THE STORY OF THE THREE DOLLS WAYNESTATtUNIVERSITYUBRARY THEEU31SERAMSEY-COLLECTION The STORY OF The THREE DOLLS branches were heavy with mellow golden harvest apples. page jp The STORY OF The THREE DOLLS By • JOSEPHINE SCRIBNER GATES Author of THE STORY OF LIVE DOLLS MORE ABOUT LIVE DOLLS THE STORY OF THE LOST DOLL Illustrated ly VIRGINIA KEEP INDIANAPOLIS THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY PUBLISHERS C o p y r i g h t 1 9 0 5 T h e B o b b s-M e r r i l l C o m p a n y N o v e m b e r Dedicated The five little maids whose merry-makings furnished ,the thread fo r these stories PREFACE As I believe that truth usually enhances a book, I wish to say that most of these stories are founded on fact. “One Summer” is almost literally true; also much of “Manuella’s Bottle Doll.” Uncle Herbertdid give the children the doll house and engine, and Freddid cause the fire and put it out. The candy heartwas devoured, “lick by lick,” by two little girls. The great-grandmother’s gold beadswere lost, and found on the dog’s neck. The various anecdotes of the dogs, birds, horses and fish are absolutely true. Hoping that my little readers will not be disap­ pointed over the fact that the dolls that appear here are just ordinary every-day dolls, and not alive, and trusting that the time is not far distant when the chime of the silver bells, and the joyous notes of the Queen’s trumpet will once more echo and re-echo through your homes, I am, Always yours faithfully, J o s e p h in e Sc r ib n e r G a t e s Toledo, Ohio THE STORY OF THE THREE DOLLS INCLUDING PAGE The Story of the Three Dolls i The Story of the Gold Beads 15 The Story of the Candy Heart 33 One Summer 47 The Candy Island 78 How Fred Saved the Doll House and the Doll 93 Borrowed Feathers 113 Manuella’s Bottle Doll 129 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE There were trees whose branches were heavy with mellow golden harvest apples—See page 59 Frontispiece Ruth held her close, crying, “ Oh, you darling thing! ” 8 Baby May’s carriage headed the proces­ sion 2 2 “Just hear this bit of a pome that’s writ in gold letters on the beautiful lace p ap er” 34 Each little girl raised her umbrella over her head 70 How they shouted when they held the sugar eggs in their hands! 86. ILLUSTRATI ON S— Continued PAGE Horror-stricken, Ruth and Helen ran to rescue the beloved children 106 “ I’d like to be a blue jay and sit upon a tree” 122 Slyly watching the people coming and going 140 The STORY OFThe t h r e e d o l l s The Story o f the Three Dolls ITH a terrible clanging of bells and clatter of horses’ feet the fire-engine W flew by as if on wings. Three-year-old baby Ruth, who was peace­ fully picking dandelions, was for the moment filled with terror, and trotted into the house as fast as her little fat legs could carry her. THE STORY OF In her fright she forgot that she had been strolling along slowly and was no longer in front of her own home, and as they were new-comers in the neighborhood, and lived in one of a block of houses that to all appear­ ances were just alike, it was no wonder that the child got into the wrong one. As it happened, no one was about. The second work was finished, and, as the day was an unusually busy one, the maids were both engaged in the kitchen. The mistress was out shopping, and, luck­ ily for the child, the door had accidentally been left ajar; so in she walked with the field to herself—and a very rich field it proved. She rah up stairs to find mama for a mo­ ment’s comfort, as her little heart was still beating very fast. A kiss and a loving pat would set her world right again, and she started into the room which at home corre- THE THREE DOLLS sponded to her nursery, but stopped in surprise, for, instead of finding mama sit­ ting where she always did with baby brother on her lap, she was confronted by a row of dolls on a sofa, and it suddenly dawned upon her that she was not in her own home. However, she was a sturdy little lass, and not at all daunted at this trifle, especially with such an inviting prospect as this row of dolls suggested. She was a loving mother to one doll, and, except in stores, had never seen such an array as this. It might have been embarrassing to some to have so many pairs of eyes staring at them, but to her it was unadulterated joy. They reminded her of an audience in a theater which she had once attended, and, anxious to gather this delightful brood under her wings, she tiptoed up to the sofa, hovering over them, now petting this one, now that, 3 THE STORY OF not quite sure which she had rather take to her heart first. For the time she forgot utterly that she was on forbidden ground, and had the real little mother been there she would have held up her hands in horror, for three of these dolls held a very dear place in her heart. Ruth could have played with any of the others, but the big doll, the middle-sized doll and the weenty doll had an invisible fence built around them, and, of course, after due deliberation Ruth decided to appropriate these very three, as they were the most attractive. She first picked up the rag doll, which is always dear to a child’s heart. She was very large, almost as large as Ruth, and she dragged her to the middle of the room, sat down and proceeded to examine her clothes and bonnet. The doll gazed placidly at her as she re- 4 ' THE THREE DOLLS moved its garments one by one. She had beautiful long hair hanging down her back, which, to the child’s horror, came off with the bonnet, — and how the doll looked with­ out it! Mercy! she must fix that at once; besides, the doll might take cold; so she found a large safety-pin with which she fast­ ened the wig on to the bald pate. She fondled her a while, then, eager for a change, threw her down and decided to try the middle-sized doll, who looked lovely in a brand new Peter- Thompson suit. She took her in her arms and wondered why she hadn’t taken her at first, as she was so m uch prettier. She trotted back to her place on the floor, and, after duly admiring her and play­ ing she was a “loidy born and bred,” she concluded to disrobe her. She found the lace-trimmed undergarments much soiled, which filled her with delight, for she promptly THE STORY OF decided that it was a lovely day for washing and at once explored the room for water, in which, when found, she dabbled to her heart’s content with no one to say her nay. When she deemed the clothes sufficiently clean she strung them about on the furniture to dry. In doing this she stumbled on to a dear little doll-carriage, which, of course, held the weenty doll. This was the one little pet of all, and she was a treasure indeed! With a chuckle of delight the child gazed at the baby in long dresses lying on her side. Her eyes were closed and she seemed really alive. A tiny milk-bottle lay close to her mouth as though she had just finished taking her dinner, and Ruth saw with a thrill of joy that it held real milk. A beautiful blue-and-white knitted blanket was carefully tucked about her, and Ruth 6 THE THREE DOLLS fairly held her breath for fear she might waken her. She watched her for a few moments, then leaned over and whispered, “Is you asleep, really and truly?” As the dolly did not move she reached in and raised her gently, saying, “Anyhow, it’s time you woke up. It makes babies cross to sleep too long.” She carried her over to her place on the floor and sat down beside the two discarded dolls, who stood no chance whatever now, for when she held up her new love and she opened her beautiful eyes and smiled up at her, Ruth held her close, crying, “Oh, you darling thing! I can never give you up! You are too sweet for anything!” Then followed some rapturous moments when she trotted the baby on her small knee, murmuring sweet nothings in her ears; taught 7 THE STORY OF her to patty-cake and to show how big the baby was. She tried to have her “tan lony,” but found she was too young for that. She was especially careful of the soft spot, and sighed because she couldn’t see how many teeth she had. Finally, with baby in her arms, she went on another exploring expedition and discovered a cunning cupboard. She opened the doors and found it not like Mother Hubbard’s, but well stocked with cookies, tarts and sandwiches, for to-day was party day and after kindergarten this room was to be the scene of a gay tea-party.' Perhaps I should say was to “have been,”—for woe be unto that tea-party now.