articlesforchristians

The Doll Family

See what I have, Peter,” said Polly.

“What are they, Polly?”

“They are acorns. They came from oak trees. Here are some oak leaves.”

“I never saw any acorns before. They look like nuts. What are they good for?”

“To play with, Peter. I will show you how, soon. And they are good for squirrels.”

“Squirrels get all the nuts,” said Peter. “Tim and I cannot find anymore beechnuts. We know where they are, too. Those old squirrels have them.”

“What if they have?” asked Polly. “You cannot have everything that there is to eat.”

“Are acorns good to eat, Polly?”

“These are not very good,” said Polly. “But the squirrels like them. One of the big boys gave me these. He got them up on the hill. He says many oak trees grow there. He gave me these oak leaves, too. Aren’t they pretty?”

“Yes,” said Peter. “They are not like elm leaves. They are not like maple leaves. And they are not like beech leaves.”

“See what a dark red they are, Peter. I wish that we had some oak trees here.”

“So do I,” said Peter. “Let’s plant an acorn. Maybe it will grow. How do you play with acorns?”

“I shall have a dolls’ party,” said Polly. “We can have it on the front steps. Let us bring out the family.”

Polly and Peter had a large family. It was made up of Mr. and Mrs. Rag Doll and eight children. Mother and grandmother had given the dolls to them.

Polly had other beautiful dolls. One was two feet tall. But she liked the family best. She could play harder with them.

Mrs. Rag Doll sat on one step with four children. Mr. Rag Doll sat on the step above with four children.

Polly always played Mrs. Rag Doll. Peter always played Mr. Rag Doll.

MRS. RAG DOLL: “Can’t you keep your children still? They are all jumping around.”

MR. RAG DOLL: “No, I cannot. Why don’t you keep yours still?”

MRS. RAG DOLL: “They would be still, if your children would stop kicking them.”

MR. RAG DOLL: “It is time for them to have their tea, anyway. Where are those new cups?”

Polly put an acorn in its cup in the lap of each doll. She set cups without the acorns on the step beside each doll.

Then Mrs. Rag Doll said, “Now they each have a cup of tea. They each have a plate of cake, too. Perhaps they will behave.”

The children did not behave. Just as soon as they had finished eating, they began to push and pinch one another.

The boys threw their cups and saucers on the grass. Then the girls threw their plates on the grass. Their mother and their father were ashamed of them.

MRS. RAG DOLL: “What shall we do with these naughty children I They have not been so bad for a long time.”

MR. RAG DOLL: “They have not been to a party for a long time. They have forgotten how to behave. I think they have broken all the dishes.”

MRS. RAG DOLL: “Oh, dear! How dreadful. I shall take them straight home. I shall put them to bed.”

MR. RAG DOLL: “I will help you. They ought to be punished. Maybe I shall spank them.”

“No, you will not, Peter. Mother does not spank us,” said Polly.

“She does not send us to bed in the afternoon, either, Polly,” said Peter.

“That is so,” said Polly. “Then I shall not do it.”

MR. RAG DOLL: “Perhaps they are not feeling well. Sometimes I am cross when I do not feel well.”

MRS. RAG DOLL: “Perhaps that is so. I will hold my four in my arms and comfort them. Then they will feel better.”

MR. RAG DOLL: “I will hold my four in my arms and comfort them. Then they will get well.”

So Polly and Peter gathered their large family up in their arms. They carried them into the house and upstairs to the playroom.

There they sat down to comfort their naughty dolls.