la!" And Grandma gave the doll a twitch
with her fingers in such a way that the rag doll nodded her head to
Marcella.

"Oh, Grandma! Thank you ever and ever so much!" Marcella cried as she
gave Grandma a hug and kiss. "Raggedy Ann and I will have just loads of
fun."

And this is how Raggedy Ann joined the doll family at Marcella's house,
where she began the adventures of Raggedy Ann, told in the following
stories.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

RAGGEDY ANN LEARNS A LESSON

One day the dolls were left all to themselves.

Their little mistress had placed them all around the room and told them
to be nice children while she was away.

And there they sat and never even so much as wiggled a finger, until
their mistress had left the room.

Then the soldier dolly turned his head and solemnly winked at Raggedy
Ann.

And when the front gate clicked and the dollies knew they were alone in
the house, they all scrambled to their feet.

"Now let's have a good time!" cried the tin soldier. "Let's all go in
search of something to eat!"

"Yes! Let's all go in search of something to eat!" cried all the other
dollies.

"When Mistress had me out playing with her this morning," said Raggedy
Ann, "she carried me by a door near the back of the house and I smelled
something which smelled as if it would taste delicious!"

"Then you lead the way, Raggedy Ann!" cried the French dolly.

"I think it would be a good plan to elect Raggedy Ann as our leader on
this expedition!" said the Indian doll.

At this all the other dolls clapped their hands together and shouted,
"Hurrah! Raggedy Ann will be our leader."

So Raggedy Ann, very proud indeed to have the confidence and love of all
the other dollies, said that she would be very glad to be their leader.

"Follow me!" she cried as her wobbly legs carried her across the floor
at a lively pace.

The other dollies followed, racing about the house until they came to
the pantry door. "This is the place!" cried Raggedy Ann, and sure
enough, all the dollies smelled something which they knew must be very
good to eat.

But none of the dollies was tall enough to open the door and, although
they pushed and pulled with all their might, the door remained tightly
closed.

The dollies were talking and pulling and pushing and every once in a
while one would fall over and the others would step on her in their
efforts to open the door. Finally Raggedy Ann drew away from the others