The Adventure of Two Dutch Dolls and a 'Golliwogg'

In Short

This narrative poem, paired with iconic illustrations, captures the secret, nocturnal lives of toys. When the clock strikes twelve on Christmas Eve, the Dutch dolls Peggy and Sarah Jane rouse themselves for an adventure that spans the shop, the yard, and a snow-covered landscape. Through daring climbs, a grand dance, and a perilous skating rescue, they encounter a cast of characters, including the gentle, black-faced figure of the "Golliwogg." It remains a seminal work of children’s literature, remembered for its spirited rhythm and the debut of a character who became a cultural touchstone.

The Story

The story begins in a silent shop on Christmas Eve. Peggy Deutchland, a spirited Dutch doll, wakes her companion, Sarah Jane, declaring that the midnight hour is their time to revel in human joys. Longing for liberty, the two dolls immediately set out to explore their surroundings. Their first challenge is a daring climb up a tall pole to secure a flag, a task that tests their wooden joints and courage. Once successful, Peggy displays a knack for improvisation, using scissors to fashion new dresses for herself and Sarah Jane before they embark on a ride atop a wooden horse. This excursion turns chaotic when the horse proves too spirited, resulting in a tumble that leaves the dolls bruised but eventually reconciled through mutual care.

As the night deepens, the dolls join a larger group of toys for a series of games. Their revelry is interrupted by the appearance of the "Golliwogg," a mysterious, black-faced gnome. Contrary to their initial fright, the dolls find him to be a kind and central figure in their continued adventures. The night progresses with a visit to a box containing a "Jack-in-the-box," whose sudden emergence causes further commotion and tests the dolls' resilience. Peggy, ever the provocateur, delights in the ensuing confusion, often leading the others into traps, such as an encounter with a "Scissors Boy" that leaves Sarah Jane entangled and distressed.

Order is restored when a soldier intervenes, leading to a sophisticated ballroom scene. The dolls and their friends engage in a waltz and a barn dance, joined by a diverse array of characters, including a performer from Japan and a singing companion known as Sambo. As the night wanes, the Golliwogg suggests they flee the shop entirely, leading them into the starlit yard. The final act of their journey takes place in a snowy field, where they indulge in sliding and snowball fights. The play turns dangerous when the Golliwogg falls through the ice while skating. Displaying great loyalty, Peggy and the others scramble to rescue him, dragging his sodden form back toward safety. As the first light of dawn approaches, the toys return to the shop, slipping back into their places just as the sun rises. When the morning light finally spills over the counter, the shop appears entirely undisturbed, leaving no trace of the night’s extraordinary events.

How It Unfolds

The midnight awakening Peggy and Sarah Jane rouse themselves from their wooden sleep, eager to abandon their long stillness. They immediately express a craving for movement and the freedom to dance and explore.

The climb and the ride The dolls scale a pole to retrieve a flag, demonstrating their physical agility and newfound independence. They then mount a wooden horse, only to be thrown off during a wild, runaway ride that leaves them shaken.

Meeting the Golliwogg The group grows in size and encounters the Golliwogg, a gnome who quickly transitions from a source of fear to a trusted companion. He becomes a fixture in their social games and their eventual escape from the shop.

The ballroom and the snow The toys gather for a formal dance, showcasing their elegance before venturing into the cold outdoors. The final conflict involves a treacherous ice skating accident, requiring the dolls to work together to save their friend from the freezing water.

The return to stillness As dawn breaks, the dolls retreat to their counter, burdened by the weight of their rescue. They settle into their assigned spots, successfully hiding their secret life from the daylight world.

The People

Peggy Deutchland is the driving force of the narrative, a bold and often mischievous leader who craves action and adventure. She is the one who initiates the climb, finds the materials for their clothes, and orchestrates the group's movements, though she often lacks patience for the consequences of her schemes. Sarah Jane, by contrast, is more timid and prone to anxiety, acting as the emotional barometer of their journey. She is easily frightened by "Jack-in-the-boxes" and the risks of the snowy slide, yet she remains a loyal companion to Peggy. The Golliwogg serves as a mysterious, benign presence. Despite his unusual appearance, he is portrayed as a kind soul who acts as a protector and guide. He is deeply integrated into the group, participating in the dances and games with a sense of gentle humor that ultimately balances Peggy’s more reckless impulses.

In Its Own Voice

"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."

Peggy makes this declaration to Sarah Jane at the start of their journey, setting the tone for their rebellion against the stillness of the shop.

"'What is your name?' / Cries Sarah Jane; / 'The 'Golliwogg' my dear.'"

This moment marks the introduction of the story's most significant character, who quickly becomes a central, trusted member of the dolls' circle.

"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."

This line captures the playful, egalitarian chaos of the snowball fight, highlighting the group's dynamic interaction.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book explores the tension between duty and freedom. The dolls represent the suppressed energy of the domestic sphere, finding a narrow window of time to express their individuality and agency. It is a meditation on the power of collective play, where a group of disparate characters—toys of varying origins and appearances—must cooperate to navigate both the physical dangers of their environment and the social complexities of their group dynamic. Ultimately, the book asks what happens to the world of the imagination when the "human" world is asleep, and it treats that imaginative life as a vital, necessary release from the silence of being a stationary object.

Why Read It Today

Readers today will find a curious, rhythmic charm in the writing, which feels like a long, extended nursery rhyme. It is a glimpse into a very specific late-Victorian sensibility regarding toys and childhood. The book is best enjoyed as a visual experience, as the poetry is inextricably linked to the illustrations that carry much of the narrative’s humor and heart.

However, a modern reader must be prepared for the period attitudes embedded in the text. The depiction of the Golliwogg—a character based on the minstrel tradition of the time—and the casual inclusion of caricatures like the "jovial African" or the "Magnate from Japan" reflect the racial stereotypes prevalent in the late 19th century. These portrayals are jarring and insensitive by contemporary standards. If you choose to read it, do so with the understanding that it is a historical artifact. It captures a time when such caricatures were treated as playful, while simultaneously offering a fascinating look at the development of children’s storytelling. It remains a quick, whimsical read that is as much about the history of the picture book as it is about the dolls themselves.