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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Doll and Her Friends, by Unknown
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Doll and Her Friends
+       or Memoirs of the Lady Seraphina
+
+Author: Unknown
+
+Illustrator: Hablot K. Browne
+
+Release Date: June 18, 2007 [EBook #21861]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOLL AND HER FRIENDS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Edwards, Jana Srna and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The University of Florida, The Internet
+Archive/Children's Library)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Page 59.]
+
+
+                      THE
+
+             DOLL AND HER FRIENDS;
+
+                      OR
+
+        Memoirs of the Lady Seraphina.
+
+
+
+               BY THE AUTHOR OF
+ "LETTERS FROM MADRAS," "HISTORICAL CHARADES,"
+                   ETC. ETC.
+
+
+
+ WITH FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS BY HABLOT K. BROWNE,
+         ENGRAVED BY BAKER AND SMITH.
+
+
+
+                    BOSTON:
+          TICKNOR, REED, AND FIELDS.
+
+                   MDCCCLII.
+
+
+
+   PRINTED BY THURSTON, TORRY, AND EMERSON.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+My principal intention, or rather aim, in writing this little Book, was
+to amuse Children by a story founded on one of their favorite
+diversions, and to inculcate a few such minor morals as my little plot
+might be strong enough to carry; chiefly the domestic happiness produced
+by kind tempers and consideration for others. And further, I wished to
+say a word in favor of that good old-fashioned plaything, the Doll,
+which one now sometimes hears decried by sensible people who have no
+children of their own.
+
+
+
+
+The Doll and Her Friends.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+
+I belong to a race, the sole end of whose existence is to give pleasure
+to others. None will deny the goodness of such an end, and I flatter
+myself most persons will allow that we amply fulfil it. Few of the
+female sex especially but will acknowledge, with either the smile or the
+sigh called forth by early recollections, that much of their youthful
+happiness was due to our presence; and some will even go so far as to
+attribute to our influence many a habit of housewifery, neatness, and
+industry, which ornaments their riper years.
+
+But to our _influence_, our silent, unconscious influence alone, can
+such advantages be ascribed; for neither example nor precept are in our
+power; our race cannot boast of intellectual endowments; and though
+there are few qualities, moral or mental, that have not in their turn
+been imputed to us by partial friends, truth obliges me to confess that
+they exist rather in the minds of our admirers than in our own persons.
+
+We are a race of mere dependents; some might even call us slaves. Unable
+to change our place, or move hand or foot at our own pleasure, and
+forced to submit to every caprice of our possessors, we cannot be said
+to have even a will of our own. But every condition has its share of
+good and evil, and I have often considered my helplessness and
+dependence as mere trifles compared with the troubles to which poor
+sensitive human beings are subject.
+
+Pain, sickness, or fatigue I never knew. While a fidgetty child cannot
+keep still for two minutes at a time, I sit contentedly for days
+together in the same attitude; and I have before now seen one of those
+irritable young mortals cry at a scratch, while I was hearing needles
+drawn in and out of every part of my body, or sitting with a pin run
+straight through my heart, calmly congratulating myself on being free
+from the inconveniences of flesh and blood.
+
+Of negative merits I possess a good share. I am never out of humor,
+never impatient, never mischievous, noisy, nor intrusive; and though I
+and my fellows cannot lay claim to brilliant powers either in word or
+deed, we may boast of the same qualifications as our wittiest king, for
+certainly none of us ever 'said a foolish thing,' if she 'never did a
+wise one.'
+
+Personal beauty I might almost, without vanity, call the 'badge of all
+our tribe.' Our very name is seldom mentioned without the epithet
+_pretty_; and in my own individual case I may say that I have always
+been considered pleasing and elegant, though others have surpassed me in
+size and grandeur.
+
+But our most striking characteristic is our power of inspiring strong
+attachment. The love bestowed on us by our possessors is proof against
+time, familiarity, and misfortune:
+
+    'Age cannot wither' us, 'nor custom stale'
+    Our 'infinite variety.'
+
+With no trace of our original beauty left,--dress in tatters, complexion
+defaced, features undistinguishable, our very limbs mutilated, the mere
+wreck of our former selves,--who has not seen one of us still the
+delight and solace of some tender young heart; the confidant of its
+fancies, and the soother of its sorrows; preferred to all newer
+claimants, however high their pretensions; the still unrivalled
+favorite, in spite of the laughter of the nursery and the quiet contempt
+of the schoolroom?
+
+Young and gentle reader, your sympathy or your sagacity has doubtless
+suggested to you my name. I am, as you guess, a DOLL; and though not a
+doll of any peculiar pretensions, I flatter myself that my life may not
+be quite without interest to the young lovers of my race, and in this
+hope I venture to submit my memoirs to your indulgent consideration.
+
+I am but a small doll; not one of those splendid specimens of wax,
+modelled from the Princess Royal, with distinct fingers and toes, eyes
+that shut, and tongues that wag. No; such I have only contemplated from
+a respectful distance as I lay on my stall in the bazaar, while they
+towered sublime in the midst of the toys, the wonder and admiration of
+every passing child. I am not even one of those less magnificent, but
+still dignified, leathern-skinned individuals, requiring clothes to take
+off and put on, and a cradle to sleep in, with sheets, blankets, and
+every thing complete. Neither can I found my claim to notice upon any
+thing odd or unusual in my appearance: I am not a negro doll, with wide
+mouth and woolly hair; nor a doll with a gutta-percha face, which can be
+twisted into all kinds of grimaces.
+
+I am a simple English doll, about six inches high, with jointed limbs
+and an enamel face, a slim waist and upright figure, an amiable smile,
+and intelligent eye, and hair dressed in the first style of fashion. I
+never thought myself vain, but I own that in my youth I did pique myself
+upon my hair. There was but one opinion about _that_. I have often heard
+even grown-up people remark, 'How ingeniously that doll's wig is put on,
+and how nicely it is arranged!' while at the same time my rising vanity
+was crushed by the insinuation that I had an absurd smirk or a
+ridiculous stare.
+
+However, the opinions of human beings of mature age never much disturbed
+me. The world was large enough for them and me; and I could contentedly
+see them turn to their own objects of interest, while I awaited in calm
+security the unqualified praise of those whose praise alone was valuable
+to me--their children and grand-children.
+
+I first opened my eyes to the light in the Pantheon Bazaar. How I came
+there I know not; my conscious existence dates only from the moment in
+which a silver-paper covering was removed from my face, and the world
+burst upon my view. A feeling of importance was the first that arose in
+my mind. As the hand that held me turned me from side to side, I looked
+about. Dolls were before me, dolls behind, and dolls on each side. For a
+considerable time I could see nothing else. The world seemed made for
+dolls. But by degrees, as my powers of vision strengthened, my horizon
+extended, and I perceived that portions of space were allotted to many
+other objects. I descried, at various distances, aids to amusements in
+endless succession,--balls, bats, battledores, boxes, bags, and baskets;
+carts, cradles, and cups and saucers. I did not then know any thing of
+the alphabet, and I cannot say that I have quite mastered it even now;
+but if I were learned enough, I am sure I could go from A to Z, as
+initial letters of the wonders with which I soon made acquaintance.
+
+Not that I at once became aware of the uses, or even the names, of all I
+saw. No one took the trouble to teach me; and it was only by dint of my
+own intense observation that I gained any knowledge at all. I did not at
+first even know that I was a doll. But I made the most of opportunities,
+and my mind gradually expanded.
+
+I first learned to distinguish human beings. Their powers of motion made
+a decided difference between them and the other surrounding objects, and
+naturally my attention was early turned towards the actions of the
+shopwoman on whose stall I lived. She covered me and my companions with
+a large cloth every night, and restored the daylight to us in the
+morning. We were all perfectly helpless without her, and absolutely
+under her control. At her will the largest top hummed, or was silent;
+the whip cracked, or lay harmlessly by the side of the horse. She moved
+us from place to place, and exhibited or hid us at her pleasure; but she
+was always so extremely careful of our health and looks, and her life
+seemed so entirely devoted to us and to our advantage, that I often
+doubted whether she was our property or we hers. Her habits varied so
+little from day to day, that after watching her for a reasonable time, I
+felt myself perfectly acquainted with _her_, and in a condition to make
+observations upon others of her race.
+
+One day a lady and a little girl stopped at our stall.
+
+'Oh, what a splendid doll,' exclaimed the child, pointing to the waxen
+beauty which outshone the rest of our tribe. It was the first time I had
+heard the word _Doll_, though I was well acquainted with the illustrious
+individual to whom it was applied; and it now flashed upon my mind, with
+pride and pleasure, that, however insignificant in comparison, I too was
+a doll. But I had not time to think very deeply about my name and nature
+just then, as I wished to listen to the conversation of the two human
+beings.
+
+'May I buy her?' said the little girl.
+
+'Can you afford it?' asked the lady in return. 'Remember your intentions
+for your brother.'
+
+'Perhaps I have money enough for both,' answered the child. 'How much
+does she cost?'
+
+'Seven shillings,' said the shopwoman, taking the doll from her place,
+and displaying her pretty face and hands to the utmost advantage.
+
+'I have three half-crowns,' said the little girl.
+
+'But if you spend seven shillings on the doll,' answered the lady, 'you
+will only have sixpence left for the paint-box.'
+
+'What does a paint-box cost?' asked the child.
+
+'We have them of all prices,' replied the shopkeeper; 'from sixpence to
+seven shillings.'
+
+The little girl examined several with great care, and stood some time in
+deliberation; at last she said, 'I don't think Willy would like a
+sixpenny one.'
+
+'It would be of no use to him,' answered the lady. 'He draws well enough
+to want better colors. If you gave it to him, he would thank you and try
+to seem pleased, but he would not really care for it. However, he does
+not know that you thought of making him a birthday present, so you are
+at liberty to spend your money as you like.'
+
+'Would he care for a seven shilling one?' asked the little girl.
+
+'Yes; that is exactly what he wants.'
+
+'Then he shall have it,' exclaimed the good-natured little sister. 'Poor
+dear Willy, how many more amusements I have than he!'
+
+She bought the best paint-box, and received sixpence in change.
+
+'Is there any thing else I can show you?' asked the shopkeeper.
+
+'No, thank you,' she replied; and turning to the elder lady, she said,
+'May we go home at once, Mama? It would take me a long time to choose
+what I shall spend my sixpence in, and I should like to give Willy his
+paint-box directly.'
+
+'By all means,' answered the lady; 'we will lose no time; and I will
+bring you again to spend the sixpence whenever you please.'
+
+Without one backward glance towards the beautiful doll, the child
+tripped away by the side of her companion, looking the brightest and
+happiest of her kind.
+
+I pondered long upon this circumstance; how long I cannot say, for dolls
+are unable to measure time, they can only date from any particularly
+striking epochs. For instance, we can say, 'Such an affair happened
+before I lost my leg;' or, 'Such an event took place before my new wig
+was put on;' but of the intricate divisions known to mortals by the
+names of hours, days, months, &c., we have no idea.
+
+However, I meditated on the kind little sister during what appeared to
+me a long but not tedious period, for I was gratified at gaining some
+insight into the qualities proper to distinguish the human race.
+Readiness to show kindness, and a preference of others' interests to her
+own, were virtues which I easily perceived in the little girl's
+conduct; but one thing perplexed me sadly. I could not understand why a
+doll would not have answered her kind intentions as well as a paint-box;
+why could she not have bought the doll which she admired so much, and
+have given _that_ to her brother.
+
+My thoughts were still engaged with this subject, when a boy approached
+the stall. Boys were new characters to me, and I was glad of the
+opportunity to observe one. He did not bestow a look on the dolls and
+other toys, but asked for a box of carpenter's tools. The shopkeeper
+dived into some hidden recess under the counter, and produced a
+clumsy-looking chest, the merits of which I could not discover; but the
+boy pronounced it to be 'just the thing,' and willingly paid down its
+price. I followed him with my eyes as he walked about with his great box
+under his arm, looking from side to side, till he caught sight of
+another boy rather younger than himself, advancing from an opposite
+corner.
+
+'Why, Geoffrey,' exclaimed my first friend, 'where have you been all
+this time? I have been hunting every where for you.'
+
+Geoffrey did not immediately answer, his mouth being, as I perceived,
+quite full. When at last he could open his lips, he said, 'Will you have
+a cheesecake?'
+
+'No, thank you,' replied his friend. 'We must go home to dinner so soon,
+that you will scarcely have time to choose your things. Where _have_ you
+been?'
