The first I can recollect is, that I was very long lying in a box in Soho bazaar, till one day I was taken down by one of the shopkeepers, and shown to a very pretty little girl, about three years old, who, after looking a whole case through, chose me. This little girl had flaxen curls, and was dressed very prettily. Her name was Lucy Fitzhenry. She wrapped me up and carried me home to her house in the country, which was a very pretty country-seat. Two or three days after she had me, her nurse cut some very pretty clothes for me. My under-clothes were of very fine linen, and my dresses of flowered muslin, blue merino, and spotted calicoes. My mother was very careful of me; she washed me every morning (for I was a porcelain Doll), and dressed me, and undressed me at night. One day she took me into town to see the Queen and Prince Albert, which I enjoyed very much indeed. As we were coming home in the carriage, little Lucy let me drop out the window, upon some burdock leaves, where I lay for some time. When I lay there, several caterpillars came and crawled over me, and I thought that they were not very pleasant company; however, I did not tell them so. After I had lain there for about two or three hours, I was picked up by a little raspberry picker, who was a German, named Johanna Worstel, who was over-joyed to find such a beautiful doll, and went instantly to show her brother, Robertin, who was also very glad. They then agreed to wrap me up in a cloth in which they had brought their dinner, and there I lay until night and thought over my past life; how my little mother Lucy had been so kind to me; how she had taken me out, ducked me in a little stream, then dried me in the sun, laughed with me, kissed me, and talked about my new mamma, when suddenly a gust of wind took my cloak off, and I laid there very cold. However, my mother came very soon and took me up. "Poor doll," said she, "how very cold she must be," and therefore she wrapped me up in my dress very tightly, and then we went home. Their home was in a little building, (it was once an out-house, but the house had been removed and it stood alone,) where we had a very nice supper of water-cresses, bread and cheese. After that I was covered over with some leaves, and there I went to sleep.
About This Book
A porcelain doll narrates her life after being purchased at a market and passed among several young caretakers. She describes domestic amusements, wardrobes and furnishings, spells of sickness, and small accidents that accompany country and town entertainments. Chapters recount outings such as May parties, gardening and blackberrying, seaside visits, winter play, theatrical performances and a pantomime, as well as correspondence and social visits. Through light humor and a childlike perspective the memoir traces shifting attachments, rivalries, and the everyday rituals that determine the doll's changing place in each household.