The Life of A Wooden Doll by Lewis Saxby, 1903

To Maud, whose enthusiastic love of dolls
and things diminutive, awoke these fancies in
and suggested this series to the Author.

This series of photographs attempts, merely, a set of poses such as busy little imitators of their elders are fond of making with their accumulated doll properties. It is neither story illustrated nor illustration storied, and is marked by natural and necessary limitations which, the author trusts, will but add charm.

MRS. Dolly of Dolltown is not one of those

Who, when laid on their backs for a moment's repose,

Move a pair of big eyes that are lidless yet close.

Neither will she say "Ma-Ma" when squeezed at the waist.

In her strong wooden talk-box no squeaker is placed.

Besides, squeaking, with ladies, is not in good taste.

Though her neat little body is made out of wood,

And her hair of black paint is made smooth like a hood,

See her face ! How much better than pretty! - it's good.

No baby is Dolly, though little in size:

She's a genuine woman with motherly eyes,

And, as shortly you'll learn, she's both loving and wise.

On each day of the week she has something to do.

To her household and friends she is always so true,

And she keeps them so happy they never feel blue.

MONDAY

MRS. Dolly is happy the day

after Sunday;

All the terrors of washing can't make it

Blue Monday:

Though tubbing and scrubbing, to her

it is fun-day.

MONDAY

Out to dry on the line, in the brisk

morning air.

She is hanging the washing, so sweet

and so fair:

Heavy garments, lace collars and hose

by the pair.

MONDAY

SEE our dear little wash-lady,

happy and free;

She is cheerfully giving a Blue

Monday tea:

So real ladies do washing, as here

you may see.

TUESDAY

VERY early on Tuesday she goes,

with a will,

At the warm work of ironing clothing,

until

Nearly -  No, she is one of the sort

you can't kill.

TUESDAY

BEFORE noon all the ironing's out

of the way,

Such a wonder is Dolly, work seems

to her play:

For she bakes a large stack of fine bread

the same day.

WEDNESDAY

OH that bric-a-brac cat! he gets

tangled in wool;

Often out of the cradle the baby

he'll pull:

Dolly christened him "Mischief"

of which he is full.

WEDNESDAY

FOR her trim little body, a trim

little waist

Mrs. Dolly is making with exquisite

taste;

And in daintiest style all the trimmings

are placed.

WEDNESDAY

TO the musical hum of her

sewing machine,

Dolly pedals with vigor, and,

singing between

All the long run of stitches, her work

is serene.

THURSDAY

TO a week that is full of hard work

Dolly lends

This one day of relief, when all

Dollytown wends

To her cottage; for then she's "at home"

to her friends.

THURSDAY

IN the mid-winter season, when

evenings are long,

Mrs. Dolly gives parties, for dancing

and song:

She's the recognized leader of

Dolltown's "bong tong."

FRIDAY

THEN on Friday she turns to her

every-day cares.

All the carpets, the pictures, the sofas,

the chairs,

Free from dust Dolly cleanses;

her broom nothing spares.

FRIDAY

BUT the sweeping and cleaning

are very soon done.

For our Dolly has lunched, and at

thirty past one,

She is off in an auto, to take

a long run.

FRIDAY

FRIDAY must be unlucky, for,

what do you think?

Baby fell with a crash which made

every one blink:

But they mended his spindle

as quick as a wink.

SATURDAY

INTO Saturday's market our

housekeeper drops

Just to order some beefsteaks, some

dainty lamb chops

And a dozen frogs' legs safely trimmed

of their hops.

SATURDAY

NOW, to cook on good Sunday

is not Dolly's way:

So the food must be cooked and then

all put away

In the ice box and cupboard, for

serving next day.

SUNDAY

AFTER dinner on Sunday, she

lectures her pets

On their morals and manners, but

Dolly regrets

That old "Mischief," the cat, to be

solemn forgets.

SUNDAY

AS the churches of Dolltown are

built very small,

And the doll folk can hardly get

in them at all,

Mrs. Dolly holds service at home

in the hall.

DOLLY'S BOUDOIR

THIS is Dolly's own room where

she makes herself prim.

It is here she prepares to go into

the swim:

So she keeps her boudoir in the

finest of trim.

DOLLY'S GREENHOUSE

IN a pretty glass house, Mrs. Dolly

keeps flowers.

Which daily she waters with gentlest

of showers,

Letting in the fresh air in the bright

sunny hours.

BABY'S OUTING

EVERY day, in fine weather, she

takes baby out

In his new silver carriage, and wheels

him about;

Which makes him both healthy and

happy, no doubt.

SHOPPING

WHEN our Dolly goes shopping

she buys so much stuff

That it makes the express porter

stagger and puff

To deliver her packages, more than

enough.

PING PONG

MRS. Dolly has carried the prizes

along,

For her skill at the popular game of

Ping Pong;

She is, surely, the smartest of all the

smart throng.

DINNER PARTY

MRS. Dolly serves something

much better than wine

To the notable dollies invited to dine.

What is it? Just water, clear, sparkling

and fine.

POULTRY YARD

DOLLY'S favorite pets are the

ducks and the chicks

Who know perfectly well when it's

quarter to six;

Then, they cluster around and

"cut-up" many tricks.

HORSE SHOW

DOLLY loves the fine horses; but

then, as you know,

The most beautiful horses have very

small show

Where such beautiful dollies and

donkeys do go.

PICNIC

THERE'S nothing which gives

Mrs. Dolly delight

Quite so much as a picnic. Just see,

what a sight!

Old "Mischief" enjoys it; indeed,

well he might.

CAMPING

WHEN Dolly is camping,

excitement comes double.

Dear me! What has happened, to

cause such a bubble?

Oh, that match-holder baby! He's.

always in trouble!

THE GLORIOUS FOURTH

DOLLY'S patriot family heads

the parade,

In the Red-White-and-Blue very

gaily arrayed:

For to show her true colors she's

never afraid.

LOOK PLEASANT

HERE, a souvenir photograph

Dolly is taking

Of all the doll people and things

that are making

Her life, like this book, such a sweet

undertaking.