+
+'At the pastrycook's stall,' answered Geoffrey; 'and I must go back
+again before I can buy any thing. I left my five shillings there to be
+changed.'
+
+The boys returned together to the stall, and I saw its mistress hand a
+small coin to Geoffrey.
+
+'Where is the rest?' said he.
+
+'That is your change, sir,' she replied.
+
+'Why, you don't mean that those two or three tarts and jellies cost four
+and sixpence!' he exclaimed, turning as red as the rosiest doll at my
+side.
+
+'I think you will find it correct, sir,' answered the shopkeeper. 'Two
+jellies, sixpence each, make one shilling; two custards, sixpence each,
+two shillings; a bottle of ginger-beer, threepence, two and threepence;
+one raspberry cream, sixpence, two and ninepence; three gooseberry
+tarts, threepence, three shillings; two strawberry tarts, three and
+twopence; two raspberry ditto, three and fourpence; four cheesecakes,
+three and eightpence; two Bath buns, four shillings; and one lemon ice,
+four and sixpence.'
+
+'What a bother!' said Geoffrey, as he pocketed the small remains of his
+fortune. 'I wish I could give her some of the tarts back again, for they
+weren't half so nice as they looked, except just the first one or two.'
+
+'Because you were only hungry for the first one or two,' said the other
+boy. 'But it can't be helped now; come and spend the sixpence better.'
+
+'There won't be any thing worth buying for sixpence,' said Geoffrey
+gloomily, as he shuffled in a lazy manner towards my stall.
+
+'I want a spade,' said he.
+
+Several were produced, but they cost two shillings or half-a-crown.
+There were little wooden spades for sixpence; but from those he turned
+with contempt, saying they were only fit for babies. Nothing at our
+table suited him, and he walked towards our opposite neighbour, who sold
+books, maps, &c. On his asking for a dissected map, all the countries of
+the world were speedily offered to his choice; but alas! the price was
+again the obstacle. The cheapest map was half-a-crown; and Geoffrey's
+sixpence would buy nothing but a childish puzzle of Old Mother Hubbard.
+Geoffrey said it was a great shame that every thing should be either
+dear or stupid.
+
+'Can't you lend me some money, Ned?' continued he.
+
+'I can't, indeed,' replied the other; 'mine all went in this box of
+tools. Suppose you don't spend the sixpence at all now, but keep it till
+you get some more.'
+
+'No, I won't do that; I hate saving my money.'
+
+So saying, he wandered from stall to stall, asking the price of every
+thing, as if his purse was as full as his stomach.
+
+'How much is that sailor kite?' 'Two shillings, sir.'--'How much is that
+bat?' 'Seven and sixpence.'--'How much is that wooden box with secret
+drawer?' 'Three shillings.'
+
+'How provoking!' he exclaimed. 'I want heaps of things, and this stupid
+sixpence is no good at all.'
+
+'It is better than nothing,' said Edward. 'It is not every day that
+one's aunt sends one five shillings, to spend in the bazaar; and in
+common times sixpence is not to be despised. After all, there are plenty
+of things it will buy. Do you want a top?'
+
+'No; I've got four.'
+
+'Garden seeds?'
+
+'What is the use of them, when I can't get a spade?'
+
+'Steel pens? You said this morning you could not write with quills.'
+
+'I don't like buying those kind of things with my own money.'
+
+'A box? Yesterday you wanted a box.'
+
+'I don't care for boxes that won't lock, and I can't get one with a lock
+and key for sixpence.'
+
+'A knife?'
+
+'Sixpenny knives have only one blade; I want two.'
+
+'Sealing-wax? wafers? a penholder? a paint-box? India-rubber? pencils?'
+
+'Stupid things!'
+
+'A ball? You might have a very good ball.'
+
+'Not a cricket ball; and I don't care for any other.'
+
+'What a particular fellow you are! I am sure I could always find
+something to spend sixpence in. String? One is always wanting string.
+You may have a good ball of whipcord.'
+
+'These sort of places don't sell it.'
+
+'Then, I say again, keep your money till you want it.'
+
+'No, that I'll never do, when I came on purpose to spend it. After all,
+the only thing I can think of,' continued Geoffrey, after a pause, 'is
+to go back to the pastrycook's. There was one kind of tart I did not
+taste, and perhaps it would be nicer than the others. I'll give you one
+if you like.'
+
+'No, thank you; I am much obliged to you all the same; but I won't help
+you to spend your money in that way. Don't buy any more tarts. Come and
+walk about; there are plenty more shops to look at.'
+
+They sauntered on, but Geoffrey, by various turns, worked his way back
+to the pastrycook's; and as no persuasions could then bring him away,
+Edward walked off, not choosing, as he said, to encourage him.
+
+Presently I saw a tall gentleman enter the bazaar, and I wondered what
+he would buy. I did not then understand the difference between grown-up
+people and children, and as he approached my stall, I could not repress
+a hope that he would buy _me_. But his quick eye glanced over the tables
+without resting on any of the toys.
+
+'Can I show you any thing, sir?' said my mistress.
+
+'No, I am much obliged to you,' he answered, with a pleasant smile. 'I
+am only in search of some young people who, I dare say, have been better
+customers than I. Ah, here they are,' he continued, as the two boys of
+whom I had taken so much notice ran up to him from different ends of the
+room.
+
+'Well, boys,' said he, 'what have you bought? Must we hire a wagon to
+carry your property home?'
+
+'Not quite,' answered Edward. 'I have bought a wagon-load of amusement,
+but I can carry it home well enough myself; I have spent all my money in
+this box of tools.'
+
+'A very sensible and useful purchase,' said the gentleman; 'they will
+give you plenty of pleasant employment. The only objection is, that they
+are likely to be lost or broken at school.'
+
+'I do not mean to take them to school, papa. I shall use them in the
+holidays, and leave them with Willy when I go back to school; that was
+one reason why I bought them. Willy could do a good deal of
+carpentering on his sofa.'
+
+[Illustration: Page 25.]
+
+'True, my boy, and a kind thought. They will be a great amusement to
+poor Willy, and he will take good care of them for you.'
+
+'Now, Geoffrey, how have you invested your capital? I hope you have
+found a strong spade. It is fine weather for gardening.'
+
+'No, I haven't,' stammered Geoffrey.
+
+'Well, what have you bought?'
+
+'I don't know,' said Geoffrey.
+
+'Do you mean that you have not spent your money yet? Make haste, then,
+for I can only allow you five minutes more. I expected to find you ready
+to go home. Be brisk; there is every thing on that stall that the heart
+of boy can wish,' said the gentleman, pointing to my abode.
+
+But Geoffrey did not move. 'I don't want any thing,' said he at last.
+
+'What a fortunate boy!' said the gentleman; but he presently added,
+'Have you lost your money?'
+
+'No.'
+
+'Show it to me.'
+
+Geoffrey slowly produced his sixpence, almost hidden in the palm of his
+hand.
+
+'Where is the rest?' asked the gentleman. 'Have you spent it?'
+
+'Yes.'
+
+'And nothing to show for it? Nothing?'--and the gentleman looked at the
+boy more narrowly. 'Nothing,' said he again, 'except a few crumbs of
+pie-crust on your waistcoat? Oh, Geoffrey!'
+
+There was a short silence, and the boy colored a good deal; at last he
+said, 'It was my own money.'
+
+'You will wish it was your own again before long, I dare say,' said the
+gentleman. 'However, we must hope you will be wiser in time. Come home
+now to dinner.'
+
+'I don't want any dinner,' said Geoffrey.
+
+'Probably not, but Edward and I do. We have not dined on tarts; and I
+dare say Ned is as hungry as I am.'
+
+So saying, he led the way towards the door, leaving me, as usual,
+pondering over what had passed. One word used by the gentleman made a
+great impression on me--USEFUL.
+
+What could that mean? Various considerations were suggested by the
+question. Some things, it seemed, were useful, others not; and what
+puzzled me most was, that the very same things appeared to be useful to
+some people, and not to others. For instance, the sixpenny paint-box,
+which had been rejected as useless to Willy, was bought soon afterwards
+by a small boy, who said it would be the most useful toy he had.
+
+Could this be the case with every thing? Was it possible that every
+thing properly applied might have its use, and that its value depended
+upon those who used it? If so, why was Geoffrey blamed for spending his
+money in tarts? _He_ liked them. Perhaps he had plenty of food at home,
+and that uselessness consisted in a thing's not being really wanted. I
+revolved the subject in my mind, and tried to discover the use of every
+thing I saw, but I was not always successful. The subject was
+perplexing; and gradually all my thoughts became fixed on the point of
+most importance to myself--namely, my own use.
+
+How changed were my ideas since the time when I imagined the world to
+belong to dolls! Their whole race now seemed to be of very small
+importance; and as for my individual self, I could not be sure that I
+had any use at all, and still less _what_, or _to whom_.
+
+Day after day I lay on my counter unnoticed, except by the shopwoman who
+covered us up at night, and re-arranged us in the morning; and even this
+she did with such an indifferent air, that I could not flatter myself I
+was of the smallest use to _her_. Every necessary care was bestowed upon
+me in common with my companions; but I sighed for the tender attentions
+that I sometimes saw lavished by children upon their dolls, and wished
+that my mistress would nurse and caress me in the same manner.
+
+She never seemed to think of such a thing. She once said I was dusty,
+and whisked a brush over my face; but that was the only separate mark of
+interest I ever received from her. I had no reasonable ground of
+complaint, but I began to grow weary of the insipidity of my life, and
+to ask myself whether this could be my only destiny. Was I never to be
+of use to any body? From time to time other toys were carried away. Many
+a giddy top and lively ball left my side in childish company, and
+disappeared through those mysterious gates by which the busy human race
+entered our calm seclusion.
+
+At last even dolls had their day. The beautiful waxen princess no longer
+graced our dominions. She was bought by an elderly lady for a birthday
+present to a little grand-daughter; and on the very same day the 'old
+familiar faces' of six dolls who had long shared my counter vanished
+from my sight, one after another being bought and carried away.
+
+I was sorry to lose them, though while we lived together we had had our
+little miffs and jealousies. I had sometimes thought that the one with
+the red shoes was always sticking out her toes; that she of the flaxen
+ringlets was ready to let every breath of wind blow them over her
+neighbours' faces; that another with long legs took up more room than
+her share, much to my inconvenience. But now that they were all gone,
+and I never could hope to see them again, I would gladly have squeezed
+myself into as small compass as the baby doll in the walnut-shell, in
+order to make room for them once more.
+
+One thing, however, was satisfactory: dolls certainly had their use.
+Seven had been bought, and therefore why not an eighth? I had been
+sinking almost into a state of despondency, but now my hopes revived and
+my spirits rose. My turn might come.
+
+And my turn did come. Every circumstance of that eventful day is deeply
+impressed on my memory. I was as usual employed in making remarks upon
+the passing crowd, and wondering what might be the use of every body I
+saw, when I perceived the lady and the little girl who had been almost
+my first acquaintances among the human race. As they approached my
+stall, I heard the mama say, 'Have you decided what to buy with the
+sixpence?'
+
+'Oh yes, quite,' answered the child; 'I am going to buy a _sixpenny
+doll_.'
+
+The words thrilled through me; her eyes seemed fixed on mine, and the
+sixpence was between her fingers. I imagined myself bought. But she
+continued: 'I think, if you don't mind the trouble, I should like to go
+round the bazaar first, to see which are the prettiest.'
+
+'By all means,' replied the lady; and they walked on, carrying all my
+hopes with them.
+
+I had often fancied myself the prettiest doll of my size in the place;
+but such conceit would not support me now. I felt that there were
+dozens, nay scores, who more than equalled me; and all discontented
+notions of my neglected merit now sunk before the dread that I had
+really no merit to neglect.
+
+I began also to have some idea of what was meant by time. My past life
+had glided away so imperceptibly, that I did not know whether it had
+been long or short; but I learnt to count every moment while those two
+mortals were walking round the bazaar.
+
+I strained my eyes to catch sight of them again; but when at last they
+re-appeared, I scarcely dared to look, for fear of seeing a doll in the
+child's hands. But no; her hands were empty, except for the sixpence
+still between her finger and thumb.
+
+They came nearer--they stopped at another stall; I could not hear what
+they said, but they turned away, and once more stood opposite to me. The
+child remained for some moments as silent as myself, and then exclaimed,
+'After all, Mama, I don't think there are any prettier dolls than these
+in the whole room.'
