A Missionary Twig Part 11

"Halloa! Miss Moppet," said her papa. "Are you off? What's the matter with that dolly? Do you have to walk her to sleep?"

"Oh, no. She's very good, but she's going to sleep with me, because it's the last night she'll be here."

Marty tried to reply steadily, but her voice trembled.

"Ah!" said her papa sympathizingly. "Where is she going?"

"I'm going to give her to Jennie."

Of course Mr. Ashford had heard all about Jennie. He approved of her being helped, but did not like to see Marty in distress, and he noticed her eyes were full of tears.

"It is a shame for the child to give away playthings she is fond of," he said to his wife.

"I didn't tell her to give it," replied Mrs. Ashford. "It was her own notion."

"Here, Marty," said her father, putting his hand in his pocket, "you keep that doll yourself and I'll give you some money to get Jennie another one."

"Oh! no, papa," said Marty earnestly. "Thank you ever so much, but I want to give Jennie a doll all myself, and I've quite made up my mind to give her this one. I thought it over a whole day--didn't I, mamma? You mustn't s'pose I don't _want_ to give Laura Amelia to Jennie, because I do, but you know such things make one feel a little sad for a while."

"I presume they do," said Mr. Ashford, smiling as he lifted both Marty and the doll to his knee. "How many dolls have you?"

"Seven, counting the two little china ones."

"Well, that's a pretty numerous family for one small girl to care for. I guess you can spare Lucy Aurelia."

"Lucy Aurelia!" Marty laughed heartily. "O papa, what is the reason you never can remember my dolls' names?"

"I don't see how you can remember them yourself." Then as he kissed her goodnight he said,

"I am glad my little girl is learning to be kind to the poor and friendless."

The next day there was some prospect that Marty would not get to Jennie's after all, as Mrs. Ashford could not very well go with her and would not let her go alone. Marty was preparing to be dreadfully disappointed, but her mother said, "Wait until after lunch and we will see what can be done."

Just then there was a tap at the door, and a tall, dark-eyed, smiling young lady entered.

"Why, here's Cousin Alice!" exclaimed Marty, and the warm welcome the visitor received from them all showed what a favorite she was.

"I've come to stay to lunch if you will have me," she announced, throwing her wrap and gloves on the couch. Marty immediately invited her to stay for ever, and Freddie began building a wall with his blocks all around her chair so that she could not possibly get away.

"Alice," said Mrs. Ashford, after there had been a good deal of talk and play, "I am going to ask you to do something for me."

"I shall be only too happy to do it, Cousin Helen," said Miss Alice in her bright way. "You have only to speak."

"Marty wants to do an errand down near the old postoffice this afternoon. I don't like to have her go into that part of the town by herself, and I can't go with her. Would you be willing to go with her?"

"Most certainly," was the cordial reply.

"Oh! that will be splendid," cried Marty.

Then both she and her mother proceeded to tell their cousin all about Jennie, after which Marty dressed the doll and packed its clothes in a box.

"What a good idea it is of Marty's to give that doll and all its belongings to Jennie!" said Miss Alice. "It will be such amus.e.m.e.nt and occupation for her when she is alone so much. It must be perfectly dreadful to lie there all day, and day after day, with nothing to do and nothing to interest her. I suppose she cannot read."

"Not very well, I fancy, for her mother said they had moved about so much before she was hurt that she had very little chance to go to school. I suppose there is really not much of anything she could do now, as she is so weak and miserable, but it has just occurred to me that if she gets stronger under Dr. Fisher's treatment, you might help her to a light, pleasant occupation which would enliven her dull life."

"I? How? I'm sure I should be very glad to do anything possible for the poor girl."

"You might teach her to crochet or knit. You do such work to perfection and know so much about it. I know you have plenty of odds and ends of worsted and other materials, and I can furnish you with a good deal more. If she is able to learn, I think it would be a charming work for her, and might be very useful in coming years."

"That is an excellent suggestion. I shall be very glad to teach her, or at least try to teach her, for I don't know how I should succeed in the attempt."

"Oh! you would succeed beautifully, and it need not take up much of your time, as Landis Court is nearer you than it is to us, and you could run over for a little while any time. But you can see when you go whether it is worth while to speak of the matter."

"It would be just lovely!" was Marty's opinion.

"Now, Marty," cautioned her mother, "don't you say anything about it to Jennie. Just let Cousin Alice do it in her own nice way."

"A thousand thanks," said Cousin Alice with her gay laugh. "I'll be sure to do my prettiest after that."

When they made the visit, however, it was found useless to mention crocheting or any other subject to Jennie. Her attention was altogether absorbed by the doll. Mrs. Scott happened to be at home, and while she was bustling around getting chairs for her visitors and Marty was introducing her cousin, Jennie never took her eyes from Laura Amelia.

Presently she said in a trembling voice,

"May I hold your doll a minute?"

"I brought her for you," said Marty, handing the doll.

"For me to hold a minute?"

"No; to keep. She's your dolly now."

Jennie looked perfectly bewildered at first, and then when she began to understand the matter she clasped the doll in her arms and burst into tears.

Marty was very much frightened. "Oh! don't let her cry," she said to Mrs. Scott. "It will make her sick."

"Never mind, missy; she'll soon be all right. Come now Jennie, don't cry. Sit up and thank the little lady for the beautiful present. But it's too much to give her. Who'd ha' thought of you bringing such a handsome doll! And just what she's always wanted but never looked to having. I'm sure I don't know how to thank you," and the poor woman threatened to follow Jennie's example, and cry over their good fortune.

Then Cousin Alice came to the rescue by suggesting that Marty should tell Jennie the doll's name and show her wardrobe. The little girls were soon chattering over the contents of the box, and Miss Alice learned from Mrs. Scott that the doctor had been to see Jennie. He said he saw no reason why with proper treatment she should not become well again, though it was likely she would always be somewhat lame and perhaps never very strong. He had sent her strengthening medicine and said she must drink milk every day.

Then began better times for Jennie than she had ever had in her life before. First, as she would have said herself, there was the doll to love and cherish, to dress and undress, to talk to and to put to sleep.

Then there were the books and pictures, for between Marty and Edith, who also came, her stock of them increased rapidly. Then there was the decrease of pain and the increase of strength, for what with the bathings and rubbings that the doctor ordered, and the nouris.h.i.+ng food that Mrs. Ashford and Miss Alice sent, she began to get greatly better.

When she arrived at the point of sitting propped up in bed for several hours at a time, Miss Alice spoke of the crocheting and found her exceedingly willing to learn. She took it up quite rapidly too, and very much enjoyed working with the bright worsteds.

Miss Alice was greatly interested in her pupil and sometimes made quite long visits, teaching her or reading to her, and her visits made the little invalid so happy that she got better all the faster.

CHAPTER XI.