Submitted by
Loyd Bishop

Buried With Her Doll

Desire of a little girl will be granted. Await that the angel of death was near Jessie Rayfield, a little blind girl, yesterday morning called for her mother, who with tear dimmed eyes sat near by as her baby’s life ebbed away. “Mama, when I am gone,” said the child, as she groped in the dark to touch once more the mother, whose loving care she knew so well,” I want you to bury my dollie with me. When I get to heaven then I can see her, and, O, Mama next to you I Love her so.
Unable longer to control her grief, the mother threw herself at the bedside and with her arms about her daughters neck, promised between sobs, to do as the little one wished.
Once more before death had robbed her of all consciousness, the Childs lips moved and she talked again of her doll and her love for it.
I love my dolly, Mama, and though I hate to leave you, I am glad to go, because I can see what my dolly looks like. She loves me too, I know for ever since she was brought to me, she has been my playmate.
Tiptoeing softly, that the child might not be disturbed, her mother arose and brought the doll to the bed. The tiny hands closed about the doll and words of childish endearment, broke the silence of the room. At last the child raised the face of the doll, and a moment she has passed away.
When the undertaker had been called, the dying request of the child was explained to him and after the body had been clothed all in white and placed in the casket, the doll, dressed in the same color, was once more laid on her breast, with the little arms encircled it,
The little girl lived with her mother at 1618 Paseo, and about 3 years ago was stricken with brain fever. It was this that made her blind, and it was the affliction that she died yesterday. – EX