Part 1

THE STORY OF LIVE DOLLS

BEING AN ACCOUNT BY

JOSEPHINE SCRIBNER GATES

OF HOW, ON A CERTAIN JUNE MORNING, ALL OF THE DOLLS IN THE VILLAGE OF CLOVERDALE CAME ALIVE

WITH MANY PICTURES MADE AT THE TIME BY VIRGINIA KEEP

M.A. Donohue & Co. Publishers Chicago

COPYRIGHT 1901 BY THE BOWEN-MERRILL COMPANY

TO MY LITTLE DAUGHTER CHARLOTTE WHOSE TENDER DEVOTION TO HER DOLLS INSPIRED THE STORY

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

The doll’s awakening--_Frontispiece_

Janie gave a little scream of delight 17

She poured the coffee into the tiny cups 25

Janie saw a most piteous sight 37

The dolls playing “ring-around-a-rosy” 55

Have you ever had a dolls’ tea-party 73

The dolls ate a hearty dinner 95

THE STORY OF LIVE DOLLS

“Look, what’s coming!” and with a shout of delight the children of Cloverdale village left their play and rushed into the street.

What do you think they saw?

A tiny gilded coach drawn by two beautiful white kittens, with reins of blue ribbons covered with silver bells, and through the coach window the face of a wonderful doll. On her head was a jaunty sailor hat, from under which yellow curls danced in the wind as she nodded and smiled at the children on either side.

From time to time she tossed out a handful of bills, which flew about like little white birds and then fluttered to the ground, where they were eagerly caught up by the fast gathering crowd of children, filled with wonder at the amazing sight. They made a brave effort to keep up with the coach; but the driver cracked his whip, the kittens started at a mad pace down the hill, and with one last nod and smile from the doll in the window, the coach disappeared in a cloud of dust. The children watched it out of sight, then turned to go back.

But what were these bills which, in the excitement, they had forgotten and were still clutching in their hot and dirty hands? Again and again they read these startling words, which stared them in the face:

NOTICE!

ON THE MORNING OF JUNE THE FOURTH ALL THE DOLLS IN THE VILLAGE OF CLOVERDALE WILL BE ALIVE!

That was all; and it was to happen to-morrow, for this was the third day.

They looked at one another with eyes growing larger and rounder, and cheeks growing redder than the roses blossoming in the gardens. Then such a chatter began that even the birds had to stop singing to listen.

“I never heard of such a thing!” “How could they?” “Wouldn’t it be perfectly lovely?” And suddenly realizing what a blissful thing was in store for them, if it were really true, the children began to hug each other and dance about and squeal with joy, until their various mothers came to the windows to learn the cause of the commotion. When the little ones caught sight of them, remembering that they had not heard the wonderful news, they shouted:

“Let’s tell our mammas!” and quickly disappeared.

Janie Bell’s home was the nearest. She fairly flew up the steps and tumbled into the door as she said:

“O mamma, it’s going to begin to-morrow! Won’t it be lovely! A doll came in a gold carriage and she threw this bill, and a boy doll drove the white kittens all covered with ribbons and bells, and it was too pretty.… _Do_ you think my dolls could come alive?”

Mamma wiped the little hot face and read the bill.

“It does seem strange, but I don’t know of a lovelier thing that could happen to a little girl than to have her doll come to life. What a fine time there would be in the doll house!” she said, glancing out of the window at a beautiful little house under the trees. It was just like a real house, with a porch across the front, a real door bell, tiny shades and Swiss curtains at the windows, and a little brick chimney upon the roof.

Janie clapped her hands.

“O mamma, won’t it be fine? I can hardly wait.” She flew out of the door and into the doll house.

Each room was in good order, for Janie was a fine housekeeper. Papa had given the dolls’ home to her, thinking that if the little girl learned to keep this one in order she would some day be able to take care of a larger one.

She looked at the parlor with its mimic furniture, a sofa, chairs, piano, and a grate where she could build a fire if mamma were watching. Then she went into the dining-room, where the table was set all ready for dinner. How lovely it would be to see the dolls sitting there and actually eating!

