Dolly’s Washing.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue I, 7 July 1900, Page 47

Dolly’s Washing.

ALL ABOUT THE CHRISTENING OF CLEMENTINA. There were three of the Graham children, and it would have puzzled anyone to say which of the three was the most often in mischief, for really, as nurse said, they were no sooner out of one scrape than they were into another.

Hex was the eUdest: then eam.e Margy, who was always lamenting that she had not been born a boy; ami. lastly. Baby May, who bid fair in time to beat the scrape record.

To-day Rex and Margy had gone out on a hunting expedition, a collection of ferns being just now their favourite hobby, and Baby May was left at home with nurse.

To tell the truth. May strongly disapproved of this plan, and saw no reason why she should be left out of the party; but nurse was firm, and Baby May stayed at home, and. needless to say, got into mischief. Nurse suggested that they should take the last new dolly. Clementina Eliza, for a ride in her carriage, and. Baby May agreeing, they set out. "Baby want go to church." announced Miss May. so they turned in the direction of the village. Church always had a special fascination for May. perhaps because, having behaved extremely badly, and giving nurse a chase up the aisle to the pulpit-steps the only time she had been allowed to attend a service, she was not at present permitted to go.

Arrived at the pretty churchyard, nurse produced some knitting, and suggested May should wheel dolly up and down the paths for a little while.

All went well for a time, till suddenly, making’ an excursion round to the other side of the church. May noticed that the door was opened. Such a temptation was too much land she tried to wheel Clementina Eliza down the stepis. so that she, too. might go to church- -to go to church being, in her opinion, the one thing to be desired in life. But the steps proved too much for her; and on the very top one Dolly's carriage took matters into its own hands, turned over, and rolled poor Clementina Eliza out on the floor of the porch, breaking her arm and doing other damage. May picked up. a look of disgust on her face. "Dolly dirty!" she said. “Nasty! Baby wash." There had been a christening the Sunday she was at church, ami Baby evidently remembered it. for she walked straight to the font, collected hassocks from the surrounding pews, piled them one on the other till by standing on them her head was slightly above the top, and dropped dolly in. beaming with satisfaction the while. Unfortunately there happened to be water in the font, and Clementina Eliza, after floating for a moment on the top, sank, much to Baby's dismay. for try as she would she could not. reach her. But help was at hand, for just then the vicar’s wife appeared, her hands full of the flowers with which she was going to fill the vases for the east window. Baby hailed her at once. “Baby’s dolly drowned.” she said, in a tone that sounded as though tears were near the surface. “Come an’ save Ba's dolly.” So dolly was saved; but. she looked n very miserable object when Mrs Mil-

ler fished her out. And then she gave Baby May a little lecture, and explained that fonts were put in churches not to wash dollies in. but to christen little babies. And Baby nodded her head sagely, and said: “Yes. Ila knows!” But since then she has carefully avoided the neighbourhood of the church as a playground. For. to tell the truth. Bess and Mary were rather angry when they saw Clementina Eliza on their return, and promised to inflict sundry pains and penalties if they ever found Baby playing such a prank again.