Page:The New-Year's Bargain (1884).djvu/69

 her eagerly. A small thumb-nail pierced her left cheek. 'l could have screamed,' said Maria; 'but where would have been the use? Dolls have positively no rights.

"Who was it took her down?" asked Max, quite forgetful of his original scorn about Maria's history.

"It was Baby May. Not the same May, but another as like her as two peas. In fact, the first May was grown up; and this was her little girl. Grandmamma had bought a beautiful new body, and now Maria's head had to be sewed on to it. Her feelings when the stitches were put in, she said, she could never describe. They were like those of a poor old soldier, who, after living fifty years on his pension, finds himself dragged from pipe and chimney-corner, and obliged to begin again as a drummer-boy."

"It was really cruel, I think," said Thekla, indignantly.

"Yes," said April; "but you haven't heard the worst. Think of being suddenly united to such