In the kitchen was a little range with an oven, and there Dinah, the black cook, was propped against the wall, looking as if she were only waiting for the magic word to set her marching off getting dinner. Her wig would probably fall off, as it was loose, and her leg was broken. Janie resolved to mend her at once, as it would not do to have her come alive in that condition. She peeped into the dear little pantry at the kettles, skillets and shining pans on the shelves, and at the tiny box marked “Cake.” In one corner was an ice box, in another a flour barrel.

Upstairs there were dolls of all ages and sizes; papa, mamma and children. A little baby in long dresses lay in a cradle, and other dolls were sitting and standing about, some dressed and some, I am sorry to say, stark naked. Janie dressed and arranged them all in various attitudes; then, seized with a sudden inspiration, she exclaimed:

“Well, if it is true, we’ll have the best time in this little house we ever had, and I’m going to get ready for it.”

So she swept it from top to bottom, washed the little windows, tied back the pretty curtains with fresh ribbons, dusted the furniture, made the beds, washed the dolls’ faces, mended Dinah’s leg and fastened her wig, flitted about from room to room, giving each one a last fond look, and then she locked the front door and hung the key on the branch of a tree, where it was safely hidden by the leaves.

The sun was setting and papas were coming home to their suppers. All seemed as usual, but it was a new and very exciting world to this little mother, for the morning was to bring strange doings. Janie hurried in to eat her supper and to get to bed early.

“It seems almost like Christmas, mamma; I can hardly wait for to-morrow,” she said as she kissed her mother good-night. Mamma laughed merrily.

“Well, close your bright eyes, and the birdies will be singing their morning song before you know it,” she said. Janie leaned out of bed to kiss her big dollie, who was sleeping peacefully in a cradle by her side.

No dollie ever had better care, for Janie was a kind little mother. She took her to the table for each meal, gave her a lovely ride every day, and at night carefully undressed her and tucked her into bed.

“Won’t it be beautiful?” Janie whispered, as she gave the cradle a little jog. But Dollie slept on, quite unconscious of the fact that in the morning she was to be as full of life and dancing gaiety as Janie herself. As for Janie, she hardly dared think about it; for if she once began to imagine what bliss was in store for her, she would never get to sleep.

During the night she dreamed all sorts of things. Toward morning it seemed that she and Dollie were riding in an egg-shell coach, drawn by two downy, yellow chickens; Dollie suddenly stood up and began to sing, frightening the chickens, so that they ran away and tipped over the carriage.

Of course, at this catastrophe, Janie wakened; but her dream seemed to go on, and she still heard a voice singing. Could it be her doll?

She hardly dared move, as she remembered what was to happen to-day. She listened a moment and then peeped out. At sight of her, Dollie held up both arms and said--yes, actually said:

“O you dear little mamma, I am so glad you are awake. I want to come into your bed,” and up she popped and climbed in under the covers, and snuggled up exactly as Janie often snuggled up to her mamma. Janie hugged her, but for a moment was too frightened and astonished to speak.

Miss Dollie began to laugh and giggle so loud that papa and mamma came running in.

“It’s true, mamma, it’s true! Look at her!”

“Of course it’s true,” said Dollie; “didn’t the Queen of the Dolls decide that it should be? It had to be true when she said it. But let’s get up and dress; you’ll be s’prised to see what’s happening in the doll house.”

Janie gave a little scream of delight, hopped out of bed and scrambled into her clothes. Dollie was quicker than she, and was soon dressed and standing on a chair by the side of the bed; for Janie had to watch and laugh over the funny spectacle of Dollie dressing herself.

“Now brush my hair, please,” pealed out Miss Dollie as Janie finished. Janie gave her another hug, as she brushed the brown curls around her finger; then they ran pell-mell down the stairway and raced out of the house.

