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The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
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Pictures By [signed] Florence K. Upton
Words By
Bertha Upton
DeWolfe, Fiske & Co. Boston
[Illustration]
’Twas on a frosty Christmas Eve
When Peggy Deutchland woke
From her
wooden sleep
On the counter
steep
And to her neighbour spoke,
“Get up! get up, dear Sarah Jane!
Now strikes the midnight hour,
When dolls
and toys
Taste human
joys,
And revel in their power.
[Illustration]
I long to try my limbs a bit,
And you must walk with me;
Our joints
are good
Though made
of wood,
And I pine for liberty.
[Illustration]
For twelve long months we’ve lain
in here.
But we don’t care a fig;
When wide
awake
It does
not take
Us long to dance a jig.
[Illustration]
But who comes here across our path,
In gay attire bedight?
A little
girl
With hair
in curl,
And eyes so round and bright.
[Illustration]
Good evening Miss, how fine you look,
Beside you I feel bare;
I must confess
I need a
dress
If I would look as fair.
[Illustration]
On that high pole I see a flag
With colors red and blue;
Dear Sarah
Jane
’Tis
very plain
A climb you’ll have to do.
[Illustration]
You’re young and light—so
now be quick
Dear sister good and kind;
You look
dismayed
Don’t
be afraid,
It’s not so hard you’ll find.
Then up the pole with trembling limbs,
Poor Sarah Jane did mount;
She dared
not lag,
But seized
the flag,
Ere you could twenty count.
Big Peggy gazed with deep concern,
And mouth wide open too;
Her only
care
That she
might wear
A gown of brilliant hue.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Now Peg’ by instinct seemed to know
Where scissors might be got;
The “fits”
were bad,
But then
she had
No patterns on the spot.
Soon where the garments hurried on;
Sarah looked well in blue;
Mirror in
hand
She took
her stand,
While Peggy pinned her’s through.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Said Peggy—“After work
so hard,
I think a rest we need;
Let’s
take a ride
Seated astride
Upon this gentle steed.”
Then simple Sarah Jane climbed up
Upon his wooden back;
With tim’rous
heart
She felt
him start
Upon the open track.
[Illustration]
Ere long they knew that hidden there,
Beneath a stolid mien,
Dwelt a
fierce will.
They could
not still
They rode as if by steam!
[Illustration]
Peggy held on with tightening grip,
While Sarah Jane behind,
Having no
hold
To make
her bold,
To screaming gave her mind.
“O Peggy! put me down I pray!
I ride in mortal dread!
Do make
him stop,
Or I shall
drop
And break my wooden head!”
E’en as those piteous words she
spoke,
They struck a fearful “snag”
Their grips
they lost,
And both
were tossed
Upon the cruel “flag”.
[Illustration]
Their senses for a moment gone,
They lay in ghastly plight;
Their fiery
steed
From burden
freed,
Maintained his onward flight.
Then each in aching consciousness
Rose slowly with sad groans;
Next faced
about
With angry
shout,
Followed by tears and moans.
[Illustration]
Each blamed the other for the fall;
Until, in gentler mood,
Their hurts
they dress,
While both
confess
The crying did them good.
A wooden crutch poor Peggy finds
To help her on her feet;
Both solemn-faced
Their steps
retraced
To where they first did meet.
[Illustration]
But sorrow’s tears are quickly dried
With dolls as well as men.—
A jolly
crowd
All laughing
loud
(I think you’ll count just ten.)
Mounted a little wooden cart,
While Peggy, brave and tried,
Got up in
front
To bear
the brunt
Of “Hobby’s” mighty
stride.
[Illustration]
Finding a pleasant open space,
Gay Peg’ unships her load;
Suggests
a game
Which, it
is plain,
Will soon be quite the “mode.”
She tells of former Christmas nights,
When many of her kind,
At leap-frog
played,
And merry
made,
Fast running like the wind.
The happy moments swiftly sped
In unabated glee;
Their lungs
were strong,
Their legs
were long,
And supple at the knee.
[Illustration]
But soon they hear the clock strike “two”
The hours are flying fast!
With much
to do
Ere night
be thro’
Its’ pleasures overpast!
“Just one leap more!” cries
Sarah Jane,
“This fills my wildest dream!”
E’en
as she spoke,
Peg’
Deutchland broke
Into a piercing scream.
Then all look round, as well they may
To see a horrid sight!
The blackest
gnome
Stands there
alone,
They scatter in their fright.
With kindly smile he nearer draws;
Begs them to feel no fear.
“What
is your name?”
Cries Sarah
Jane;
“The ‘Golliwogg’ my
dear.”
Their fears allayed—each takes
an arm,
While up and down they walk;
With sidelong
glance
Each tries
her chance,
And charms him with “small talk”.
[Illustration]
Another wonder now attracts
The simple Sarah Jane;
Upon one
knee
She drops
with glee,
In case this box contain
Some pretty thing to give her joy,
Some new-discovered treat!
Old Peg’,
who planned
The fun
in hand,
Watches with face discreet.
[Illustration]
The lock unlatched, the lid springs up,
Knocks Sarah on her back,
With flying
hair
And trying
stare,
Out of the box springs “Jack”.
Our naughty Peg’ enjoys the scene,
Laughs lung with fiendish glee;
Next takes
to flight,
Gets out
of sight,
Fresh tricks to plan you’ll see.
[Illustration]
Soon Sarah’s heart new courage takes,
She hits upon a plan;
Makes up
her mind
To run behind
And kill the staring man!