+
+'What do you say to this one, Miss?' said our proprietor, taking up a
+great full-dressed Dutch doll, and laying her on the top of those of my
+size and class, completely hiding the poor little victims under her
+stiff muslin and broad ribbons.
+
+But on the child's answering, 'No, thank you, I only want a sixpenny
+doll not dressed,' the Dutch giantess was removed, and we once more
+asserted our humble claims.
+
+'That seems to me a very pretty one,' said the mama, pointing to my next
+neighbour. The child for a moment hesitated, but presently exclaimed in
+a joyful tone, 'Oh no, _this_ is the beauty of all; this little darling
+with the real hair and blue ribbon in it; I will take this one, if you
+please.' And before I could be sure that she meant me, I was removed
+from my place, wrapped up in paper, and consigned to her hands. My
+long-cherished wishes were fulfilled, and I was bought. At first I could
+scarcely believe it. Notwithstanding all my planning and looking
+forward to this event, now that it really happened, I could not
+understand it. My senses seemed gone. What had so long occupied my mind
+was the work of a moment; but that moment was irrevocable, and my fate
+was decided. In my little mistress' hands I passed the boundaries of the
+world of toys, and entered upon a new state of existence.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+
+A very different life now opened before me. I had no longer any pretence
+for complaining of neglect. My young mistress devoted every spare moment
+to the enjoyment of my company, and set no limits to her caresses and
+compliments; while I in return regarded her with all the gratitude and
+affection which a doll can feel. My faculties as well as my feelings
+were called into fresh exercise; for though I had no longer the wide
+range of observation afforded by the daily crowd of strangers in the
+bazaar, I had the new advantage of making intimate acquaintance with a
+small circle of friends.
+
+Having hitherto been so completely without any position in the world, I
+could not at first help feeling rather shy at the idea of taking my
+place as member of a family; and it was therefore a relief to find that
+my lot was not cast amongst total strangers, but that I had already some
+slight clue to the characters of my future companions.
+
+My mistress, whose name was Rose, was sister to the Willy for whom she
+had bought the paint-box, and also to Edward, the purchaser of the
+tools. Geoffrey, the lover of tarts, was a cousin on a visit to them for
+the holidays; and they had also an elder sister named Margaret; besides
+their papa and mama, whom I had seen in the bazaar.
+
+The first of the family to whom I was introduced was Willy, and I soon
+became much interested in him. He was a pale thin boy, who spent the day
+on a sofa, to and from which he was carried in the morning and at night.
+In fine weather he went out in a wheel-chair; but he was unable to move,
+without help, and was obliged to endure many privations. Though he often
+looked suffering and weary, he was cheerful and patient, and always
+seemed pleased to hear other children describe enjoyments in which he
+could not share. Every body was fond of Willy, and anxious to amuse and
+comfort him. All that happened out of doors was told to him; all the
+kindest friends and pleasantest visitors came to see him; the new books
+were brought to him to read first; the best fruit and flowers always set
+apart for him; and all the in-door occupations arranged as much as
+possible with a view to his convenience. He and his little sister Rose
+were the dearest friends in the world, and certain to take part in
+whatever interested each other. As soon as Rose brought me home from the
+Pantheon, she ran up stairs with me to Willy, whom I then saw for the
+first time, sitting on the sofa with his feet up, and a table before
+him, on which stood several books, and my old acquaintances the
+paint-box and the chest of tools.
+
+'Look at this, Willy; is not this pretty?' exclaimed Rose, laying me
+down on his open book.
+
+Willy looked up with a pleasant smile: 'Very pretty,' he answered. 'I
+suppose she is to be the lady of the new house; and with Ned's tools, I
+hope to make some furniture worth her acceptance.'
+
+'Oh, thank you, Willy dear. And will you help me to choose a name for
+her? What do you think the prettiest name you know?'
+
+'_Rose_,' answered Willy, laughing; 'but I suppose that will not do. I
+dare say you want something very fine and out-of-the-way.'
+
+'As fine as can be,' replied Rose; 'I have been thinking of Seraphina or
+Wilhelmina: which do you like best?'
+
+'Call it Molly,' cried Edward, who just then entered the room; 'Molly
+and Betty are the best names: no nonsense in them.'
+
+'Call it Stupid Donkey,' mumbled a voice behind him; and Geoffrey
+advanced, his mouth as usual full of something besides words. 'Have any
+nuts, Willy?' he asked, holding out a handful.
+
+'No, thank you,' answered Willy; 'I must not eat them.'
+
+'I wouldn't be you, I know,' said Geoffrey, cracking one between his
+teeth; 'never let to eat any thing but what's wholesome, and always
+reading, or doing something stupid. I believe you are helping Rose to
+play with that doll now. Put it into the fire; that is the way to treat
+dolls. Stupid things. I hate 'em!'
+
+'Pray do not touch it, Geoffrey,' said Rose.
+
+'Leave it alone, Geff,' said Edward. 'You have your things, and Rose has
+hers. I don't see the fun of dolls myself, but she does, and nobody
+shall interfere with her while I am here to protect her. Just remember
+that, will you?'
+
+'The d-o-ll!' said Geoffrey, drawling the word, and making a face as if
+the pronouncing it turned him quite sick. 'Oh, the sweet doll! Perhaps
+you would like to stay and play with Rose, and Willy, and the d-o-ll,
+instead of coming out to cricket.'
+
+'Nonsense, you foolish fellow, you know better,' answered Edward. 'But I
+won't have Rose bullied; and what's more, I won't have Willy quizzed. I
+should like to see you or me pass such an examination as Willy could if
+he were at school. Why, he can learn as much in a day as we do in a
+week.'
+
+'Well, he is welcome to learn as much as he likes,' said Geoffrey; 'and
+let's you and I go and play. What stupid nuts these are! I've almost
+cracked one of my teeth with cracking them.'
+
+The boys ran off; and presently there came into the room the papa and
+mama, whom I already knew, and a young lady very like Rose, but older. I
+found she was Margaret, the eldest sister. They inquired whether Willy
+wanted any thing before they went out; and Margaret fetched a drawing
+that he wished to copy, while his father and mother wheeled his sofa and
+table nearer the window, that he might have more light. When he was made
+quite comfortable, they told Rose that she might stay and take care of
+him till they returned; and she said she would bring her box of scraps
+and begin dressing me. Then I came in for my share of notice, and had
+every reason to be satisfied with the praises bestowed on me. The mama
+said that I deserved very neatly-made clothes; the papa, that my hair
+would be a pattern for Margaret's; and Margaret said I was charming, and
+that she would make me a pink satin gown.
+
+They admired the name _Seraphina_, though the papa suggested various
+others which he thought might suit Rose's taste,--Sophonisba, Cleopatra,
+Araminta, Dulcinea, Ethelinda, &c.; but as she remained steady to her
+first choice, the LADY SERAPHINA was decided to be thenceforth my name
+and title.
+
+And now began the real business of my life. I was no longer doomed to
+fret at being of no use, for the object of my existence was plain
+enough, namely, to give innocent recreation to my young mistress when
+at leisure from her more serious employments. Every day she spent some
+hours in study with her mother or sister; and she would fly to me for
+relief between her lessons, and return to them with more vigor after
+passing a little time in my refreshing company. She often showed her
+tasks to me, and discussed their difficulties. I think she repeated the
+multiplication-table to me nearly a hundred times, while I sat on the
+_Tutor's Assistant_ waiting for the recurrence of the fatal words,
+'Seven times nine.' Day after day she could get no farther; but as soon
+as she came to 'Seven times nine,' I was turned off the book, which had
+to be consulted for the answer.
+
+At last, one day she came running into the room in great glee,
+exclaiming, 'I have done the multiplication-table. I have said it quite
+right, sixty-three and all. I made no mistake even in dodging. And _you_
+helped me, my darling Lady Seraphina. I never could have learned it
+perfect if you had not heard me say it so often. And now, look at your
+rewards. Margaret has made you a bonnet, and Willy has made you an
+arm-chair.'
+
+Beautiful, indeed, was the bonnet, and commodious the arm-chair; and I
+wore the one and reclined in the other all the time Rose was learning
+the French auxiliary verbs _etre_ and _avoir_. I flattered myself I was
+of as much use in them as in the multiplication-table; but I do not
+recollect receiving any particular recompense. Indeed, after a little
+time, it would have been difficult to know what to give me, for I
+possessed every thing that a doll's heart could wish, or her head
+imagine. Such a variety of elegant dresses as Rose made for me would
+have been the envy of all my old friends in the bazaar. I had gowns of
+pink satin and white satin; blue silk and yellow silk; colored muslins
+without number, and splendid white lace. Bonnets enough to furnish a
+milliner's shop were mine; but I was not so partial to them as to my
+gowns, because they tumbled my hair.
+
+I believe a good many of my possessions were presents from Margaret to
+Rose on account of perfect lessons; but in course of time, I ceased to
+superintend Rose's studies. Margaret said that I interrupted the course
+of history; and the mama said that Rose was old enough to learn her
+lessons without bringing her play into them, and that I must be put away
+during school hours.
+
+Though I did not think that the fault was altogether mine, I quite
+acquiesced in the wisdom of this decree; for during Rose's last
+reading-lesson she had stopped so often to ask me which I liked best,
+Lycurgus or Solon, Pericles or Alcibiades, &c., that Margaret was almost
+out of patience. And though I made no answer, and had really no choice
+at all between the characters, I felt that I rather hindered business.
+
+I was therefore now left to myself for several hours in the morning; but
+I found ample and pleasant employment in surveying the comforts and
+beauties of my habitation. For I was not forced to perform the part of
+an insignificant pigmy in the vast abodes of the colossal race of man: I
+possessed a beautiful little house proportioned to my size, pleasantly
+situated on a table in the furthest corner of the schoolroom, and
+commanding an extensive view of the whole apartment.
+
+I must describe my house at full length. It had been originally, as I
+heard, a mere rough packing-case; but what of that? The best brick house
+in London was once but clay in the fields; and my packing-case was now
+painted outside and papered inside, and fitted up in a manner every way
+suitable for the occupation of a doll of distinction.
+
+My drawing-room was charming; light and cheerful, the walls papered with
+white and gold, and the floor covered with a drab carpet worked with
+flowers of every hue. Rose worked the carpet herself under the
+directions of Margaret, who prevailed on her to learn worsted-work for
+my sake. So there, again, how useful I was! From the ceiling hung a
+brilliant glass chandelier, a birthday present from Edward to Rose; and
+the mantel-piece was adorned by a splendid mirror cut out of a broken
+looking-glass by Willy, and framed by his hands. I cannot say that Willy
+ever seemed to care for me personally, but he took considerable interest
+in my upholstery, and much of my handsomest furniture was manufactured
+by him. He made my dining-room and drawing-room tables; the frames of my
+chairs, which were covered with silk by Margaret; my sofa, and my
+four-post bedstead; and it was he who painted the floor-cloth in my
+hall, and the capital picture of the Queen and Prince Albert which hung
+over the dining-room chimney-piece. I had a snug bed-room, containing a
+bed with pink curtains, a toilette-table, with a handsome looking-glass,
+pincushion, and rather large brush and comb; a washing-stand,
+towel-horse, chest of drawers, and wardrobe. But the last two, I must
+confess, were rather for show than for use. They were French-polished,
+and in appearance convenient as well as handsome, but in reality too
+small to hold my clothes. A few minor articles of dress were kept in
+them; but the mass of my gorgeous attire was always in larger boxes and
+trunks belonging to my mistress; her work-box, for instance, and at one
+time her desk; but her mama turned all my gowns out of the latter when
+she banished me from the lessons, and desired that, for the future, only
+writing materials should be kept in it. 'Every thing in its proper
+place, Rose,' I heard her say. 'You have plenty of little boxes for
+doll's clothes; and your doll ought to teach you to be more tidy instead
+of less so.'
+
+My dining-room was well adapted for all the purposes of hospitality,
+being furnished with a substantial dining-table, chairs, and a
+sideboard, on which there always stood two trays, one filled with
+decanters and wine-glasses, and the other with knives and forks.
+
+My kitchen was resplendent with saucepans, kettles, pots and pans, and
+plates and dishes, ranged upon the dresser, or hung from the walls. A
+joint of meat was always roasting before the fire, and a cook of my own
+race appeared to spend her life in basting it, for I never failed to
+find her thus employed when Rose was so kind as to take me into my
+kitchen. There was also a footman, who sat for ever in the hall; and I
+was inclined to consider him rather wanting in respect, till I
+discovered that, owing to a broken leg, he was unable to stand. I did
+not quite comprehend the use of my servants, as Rose herself did all the
+work of my house; but she said they were indispensable, and that if it
+were not for want of room, I should have a great many more.
