Raggedy Ann Stories | Page 2

and I hope you both will have as much happiness together as you and I
used to have!"
Then Grandma gave Raggedy Ann to Marcella, saying very seriously,
"Marcella, let me introduce my very dear friend, Raggedy Ann.
Raggedy, this is my grand-daughter, Marcella!" And Grandma gave the
doll a twitch with her fingers in such a way that the rag doll nodded her
head to Marcella.
"Oh, Grandma! Thank you ever and ever so much!" Marcella cried as
she gave Grandma a hug and kiss. "Raggedy Ann and I will have just
loads of fun."
And this is how Raggedy Ann joined the doll family at Marcella's
house, where she began the adventures of Raggedy Ann, told in the

following stories.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]

RAGGEDY ANN LEARNS A LESSON
One day the dolls were left all to themselves.
Their little mistress had placed them all around the room and told them
to be nice children while she was away.
And there they sat and never even so much as wiggled a finger, until
their mistress had left the room.
Then the soldier dolly turned his head and solemnly winked at Raggedy
Ann.
And when the front gate clicked and the dollies knew they were alone
in the house, they all scrambled to their feet.
"Now let's have a good time!" cried the tin soldier. "Let's all go in
search of something to eat!"
"Yes! Let's all go in search of something to eat!" cried all the other
dollies.
"When Mistress had me out playing with her this morning," said
Raggedy Ann, "she carried me by a door near the back of the house and
I smelled something which smelled as if it would taste delicious!"
"Then you lead the way, Raggedy Ann!" cried the French dolly.
"I think it would be a good plan to elect Raggedy Ann as our leader on
this expedition!" said the Indian doll.
At this all the other dolls clapped their hands together and shouted,

"Hurrah! Raggedy Ann will be our leader."
So Raggedy Ann, very proud indeed to have the confidence and love of
all the other dollies, said that she would be very glad to be their leader.
"Follow me!" she cried as her wobbly legs carried her across the floor
at a lively pace.
The other dollies followed, racing about the house until they came to
the pantry door. "This is the place!" cried Raggedy Ann, and sure
enough, all the dollies smelled something which they knew must be
very good to eat.
But none of the dollies was tall enough to open the door and, although
they pushed and pulled with all their might, the door remained tightly
closed.
The dollies were talking and pulling and pushing and every once in a
while one would fall over and the others would step on her in their
efforts to open the door. Finally Raggedy Ann drew away from the
others and sat down on the floor.
When the other dollies discovered Raggedy Ann sitting there, running
her rag hands through her yarn hair, they knew she was thinking.
"Sh! Sh!" they said to each other and quietly went over near Raggedy
Ann and sat down in front of her.
"There must be a way to get inside," said Raggedy Ann.
"Raggedy says there must be a way to get inside!" cried all the dolls.
"I can't seem to think clearly to-day," said Raggedy Ann. "It feels as if
my head were ripped."
At this the French doll ran to Raggedy Ann and took off her bonnet.
"Yes, there is a rip in your head, Raggedy!" she said and pulled a pin
from her skirt and pinned up Raggedy's head. "It's not a very neat job,
for I got some puckers in it!" she said.

"Oh that is ever so much better!" cried Raggedy Ann. "Now I can think
quite clearly."
"Now Raggedy can think quite clearly!" cried all the dolls.
"My thoughts must have leaked out the rip before!" said Raggedy Ann.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
"They must have leaked out before, dear Raggedy!" cried all the other
dolls.
"Now that I can think so clearly," said Raggedy Ann, "I think the door
must be locked and to get in we must unlock it!"
"That will be easy!" said the Dutch doll who says "Mamma" when he is
tipped backward and forward, "For we will have the brave tin soldier
shoot the key out of the lock!"
"I can easily do that!" cried the tin soldier, as he raised his gun.
"Oh, Raggedy Ann!" cried the French dolly. "Please do not let him
shoot!"
"No!" said Raggedy Ann. "We must think of a quieter way!"
After thinking quite hard for a moment, Raggedy Ann jumped up and
said: "I have it!" And she caught up the