THE THREE DOLLS.
ROSY.
"Oh, let me see your dolly!"
Kate.
(Holding up a handsome doll.)
"Take care! you must not touch;
For she was bought in Paris,
And oh, she cost so much!
Her dress is richest satin,
'Tis trimmed with nicest lace.
I do not dare to kiss her,
For fear 'twould spoil her face.
Such dainty little slippers
I'm sure you never saw!
We keep her wrapped in paper
Within the bureau-drawer.
Just see her shining necklace!
I think 'tis truly gold.
Oh, mine's a splendid dolly,
But she's too fine to hold!"
ROSY.
"And do you have one, Lizzie?"
LIZZIE.
(Bringing slowly out an old doll which she has been holding in her hand behind her.)
"Oh, mine's a perfect fright!
I tried to keep her hidden
She's such a sorry sight.
If you had been here Christmas,
I know you would have said
That she was very lovely,
With cheeks like roses red,
And hair that shone like sunbeams,
And pretty, tasteful gown;
But I have been too heedless
Where I have laid her down.
I'd start up in a hurry,
And drop her here or there.
Her head—aunt Sally crushed it:
I left it in a chair.
Bad Jip, our naughty puppy,
Has dragged her all about.
She lost one arm; the sawdust
Has from her form come out.
Her head is cracking open,
Her clothes are soiled and old,
Yet this poor battered dolly
Is all I have to hold.
And I can have no other,
My mother says to me,
Until I learn more careful
And orderly to be."
JENNY.
"Well, you may take mine, Rosy,
And play with her: I know
You will be very gentle,
Because I love her so.
She's but a common dolly,
She has a simple dress;
But then to me she's pretty,
I love her none the less.
I have one place to keep her,—
The closet's lowest shelf:
With mother's help I'm learning
To make her clothes myself.
I kiss her and caress her,
And, when the daylight flies,
I tenderly undress her,
And sing her lullabies.
Kate's doll is fine to look at,
All decked with lace and gold;
But mine's the dearest dolly
In all this world to hold."
MARIAN DOUGLAS.