+
+Besides all these arrangements for my comfort in-doors, I possessed a
+beautiful open phaeton, emblazoned with the royal arms of England, and
+drawn by four piebald horses with long tails, so spirited that they
+never left off prancing. Every day, after school-time, Rose brought
+this equipage to my door; and the four horses stood with their eight
+front feet in the air while I was dressed for my drive. Then, attired in
+my last new bonnet and cloak, I sat in state in my carriage, and was
+drawn round and round the room by Rose, till she said I was tired. She
+made many attempts to persuade the lame footman to stand on the
+footboard behind, but she never could manage it. He was a very helpless
+creature; and I am not quite certain that he even did his best, little
+as that might be. The first time Rose set him up behind the carriage, he
+tumbled head over heels into the middle of it, and stood there on his
+head till she picked him out again. Then he fell off behind, then on one
+side, and then on the other, till she was quite tired of his foolish
+tricks, and left him to sit quietly and stupidly in his old place in the
+hall.
+
+I lived in great comfort in my pleasant house, and being of a cheerful,
+contented temper, never felt lonely, although left to myself during
+great part of the day; for Rose was very obedient to her Mama's orders,
+and even if now and then tempted to forget the regulation herself, Willy
+was always at hand to remind her, and help to fix her attention on her
+business. But when it was all over, she flew to me with redoubled
+pleasure.
+
+One day she said to me, 'My dear Seraphina, I am afraid you must be very
+dull, alone all the morning.' I longed to assure her of the contrary;
+but not having the gift of speech, I could only listen submissively
+while she continued: 'It is a pity that you should sit doing nothing and
+wasting your time; so I have brought you some books, which you are to
+read while I am at my lessons; and I shall expect you to learn just as
+much as I do.'
+
+So saying, she seated me on my sofa, and placing a table with the books
+before me, 'Look,' continued she, 'I have made them for you myself, and
+covered them with these pretty red and green papers. This is your
+English History, and this is your French Grammar; and here is a
+Geography Book, and here is a History of Rome. Now read attentively, and
+do not let your thoughts wander; and be very careful not to dogs-ear the
+leaves: that always looks like a dunce. And mind you sit upright,' added
+she, looking back, as she left the room in obedience to a summons from
+her sister.
+
+I obeyed to the best of my power. To be sure, I did not know which was
+geography and which was grammar; and English and Roman history were both
+alike to me. But I did as I was bid. I sat upright in the place
+appointed me, staring as hard as I could at the open pages; and my worst
+enemy could not accuse me of dogs-earing a single leaf.
+
+When my mistress returned, she pleased me much by calling me a very good
+girl, and saying that if I continued to take so much pains, I could not
+fail to improve. On hearing this, Willy laughed, and said he hoped that
+that was a duplicate of Margaret's last speech; and Rose looked very
+happy, and answered that not only Margaret, but Mama had said the same.
+
+This was not my only duplicate of Rose's adventures. My education
+appeared to be conducted precisely on the same plan as her own. Before
+long, she brought a little pianoforte and set it up in my drawing-room.
+I thought it rather hid the pretty paper, but it was a handsome piece of
+furniture.
+
+'Now, Lady Seraphina,' said Rose, 'I am obliged to practise for an hour
+every day, and you must do the same. See what a pretty piano I have
+given you. You need not mind its being meant for a housewife and
+pincushion; the notes are marked, and that is all you want. Now practise
+your scales, and be very careful to play right notes and count your
+time.'
+
+I sat at my piano with all due diligence, but I am sorry to say that my
+progress did not seem satisfactory. One day Rose said that she was sure
+I had forgotten to count; and another day, that I hurried the easy bars
+and slackened the difficult ones; then she accused me of not caring
+whether I played right notes or wrong, and torturing her ear by my false
+chords; then I banged the notes till I broke the strings: in short,
+there was no end to her complaints, till at last she wound them all up
+by declaring that both she and I hated music, and that if Mama and
+Margaret would take her advice, we should both leave it off.
+
+But still I practised regularly, and so, I suppose, did Rose; and
+gradually her reproaches diminished, and she grew more contented with
+me; and we both persevered, till she said that really, after all, I
+seemed to have a good ear, and to be likely to make a very respectable
+player.
+
+'But you know it all depends upon yourself, Seraphina; your present
+improvement is the result of pains and practice. Pains and practice will
+do any thing.'
+
+It was fortunate for me that I had so careful a superintendent as Rose;
+for unless she had kept a constant watch over me, there is no saying
+how many awkward habits I might unconsciously have contracted. But she
+cured me of poking my head forward, of standing on one leg, of tilting
+my chair, of meddling with things that were not my own, of leaning
+against the furniture while I was speaking, of putting my elbows on the
+table, of biting my nails, of spilling my tea, and of making crumbs on
+the floor.
+
+I cannot say I was myself aware either of the faults or their cure; but
+I think one seldom does notice one's own faults, and therefore it is a
+great advantage to have kind friends who will point them out to us. I
+believed Rose when she told me of mine; so I had a right to believe her
+when she gave me the agreeable assurance of their cure, and to indulge
+the hope that I was becoming a pleasing, well-bred little doll.
+
+On one mortifying occasion, however, I must own that Rose's anxiety for
+my always following in her steps was the cause of a serious injury to
+me. She remarked that I had got into a horrid way of kicking off my
+shoes while I was learning my poetry; and she thought the best cure
+would be to make me wear sandals. I observed that she was sewing sandals
+to her own shoes at the time, and she consulted Willy about some means
+of doing the same by mine. Willy held me head downwards, and examined my
+feet. My shoes were painted, therefore sewing was out of the question.
+He advised glue. This was tried, but it came through the thin narrow
+ribbon of which my sandals were to be made, and looked very dirty. They
+were taken off; but the operation had spoilt the delicacy of my white
+stockings, and Rose said it was impossible to let me go such an untidy
+figure; we must try some other way. She asked Willy to lend her a
+gimlet, that she might bore holes at the sides of my feet, and glue the
+ribbon into them, so as not to show the glue. Willy said she was welcome
+to the gimlet, but that he advised her to leave it alone, for that she
+would only break my feet. But Rose would not be dissuaded, and began
+boring.
+
+It was on this occasion that I most peculiarly felt the advantage of
+that insensibility to pain which distinguishes my race. What mortal
+could have borne such an infliction without struggling and screaming? I,
+on the contrary, took it all in good part, and showed no signs of
+feeling even at the fatal moment when my foot snapped in two, and Rose,
+with a face of utter dismay, held up my own toes before my eyes.
+
+'Oh, my poor Seraphina!' she exclaimed, 'what shall we do?'
+
+'Glue it on again,' said Willy. 'You had better have taken my advice at
+first, but now you must make the best of it. Glue is your only friend.'
+
+So Rose glued the halves of my foot together, lamenting over me, and
+blaming herself so much all the time, that it seemed rather a comfort to
+her when Margaret, coming into the room, agreed with her that she had
+been foolish and awkward. Margaret said that ribbon might have been tied
+over my feet from the first, without using glue or gimlet either; and
+Rose called herself more stupid than ever, for not having thought of
+such an easy contrivance.
+
+My foot was glued, and for the purpose of standing, answered as well as
+ever; and Rose sewed me up in a pair of blue silk boots, and declared
+that I was prettier than before; and my misfortune was soon forgotten by
+every body but myself. I, however, could not but feel a misgiving that
+this was the first warning of my share in the invariable fate of my
+race. For I had already lived long enough to be aware that the existence
+of a doll, like that of every thing else, has its limits. Either by
+sudden accidents, such as loss of limbs, or by the daily wear and tear
+of life, decay gradually makes its progress in us, and we fade away as
+surely as the most delicate of the fragile race of mortals.
+
+Though the fracture of my foot was my own first misfortune, I had had
+opportunities of remarking the casualties to which dolls are liable. For
+it is not to be supposed that our devotion to human beings precludes us
+from cultivating the society of our own species. Dolls will be dolls;
+and they have a natural sympathy with each other, notwithstanding the
+companionship of the race of man. Most little girls are aware of this
+fact, and provide suitable society for their dolls. I myself had a large
+circle of silent acquaintances, to whom I was introduced by Rose's
+kindness and consideration. When other little girls came to drink tea
+with her, they often brought their dolls to spend the evening with me;
+and among them I had more than once the pleasure of recognising an old
+friend from the bazaar.
+
+Then I was in my glory. There was a constant supply of provisions in my
+larder; and at a moment's notice Rose would produce an excellent dinner,
+all ready cooked, and dished in a beautiful little china dinner-service.
+Willy compared her to the genius of Aladdin's lamp; and though I did not
+know what that might mean, I quite understood the advantage of being
+able to set such a banquet before my friends. I could always command
+salmon, a pair of soles, a leg of mutton, a leg of pork, a turkey, a
+pair of boiled fowls, a ham, a sucking pig, a hare, a loaf of bread, a
+fine Cheshire cheese, several pies, and a great variety of fruit, which
+was always ripe and in season, winter or summer. Rose's papa once
+observed that his hothouse produced none so fine; for the currants were
+as large as apples, and two cherries filled a dish.
+
+Rose and her companions performed the active duties of waiting at table
+on these occasions; but the lame footman was generally brought out of
+the hall, and propped up against the sideboard, where he stood looking
+respectable but awkward.
+
+At these pleasant parties I saw a great range of characters, for Rose's
+young visitors were various in their tastes, and their dolls used to be
+dressed in every known costume. Besides plenty of pretty English
+damsels, I was introduced now to a Turkish sultana, now to a Swiss
+peasant; one day to a captain in the British army, another day to an
+Indian rajah. One young lady liked to make her dolls personate
+celebrated characters; and when she visited us, most distinguished
+guests graced my table. I have had the honor of receiving the Queen and
+Prince Albert themselves; the Duke of Wellington, Sir Walter Scott, and
+Miss Edgeworth, have all dined with me on the same day, and Robinson
+Crusoe came in the evening.
+
+But it was at these social meetings that I became most fully aware of
+the liability of dolls to loss of limbs. I never remember giving a party
+at which the guests could boast of possessing all their legs and arms.
+Many an ingenious contrivance hid or supplied the deficiencies, and we
+were happy in spite of our losses; still, such was the case: and I saw
+that dolls, however beloved and respected, could not last for ever.
+
+For some time after my accident I had no particular adventures. I lived
+in peace and plenty, and amused myself with watching the family. They
+were all amiable and easy to understand, except Geoffrey; but he was a
+complete puzzle to me, and it was long before I could make out why he
+was so different from the rest.
+
+The others all seemed to like to help and please one another, but
+Geoffrey never seemed happy unless he was making himself disagreeable.
+If Willy was interested in a book, he was obliged to sit upon the second
+volume, or Geoffrey would be sure to run away with it. If Edward was in
+a hurry to go out, Geoffrey would hide his cap, and keep him a quarter
+of an hour hunting for it. The girls dared not leave their worsted-work
+within his reach for a moment; for he would unravel the canvass, or chop
+up the wool, or go on with the work after a pattern of his own
+composing, so that they would be obliged to spend half an hour in
+unpicking his cobbling.
+
+Margaret remonstrated with him in private, and made excuses for him in
+public, and did her best to prevent his tiresome tricks from annoying
+Willy; Edward tried rougher means of keeping him in order, which
+sometimes succeeded; but still he could find plenty of opportunities of
+being a torment: people always can when such is their taste.
+
+One day Margaret was keeping Willy company, while the rest of the party
+were gone to the Zoological Gardens. She had brought a drawing to
+finish, as he liked to see her draw, and was sometimes useful in
+suggesting improvements. But while they were thus employed, Margaret was
+summoned to some visitors, and went away, saying that her drawing would
+just have time to dry before she returned.
+
+But unfortunately, during her absence, Geoffrey came home. He had grown
+tired of the Gardens, which he had seen very often, and rather hungry,
+as he generally was; so after amusing himself by eating the cakes he had
+bought for the bear, he had nothing more to do, and tried to persuade
+his cousins to be tired also. But Edward was making himself agreeable to
+the monkeys, Rose was cultivating the friendship of the elephant, and
+their Papa and Mama were waiting to see the hippopotamus bathe; so that
+Geoffrey's proposals of leaving the Gardens were scouted, and he could
+only obtain leave from his uncle to go home by himself.
