Children

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The Poor Little Rich Girl


Once there lived a poor little girl named Tina. She lived in a small cottage with her father who was a toymaker. He made little dolls, boats, and trucks of every shape, size, and color. Every night Tina would wait expectantly for her father to come home because he would bring home a toy for her to play with since she did not have any of her own. She had to be very careful with the toy, because it would be taken back to the store in the morning to be sold. This was her only chance to play with a real toy.
Tonight her father brought home a doll. It was a very beautiful doll. She had blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and black yarn hair. Tina gasped with delight. Carefully, she placed the doll on her bed in the corner of their small living room. She slept on the floor near the fireplace so that she could stay warm during the winter nights. “Be careful with the doll, Tina.” her father said. “She’s a very special doll. She is going to be a birthday present for some rich girl in the city.” Tina nodded sadly. She often dreamed of having a doll of her own. After dinner, Tina sat on her bed with the doll. She imagined that the doll was a beautiful princess who was looking for a friend. “I’ll be your friend, princess.” Tina spoke softly. The long night wore on, but Tina could not sleep. She wanted to play with the doll princess as long as possible. Finally, unable to keep her eyes open any longer, Tina fell fast asleep.
In the morning, Tina’s father asked for the doll. A small tear slipped down her face as she picked the doll up off the floor. It landed on the doll’s carefully painted face. “Good-bye my doll princess.” Tina whispered as she handed her father the doll. She watched him out the window as he walked down the street toward the toy store.
That night, her father brought home a boat. It was a very big, colorful boat, but Tina had no interest in it. She missed the doll. “Tina, what is the matter? Do you not like the boat?” her father asked. Tina admitted that she did like the boat, but she would rather have the doll. Again Tina sat on her bed and played with the boat. She found that it was not as much fun as the doll had been. Sleepily, Tina closed her eyes, but not before praying that God would give her a doll.
Day after day passed, but Tina found that her father brought no more dolls home for her to play with. So Tina would daydream about the doll princess. Together she and her doll princess would go on many adventures. Some days, a handsome prince would rescue them from a fire-breathing dragon. Other days, they would walk through a land of many magical creatures sharing secrets. These times were Tina’s favorite.
One night as Tina lay in bed her father came and sat on the floor beside her. “Tina?” his face glowed in the candle light. “Yes, father?” her eyes searched his face. “Why do you not like my toys anymore? You used to play with them for hours every night, but now they lay untouched.” His hand waved to the wooden soldier lying on the table. Tears filled her eyes as she spoke, “I don’t enjoy playing with those toys. I want a doll.” Her lips trembled. Her father sighed. “Tina, I do not have money to make you a doll like that other one.” A stab of guilt pierced her. “Oh Daddy, I’m sorry. I should be grateful that you even bring me toys to play with.” Sitting up in her bed, Tina reached out and hugged her father.
The next day, Tina played with the boat that her father brought home. She imagined that it was carrying her doll princess to a magical land. “Doll princess,” she whispered as she lay on her bed. “Please come visit it me soon.” With that thought, she drifted asleep.
Suddenly a hand shook her wake. “Tina, wake up!” Tina moaned and rolled over to see who was calling her. Under her hands she felt soft, cool grass. She realized that she was lying in a grassy field surrounded by woods. “Tina.” The voice called again. Blinking quickly in the glaring sun, Tina saw a tall young girl staring at her. “Who are you?” Tina asked suspiciously. The girl laughed and brushed back her long black hair. “Don’t you recognize me? I’m your doll.” Now Tina did recognize her. “How are you real? You’re just a doll.” She asked. “Anything can happen in your dreams, Tina. Look, here we are in the land of Madour.” She waved her hands around her happily. “Come with me.” Grasping Tina’s hand, the girl pulled her into the woods. “Where are we going?” Tina asked nervously. “To see the King. He wants to thank you for saving our land.” The girl replied happily. “But how did I save your land?” Confusion masked her words. The girl stopped abruptly and turned to look at Tina. She frowned. “You used your imagination. Children don’t pretend anymore. But you do. You kept us from being totally forgotten.” The girl smiled again. “You saved me. You saved my home. For that, Tina, we are eternally grateful to you.” Thoughts swirled through Tina’s head. She remembered how she had used every toy to create adventures for her and her doll princess. “I didn’t know I was helping you. I was just playing.” Tina shrugged. “But, Tina, you did more than just play…you believed.” cried the girl excitedly. “Now come on. The King’s waiting.” Soon Tina found herself standing at the drawbridge of an enormous castle. Flags waved from the four corners of the high protective walls. Guards stood on both sides of the drawbridge watching the tradesmen entering the city. The activity within the city walls was just as Tina had imagined. Pride swelled in her chest as she proudly walked beside the beautiful girl. They passed by many street merchants before entering the huge castle doors. Tina closed her eyes and allowed herself to be led into the main hall where she would meet the King of Madour.
The King sat on a huge golden throne. He was very old man with gray hair and a long gray beard. A golden crown decorated with glistening jewels sat on his head and a red velvet robe draped down his back. “Your majesty,” the girl curtsied low to the ground. “I wish to present to you, Lady Tina, the savior of Madour.” Tina followed the girl’s lead and dropped into a low curtsey. The King smiled. “Rise, Lady Tina! Welcome to Madour.” Tina slowly stood up but noticed that the girl remained in her position. “Lady Charlotte, arise.” He beckoned and the girl arose to stand erect next to Tina. “Thank you for saving our Kingdom. In honor of your presence, I would like to celebrate your arrival with a banquet tonight.” Tina gasped and dipped her head in embarrassment. “Why…why…thank you, my lord.” The King smiled again. “Lady Charlotte, please take Lady Tina and get her ready for the celebration tonight.”
The banquet was all that Tina had imagined. There was more food than anyone could ever eat. A court jester, dressed in yellow and red striped pants, jumped and danced in front of the tables of feasting guests. Tina clapped her hands in delight. Next a young girl of fifteen danced. She wore a brightly colored skirt with bells at the bottom. In her hair were ribbons of varying colors. The scene soon overwhelmed Tina. Exhausted, she slipped away to her bedroom and fell asleep.
When Tina awoke, she was back in her own little bed. She was disappointed to have ended her dream so soon. Her father again asked for the boat. When she gave it to him, she asked if she might go to the shop with him. “It’s not a place for little girls, Tina.” Her father said solemnly. “But pa, I want to help you make the toys. I have many ideas for new toys.” Tina pleaded. So Tina went to work with her father. Using her imagination, Tina began to design new toys.
Before long the toy store shelves were filled with the new toys. They had court jesters with funny clothes, kings with beautiful crowns, dragons of many colors, and dancing maidens with hair ribbons. The new selection in toys drew many customers. Soon they had enough money to make Tina her own doll. It had blue eyes, rosy cheeks, and long black yarn hair. And Tina named her Lady Charlotte of Madour.



The End

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