The family all laughed heartily, for it was a funny sight to see a doll run. They could hardly believe their eyes, and hurried into their clothes; for they too were eager to see these wonderful doings in the doll house. As Janie ran across the lawn, she noticed smoke coming from the chimney. She flew up the steps, unlocked the front door and, as she stepped into the hall, beheld the astonishing sight of black Dinah at the toy telephone. She was just saying, “One steak, please,” and then she called up the grocery store and ordered a bill of goods that would empty almost any housekeeper’s pocket-book.

Dinah paid no attention to the visitors, but swept the front steps, glanced into the dining-room to see if all was ready for breakfast, and then went into the kitchen.

The fire was crackling in the range, and while Dinah waited for the groceries Janie ran upstairs. The dolls were dressing in the different rooms, and mamma doll was trying to make the baby comfortable. Its cries soon brought Dinah up with a cunning milk bottle, all filled; baby took it and nestled down into her pillow with it, just as any baby would who had to be fed in that horrid way. Janie longed to pick her up, but as she wished very much to see Dinah get breakfast, she thought she would wait until another time.

A knock downstairs announced the grocery boy, and Janie went down to find the table covered with little packages containing flour, sugar, coffee, eggs, and everything needed in a real kitchen. She longed to help put the articles in place, but Dinah looked queer and cross, so she didn’t dare touch anything. It was no wonder Dinah was cross, for what do you think Janie had done in her haste the day before? She had put the poor thing’s leg on backward, and had pasted her wig on crooked, way down over one ear. So, of course, she wasn’t very comfortable.

After putting everything away, Dinah got a dish, broke an egg into it (such a tiny egg, about as large as a bird’s), and with a dear little egg-beater whisked it as light as a feather. Then she poured in some milk and added flour, with a little salt and baking-powder. Janie wondered what she was going to make and glanced at the range. “O joy! pancakes!” she cried, as she spied the smoking hot griddle, the size of a small saucer.

Dinah put on the broiler and laid the steak carefully on it, cut a potato into dice and put it into a pan with a little cream; then, with a dash of salt and pepper on the steak (which was soon done to a turn), she placed it on a platter and generously buttered it. When all was ready she rang a toy bell, and the family of dolls filed down into the dining-room.

They seated themselves, and papa served the food. When he carved the steak the knife bent double, for it was really never meant for use.

“Why, I must go and buy another. I didn’t know it was so poor,” said mamma doll, as she poured the coffee into the tiny cups and added cream and sugar.

How funny they all looked, sitting there and really eating! Janie tried to smother a hysterical laugh, and made such a queer sound that they all looked up. She felt almost disgraced when her big doll, who had followed her about, whispered:

“Come away, or you’ll hurt their feelings.”

And now came Dinah with a plate of cakes about the size of a penny. Each doll clamored for one. How good they looked! Janie ran to the kitchen; she _must_ bake those cakes.

“O Dinah, please let me. I will be very careful.”

“Well, Miss Janie, you may; but I am cross to-day. My hair is so crooked, and look at my leg! How could you put it on backwards? I have so much work to do, and it is so hard to walk.”

“Why, Dinah, you poor thing, did I do that? I will take it right off and turn it around. It won’t take me more than a minute, and it will soon dry.”

Dinah screamed.

“What! Don’t you think I have any feelings? How would you like to have your papa break your leg and turn it round, and you sit waiting for the glue to dry?” and with a scornful sniff she hobbled in with another plate of cakes.

When the family had finally finished eating, there was still considerable batter left; Janie begged for some cakes for herself. Dinah consented, and so Janie and Miss Dollie sat down to eat, taking care to save some cakes for Dinah.

It certainly was bliss to watch the butter melt on those beautiful brown cakes, and to pour the golden syrup from the syrup cup, which had come all the way from Boston only last Christmas.

“Aren’t they delicious?” said a piping voice.

Janie jumped up and almost dropped the syrup cup. She had been so busy over those darling cakes, that she had almost forgotten about her doll sitting opposite her at table.