+
+He entered the room, as usual, with his mouth full, having spent his
+last penny in a piece of cocoanut as he came along the streets. While
+the cocoanut lasted, he was employed to his satisfaction; but when that
+was finished, he was again at a loss for something to do. He tried
+walking round the room on one leg, working heel and toe, and that
+succeeded very well, and did no harm till he unluckily came to the
+drawing-table, when he immediately brought himself to a stand on both
+feet.
+
+'Hallo!' cried he, 'here's a daub! Is this your splendid performance,
+Will?'
+
+'No,' replied Willy, 'it is Margaret's; and mind you don't touch it by
+accident, because it is wet.'
+
+'Touch it by accident!' exclaimed Geoffrey; 'I am going to touch it on
+purpose. I wonder Margaret is not ashamed to do it so badly. I'll
+improve it for her. How kind of me!'
+
+Poor Willy, in dismay, tried to secure the drawing, but he could not
+move from his sofa, and Geoffrey danced round him, holding it at
+arm's-length. Then Willy caught at the bell-rope, but his mischievous
+cousin snatched it quicker, and tied it up out of his reach. Willy
+called all the servants as loud as he could, but no one was within
+hearing; and he threw himself back on his sofa, in despair, exclaiming,
+'How can you be so ill-natured, when Margaret is always so kind to you?'
+
+'Ill-natured!' answered the other; 'I'm doing her a favor. She admired
+the moonlight in the Diorama; now I shall make just such a moon in her
+drawing.' And while he spoke, a great yellow moon, like a guinea, rose
+in the midst of poor Margaret's brilliant sunset.
+
+'That's the thing,' said Geoffrey; 'and now I shall put the cow jumping
+over it, and the little dog laughing to see such sport. Some figures
+always improve the foreground.'
+
+'Oh, you have quite spoilt it!' cried Willy. 'How I wish I could stop
+you! I cannot imagine how you can like to be so mischievous and
+disagreeable. Oh, if Margaret would but come back.'
+
+At last Margaret came, and the troublesome Geoffrey expected great
+amusement from her displeasure; but he was disappointed. Margaret was
+one of those generous people who never resent an injury done to
+themselves. If Geoffrey had spoilt any body else's drawing, she would
+have been the first to punish him; but now she was much more vexed at
+Willy's distress than at the destruction of her own work, and instead of
+scolding Geoffrey, she gave herself up to consoling Willy. She assured
+him that there was no great harm done. She said the drawing was good for
+very little, and that she would copy it and improve it so much that he
+should be quite glad of the disaster; and she made a present of the
+spoilt drawing to Geoffrey, telling him she was sure he would one day
+be ashamed of so foolish a performance, but that meanwhile he might keep
+it as a specimen of his taste. He had not the manners to apologize, but
+he looked very silly and crest-fallen, and left the room in silence,
+with the drawing in his hand.
+
+When he was gone, Willy exclaimed, 'If it were not for losing Edward, I
+should wish the holidays were over; Geoffrey is so disagreeable.'
+
+'He is very thoughtless,' Margaret replied; 'but we must not be too hard
+upon him. Let us recollect that he has no parents to teach him better,
+nor brothers and sisters to call forth his consideration for others.
+Poor Geoffrey has had neither example nor precept till now. But now Papa
+and Mama give him good precepts; and if we try to set him good examples,
+perhaps we may help him to improve.'
+
+'Well, I'll hope for the best, and do what I can,' said Willy.
+'Certainly he has some good qualities. He is as brave as a lion; and he
+is good-natured about giving away his own things, though he is so
+mischievous with other people's.'
+
+'And he is clever in his way, notwithstanding his idleness,' added
+Margaret. 'Those foolish figures that he put into my drawing were
+uncommonly well done, though they were provoking to us.'
+
+'You are the best girl in the world,' said Willy; 'and if you think
+Geoffrey will improve, I'll think so too; but you must own there is room
+for it.'
+
+Perhaps Geoffrey did improve, but it seemed slow work, faults being more
+easily acquired than cured; and for a long time I could perceive no
+difference in him. Indeed, as his next piece of mischief concerned
+myself, I thought him worse than ever.
+
+I have often wondered at the extreme dislike which boys have to dolls. I
+was the most inoffensive creature possible, giving myself no airs, and
+interfering with nobody; yet even the gentle Willy was indifferent to
+me. Edward, though he protected Rose in her patronage of me, despised
+me thoroughly himself; and Geoffrey never lost an opportunity of
+expressing his mortal hatred to me. I shrunk from Edward's contemptuous
+notice, but I was not at all afraid of him, well knowing that neither he
+nor Willy would hurt a hair of my head; but whenever Geoffrey came into
+the room, terror seized my mind. He never passed my house without making
+all kinds of ugly faces at me; and I felt instinctively that nothing but
+the presence of the other boys restrained him from doing me any harm in
+his power.
+
+I had hitherto never been alone with him, but at last the fatal moment
+arrived. One fine afternoon, Willy went out for a drive in his
+wheel-chair, Edward insisting upon drawing it himself, and the two girls
+walking on each side. Geoffrey accompanied them, intending to walk with
+them part of the way, and to go on by himself when he was tired of the
+slow pace of the chair. All seemed safe, and I hoped to enjoy a few
+hours of uninterrupted leisure. I always liked having my time to
+myself; and as Rose had set me no lessons, I reposed comfortably in my
+arm-chair by a blazing fire of black and red cloth, from the glare of
+which I was sheltered by a screen. My dog sat at my side, my cat lay at
+my feet, and I was as happy as a doll could be.
+
+Suddenly the silence was broken by a sound as of a turkey gabbling in
+the hall; presently this changed to a duck quacking on the stairs; then
+a cock crew on the landing-place, and a goose hissed close to the
+schoolroom door. I guessed but too well what these ominous sounds
+portended, and my heart sunk within me as the door burst open, and my
+dreaded enemy banged into the room.
+
+'Why, they are not come home yet!' exclaimed he; 'so my talents have
+been wasted. I meant to have made them bid me not make every different
+noise. When they said, "Don't hiss," I would have crowed; and when they
+said, "Don't crow," I would have quacked, or barked, or bellowed, or
+mewed, till I had gone through all the noises I know. Now I have
+nothing to do.'
+
+He walked to the window and looked out.
+
+'What a stupid street it is!' said he. 'If my uncle had not taken away
+my squirt, I would squirt at the people.'
+
+Then he yawned, and sauntered to the bookcase. 'What stupid books! I
+wonder any body can write them. I wish Edward had left his tools out; I
+should like to plane the top of the shelf. How stupid it is having
+nothing to do!'
+
+As he spoke, I shuddered to see him approaching my end of the room. He
+came nearer; he made a full stop in front of me, and looked me in the
+face.
+
+'You stupid, ugly thing,' he exclaimed, 'don't stare so. I hate to have
+a doll's eyes goggling at me.'
+
+Gladly would I have withdrawn my eyes, if possible. But they had been
+painted wide open, and what could I do? I never was so ashamed of them
+in my life; but I had no control over them, so I stared on, and he grew
+more indignant.
+
+'If you don't leave off,' he cried, 'I'll poke out your eyes, as I did
+those of the ugly picture in my room. I won't be stared at.'
+
+I longed for the gift of speech to represent to him, that if he would
+but leave off looking at me, I should give him no offence; but alas, I
+was silent, and could only stare as hard as ever.
+
+'Oh, you will, will you?' said he 'then I know what I'll do: I'll hang
+you.'
+
+In vain I hoped for the return of the rest of the party. I listened
+anxiously for every sound, but no friendly step or voice was near, and I
+was completely in his power.
+
+He began rummaging his pockets, grinning and making faces at me all the
+time. Presently he drew forth a long piece of string, extremely dirty,
+looking as if it had been trailed in the mud.
+
+'Now for it,' he exclaimed; 'now you shall receive the reward of all
+your stupidity and affectation. I do think dolls are the most affected
+creatures on the face of the earth.'
+
+He laid hold of me by my head, pushing my wig on one side. Alas for my
+beautiful hair, it was disarranged for ever! But that was a trifle
+compared with what followed. He tied one end of his muddy string round
+my neck, drawing it so tight that I foresaw I should be marked for life,
+and hung the other end to a nail in the wall.
+
+There I dangled, while he laughed and quizzed me, adding insult to
+injury. He twisted the string as tight as possible, and then let it
+whirl round and round till it was all untwisted again. I banged against
+the wall as I spun like a top, and wished that I could sleep like a top
+too. But I was wide awake to my misfortunes; and each interval of
+stillness, when the string was untwisted, only enhanced them, by showing
+in painful contrast the happy home whence I had been torn. For I was
+hung on the wall directly opposite my own house; and from my wretched
+nail I could distinguish every room in it. Between my twirls I saw my
+pretty drawing-room, with its comfortable arm-chair now vacant; and my
+convenient kitchen, with my respectable cook peacefully basting her
+perpetual mutton; I envied even my lame footman quietly seated in his
+chimney-corner, and felt that I had never truly valued the advantages of
+my home till now. Would they ever be restored to me? Should I once again
+be under the protection of my kind and gentle mistress, or was I
+Geoffrey's slave for ever?
+
+[Illustration: Page 72]
+
+These melancholy thoughts were interrupted by a step on the stairs.
+'Hallo!' cried Geoffrey, 'who would have thought of their coming home
+just now?' and he was going to lift me down from my nail; but when the
+door opened, the housemaid came in alone, and he changed his mind.
+
+'Why, Master Geoffrey,' said she, 'what are you doing here all alone?
+Some mischief, I'll be bound.'
+
+'Bow, wow, wow,' answered he, dancing and playing all sorts of antics to
+prevent her seeing me.
+
+'Come,' said she, 'those tricks won't go down with me. The more lively
+you are, the more I know you've been after something you ought to have
+let alone.'
+
+'Hee haw, hee haw,' said Geoffrey, twitching her gown, and braying like
+a donkey.
+
+'Well, you're speaking in your own voice at last,' said she, laughing.
+'But let go of my gown, if you please; you are big enough to walk by
+yourself, and I want to set the room to rights. There's some young
+ladies coming to tea with Miss Rose.'
+
+She bustled about, dusting and putting every thing in order, and talking
+all the time, partly to Geoffrey and partly to herself, about the blacks
+that came in at the windows, and made a place want dusting a dozen times
+a day, when her eye fell on my unfortunate figure, which my persecutor
+had just set swinging like the pendulum of a clock. I was a deplorable
+object. He had forced me into the most awkward attitude he could invent.
+My arms were turned round in their sockets, one stretched towards the
+ceiling, the other at full length on one side. I was forced to kick one
+leg out in front, and the other behind; and my knees were bent up the
+wrong way. My wig had fallen off altogether from my head, and was now
+perched upon my toe. I was still swinging, when Sarah caught sight of
+me. She looked at me for a moment, and then turned round, opening her
+eyes at Geoffrey much wider than I had ever done.
+
+'Why, you audacious, aggravating boy!' she exclaimed, making a dash at
+him with her duster; but he ran away laughing, and she was obliged to
+finish her speech to herself.
+
+'To think of his being so mischievous and ill-natured! What will poor
+Miss Rose say! To be sure, there is nothing boys won't do; their equals
+for perverseness don't walk the earth. Though I ought not to speak
+against them, while there's Master William and Master Edward to
+contradict me. They are boys, to be sure; but as for that Geoffrey!' And
+here she shook her head in silence, as if Geoffrey's delinquencies were
+beyond the power of words to express.
+
+She then released me; and after restoring my limbs to their proper
+position, and smoothing my discomposed dress, she laid me gently on my
+bed, and placed my wig on my pillow beside me, with many kind
+expressions of pity and good-will.
+
+Repose was indeed needful after so agitating an adventure; and I was
+glad to be left quiet till the young people came in from their walk. I
+composed my ruffled spirits as well as I could; but I found it
+impossible not to be nervous at the idea of Rose's first seeing me in
+such a plight, and I anxiously awaited her return. They came in at last,
+Rose, Willy, and Margaret; and after establishing Willy on his sofa,
+Rose's next care was to visit me. 'O Willy! O Margaret!' she exclaimed,
+and burst into tears.
+
+'What is the matter, my darling?' asked Margaret.
+
+Rose could not answer; but Sarah was there to tell the story, and do
+ample justice to my wrongs. Yet I could not help observing, in the midst
+of all her indignation, the difference of her manner towards her
+present hearers and towards Geoffrey. She never seemed on familiar terms
+with Willy, much less with Margaret or Rose. She neither cut jokes nor
+used rough language to them, but treated them with the respect due to
+her master's children; though, as I well knew, she was extremely fond of
+them, and disliked Geoffrey, in spite of her familiarity with him.
