More dollies

In Short

This book is a charming, rhythmic anthology of light verse intended for young readers, focusing on a diverse collection of dolls and toys. Each poem acts as a snapshot, capturing the specific character, occupation, or mood of a different figure, from a rhythmic soldier to a seaside doll. As part of the historical "Dumpy Books for Children" series, it has lasted as a nostalgic artifact of early 20th-century childhood, preserved for its gentle humor, simple cadence, and the quaint, illustrative vignettes that bring its miniature subjects to life.

The Story

The collection functions less as a linear narrative and more as a tour through a magical, living nursery. It begins with the arrival of Saint Nicholas, who fills the stockings of children with the very toys that populate the subsequent pages. Once the presents are unwrapped and the house is quiet, the dolls begin their own internal lives, each defined by their unique role and temperament.

Some of these dolls are defined by their environments: the seaside doll waits with her pail and spade for a day at the beach, while the doll from Algiers pines for the African coast, her eyes filling with tears as she dreams of a home she will not see for years. Others are defined by their rigid, unchanging habits. Mister Merryman remains perpetually on his toes, smiling through every meal and every hour of the day, while Smiler lives up to his name with an unbreakable grin that persists whether the sun shines or the moon rises. There are those who act out little dramas of duty or mischief. The Policeman patrols "Nurs’ry Street," threatening to take wayward dolls to jail if they misbehave, while Dame Crump acts as the stern, stick-wielding disciplinarian for dolls who refuse to close their eyes or stand upright.

The cast is as varied as a toy box can be. We encounter the Highlander, who is constantly drilling his men for a fight; the Cowboy from the West, whose stationary horse never strays from his side; and the twins, Susan and Mary, who are so identical that they only avoid confusion because one wears blue and the other red. Some dolls are defined by their physical quirks, like Punch with his remarkable hunch and rose-red nose, or Little Yam Mango, who has become stout through sheer, stubborn laziness.

As the verses progress, the scope shifts from individual character studies to more elusive figures. We meet the Imp, a shape-shifting gnome who refuses to be caught, and a brown dolly who passes her time playing the guitar and singing new ditties each day. The collection closes by painting a world where every object has a soul. Whether it is the coachman driving the Lord Mayor’s carriage or the humble Shepherdess watching over her sheep, these figures exist in a delicate, static state of play. The book concludes with the quiet assurance that, in the nursery, there is always a doll for every occasion—from the dark nights that require a companion in bed, to the bright mornings that demand a playmate until lessons begin.

How It Unfolds

The arrival of wonders The sequence begins with the festive arrival of Saint Nicholas, who brings a bounty of toys to children. Readers are instructed to hang their stockings and, importantly, not to peek while the visitor is at work.

Defining the dolls Each poem introduces a new inhabitant of the nursery, often focusing on their attire or their singular, defining trait. We meet characters like the Highlander, the Cowboy, and the Policeman, each locked into a perpetual state of action.

The nursery hierarchy The collection establishes order through figures of authority and consequence. Dame Crump ensures the dolls mind their manners with her stick, while the Policeman keeps order on the fictional streets of the nursery.

The melancholy of the inanimate Some verses introduce a touch of sadness, such as the doll from Algiers who longs for her home. These moments provide a poignant contrast to the more energetic, playful figures like the Swinging Clown or Ping-pong.

A final inventory The book concludes by reflecting on the vast spectrum of personalities within the toy box. From the lazy Yam Mango to the singing Brownie, the final beats confirm that these dolls are forever waiting to be picked up and played with.

The People

The "people" here are the dolls themselves, each endowed with human-like motivations, desires, and flaws. The Policeman is a figure of rigid authority who views the nursery as a town requiring constant policing; his goal is order, and he is defined by his readiness to use the threat of jail to keep the other dolls in line. In contrast, the doll from Algiers represents the displaced soul; she wants nothing more than to return to her distant home, and her struggle is against the passage of time and the distance that keeps her in a foreign nursery.

Dame Crump serves as the moral arbiter. She wants obedience, and she stands as the primary obstacle for any doll that wishes to act out or defy the rules of the nursery. She is the embodiment of traditional discipline. Then there are the lighthearted figures like Mister Merryman and Smiler, who represent pure, unadulterated consistency. They do not struggle against their circumstances; they simply are. They are the constants in a child’s world, providing a sense of comfort because they never change. Finally, the Imp represents the spirit of subversion. He wants only to remain elusive, and his resistance to being "caught" makes him a foil to the Policeman. Each doll is a fixed point, and through their static natures, they provide a sense of stability and predictability for the reader.

In Its Own Voice

The poet establishes the boundary of the nursery, warning children about the importance of secrecy during the holiday season:

Hang out your biggest stocking Before you go to sleep; But if you hear him coming, You mustn't even peep.

The collection often highlights the stern disciplinary measures taken against dolls who refuse to follow the rules:

And then's the time for old Dame Crump To enter with her stick, And make them mind their p's and q's; 'Tis well if they are quick!

What It's Really About

At its core, the book explores the capacity of the human imagination to animate the inanimate. It posits that children do not merely play with toys; they enter into a partnership with them, assigning each object a personality, a history, and a set of responsibilities. The poems ask the reader to consider the secret, inner lives of the objects they touch every day. Is a doll truly just a doll, or is she a homesick traveler from Algiers? The book also touches on the tension between order and chaos, using the Policeman and Dame Crump to represent the societal structures that children learn to navigate through play, while characters like the Imp represent the unpredictable, joyful spirit of childhood that can never quite be fully captured or contained.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the antique aesthetic of early twentieth-century children's literature will find this book a delightful, if brief, excursion into the past. It feels like a quiet, dusty afternoon in a Victorian nursery, where the pacing is gentle and the rhymes are simple, repetitive, and soothing. It is an ideal read for those interested in the history of juvenile poetry or for parents looking to share a piece of literary history with a younger child.

However, a modern reader should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes contained within. Some depictions, particularly of characters like "Little Yam Mango" or "Dinah," reflect the racial stereotypes and caricatures common in 1903, which can be jarring to contemporary sensibilities. The book does not attempt to be complex; it is a straightforward, rhythmic exercise. Its brevity means it can be read in a single sitting, leaving behind a lingering impression of a simpler, more structured world where every doll has its place, its uniform, and its eternal, unchanging task. While it may not challenge the reader with deep philosophical inquiry, it offers a window into the imagination of an era that viewed the plaything as a silent, steadfast companion.