Children's Stories
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Daisy the Goss Doll’s Story
‘Well,’ said Victoria, ‘how about a story?’ ‘Yes,’ answered the dolls,
getting excited. Daisy spoke up as best she could. ‘Do you mind me
telling a story while I still have a voice?’ All the dolls thought that
was an excellent idea. Victoria said: ‘It would be much better if we
went downstairs as it is a bigger room in the front.’ So they all went
into the front room. Victoria: ‘Can we have quietness please. Daisy is
going to tell her story.’ ‘Thank you,’ replied Daisy in acknowledgement.
‘Well many, many years ago, in 1917, I used to live with my little
friend who loved dolls. I was given to her by her Mummy and Daddy. The
little girl who played with me was called Mary but her Daddy called her
Mollie. One day when Mollie grew up I got packed up and taken to another
house. Mollie married Arty. One day she unwrapped me to see if I was
alright and showed me to her daughter, Helen. Now I heard her say: ‘Be
careful with Daisy.’ Helen was only allowed to hold me for a short
while, then I was wrapped up and put into the case again. It was rather
dark in the case.
‘One day Helen moved house so Mollie gave to her daughter the case with
me in it. Well I could not believe that I was in the old house, Mollie’s
house. I was taken out to see if I was OK. I knew that room. This was
where Mollie played with me. I got very excited.’
‘Now,’ said a doll, standing up . ‘Well, where did you come from?’ ‘I
believe I was made in the Potteries. I had a porcelain face and arms. I
have not got the arms any more. My legs are porcelain too. I have blue
eyes, made of glass. I have a cloth body, made of straw, fair hair and I
still have my white dress. But Mollie told Helen that I had a black
cape.
Mollie, with her husband and her daughter Helen, went to the house where
her Dad lived when she was young and asked if they could have the case
back from his brother-in-law. When the case was handed back the only
thing in it was a dressing up dress plus something else but not my arms.
Mollie and her husband were cross and so was Helen. When they got home
to the house where Mollie lived all those years ago Helen went upstairs,
got me out of the case and told me all about my arms that had gone
missing. Helen looked at my legs. I knew she used to look at them when
she was younger. Still puzzled at them being wrapped up in bandages, she
pulled a little bit back and found my leg broken too.
‘Oh, I am a sad doll,’ said Daisy, with a tear in her eye. ‘I was put
back into the case with two clowns, all wrapped up. I had to lie still.
Helen went round to the Antique shop, asked if they had any Goss arms
and would they tell her when they did. She came home very disappointed.
So I never got my arms to this day, but as you know I sit in the Doll’s
Room with you, that’s a great comfort to me. Also I’m cared for and
looked after.’
By Ann Knight
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