When They Do Shrink Tbof All Shrink Away. “Dear me, Kittie, how your dress has shrunk in the waaji,” said mamma, as she buttoned on Kittie’s new gingham dress, freshly washed and ironed. Kittie looked down at her little feet and legs, showing so plainly below tho short skirts, and asked: “Doyou mean, mamma, that there isn’t as mneh of my dress as there was before it was washed V” , “Yes,” said mamma, “it has all drawn up.” Just then Aunt Chloe came in to get the soiled clothes. Kittie sat down upon a little stool and watched her mamma count over her clothes, and then set down tho number of articles upon a wash-list. Chloe tied them up in a great bundle and. placing it upon her head, started awav with it. Kittie followed her to the doorsteps, where Chloe put down her bundle to see what the little girl had to say. “Aunt Chloe,” said Kittie, gravely, “do you want to take in any more washing V” “No, honey,” responded Chloe, “What wid all dem white frooks what yon wear every week, I’se mighty nigh wored out washin’ what I does now.” “But this is dollie’s wa hing,” said Kitty. “It isn’t very big and sho doesn’t get her clothes very dirty.” Chloe smiled till all her white teeth shone. “I will give you a nickel a week to wash them.” said Kittie, with quite a business air. “or a dollar if you don’t think a nickel is enough.” Chloe laughed till her fat sides shook. “Bring ’em aloug, honey. I ain't goin’ to charge you nothin.’ I’ll wash ’em fur de soke uv dat pretty face, and de sweet little ‘howdys’ you got fur me when I comes every Monday mornin’.”

Kittie got tho sheets from dolly'a little brass bedstead and spread them upon the floor. Then she counted into them the little garments gathered up in her apron. Then she got a pencil and a of paper, and on the pqpqr she fliade twelve stubby little, tparka,, jnat like these - 1 1 1,1 1 l LI 1 .11 , “There’s exactly twelve pieces.-Annt Chloe. Don’t you see V” Chloe counted the marks one bv one, pointing to each as she did so with her black forefinger. “Dat’s right, little missie. I’ll fetch ’em all back Saturday.” Saturday morning Chloe brought hack a Heat little bundle, pinned in the doll-baby sheets. After mamma’s clothes hfd been attended to, Chloe and Kittie proceeded to count dollie’s. The scrap of paper with itd twelve marks was brought out and the doll’s clothes carefully counted. There were only ten of them. Again they were counted, Chloe lifting each little garment as Kittie named the number of eaoh mark. Still, when Cbloe got through, two marks were lefr. upon the paper. “I mustch lost’em,” said Chloe, regretfully, “dey wuz to little. Dat’s too bad.” “No, Aunt Chloe,” said Kittie with great dignity ap4 earnestness, “I speo they shrunk in the wash.” And patting Chloe’s cheek, she added, consolingly: “Course you couldn’t help. You see they were so very tiny tha( when they shrank they shrank to nothing.”—M. E. Safford, in Detroit Free Frees.