AUGUST 24: Allie Baa’s Portrait
“A little girl named Melly,” said daddy, “was having her portrait painted. The lady who was painting her portrait one day said to her:
“‘Now, you are such a good girl, and you keep so still while I am painting a lovely picture of you to give to your mother, that I wonder if there is anything you would like me to paint for you?’
“The little girl’s face was in smiles at once.
“‘Oh yes,’ she cried, ‘I’d like to have my dollie painted.’ And when Melly brought her doll the next time the lady said to herself, ‘I think I will change the picture of Melly and have her holding her doll, as she is now.’
“And how differently Melly looked! No longer was she the little girl sitting stiffly on a chair, looking now and again at the window and longing to be out with her friends. She was not being good because she thought she should, but because she was happy having Allie Baa with her.
“She looked like a real little girl, and the lady was delighted. For before she had seemed unlike a child. She had looked so sad.
“‘Yes,’ said the lady to herself, ‘I will certainly have Melly holding the doll.’
“And then she did a painting of Allie Baa, and it looked just like her. How delighted Melly was! She showed the picture of Allie to her—but of course Allie never even smiled. She looked at it just as she looked at everything else.
“‘You dear, precious dollie,’ said Melly, ‘you don’t care whether you have a painting of your dear old face or not. But it’s a great comfort to your mother.’
“The lady was so pleased at the picture of Melly, and she was proud of herself that she had thought of having Melly bring her doll.
“When Melly’s mother saw the painting she said: ‘Whatever made you think of having her hold Allie Baa? Why, that is just like my dear little girl—just the way we always see her. How glad I am.’ And the lady was happy, for she had made the real mother and the make-believe so pleased!”