+
+I saw Geoffrey no more that day. Rose's young friends soon arrived, and
+consoled both her and me by their kind sympathy and attentions. One made
+an elegant cap to supply the loss of my wig; another strung a blue
+necklace to hide the black mark round my throat; Rose herself put me to
+bed, and placed a table by my bedside covered with teacups, each, she
+told me, containing a different medicine; and the young lady who had
+once brought Miss Edgeworth to dine with me, charged me to lie still and
+read 'Rosamond' till I was quite recovered.
+
+Next morning, as I lay contentedly performing my new part of an invalid,
+I heard a confidential conversation between Margaret and Geoffrey, in
+which I was interested.
+
+They were alone together, and she was taking the opportunity to
+remonstrate with him on his unkind treatment of me.
+
+'What was the harm?' said Geoffrey. 'A doll is nothing but wood or bran,
+or some stupid stuff; it can't feel.'
+
+'Of course,' answered Margaret, 'we all know _that_. It is wasteful and
+mischievous to spoil a pretty toy; but I am not speaking now so much for
+the sake of the doll as of Rose. Rose is not made of any stupid stuff;
+_she_ can feel. And what is more, she can feel for other people as well
+as herself. She would never play you such an ill-natured trick.'
+
+'I should not mind it if she did,' argued Geoffrey; 'I am not such a
+baby.'
+
+'You would not mind that particular thing,' answered Margaret, 'because
+you do not care about dolls; but you would mind her interfering with
+_your_ pleasures, or injuring your property. You would think it very
+ill-natured, for instance, if she threw away that heap of nuts which
+you have hoarded like a squirrel on your shelf of the closet.'
+
+'Nuts are not nonsense like dolls,' said he. 'Besides, she may have as
+many of mine as she likes. I tried to make her eat some yesterday.'
+
+'Yes, and half choked her by poking them into her mouth, when she told
+you she did not want them. She cares no more for nuts than you for
+dolls. You would think it no kindness if she teazed you to nurse her
+doll.'
+
+'I should think not, indeed,' answered Geoffrey, indignant at the very
+idea.
+
+'Of course not. Kindness is not shown by forcing our own pleasures down
+other people's throats, but by trying to promote theirs. That is really
+doing as we would be done by.'
+
+'But doing as we would be done by is one's _duty_,' said Geoffrey.
+
+'I fear it is a duty of which you seldom think,' replied his cousin.
+
+'Why, one can't be thinking of _duty_ in those kind of things,' answered
+he.
+
+'Why not?' asked Margaret.
+
+'Because they are such trifles; duties are great things.'
+
+'What sort of things do you consider to be duties?' Margaret inquired.
+
+'Oh, such things as letting oneself be tortured, like Regulus; or
+forgiving an enemy who has shot poisoned arrows at one, like Coeur de
+Lion.'
+
+'Well,' said Margaret smiling, 'such heroic duties as those do not seem
+likely to fall in your way just now, perhaps they never may. Our
+fellow-creatures are so kind to us, that we are seldom called upon to
+fulfil any but small duties towards them, or what you would consider
+such; for I cannot allow any duty to be small, especially that of doing
+as we would be done by. If we do not fulfil that in trifles, we shall
+probably never fulfil it at all. This is a serious thought, Geoffrey.'
+
+Geoffrey looked up; and as he seemed inclined to listen, Margaret
+continued talking to him kindly but gravely, bringing many things before
+his mind as duties which he had hitherto considered to be matters of
+indifference. But Margaret would not allow any thing to be a trifle in
+which one person could give pain or pleasure, trouble or relief,
+annoyance or comfort to another, or by which any one's own mind or
+habits could be either injured or improved. She maintained that there
+was a right and a wrong to every thing, and that right and wrong could
+never be trifles, whether in great things or small. By degrees the
+conversation turned upon matters far too solemn to be repeated by a mere
+plaything like myself; but I thought, as I heard her, that it might be
+better to be a poor wooden figure which could do neither right nor
+wrong, than a human being who neglected his appointed duties.
+
+Geoffrey said little, but he shook hands with Margaret when she had
+finished speaking, and I noticed from that day forward a gradual
+improvement in his conduct. Bad habits are not cured in a minute, and he
+did not become all at once as gentle and considerate as Willy, nor as
+kind and helpful as Edward; but he put himself in the right road, and
+seemed in a fair way of overtaking them in due time. He at once left off
+_active_ mischief; and if he could not avoid being occasionally
+troublesome, he at any rate cured himself of teazing people on purpose.
+And it was remarkable how many employments he found as soon as his mind
+was disengaged from mischief. Instead of his dawdling about all the
+morning calling things stupid, and saying he had nothing to do, all
+manner of pleasant occupations seemed to start up in his path, as if
+made to order for him, now that he had time to attend to them. When he
+relinquished the pleasure of spoiling things, he acquired the far
+greater pleasure of learning to make them. When Edward was no longer
+afraid of trusting him with his tools, it was wonderful what a carpenter
+he turned out. When Margaret could venture to leave drawing materials
+within his reach, he began to draw capitally. Good-natured Margaret gave
+him lessons, and said she would never wish for a better scholar. He
+found it was twice the pleasure to walk or play with Edward when he was
+thought an acquisition instead of a burden; and far more agreeable to
+have Rose and Willy anxious for his company than wishing to get rid of
+him. But the advantages were not confined to himself; the whole house
+shared in them; for his perpetual small annoyances had made every body
+uncomfortable, whereas now, by attention to what he used to look upon as
+trifles, he found he had the power of contributing his part towards the
+happiness of his fellow-creatures, which is no trifle.
+
+On the last day of the holidays, the young people were all assembled in
+the schoolroom till it was time for Edward and Geoffrey to start. While
+Edward was arranging various matters with Willy, I heard Geoffrey
+whisper to Margaret that he hoped she had forgiven him for spoiling that
+drawing of hers. She seemed at first really not to know what he meant;
+but when she recollected it, she answered with a smile, 'Oh, my dear
+Geoffrey, I had forgiven and forgotten it long ago. Pray never think of
+it again yourself.' Geoffrey next went up to Rose and put a little
+parcel into her hands. On opening it, she found a box of very pretty
+bonbons in the shape of various vegetables. When she admired them, he
+seemed much pleased, and said that he had saved up his money to buy
+them, in hopes she might like them for her dolls' feasts. Rose kissed
+and thanked him, and said she only wished he could stay and help her and
+her dolls to eat them. Every body took an affectionate leave of
+Geoffrey, and Willy said he was very sorry to lose him, and should miss
+him sadly.
+
+Edward and Geoffrey returned to school, and I never saw Geoffrey again;
+but a constant correspondence was kept up between him and his cousins,
+and I often heard pleasant mention of his progress and improvement.
+
+Time passed on; what length of time I cannot say, all seasons and their
+change being alike to me; but school-days and holidays succeeded one
+another, and our family grew older in appearance and habits. Rose
+gradually spent less time with me, and more with her books and music,
+till at last, though she still kept my house in order, she never
+actually played with me, unless younger children came to visit her, and
+_then_, indeed, I was as popular as ever. But on a little friend's one
+day remarking that I had worn the same gown for a month, Rose answered
+that she herself had the charge of her own clothes now, and that what
+with keeping them in order, and doing fancy-work as presents for her
+friends, she found no time to work for dolls.
+
+By and by, her time for needlework was fully engaged in Geoffrey's
+behalf. He was going to sea; and Rose was making purses, slippers,
+portfolios, and every thing she could think of as likely to please him.
+Perhaps _her_ most useful keepsake was a sailor's housewife; but many
+nice things were sent him from every one of the family. I saw a trunk
+full of presents packed and sent off. And when I recollected my first
+acquaintance with him, I could not but marvel over the change that had
+taken place, before books, drawing materials, and mathematical
+instruments could have been chosen as the gifts best suited to his
+taste.
+
+Edward used to come home from school as merry and good-humored as ever,
+and growing taller and stronger every holiday. Rose and Margaret were as
+flourishing as he; but poor Willy grew weaker, and thinner, and paler.
+Fresh springs and summers brought him no revival, but as they faded, he
+seemed to fade with them. He read more than ever; and his sisters were
+frequently occupied in reading and writing under his direction, for they
+were anxious to help him in his pursuits. His Papa and Mama sometimes
+said he studied too hard; and they used to sit with him, and try to
+amuse him by conversation, when they wished to draw him from his books.
+Doctors visited him, and prescribed many remedies; and his Mama gave him
+all the medicines herself, and took care that every order was implicitly
+obeyed. His father carried him up and down stairs, and waited upon him
+as tenderly as even Margaret; but he grew no better with all their
+care. He was always gentle and patient, but he appeared in less good
+spirits than formerly. He seemed to enjoy going out in his wheel-chair
+more than any thing; but one day he observed that the summer was fast
+coming to an end, and that then he must shut himself up in his room, for
+that he minded the cold more than he used.
+
+'I wish we lived in a warmer country,' said Rose; 'perhaps then you
+might get better.'
+
+'I do not know about _living_,' replied Willy. 'England is the best
+country to _live_ in; but I certainly should like to be out of the way
+of the cold for this next winter.'
+
+'Why do not you tell Papa so?' asked Rose.
+
+'Because I know very well he would take me a journey directly, however
+inconvenient it might be to him.'
+
+Rose said nothing more just then, but she took the first opportunity of
+telling her father what had passed; and he said he was very glad indeed
+that she had let him know.
+
+From that day forward something more than usual seemed in contemplation.
+Papa, Mama, and Margaret were constantly consulting together, and
+Edward, Rose, and Willy followed their example. As for me, nobody had
+time to bestow a look or a thought upon me; but I made myself happy by
+looking at and thinking of _them_.
+
+One morning two doctors together paid Willy a long visit. After they
+were gone, his Papa and Mama came into his room.
+
+'Well, my boy,' his father exclaimed in an unusually cheerful tone, 'it
+is quite settled now; Madeira is the place, and I hope you like the
+plan.'
+
+'Oh, Papa,' said Willy, 'is it really worth while?'
+
+'Of course it is worth while, a hundred times over,' replied his father;
+'and we will be off in the first ship.'
+
+'The doctors strongly advise it, and we have all great hopes from it, my
+dear Willy,' said his mother.
+
+'Then so have I,' said Willy; 'and, indeed, I like it extremely, and I
+am very grateful to you. The only thing I mind is, that you and my
+father should have to leave home and make a long sea voyage, when you
+do not like travelling, and Papa has so much to keep him in England.'
+
+'Oh, never mind me,' said his mother; 'I shall like nothing so well as
+travelling, if it does you good.'
+
+'And never mind me,' said his father; 'there is nothing of so much
+consequence to keep me in England, as your health to take me out of it.'
+
+'Besides, my dear child,' said his mother, 'as the change of climate is
+so strongly recommended for you, it becomes a duty as well as a pleasure
+to try it.'
+
+'So make your mind easy, my boy,' added his father; 'and I will go and
+take our passage for Madeira.'
+
+The father left the room, and the mother remained conversing with her
+sick child, whose spirits were unusually excited. I scarcely knew him
+again. He was generally slow and quiet, and rather desponding about
+himself; but he now thought he should certainly get well, and was so
+eager and anxious to start without delay, that his mother had some
+difficulty in reconciling him to the idea that no ship would sail till
+next month. She also took great pains to impress upon him the duty of
+resignation, in case the attempt should fail, after all, in restoring
+his health; and she finally left him, not less hopeful, but more calm
+and contented with whatever might befall him.
+
+And now began the preparations for the voyage. There was no time to
+spare, considering all that had to be done. Every body was at work; and
+though poor Willy himself could not do much to help, he thought of
+nothing else. His common books and drawings were changed for maps and
+voyages; the track to Madeira was looked up by him and Rose every day,
+and sometimes two or three times in the day, and every book consulted
+that contained the least reference to the Madeira Isles.
+
+Edward was an indefatigable packer. He was not to be one of the
+travellers, as his father did not choose to interrupt his
+school-education; but no one was more active than he in forwarding the
+preparations for the voyage, and no one more sanguine about its
+results.
+
+'We shall have Willy back,' he would say, 'turned into a fine strong
+fellow, as good a cricketer as Geoffrey or I, and a better scholar than
+either of us.'
