“My fine lady will be the more attractive,” said the other. “Both the children will want it, and that will be the worst of it all.”
The other did not answer, but set diligently to work, and gave time, pains, and patience in no stinted measure. She made complete sets of beautifully finished little garments, both for day and night wear. Every string and button was in the right place, and every article could be taken off and put on as easily as a real child’s. All would bear washing and be none the worse for it.
The second girl bought rich silk for a frock, dainty boots, and tiny silk stockings, and succeeded in making a little picture hat, evening cloak and dress in suitable style. Altogether the lady doll made a distinguished appearance; but below the shining dress there were the poorest shams for garments, which, once taken off, would not be worth replacing.
Naturally, both children at first turned longing eyes on the gaily-attired doll, and seemed anxious to possess it. But the unselfish nature of one triumphed, and whilst her sister grasped the showy toy, she whispered, “I’ll have the other, please!” and lifted her rosebud mouth to kiss the giver.
We know the endless joy a child finds in playing “little mother.” She never tires of dressing and undressing her doll, of setting up a washing day for its garments, or smoothing them with a tiny iron—under supervision.
The little twin maidens soon decided that the doll, whose clothes could be treated exactly like their own, was a treasure indeed, and the curly heads bent over it, shared in maternal cares, and found delightful occupation therein for many a day.
The fine garments were, after all, but as straw in comparison with corn. They were just to be looked at and admired, then put aside. They gave the “little mother” no change. She could do nothing for a fine lady.
To the girl who had given of her best, the sight of the children’s pleasure was reward enough. As to the other, she said, “I meant well, you did well; but I have learned a lesson. Even a child soon finds out the difference between what is thorough and what has only a fair outside. I saw my gaily-dressed toy lying neglected, whilst one ‘little mother’ was hushing her sham baby to sleep and the other child was folding away its day clothes. They saw my eyes turning towards my neglected handiwork, and, fearing I should be hurt, one said, ‘She’s very nice to take out for a walk; but she’s a fine lady, you know, not a baby to nurse, and her things won’t take off, so we can’t put her to bed.’ I said to myself, ‘No more shams even in doll dressing. My work shall be real all through.’”
So the fine lady was not without use after all. As to the other doll, it did more than give pleasure. It was a mute lesson which seemed to be always saying, “If a thing is worth doing at all, it is worth doing well.” It was an example of neatness, orderliness, industry and ungrudging labour to the small people, who were taught by those about them to take care of what had cost so much painstaking to produce.
I think I hear one of you ask, “Has not straw its value also? Could it be done without? Is it not necessary for the production of the grain itself?”