Short Stories » The Poor Little Doll

The Poor Little Doll

IT was a plain little doll that had been bought for sixpence at a stall in the market-place. It had scanty hair and a weak composition face, a calico body and foolish feet that always turned inwards instead of outwards, and from which the sawdust now and then oozed. Yet in its glass eyes there was an expression of amusement; they seemed to be looking not at you but through you, and the pursed-up red lips were always smiling at what the glass eyes saw.

"Well, you are a doll," the boy said, looking up from his French exercise. "And what are you staring at me for is there anything behind?" he asked, looking over has shoulder. The doll made no answer. "And whatever are you smiling for?" he asked; "I believe you are always smiling. I believe you'd go on if I didn't do my exercise till next year, or if the cat died, or the monument tumbled down." But still the doll smiled in silence, and the boy went on with his exercise. Presently he looked up again and yawned. "I think I'll go for a stroll," he said, and put his book by. "I know what I'll do," he said, suddenly; "I'll take that doll and hang it up to the apple tree to scare away the sparrows." And calling out, "Sis, I have taken your doll; I'm going to make a scarecrow of it," he went off to the garden.

His sister rushed after him, crying out, "Oh, my poor doll! oh, my dear little doll ! What are you doing to it, you naughty boy?”

"It's so ugly," he said.

"No, it is not ugly," she cried.

“And it's so stupid, it never does anything but smile, it can't even grow, it never gets any bigger."

“Poor darling doll," Sis said, as she got it once more safely into her arms, "of course you can't grow, but it is not your fault, they did not make any tucks in you to let out."

“And it's so unfeeling. It went smiling away like anything when I could not do my French."

"It has no heart. Of course it can't feel."

“Why hasn't it got a heart?

“Because it isn't alive. You ought to be sorry for it, and very, very kind to it, poor thing." "Well, what is it always smiling for?" “Because it is so good," answered Sis, bursting into tears. "It is never bad-tempered; it never complains, and it never did anything unkind," and, kissing it tenderly, "you are always good and sweet," she said, “and always look smiling, though you must be very unhappy at not being alive."

Poor Little Doll - Takeaway for Class 1,2,3

Even old, broken toys can be special and loved if we take care of them and use our imagination.

Poor Little Doll - Takeaway for Class 4,5,6

Taking care of the things we love, like the girl did with her doll, helps them last longer and keeps them special.

Poor Little Doll - Takeaway for Class 7,8,9

Even a seemingly unwanted or damaged item, like the poor little doll, can find love and appreciation, teaching us the value of kindness and understanding.

3 Fun Facts

• The little girl named Lucy had a big collection of dolls, and each one was special to her in different ways.
• Lucy's favorite doll, Ella, was actually an old, raggedy doll that she found in the attic, but she loved Ella the most because of her kind eyes and sweet smile.
• Despite Ella being worn out, Lucy always kept her close, showing that love and care are more important than a doll's appearance.

Quiz for Class 1,2,3

• What did Polly's grandmother give her for her birthday?
• Why did the doll feel sad when Polly left it outside?
• How did Polly realize that she needed to take better care of her doll?

Quiz for Class 4,5,6

• What was the condition of the little doll when Alice found it in the attic?
• How did Alice's mother help her restore the doll?
• How did Alice feel about the doll after it was cleaned and fixed?

Quiz for Class 7,8,9

• What did Emma do when she noticed the poor little doll lying abandoned on the street?
• How did Emma's friends initially react to her decision to keep the old doll?
• What lesson did the children learn at the end of the story regarding the value of old and seemingly worthless things?