+
+Margaret and Rose were to go; and Rose's young friends all came to take
+leave of her, and talk over the plan, and find Madeira in the map, and
+look at views of the island, which had been given to Willy. And a
+sailor-friend, who had been all over the world, used to come and
+describe Madeira as one of the most beautiful of all the beautiful
+places he had visited, and tell of its blue sea, fresh and bright,
+without storms; its high mountains, neither barren nor bleak; and its
+climate, so warm and soft, that Willy might sit out all day in the
+beautiful gardens under hedges of fragrant geraniums. And when Willy
+talked of enjoying the gardens while his stronger sisters were climbing
+the hills, there was more to be told of cradles borne upon men's
+shoulders, in which Willy could be carried to the top of the highest
+hills as easily as his sisters on their mountain ponies. And now the
+packing was all finished, and the luggage sent on board, and every body
+was anxious to follow it; for the ship was reported as quite
+comfortable, and the house was decidedly the reverse. Margaret and her
+father had been on board to arrange the cabins, accompanied by their
+sailor-friend, who professed to know how to fit up a berth better than
+any body. He had caused all the furniture to be fastened, or, as he
+called it, _cleated_ to the floor, that it might not roll about in rough
+weather. The books were secured in the shelves by bars, and swinging
+tables hung from the ceilings. Willy's couch was in the most airy and
+convenient place at the stern cabin window, and there was an easy chair
+for him when he should be able to come out on deck. The ship was said to
+be in perfect order, whereas the house was in the utmost confusion and
+desolation: the carpets rolled up, the pictures taken down, the mirrors
+covered with muslin, the furniture and bookcases with canvass; not a
+vestige left of former habits and occupations, except me and my little
+mansion. But in the midst of all the bustle, I was as calm and collected
+as if nothing had happened. I sat quietly in my arm-chair, staring
+composedly at all that went on, contented and happy, though apparently
+forgotten by every body. Indeed, such was my placid, patient
+disposition, that I do not believe I should have uttered a sound or
+moved a muscle if the whole of London had fallen about my little ears.
+
+I did certainly sometimes wish to know what was to become of me, and at
+last that information was given me.
+
+The night before they sailed, Rose busied herself with Sarah in packing
+up my house and furniture, which were to be sent to a little girl who
+had long considered it her greatest treat to play with them. But Rose
+did not pack me up with my goods and chattels.
+
+'My poor old Seraphina,' said she, as she removed me from my arm-chair,
+'you and I have passed many a happy day together, and I do not like to
+throw you away as mere rubbish; but the new mistress of your house has
+already more dolls than she knows what to do with. You are no great
+beauty now, but I wish I knew any child who would care for you.'
+
+'If you please to give her to me, Miss Rose,' said Sarah, 'my little
+niece, that your Mama is so kind as to put to school, would thank you
+kindly, and think her the greatest of beauties.'
+
+'Oh, then, take her by all means, Sarah,' replied Rose; 'and here is a
+little trunk to keep her clothes in. I remember I used to be very fond
+of that trunk; so I dare say your little Susan will like it, though it
+is not quite new.'
+
+'That she will, and many thanks to you, Miss. Susan will be as delighted
+with it now, as you were a year or two ago.'
+
+So they wrapped me up in paper, and Rose having given me a farewell
+kiss, which I would have returned if I could, Sarah put me and my trunk
+both into her great pocket; and on the same day that my old friends
+embarked for their distant voyage, I was carried to my new home.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+
+And now began a third stage of my existence, and a fresh variety of
+life.
+
+I at first feared that I should have great difficulty in reconciling
+myself to the change; and my reflections in Sarah's dark pocket were of
+the most gloomy cast. I dreaded poverty and neglect. How should I,
+accustomed to the refinements of polished life and the pleasures of
+cultivated society, endure to be tossed about with no home of my own,
+and perhaps no one who really cared for me? I knew that I was not in my
+first bloom, and it seemed unlikely that a new acquaintance should feel
+towards me like my old friend Rose, who had so long known my value.
+Perhaps I might be despised; perhaps allowed to go ragged, perhaps even
+dirty! My spirits sunk, and had I been human, I should have wept.
+
+But cheerful voices aroused me from this melancholy reverie, and I found
+myself restored to the pleasant light in the hands of a
+goodhumored-looking little girl, whose reception of me soon banished my
+fears. For, although altered since the days of my introduction to the
+world in the bazaar, so that my beauty was not quite what it had been, I
+still retained charms enough to make me a valuable acquisition to a
+child who had not much choice of toys; and my disposition and manners
+were as amiable and pleasing as ever. My new mistress and I soon loved
+each other dearly; and in her family I learned that people might be
+equally happy and contented under very different outward circumstances.
+
+Nothing could well be more unlike my former home than that to which I
+was now introduced. Susan, my little mistress, was a child of about the
+same age as Rose when she first bought me; but Susan had no money to
+spend in toys, and very little time to play with them, though she
+enjoyed them as much as Rose herself. She gave me a hearty welcome; and
+though she could offer me no furnished house, with its elegancies and
+comforts, she assigned me the best place in her power--the corner of a
+shelf on which she kept her books, slate, needlework, and inkstand. And
+there I lived, sitting on my trunk, and observing human life from a new
+point of view. And though my dignity might appear lowered in the eyes of
+the unthinking, I felt that the respectability of my character was
+really in no way diminished; for I was able to fulfil the great object
+of my existence as well as ever, by giving innocent pleasure, and being
+useful in my humble way.
+
+No other dolls now visited me; but I was not deprived of the enjoyments
+of inanimate society, for I soon struck up an intimate acquaintance with
+an excellent Pen in the inkstand by my side, and we passed our leisure
+hours very pleasantly in communicating to each other our past
+adventures. His knowledge of life was limited, having resided in that
+inkstand, and performed all the writing of the family, ever since he
+was a quill. But his experience was wise and virtuous; and he could bear
+witness to many an industrious effort at improvement, in which he had
+been the willing instrument; and to many a hard struggle for honesty and
+independence, which figures of his writing had recorded. I liked to
+watch the good Pen at his work when the father of the family spent an
+hour in the evening in teaching Susan and her brothers to write; or when
+the careful mother took him in hand to help her in balancing her
+accounts, and ascertaining that she owed no one a penny, before she
+ventured upon any new purchase. Then my worthy friend was in his glory;
+and it was delightful to see how he enjoyed his work. He had but one
+fault, which was a slight tendency to splutter; and as he was obliged to
+keep that under restraint while engaged in writing, he made himself
+amends by a little praise of himself, when relating his exploits to a
+sympathising friend like myself. On his return with the inkstand to the
+corner of my shelf, he could not resist sometimes boasting when he had
+not made a single blot; or confessing to me, in perfect confidence, how
+much the thinness of Susan's upstrokes, or the thickness of her
+downstrokes, was owing to the clearness of his slit or the fineness of
+his nib.
+
+The family of which we made part lived frugally and worked hard: but
+they were healthy and happy. The father with his boys went out early in
+the morning to the daily labor by which they maintained the family. The
+mother remained at home, to take care of the baby and do the work of the
+house. She was the neatest and most careful person I ever saw, and she
+brought up her daughter Susan to be as notable as herself.
+
+Susan was an industrious little girl, and in her childish way worked
+almost as hard as her mother. She helped to sweep the house, and nurse
+the baby, and mend the clothes, and was as busy as a bee. But she was
+always tidy; and though her clothes were often old and shabby, I never
+saw them dirty or ragged. Indeed, I must own that, in point of
+_neatness_, Susan was even superior to my old friend Rose. Rose would
+break her strings, or lose her buttons, or leave holes in her gloves,
+till reproved by her Mama for untidiness: but Susan never forgot that 'a
+stitch in time saves nine,' and the stitch was never wanting.
+
+She used to go to school for some hours every day: and I should have
+liked to go with her, and help her in her studies, especially when I
+found that she was learning the multiplication-table, and I remembered
+how useful I had been to Rose in that very lesson; but dolls were not
+allowed at school, and I was obliged to wait patiently for Susan's
+company till she had finished all her business, both at school and at
+home.
+
+She had so little time to bestow upon me, that at first I began to fear
+that I should be of no use to her. The suspicion was terrible; for the
+wish to be useful has been the great idea of my life. It was my earliest
+hope, and it will be my latest pleasure. I could be happy under almost
+any change of circumstances; but as long as a splinter of me remains, I
+should never be able to reconcile myself to the degradation of thinking
+that I had been _of no use_.
+
+But I soon found I was in no danger of what I so much dreaded. In fact,
+I seemed likely to be even more useful to Susan than to Rose. Before I
+had been long in the house, she said one evening that she had an hour to
+spare, and that she would make me some clothes.
+
+'Well and good,' answered her mother; 'only be sure to put your best
+work in them. If you mind your work, the doll will be of great use to
+you, and you can play without wasting your time.'
+
+This was good hearing for Susan and me, and she spent most of her
+leisure in working for me. While she was thus employed, I came down from
+my shelf, and was treated with as much consideration as when Rose and
+her companions waited at my table.
+
+A great change took place in my wardrobe. Rose had always dressed me in
+gay silks and satins, without much regard to under clothing; for, she
+said, as my gowns must be sewn on, what did any petticoats signify? So
+she sewed me up, and I looked very smart; and if there happened to be
+any unseemly cobbling, she hid it with beads or spangles. Once I
+remember a very long stitch baffled all her contrivances, and she said I
+must pretend it was a new-fashioned sort of embroidery.
+
+But Susan scorned all _make-shifts_. Nothing could have been more
+unfounded than my fears of becoming ragged or dirty. My attire was plain
+and suited to my station, but most scrupulously finished. She saw no
+reason why my clothes should not be made to take off and on, as well as
+if I had been a doll three feet high. So I had my plain gingham gowns
+with strings and buttons; and my shifts and petticoats run and felled,
+gathered and whipped, hemmed and stitched, like any lady's; and every
+thing was neatly marked with my initial S. But what Susan and I were
+most particularly proud of, was a pair of stays. They were a long time
+in hand, for the fitting them was a most difficult job; but when
+finished, they were such curiosities of needlework, that Susan's neat
+mother herself used to show off the stitching and the eyelet-holes to
+every friend that came to see her.
+
+Among them, Sarah the housemaid, who was sister to Susan's father, often
+called in to ask after us all. She was left in charge of the house where
+my former friends had lived, and they sometimes sent her commissions to
+execute for them. Then she was sure to come and bring us news of _the
+family_, as she always called Rose and her relations. Sometimes she told
+us that Master William was a little better; sometimes that she heard
+Miss Rose was very much grown; she had generally something to tell that
+we were all glad to hear. One evening, soon after my apparel was quite
+completed, I was sitting on my trunk, as pleased with myself as Susan
+was with me, when Sarah's head peeped in at the door.
+
+'Good evening to you all,' said she; 'I thought as I went by you would
+like to hear that I have a letter from the family, and all's well. I
+have got a pretty little job to do for Master Willy. He is to have a
+set of new shirts sent out directly, made of very fine thin calico,
+because his own are too thick. See, here is the stuff I have been buying
+for them.'
+
+'It is beautiful calico, to be sure,' said Susan's mother; 'but such
+fine stuff as that will want very neat work. I am afraid you will hardly
+be able to make them yourself.'
+
+'Why, no,' answered Sarah, smiling and shaking her head. 'I am sorry to
+say, _there_ comes in my old trouble, not having learned to work neatly
+when I was young. Take warning by me, Susan, and mind your needlework
+now-a-days. If I could work as neatly as your mother, my mistress would
+have made me lady's maid and housekeeper by this time. But I could not
+learn any but rough work, more's the pity: so I say again, take warning
+by _me_, little niece; take pattern by your mother.'
+
+Susan looked at me and smiled, as much as to say, 'I have taken pattern
+by her;' but she had not time to answer, for Sarah continued, addressing
+the mother:
+
+[Illustration: Page 106]
+
+'How I wish you could have time to do this job! for it would bring you
+in a pretty penny, and I know my mistress would be pleased with your
+work; but they are to be done very quickly, in time for the next ship,
+and I do not see that you _could_ get through them with only one pair of
+hands.'
+
+'We have two pair of hands,' cried Susan; 'here are mine.'
+
+'Ah, but what can they do?' asked Sarah, 'and how can they do it? It is
+not enough to have four fingers and a thumb. Hands must be handy.'
+
+'And so they are,' answered Susan's mother. 'See whether any hands could
+do neater work than that.' And she pointed me out to Sarah.
+
+Sarah took me up, and turned me from side to side. Then she looked at my
+hems, then at my seams, then at my gathers, while I felt truly proud and
+happy, conscious that not a long stitch could be found in either.