“O you precious thing! I never can get used to hearing you talk. How many times I have played tea-party here with you, and had to do all the talking myself!” and she ran round and gave her another hug. “Let’s go and tell papa and mamma about the breakfast,” she added; but as they stepped outside they found the family peeping in at the window.

“Isn’t it fun, mamma? And did you see the cunning pancakes? The mamma doll is actually going shopping because my knives won’t cut meat. The baby was really crying, and I must go up and see her,” she rattled on, without giving them time to reply, and then ran up the stairway with the big doll tripping after her.

Stopping at the door of the bed-room, she clasped her hands in rapture, for mamma doll was giving baby a bath. It was kicking up its weenty heels, and gurgling and cooing just like a real baby. While mamma was scrubbing, suddenly baby grabbed the end of the wash-cloth. Of course, it cried when she took it away, and then it stopped to listen, for mamma had wound up the little music box.

So the bath went on till baby was all clean down to its little toes, which mamma kissed and folded tenderly in the blanket. Then she dressed it and laid it in its cradle.

Janie made a motion to take it, but mamma shook her head, and whispering that it was asleep, she quietly put the room in order and drew down the shades. The doll children were making a great racket, and mamma called to them to run out and play, so baby could sleep. Janie and Miss Dollie followed.

As they passed through the kitchen, Dinah was just finishing a marvelous pie, as large as a silver dollar, and singing “Der’s a good time comin’ by and by.” As she opened the oven door Janie caught a glimpse of a dear little bird roasting, and oh! how good it smelled! A dish of cranberries was cooling in the window, and as Dinah left the room for a moment, Janie couldn’t resist peeping into the ice box. There was a block of real ice, and a pan of milk with cream on the top of it. How she longed to skim it with the little skimmer!

Then she espied a dish of something that looked like custard, which she was about to taste when Dinah’s voice startled her.

“What you a-doin’ in my ice box?”

“I only wanted to know what that was,” said Janie respectfully, for she was a little afraid of Dinah since the leg affair.

“It’s for ice cream, an’ I’se a notion ter let you freeze it. I’se got a heap of work dis mornin’.”

“O Dinah, may I?” and Janie danced a hornpipe then and there and threw her arms around Dinah’s neck.

“You are a dear, and I am sorry I put your leg on wrong. I do wish I could fix it.”

“Nebber mind, honey; I couldn’t go through wid dat operation nohow,” said Dinah, as she got the freezer and chopped the ice into bits, then poured in the custard and left it for Janie to finish.

With her dear companion by her side she worked until the handle began to turn hard, when she knew it was frozen.

“Dinah, can’t we lick the ladder? Mamma always lets me.”

Dinah said she might, and she dutifully gave Dollie half. She was sorely tempted to get a spoon and taste that in the freezer, as Dinah had left the room, but she knew that would not be honest, so she covered it up and ran into the yard to see the doll children at play.

She was just in time to see, coming slowly down the street, a white, covered wagon, marked in red letters, “Dolls’ Ambulance.” It was drawn by six white kittens, who moved along so carefully that Janie decided they must have some very sick patients aboard. It halted in front of the doll house, and the little Queen dismounted, saying she was going to telephone. Meantime Janie, curious to see what was within, walked around to the back and peeped in at the little open door.

There she saw a most piteous sight. It was filled with dolls of all sizes, and in such a condition! Arms and legs were off, wigs were missing, and some dolls lay with their poor sightless eyes staring up at her, in such a pathetic manner, that Janie could hardly keep back the tears. One poor little thing lay apart from the others and was dripping wet. Her companions sobbed aloud as they told in low tones of how she was fished out of a water barrel, stone dead. Not even the Queen could bring her to life.

Each had some trouble. Some told of how their mammas had lost their arms and legs, and how their wigs had been off for weeks. Some were sadly neglected, many being wrapped in small bed-quilts and soiled blankets, as they hadn’t a stitch to put on. They told Janie that the Queen had appeared that morning, had gathered them up from their different homes, and was going to take them to a dolls’ hospital. She was telephoning now to make preparations for their arrival.

