Raggedy Andy Stories, Page 2

  HOW RAGGEDY ANDY CAME

  One day Daddy took Raggedy Ann down to his office and propped her upagainst some books upon his desk; he wanted to have her where he couldsee her cheery smile all day, for, as you must surely know, smiles andhappiness are truly catching.

  Daddy wished to catch a whole lot of Raggedy Ann's cheeriness andhappiness and put all this down on paper, so that those who did not haveRaggedy Ann dolls might see just how happy and smiling a rag doll canbe.

  So Raggedy Ann stayed at Daddy's studio for three or four days.

  She was missed very, very much at home and Marcella really longed forher, but knew that Daddy was borrowing some of Raggedy Ann's sunshine,so she did not complain.

  Raggedy Ann did not complain either, for in addition to the sunny, happysmile she always wore (it was painted on), Raggedy Ann had a candyheart, and of course no one (not even a rag doll) ever complains if theyhave such happiness about them.

  One evening, just as Daddy was finishing his day's work, a messenger boycame with a package; a nice, soft lumpy package.

  Daddy opened the nice, soft lumpy package and found a letter.

  Gran'ma had told Daddy, long before this, that at the time Raggedy Annwas made, a neighbor lady had made a boy doll, Raggedy Andy, for herlittle girl, who always played with Gran'ma.

  And when Gran'ma told Daddy this she wondered whatever had become of herlittle playmate and the boy doll, Raggedy Andy.

  After reading the letter, Daddy opened the other package which had beeninside the nice, soft, lumpy package and found--Raggedy Andy.

  Raggedy Andy had been carefully folded up.

  His soft, loppy arms were folded up in front of him and his soft, loppylegs were folded over his soft, loppy arms, and they were held this wayby a rubber band.

  Raggedy Andy must have wondered why he was being "done up" this way, butit could not have caused him any worry, for in between where his feetcame over his face Daddy saw his cheery smile.

  After slipping off the rubber band, Daddy smoothed out the wrinkles inRaggedy Andy's arms and legs.

  Then Daddy propped Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy up against books on hisdesk, so that they sat facing each other; Raggedy Ann's shoe button eyeslooking straight into the shoe button eyes of Raggedy Andy.

  They could not speak--not right out before a real person--so they justsat there and smiled at each other.

  Daddy could not help reaching out his hands and feeling their throats.

  Yes! There was a lump in Raggedy Ann's throat, and there was a lump inRaggedy Andy's throat. A cotton lump, to be sure, but a lumpnevertheless.

  "So, Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy, that is why you cannot talk, is it?"said Daddy.

  "I will go away and let you have your visit to yourselves, although itis good to sit and share your happiness by watching you."

  Daddy then took the rubber band and placed it around Raggedy Ann's righthand, and around Raggedy Andy's right hand, so that when he had it fixedproperly they sat and held each other's hands.

  Daddy knew they would wish to tell each other all the wonderful thingsthat had happened to them since they had parted more than fifty yearsbefore.

  So, locking his studio door, Daddy left the two old rag dolls lookinginto each other's eyes.

  The next morning, when Daddy unlocked his door and looked at his desk,he saw that Raggedy Andy had fallen over so that he lay with his head inthe bend of Raggedy Ann's arm.

  Then Daddy propped Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy up]

  Side by side]

  Dolls in a row]