+
+'Well to be sure!' exclaimed she, after examining me all over; 'do you
+mean that all that is really Susan's own work?'
+
+'Every stitch of it,' replied the mother; 'and I think better need not
+be put into any shirt, though Master William does deserve the best of
+every thing.'
+
+'You never said a truer word, neither for Master William nor for little
+Susan,' replied Sarah; 'and I wish you joy, Susan, of being able to help
+your mother so nicely, for now I can leave you the job to do between
+you.'
+
+She then told them what was to be the payment for the work, which was a
+matter I did not myself understand, though I could see that it gave them
+great satisfaction.
+
+The money came at a most convenient time, to help in fitting out Susan's
+brother Robert for a place which had been offered to him in the country.
+It was an excellent place; but there were several things, as his mother
+well knew, that poor Robert wanted at starting, but would not mention
+for fear his parents should distress themselves to obtain them for him.
+Both father and mother had been saving for the purpose, without saying
+any thing about it to Robert; but they almost despaired of obtaining
+more than half the things they wanted, till this little sum of money
+came into their hands so opportunely.
+
+The father was in the secret, but Robert could scarcely believe his
+eyes, when one evening his mother and Susan laid on the table before
+him, one by one, all the useful articles he wished to possess. At first
+he seemed almost more vexed than pleased, for he thought of the saving
+and the slaving that his mother must have gone through to gain them; but
+when she told him how much of them was due to his little sister's
+neatness and industry, and how easy the work had been when shared
+between them, he was as much pleased as Susan herself.
+
+We were all very happy that evening, including even the humble friends
+on the shelf; for I sat on my trunk, and related to the Pen how useful I
+had been in teaching Susan to work; and the worthy Pen stood bolt
+upright in his inkstand, and confided to me with honest pride, that
+Robert had been chosen to his situation on account of his excellent
+writing.
+
+Time passed on, and I suppose we all grew older, as I noticed from time
+to time various changes that seemed to proceed from that cause. The
+baby, for instance, though still going by the name of 'Baby,' had become
+a strong able-bodied child, running alone, and very difficult to keep
+out of mischief. The most effectual way of keeping her quiet was to
+place me in her hands, when she would sit on the floor nursing me by the
+hour together, while her mother and sister were at work.
+
+Susan was become a tall strong girl, more notable than ever, and, like
+Rose before her, she gradually bestowed less attention on me; so that I
+was beginning to feel myself neglected, till on a certain birthday of
+her little sister's, she declared her intention of making me over
+altogether to the baby-sister for a birthday present. Then I once more
+rose into importance, and found powers which I thought declining, still
+undiminished. The baby gave a scream of delight when I was placed in her
+hand as her own. Till then she had only possessed one toy in the world,
+an old wooden horse, in comparison with which I seemed in the full bloom
+of youth and beauty. This horse, which she called JACK, had lost not
+merely the ornaments of mane and tail, but his head, one fore and one
+hind leg; so that nothing remained of the once noble quadruped but a
+barrel with the paint scratched off, rather insecurely perched upon a
+stand with wheels. But he was a faithful animal, and did his work to the
+last. The baby used to tie me on to his barrel, and Jack and I were
+drawn round and round the kitchen with as much satisfaction to our
+mistress, as in the days when I shone forth, in my gilt coach with its
+four prancing piebalds.
+
+But the baby's treatment of me, though gratifying from its cordiality,
+had a roughness and want of ceremony that affected my enfeebled frame. I
+could not conceal from myself that the infirmities I had observed in
+other dolls were gradually gaining ground upon me. Nobody ever said a
+harsh word to me, or dropped a hint of my being less pretty than ever,
+and the baby called me 'Beauty, beauty,' twenty times a day; but still
+I knew very well that not only had my rosy color and fine hair
+disappeared, but I had lost the whole of one leg and half of the other,
+and the lower joints of both my arms. In fact, as my worthy friend the
+Pen observed, both he and I were reduced to stumps.
+
+The progress of decay caused me no regret, for I felt that I had done my
+work, and might now gracefully retire from public life, and resign my
+place to newer dolls. But though contented with my lot, I had still one
+anxious wish ungratified. The thought occupied my mind incessantly; and
+the more I dwelt upon it, the stronger grew the hope that I might have a
+chance of seeing my old first friends once more. This was now my only
+remaining care.
+
+News came from them from time to time. Sarah brought word that Master
+William was better; that they had left Madeira, and gone travelling
+about elsewhere. Then that the father had been in England upon business,
+and gone back again; that Mr. Edward had been over to foreign parts one
+summer holidays to see his family, and on his return had come to give
+her an account of them.
+
+Sarah was always very bustling when she had any news to bring of the
+family, but one day she called on us in even more flurry than usual. She
+was quite out of breath with eagerness.
+
+'Sit down and rest a minute before you begin to speak,' said her quiet
+sister-in-law. 'There must be some great news abroad. It seems almost
+too much for you.'
+
+Susan nodded, and began to unpack a great parcel she had brought with
+her.
+
+'It don't seem bad news, to judge by your face,' said the other; for now
+that Sarah had recovered breath, her smiles succeeded one another so
+fast, that she seemed to think words superfluous.
+
+'I guess, I guess,' cried Susan. 'They are coming home.'
+
+'They are, indeed,' answered Sarah at last; 'they are coming home as
+fast as steam-engines can bring them: and here is work more than enough
+for you and mother till they come. Miss Margaret is going to be
+married, and you are to make the wedding-clothes.'
+
+So saying, she finished unpacking her parcel, and produced various fine
+materials which required Susan's neatest work.
+
+'These are for you to begin with,' said she, 'but there is more coming.'
+She then read a letter from the ladies with directions about the
+needlework, to which Susan and her mother listened with great attention.
+Then Sarah jumped up, saying she must not let the grass grow under her
+feet, for she had plenty to do. The whole house was to be got ready; and
+she would not have a thing out of its place, nor a speck of dust to be
+found, for any money.
+
+Susan and her mother lost no time either; their needles never seemed to
+stop: and I sat on the baby's lap watching them, and enjoying the happy
+anticipation that my last wish would soon be accomplished.
+
+But though Susan was as industrious as a girl could be, and just now
+wished to work harder than ever, she was not doomed to 'all work and no
+play;' for her father took care that his children should enjoy
+themselves at proper times. In summer evenings, after he came home from
+his work, they used often to go out all together for a walk in the
+nearest park, when he and his wife would rest under the trees, and read
+over Robert's last letter, while the children amused themselves. Very
+much we all enjoyed it, for even I was seldom left behind. Susan would
+please the baby by dressing me in my best clothes for the walk; and the
+good-natured father would laugh merrily at us, and remark how much good
+the fresh air did me. We were all very happy; and when my thoughts
+travelled to other scenes and times, I sometimes wondered whether my
+former friends enjoyed themselves as much in their southern gardens, as
+this honest family in their English fields.
+
+Our needlework was finished and sent to Sarah's care to await Margaret's
+arrival, for which we were very anxious.
+
+On returning home one evening after our walk, we passed, as we often
+did, through the street in which I had formerly lived. Susan was leading
+her little sister, who, on her part, clutched me in a way very unlike
+the gentleness which Susan bestowed upon her. On arriving at the
+well-known house, we saw Sarah standing at the area-gate. We stopped to
+speak to her.
+
+'When are they expected?' asked Susan's mother.
+
+'They may be here any minute,' answered Sarah; 'Mr. Edward has just
+brought the news.'
+
+The street-door now opened, and two gentlemen came out and stood on the
+steps. One was a tall fine-looking boy, grown almost into a young man;
+but I could not mistake the open good-humored countenance of my old
+friend Edward. The other was older, and I recognised him as the
+traveller who used to describe Madeira to Willy.
+
+They did not notice us, for we stood back so as not to intrude, and
+their minds were evidently fully occupied with the expected meeting.
+
+We all gazed intently down the street, every voice hushed in eager
+interest. Even my own little mistress, usually the noisiest of her
+tribe, was silent as myself. It was a quiet street and a quiet time, and
+the roll of the distant carriages would scarcely have seemed to break
+the silence, had it not been for our intense watching, and hoping that
+the sound of every wheel would draw nearer. We waited long, and were
+more than once disappointed by carriages passing us and disappearing at
+the end of the street. Edward and his friend walked up and down, east
+and west, north and south, in hopes of descrying the travellers in the
+remotest distance. But after each unavailing walk, they took up their
+post again on the steps.
+
+At last a travelling carriage laden with luggage turned the nearest
+corner, rolled towards us, and stopped at the house. The two gentlemen
+rushed down the steps, flung open the carriage-door, and for some
+moments all was hurry and agitation, and I could distinguish nothing.
+
+I much feared that I should now be obliged to go home without actually
+seeing my friends, for they had passed so quickly from the carriage to
+the house, and there had been so much confusion and excitement during
+those few seconds, that my transient glance scarcely allowed me to know
+one from another; but in course of time Sarah came out again, and asked
+Susan's father to help in unloading the carriage, desiring us to sit
+meanwhile in the housekeeper's room. So we waited till the business was
+finished, when, to my great joy, we were summoned to the sitting-room,
+and I had the happiness of seeing all the family once more assembled.
+
+I was delighted to find how much less they were altered than I. I had
+been half afraid that I might see one without a leg, another without an
+arm, according to the dilapidations which had taken place in my own
+frame; but strange to say, their sensitive bodies, which felt every
+change of weather, shrunk from a rough touch, and bled at the scratch
+of a pin, had outlasted mine, though insensible to pain or sickness.
+There stood the father, scarcely altered; his hair perhaps a little more
+gray, but his eyes as quick and bright as ever. And there was the
+mother, still grave and gentle, but looking less sad and careworn than
+in the days of Willy's constant illness. And there was, first in
+interest to me, my dear mistress, Rose, as tall as Margaret, and as
+handsome as Edward. I could not imagine her condescending to play with
+me now. Margaret looked just as in former times, good and graceful; but
+she stood a little apart with the traveller friend by her side, and I
+heard Rose whisper to Susan that the wedding was to take place in a
+fortnight. They were only waiting for Geoffrey to arrive. His ship was
+daily expected, and they all wished him to be present.
+
+And Willy, for whose sake the long journey had been made, how was he?
+Were all their hopes realized? Edward shook his head when Susan's mother
+asked that question; but Willy was there to answer it himself. He was
+standing by the window, leaning on a stick, it is true, but yet able to
+stand. As he walked across the room, I saw that he limped slightly, but
+could move about where he pleased. He still looked thin and pale, but
+the former expression of suffering and distress had disappeared, and his
+countenance was as cheerful as his manner. I could see that he was very
+much better, though not in robust health like Edward's. He thanked
+Susan's mother for her kind inquiries, and said that, though he had not
+become all that his sanguine brother hoped, he had gained health more
+than enough to satisfy himself; that he was most thankful for his
+present comfort and independence; and that if he was not quite so strong
+as other people, he hoped he should at any rate make a good use of the
+strength that was allowed him. Turning to Edward, who still looked
+disappointed, he continued: 'Who could have ventured to hope, Edward,
+three years ago, that you and I should now be going to college
+together?' And then even Edward smiled and seemed content.
+
+As we turned to leave the room, Susan and her little sister lingered for
+a moment behind the others, and the child held me up towards Rose. Rose
+started, and exclaimed, 'Is it possible? It really _is_ my poor old
+Seraphina. Who would have thought of her being still in existence? What
+a good, useful doll she has been! I really must give her a kiss once
+more for old friendship's sake.'
+
+So saying, she kissed both me and the baby, and we left the house.
+
+And now there remains but little more for me to relate. My history and
+my existence are fast drawing to an end; my last wish has been gratified
+by my meeting with Rose, and my first hope realized by her praise of my
+usefulness. She has since given the baby a new doll, and I am finally
+laid on the shelf, to enjoy, in company with my respected friend the
+Pen, a tranquil old age. When he, like myself, was released from active
+work, and replaced by one of Mordan's patent steel, he kindly offered to
+employ his remaining leisure in writing from my dictation, and it is in
+compliance with his advice that I have thus ventured to record my
+experience.
+
+That experience has served to teach me that, as all inanimate things
+have some destined use, so all rational creatures have some appointed
+duties, and are happy and well employed while fulfilling them.
+
+With this reflection, I bid a grateful farewell to those young patrons
+of my race who have kindly taken an interest in my memoirs, contentedly
+awaiting the time when the small remnant of my frame shall be reduced to
+dust, and my quiet existence sink into a still more profound repose.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Doll and Her Friends, by Unknown
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