Beatrice Marie Calloway

Sometimes the dolls take their time in telling me their stories, but this sweet girl told me her name right away. Barely had we been introduced when she said, seemingly one breath and with defined italics,

“My name is Beatrice Marie. You may call me Beatrice, or Bea, or Bets, or even my brother’s favorite, Bugs, but please NEVER Lady Beatrice. It’s an old fashioned name, but I like it. Papa paid court to Mama through books. He loved her VERY much and when they finally married she had QUITE the fine library. Much Ado was her favorite play and she read it to me before I was even born. Papa says she hoped I would be a daughter with SPRIT and she got what she wished for because I fill that teacup to the BRIM! Sometimes I’m not certain he means it as a compliment, but Mama always laughs and reminds him that he’s the one that introduced her to Shakespeare.”

Bea inherited her Mama’s love of reading. It’s a cool, rainy day so she had her morning tea by the fire and read her latest book, which her father gave her for her birthday.

“Papa tried to jest by giving me some ridiculous frippery first but no book! Silk ribbons, can you imagine such nonsense?! Then he started in on some speech about me being a young lady with no time for books, but he could not stop himself from laughing. Papa loves to play tricks, but he can never be serious about them. Thank goodness.”

It’s a rainy Sunday and Mama has a slight head cold, so rather than calling on friends Bea is spending the afternoon exploring the delightful folio of Italian etchings Tilly lent her.

“Knowing there are such places in the world is so beautiful it makes my heart thrill with excitement! Can there be anything more wonderful than traveling to new lands and meeting people who speak different languages, eat different foods, and practice different religions? I do love our little corner of the world, but someday I hope to travel across oceans!”