hairs
and in the corners, that the big brass andirons seemed to be alive.

While Sweetest Susan was lying there watching the shadows and
wondering when Drusilla would go to sleep, she heard a voice call
out,--

"Oh, dear! I believe I've got smut all over my frock again!"

It was the queerest little voice that ever was heard. It had a tinkling
sound, such as Susan had often made when she tied her mother's gold
thimble to a string and struck it with a knitting-needle. Just as she
was wondering where it came from, a little old woman stepped from
behind one of the andirons and shook the ashes from her dress.

"I think I'd better stay at home," said the little old woman, "if I
can't come down the chimney without getting smut all over my frock. I
wonder where Mr. Thimblefinger is?"

"Oh, I'm here," exclaimed another tinkling voice from the fireplace,
"but I'm not coming in. They are not asleep, and, even if they were, I
see the big Black Cat in that chair there."

"Much I care!" cried the little old woman snappishly. "I'll call you
when I want you."

Then she went around the room where Sweetest Susan's Dolls were
scattered, and looked at each one as it lay asleep. Then she shook her
head and sighed.

"They look as if they were tired, poor things!" she said. "And no
wonder! I expect they have been pulled and hauled about and dragged
around from pillar to post since I was here last."

Then the little old woman touched the Dolls with her cane, one by one.
Each Doll called out as it was touched,--

"Is that you, Granny?"

And to each one she replied:--

"Reser, roser, rise!
And rib and rub your eyes!"

Sweetest Susan was not at all alarmed. She felt as if she had been
expecting something of the kind. The Dolls arose and ranged themselves
in front of the fireplace--all except the Rag Doll.

"Where's Rag-Tag?" inquired the little old woman anxiously.

"Here I am, Granny!" replied the Rag Doll. "I'm lame in one leg and I
can't walk with the other, and my arm's out of joint."

"Tut! tut!" said the little old woman. "How can you be lame in your
legs when there's no bone in them? How can your arm be out of joint
when there's no joint? Get up!"

Rag-Tag rolled out of the corner and tumbled across the floor, heels
over head.

"Now, then," said the little old woman, opening her satchel, "what can
I do for you?"

"She's pulled all my hair out!" whispered the China Doll.

"She's mashed my nose flat!" crie