Attempts are vain, he will not die!
In terror Sarah flees;
Meets a
new toy
Called “Scissors
Boy”,
And begs him just to please.
[Illustration]
To help her pay bad Peggy back
For her malicious tricks;
Nor does
she see
That even
he
Enjoys her woeful “fix”.
Peg’s pious face and peaceful pose
You’d think portended fair,
When like
a flash
She makes
a dash,
Sends Sarah high in air!
[Illustration]
Entangled in the “Scissors Boy”,
Alas! death seems quite near;
Her trust
betrayed,
This hapless
maid
Sobs out her grief and fear.
’Twas Peggy’s fault the whole
way through;
The boy had meant no harm.
Both ran
away,
Nor thought
to stay
Poor Sarah’s fright to calm.
[Illustration]
A handsome soldier passing by,
His heart quite free from guile,
With martial
air
And manner
rare
Soon helped the girl to smile.
He said the Ball would now begin
And begged her for a dance;
She bowed
so low,
It looked
as tho’
Her style had come from France.
[Illustration]
A lively waltz the couple take,
While all admire their grace,
As round
and round
Upon the
ground
They spin with quickened pace.
And shameless Peg’ sits on a chair
A true “flower of the wall”
While Sarah
Jane,
Tis very
plain,
Need never rest at all.
[Illustration]
With graceful compliment the Clown
Bows low before the belle,
Whose modest
face,
And simple
grace,
In starry robe looked well.
“I know I’m but a stupid Clown,
And play a clumsy role;
Yet underneath
This painted
sheath
I wear an ardent Soul.”
[Illustration]
Just then a jovial African
With large admiring eyes,
Seizes her
hand
Just as
the band
To give them a surprise
Strikes up the “Barn-dance”;
like a flash
Both spring into their place!
Away they
go
First quick,
then slow,
Each movement fraught with grace.
[Illustration]
The jolly pair then pause to watch
A “Magnate” from Japan,
Who quite
alone
So far from
home
(Poor harmless little man)
Dances a curious Eastern dance
To many a jingling bell;
His brilliant
dress,
They both
confess,
Becomes him very well.
[Illustration]
And now the Ball is at its height,
A madly whirling throng;
Each merry
pair
A smile
doth wear.
And Sambo sings a song.
While in their midst the artist head
Of “Golliwogg” appears,
With Peg
beside,
Whose graceful
stride
No criticism fears.
[Illustration]
But even wooden limbs get tired
And want a chance of play,
So “Golliwogg”
A “jolly
dog”
Suggests they run away.
The big shop door is bolted fast,
But through the yard behind,
Peggy has
spied
One open
wide,
Which she will shortly find.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
A touch—A push—and
out they fly
Into the starlight night;
No one must
know
The way
they go
They cover up their flight.
And though their laughing faces tell
How they enjoy the fun,
No sound
they make,
But quickly
take
Unto their heels and run.
[Illustration]
Nor stop until they reach a field,
And find a lovely slide;
No fear
has Peg,
But Meg
and Weg
Cling screaming as they glide.
The “Golliwogg” with flying
hair,
Takes the first lead you see,
Nor minds
at all
The “Midget”
small,
Her arms outstretched in glee.
[Illustration]
The sliders never dreamed of harm,
They sailed like ships at sea;
’Twas
Meg and Weg,
Who Tripped
up Peg,
And brought to grief their spree.
The wrong man often gets the blame
’Twas just so in this case,
And balls
of snow
They madly
throw
At “Golliwogg’s” kind
face.
[Illustration]
He catches one in either eye,
And then turns tail to run;
The steady
aim
Of Sarah
Jane
Grows very serious fun.
He does not like the way girls act,
For five to one’s not fair;
There’s
no escape
One hits
his nape,
Another strikes his hair.
[Illustration]
“Vengeance!” he cries, “I’ll
pay them out!
If girls will play with boys,
There’s
got be
Equality,
So here’s for equipoise!”
And then some monster balls he makes,
He does not spare the snow
And as each
back
Receives
a whack,
Like ninepins down they go.
In life we have our “ups”
and “downs”,
These dolls enjoyed the same;
Though down
went Weg,
Don’t
think, I beg,
’Twas due to Sarah Jane.
You see the sled was pretty full,
The hill was rather steep;
Weg was
to steer
But in her
fear
She took a backward leap.
[Illustration]
Anon all reached the valley safe,
And skating longed to try;
The ice
seemed good,
As each
one stood
Upon the bank hard by.
While “Golliwogg” with cautious
steps,
Toward the middle skates;
They hear
a crack!
They cry,
“come back
To your devoted mates!”
[Illustration]
Too late! alas their call is vain!
He swiftly disappears!
His kind
forethought
Is dearly
bought,
It melts them unto tears.
But sturdy Peg is quick to act,
She gives an order clear,
“Creep
on your knees,
And by degrees
We to the hole will steer.”
[Illustration]
They reach in time, Peg drags him out
With all her might and main;
Poor “Golliwogg”,
A dripping
log,
Must be got home again.
Behold sure signs of early dawn,
As down the field they start;
A leaden
weight,
This living
freight,
With faintly beating heart.
[Illustration]
In half an hour the sun comes up,
And shows a merry face;
He winks
an eye
As passing
by
He sees the skating place.
And when he peeps into the shop
With jolly laughing eye,
Tho’
he’s not blind
He cannot
find
A single toy awry!