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THE COCK AND THE JEWELS. (The Philistine and High Art.) THE MAID AND THE MILK-PAIL. (The Agricultura. Vote and Party Promises.)

TOM NODDY'S CHRISTMAS NIGHTMARE, AFTER COLD MINCE-PIES FOR SUPPER.

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3. Comes on to rain. Stoopid

not to have put on my goloshes. So muddy, too!

4. Gets darker and darker.

Can't see my way a bit. Happy Thought, Hansom! Policeman says it's a cold night,

and seems to think I ought to have put on a cape, or a comforter, or something. Thoughtful of him. Do feel rather chilly; got my Jägers on, fortunately.

TOM NODDY'S CHRISTMAS NIGHTMARE, AFTER COLD MINCE-PIES FOR SUPPER.

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January 1-Just had a brilliant idea-quite original. I don't believe oven any human person ever thought of such a thing, but then, besides being extremely beautiful and expensive, with refined wax features and golden hair-I am a very clever doll indeed. Frivolous, no doubt; heartless, so they tell me but the very reverse of a fool. I flatter myself that if anybody understands the but I am forgetting my nature of toys, especially male toys idea-which is this. I am going this year to write down--the little girl I belong to has no idea I can write, but I can-and better than she does, too!-to write down every event of importance that happens, with the dates. There! I fancy that is original enough. It will be a valuable dollian document when it is done, and most interesting to look back upon. Now I must wait for something to happen.

January 6.-Went to Small Dance given by the Only Other Wax Doll (a dreadful old frump!) on the Nursery Hearthrug. Room by rather nicely illuminated coloured fire from grate, and a pyramid nightlight, but floor poor. Didn't think much of the music -a fur monkey at the Digitorium, and a woolly lamb who brought his own bellows, make rather n feeble orchestra. Still, on the whole, enjoyed myself. Much admired. Several young considered Ninepins, who are stuck-up, and keep a good deal to their own set, begged to be introduced. Sat out one dance with a Dice-box, who rattled away most amusingly. I understand he is quite an authority on games, and anything that falls from his mouth is received with respect. He is a great sporting character, too, and arranges all the meetings on the Nursery Race-course, besides being much interested in Backgammon. I do like a Toy to have manly tastes! The Captain of a Wooden Marching Regiment quartered in the neighbourhood, was there in full uniform, but not dancing. Told As his legs are made in one piece me they didn't in his regiment. and glued on to a yellow stand, inclined to think this was not mere He seemed considerably struck with me. military swagger. Made an impression, too, on a rather elderly India - rubber Ball. Snubbed him, as one of the Ninepins told me he was considered "a bit of a bounder."

Some of the Composition Dolls, I could sec, were perfectly stiff

back to my drawer till daylight. Too tired to write more.
with spite and envy. Spent a very pleasant evening, not getting
Mem.-Not to sit out behind the coal-scuttle another time!
February 14.-Amount of attention I receive really quite em-
barrassing. The Ninepins are too absurdly devoted. One of them
bowled over in his whole existence! I manage to play them off
(the nicest of all) told me to-day he had never been so completely
against each other, however. The India-rubber Ball, too, is at my
nothing will induce him to rise. Though naturally of an elastic
feet-and, naturally, I spurn him, but he is so short-winded that
temperament, he has been a good deal cast down of late. I smile
on him occasionally-just to keep the Bull rolling; but it is
becoming a frightful bore.

March.-Have been presented with a charming pony-carriage,
with two piebald pouies that go by clock-work. I wish, though,
I was not expected to share it with a live
kitten! The kitten has no idea of repose, and
spoils the effect of the turn-out. Try not to
seem aware of it-even when it claws my
trock. Rather interested in a young Skipjack,
when I see occasionally; he is quite good-
looking, in a common sort of way. I talk to
him now and then-it is something to do; and
he is a new type, so different from the Nine-
pins!

April 1.-Have just heard the Skipjack is
Have
engaged to a plaster Dairy-maid. A little
common-place
annoyed, because he really seemed-
been to see his fiancée, a
creature, with red cheeks, and a thick waist.
Congratulate the Skipjack, with just a hint
that he might have looked higher. Afraid
that he misunderstood me, for he absolutely
jumped.

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course.

April 7.-The Skipjack tells me he has broken off his engagement; he seems to think I shall guess the reason-but I don't, of Then he actually has the impertinence to (I can scarcely pen the words for indignation) to propose to Me! I inform him, in the most unmistakable terms, that he has presumed on my good-nature, and that there are social barrier between us, which no Skipjack can ever surmount. He leaves m The Skipjack four abruptly, after declaring that I have broken the spring of h existence. April 8.-Much shocked and annoyed. quite stiff and colourless this morning, in the water-jug! Mu Hear th sure I gave him no encouragement-or next to none. have jumped in last night. So very rash and silly of him! A the Dairy-maid has gone off her head. Of course it will be p down to grief; but we all know how easily plaster heads g

of it!

cracked. Feel really distressed about it all, for the blame is sure to fall on me. Those Composition Dolls will make a fine scandal out May. The Ninepins are getting very difficult to manage; have to put them down, as delicately as possible; but I am afraid, poor fellows, they are dreadfully upset. The Wooden Captain has challenged the Dice-box to a duel-I fear, on my account. However, as the officer's sword will not unglue, I hope nothing will come of it. All this most worrying, though, and gives me little real satisfaction. I find myself sighing for more difficult conquests.