The Queen soon appeared, and their piteous wailing ceased as she hovered over them, soothing this one and that, placing some in more comfortable positions, wiping away tears which were rolling down the cheeks of little handless dolls, and telling them all to cheer up, that they would soon be made as good as new, except the poor dead one, which they would lay away tenderly in some quiet spot and cover with pretty flowers. The Queen invited Janie’s doll to go with them, and as they slowly departed, Janie looked so wistfully after them that she called to her to jump onto her wheel and follow. Janie ran in to ask mamma, and was soon spinning along after them.

By and by they turned into a country road and down a long lane, at the end of which she saw a high wall. The Queen told them that it enclosed a number of acres of land, and that the place was called the “Doll Farm.”

They all alighted before a great gate and the Queen blew a wee silver bugle that hung by a silver chain from her belt. The gate swung open, and when they had all entered it closed immediately after them. The Queen led them up a path towards a building bearing the sign “The Dolls’ Hospital.” Janie was too much astonished at the sight that met her eyes to follow. All she could see was an orchard of low trees, whose branches hung full of doll clothes, swaying in the cool morning air. There were tiny under-garments, and dresses of all colors. She reached out to examine a particularly pretty one, and to see just how it was made, when a voice startled her.

“Don’t touch that. It isn’t ripe yet.”

“Ripe!” said Janie. “Is it growing?”

“Why, of course. Now see. The button holes aren’t begun yet, and the buttons aren’t near tight enough. It will be about two weeks before that frock can be picked. Now here is one I can pick to-morrow,” and he explained to Janie just how he could tell when it was ready to be removed from the tree.

Then the gardener, for it was he, showed her the trees full of under-garments and dear little petticoats, the bushes of different colored stockings, with shoes and slippers to match, and last of all, a tree of hats. They were the sweetest things, of many different shapes, and from the end of each branch hung bright ribbons of all colors. Near by grew all sorts of flowers.

The gardener told Janie she might trim a few of the hats, if she cared to, as they were all ready to pick. Now, if there was one thing Janie liked more than another, it was to trim hats. So the gardener picked a number and allowed her to choose the ribbons and flowers.

She chose red, blue, pink and white ribbons, and roses, forget-me-nots, pansies and morning-glories. You must remember these were all dwarf flowers, much smaller than ours, and the gardener told her they were everlasting, and so would not wither.

Janie seated herself under a tree, from whose branches dainty parasols of all colors were dancing and nodding in the breeze. She would have been eager to pick them at any other time, but now with her lap full of such visions of beauty, she was blind to everything else about her. She arranged the bows and flowers, and soon had this lot of hats trimmed, and begged for more. Finishing a number she placed them in long rows on the shelves built for that purpose.

She then threw herself on the ground to rest, and, glancing up, saw the parasols.

She clapped her hands and bounded to her feet.

“O Mr. Gardener, can’t I have one?”

He said she might, and asked her which one she wanted.

“That beautiful blue one. No, the pink one. O no, wait a moment, that white one, I think. O, Mr. Gardener, please let me look a moment. They are all so sweet!” She finally decided on the blue--a beauty with lace and forget-me-nots around the top.

The pink one had a wreath of wild roses, and it was hard to give that up; but the blue matched her doll’s new dress, and so that decided it. Then the gardener told her that after awhile she could help him pick the various garments for the army of dolls that had just arrived, but that now she’d better go into the hospital and see what they were doing there. And so he led her into the house.

Here Janie found the poor crippled dolls being put in fine shape by little doll nurses, wearing soft gray dresses with white aprons and caps. Legs and arms were being replaced; the blind were made to see with blue eyes and brown; bald heads were covered, and such a wealth of hair did those dolls have--some curly, some braided and tied with a ribbon, and some hanging straight, for the dolls’ mammas to braid or curl, as they chose. When their bodies had finally reached perfection, they went into a bath-room for a sorely-needed bath, and Janie went to help the gardener.