THE DOLL AND HER FRIENDS. 19

uselessness consisted in a thing’s not being really
wanted. I revolved the subject in my mind, and
tried to discover the use of every thing I saw, but
I was not always successful. The subject was per-
plexing ; and gradually all my thoughts became
fixed on the point of most importance to myself —
namely, my own use.

How changed were my ideas since the time
when I imagined the world to belong to dolls!
Their whole race now seemed to be of very small
importance; and as for my individual self, I could
not be sure that I had any use at all, and still less
what, or to whom.

Day after day I lay on my counter unnoticed,
except by the shopwoman who covered us up at
night, and re-arranged us in the morning’; and
even this she did with such an indifferent air, that
I could not flatter myself I was of the smallest use
to her. Every necessary care was bestowed upon
me in common with my companions; but I sighed
for the tender attentions that I sometimes saw
lavished by children upon their dolls, and wished
that my mistress would nurse and caress me in the
same manner.

She never seemed to think of such a thing.
She once said I was dusty, and whisked a brush
over my face; but that was the only separate mark