Tales of the Toys, Told by Themselves

very dull and flat after all we have heard, and, indeed, I am afraid I

g to let you off. We are all of us taking our tu

ill be only too happy to do her part in this pleasant task; she merel

my humble story by saying that I really know nothing of my origin, or where I was made. My first conscious remembrance was that of lying on a beautiful carved table in the midst of a quantity of silk and lace

deline, the eldest of them; 'I remember how proud I was of it, and how I enj

ow, Maddy,' replied Laura; 'I think a new rid

id Edith; 'the pale blue suits her complexion, don't you

as the real model of a sweet fat baby child of about two years old. My face, neck, arms and feet had all the pretty wrinkles and dimples that adorn that age; and the soft pink wax, delicately coloured, gave a very fair notion of the tender pinky skin. So with very good taste my lady milliners dressed me in a short full white India muslin frock over a pale blue silk slip, trimmed the bodice and sleeves lavishly with sashes, bows, and loops of the same, and tied a pretty blue ribbon c

y doll that ought to be irresistible, an

quettishly trimmed with a band of blue velvet, with a drooping fringe

kirt showed that I was intended for Lady Alicia Wentworth, the little god-daughter of the lady of the house. After the festive evening was over, with all its glare of bright lights, and sounds of young voices and gay music, I was taken down from my proud position, which had not been free from peril, ow

een so peevish, except for the fact that, as an only child, she had been spoiled and indulged to such an extent, that she could neither be happy nor contented herself, nor allow any one near

send me that for?' and she burst into a roar of passionate ill-temper. In vain did governess and maid try to pacify her; she screamed and pouted till her foolish, doting mother wa

nto the carriage again, 'to send Alicia such a foolish thing, after making such a fuss about it too! I

e to my taste; for, although also an only child, this little maiden was of a very different mind to the other. She was more delicate in health than the young lady at the Castle, for from a serious weakness of the spine she was obliged to lie down for many hours in the day, and was not able to run ab

was carried in my box to the reclining board where Flora was then lying, for her father, del

inclined to think it is a doll, my dear,' he added, as Flora sat up and took the box, her thin hands trembling with eager joy, and her

es! Did you ever see anything so beautiful! Oh, how kind of Lady Enn

emember you, Flora, and I must go and thank h

cratch defaced my countenance, or awkward fracture had injured my frail limbs. My fine muslin frock, indeed, had been frequently washed, and my hat cleaned and re-trimmed, while a pretty silk mantle added to my wardrobe, hid a good deal of the faded hue of my azure decorations. But for the last two years I had been laid away carefully in a drawer, for Flora had long ceased playing with me, and valued me more as a treasure of her childish days than anything else. She was now a tall, slender girl of nearly eighteen, having by the aid of all the watchful care spent on her earlier years quite outgrown the tendency to disease that had so threatened her childhood. She had grown up with the same sweet, unselfish nature though, and old affection for little children that had been so remarkable even in her early years; only that now she was

a thorn bush. Under the awful crushing progress of that broad wheeled waggon both my wax arms and one of my legs were hopelessly smashed flat in the dusty road, my head and chest escaping by a miracle. Christie was terribly vexed at the catastrophe, but that did not mend my legs and arms, and I have therefore ever since led a miserable maimed existence. And the worst of it was that Alan and Willie had lost all respect for me, and never thought it necessary to be even commonly civil to me, now that m

incessant wars and struggles. The stumps of my legs and arms were so very convenient to lay hold of, as they swung me

such a jolly thing to chuck at a

ve such feats as these, could drag me about, as he did, by my p

, and the socks followed, no one knew how or where, but they were most probably dropped out of doors somewhere, like my hat, which took flight in a rough wind at the seaside! For Christie's mode of carrying me when she took me out for a walk was original certainly, but not a model to be

child of about six years of age, had heard this talked over in parlour and nursery, and had imbibed a secret terror of this mysterious sickness which seemed so much dreaded by mother and nurse. And if mothers and nurses only suspected how very long the ears of little pitchers really are, and how much more they are inclined to take in all that should not concern them, I think they would be as careful as the House of Commons in sending o

ite my business to enter on it at all. Where was I in my story? I am quite ashamed of trespassing so on your patien

to you," suggested the Humming Top, very gravely; "pr

so prevalent in our neighbourhood. Ethel, as I said before, was terribly alarmed at the vague disease;

uch an awful picture of what she imagined they must be, including a plentiful

ounging in at the time, and throwing

ays I sail be sick-so bad-and Smif dive

first herself; you daren't, you know; don't you recollect what Nurse says when you want to be helped to

say such horrid things, I'll tell Mamma.

ervently; 'I've handful enough with you as it is, bu

follow him down to the school-room. She did so, full of curiosity at the unusual event; but when he opened the door and led her in, she was still further

TACK OF TH

hen she did so, she started back in horror, for

ot the measles, Ethel,' said Alan, goin

e what was the matter. He was very angry indeed with Alan, and told him how cruel it was to frighten a younger child, and a girl t

ck very unworthy of you, and that might have led to worse results. Frightening any one is the most cruel sport that exists, and one of the most dangerous. When you fell out of the boat

as so silly and unreas

of the kind again. You are, I know, very fond of all your brothers and sisters, and would not give them any pain willingly. Now remember, my boy, in

letely fallen into oblivion, that I was undisturbed, till one evening, some years after, when Ethel was fifteen, and had forgotten all about my early disfigurement, I was fetched out to amuse little Florry Spenser, who drank tea there, and she cuddled me up so tight, and was so loath to part with me, that she was allowed to

sank back wit

n himself the office of spokesman, made the Doll an elaborate compliment on her story,