Since coming to Manistique mother and we two small children had never
crossed over the river nor been inside the big white house, as we called
Mr. Frankle's home. One morning I woke and found myself in a strange bed
and a strange room. I called and mother came to me, telling me we were
in the big white house where I had watched the lights so many times in
the windows. She took me into another room. A lady was sitting in a low
chair with a little wee baby rolled up in white flannel in her lap. A
little baby had been born that night in the rich man's home. I went up
to the lady asking to see the dolly baby. She said, "Oh, no, it is not a
dolly, it's a baby," but to me it was a dolly. I had my own rag doll in
my arms hugged tight, and every little while I would toss and sing to
her in French. The beauty of the room was something new to me; soft
carpets and rugs on the floor that gave no sound of the patter of my
feet as I walked about. The walls were covered with soft tinted paper
and beautiful pictures hanging everywhere, curtains of finest lace and
silk at the windows. I gazed about almost holding my breath. Everything
seemed so still.
Soon a door opened without noise and a little child came into the room.
She looked to me like a little angel I had seen the picture of, blue
eyes and golden hair. She seemed such a sweet little flower almost too
frail to be alive. When she saw me she came to me, holding out her doll
for me to take. I drew back, as her doll was wax and opened and shut its
eyes. It was almost like the one I had at home put away in its box which
had been given me at St. Helena by Cousin Mitchell. I had not got over
being afraid of it yet because it moved its eyes. Mother had to come and
explain to them about it. The little girl took me by the hand and led me
into a large bedroom where her mamma lay among white pillows. The lady
reached out her hand to me, smiling, and drew me up to her. At first I
could say nothing. Then as her sister came in with the baby in her arms
I said, "Me want to go home and see Charley." Mother came to explain I
wanted to go home to see my little brother. The lady said, "you shall
see them this evening, I shall send and have them come." Then I told her
I wanted to see Bob too. She said, "Yes, Bob shall come." I was more
content, and while mother held the wee baby in her arms I sat in a
little chair and rocked my doll, singing to it, and when I was given my
bread and milk for supper I fed my doll some, and when she choked I
patted her on the back just like Aunt Abby did to Baby Margarette.