June.-Went to afternoon tea with the biggest Dutch Doll. Rather a come-down, but

now

that there is this coolness between the Composition set and myself, I must go somewhere. I feel so bored at times! Can see the ridiculous Dutch thing is trying to out-dress me! She had a frock on that must have cost at least fifty beads, and I don't believe it will ever be paid for! Only made her look the bigger guy, though! Tea-party a stupid affair. Makebelieve tea in pewter cups. Met the latest arrival, a really nicelooking Gentleman Doll, introduced as 66 Mr. Jo.

SEPH." Very innocent face, without any moustache, and the sweetest

blue eyes (except mine) I think I ever saw! Seemed rather shy, but pleasant. Asked him to call.

June 18. Mr. JOSEPH has not called yet. Very strange! Suspect those horrid Composition Dolls have been setting him against me. Met him by the back-board and scolded him. He seemed confused. By a little management, I got it all out of him. I was right. He has been told about the Skipjack. He has strict principles, and gave me to understand that he would prefer to decline my acquaintance-which was like his impudence! This is exciting, though. I intend to overcome these scruples; I mean him to be madly in love with me--then I shall scornfully reject him, which will serve him just right!

July.-My tactics have succeeded -at last! To-day JOSEPH called, ostensibly to beg me to go and see the unhappy Ball, who, it seems, is terribly collapsed, reduced to a mere bowl, and so exhausted that he cannot hold out much longer. However, in the course of the interview, I soon made him oblivious of the Ball. He fell at my feet. "Beautiful GLORIANA," he cried, "with all your many and glaring faults, I love you!' Then I ca:ried out the rest of my programme -it was a painful scene, and I will only record that when he left me, he was completely un-dolled! I feel almost sorry for him-he had rather a nice face!

July 4.-I don't seem able to settle to anything. After all, I think I will go and see the poor Ball. It would comfort him, and I might see him there. I will order the pony carriage.

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the clockwork. My ponies are bolting, and I haven't the slightest control over them! We are rushing along the smooth plain of the chest of drawers, and rapidly nearing the edge. I try to scream for help, but all I can utter is, "Papa! " and "Mamma!' All at once I see him standing, calm and collected, on the very brink of the precipice. Is he strong enough to stop the ponies in their mad clockwork career, and save me, even yet? How I will love him if he does! An instant of sickening suspense. we are over!falling down, down, down... A crash, a whirr of clockwork, a rush of bran to my head-and I know no more. What follows is a dream-a horrible, confused nightmare-of lying among a heap of limp bodies-some armless, some legless, others (ah! the horror of it) headless! I grope blindly for my own limbs they are intact; then I feel the place where I naturally expect to find my head-it is gone!... The shock is too much-I faint once more. And that is all.

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Thank goodness, it was only a dream-for here I am, in the same old nursery again! Not all a dream, either-or my pony-carriage would scarcely present such a damaged appearance. The accident was real. Then what-what has become of JOSEPH? I must find him-I must make him understand that I repent-that, for the future, I intend to be a changed doll!

September. Still searching for JOSEPH. No trace of him. I seem to be a changed doll in more ways than one. My former set knows me not. The Ninepins do not stagger when I smile at them now; the Dice-box gapes open-mouthed at my greeting. I call upon the Composition Dolls they are very polite; but it is quite clear that they don't remember me in the least! Alas! how soon one is forgotten in the world of Toys! Have no heart to recall myself to them. I go, for the first time since my accident, to a convenient brass knob, in which I would once gaze at my reflected features by the hour. How indescribable are my sensations at the

discovery that I have a totally new head-a china one! I, who used to look down on china dolls! It is a very decent head, in its way; quite neat and inoffensive, with smooth, shiny hair, which won't come down like the golden locks I once had. I am glad yes, glad now-that JoSEPH has gone, and the home he used to occupy is deserted, and shut up. If he were here, he would not know me either. Now I can live single all my remaining days, in memory of him, and devote myself to doing good!

October.-Have entered on my new career. Am organising a Mission for Lost Toys, and a Clothing Club for Rag Dolls. To-day, while "slumming" in the lumber-closet, found my old acquaintance, the Dutch Doll in a shocking state of destitution-nothing on her but a piece of tattered tissue-paper! To think that my evil example and her own senseless extravagance have brought her to this! Gave her one of my old tea-gowns and a Sunday domino, but did not reveal myself. Feeling very sad and lonely think I shall have to keep a cockroach-I must have something to love me!

October 15.--Someone has taken poor dear JOSEPH's old house. I see a new doll, with a small but worldly black moustache and a

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