Raggedy Ann's Wishing Pebble - Written and Illustrated by Johnny Gruelle

By Johnny Gruelle

'Raggedy Ann's Wishing Pebble' is written and illustrated by Johnny Gruelle. Gruelle (1880 - 1930), was an American artist and political cartoonist, as well as a children's book illustrator and author. The books of 'The Raggedy Ann Series' all feature their central protagonist, with red yarn for hair and a triangle nose - charting her considerable adventures. Gruelle created Raggedy Ann for his daughter, Marcella, when she brought him an old hand-made rag doll. He drew a face on it, and from his bookshelf, pulled a book of poems by James Whitcomb Riley, combining the names of two poems, 'The Raggedy Man' and 'Little Orphant Annie.' From this moment on, the much-loved children's series went from strength to strength. Sought after by collectors, this re-printed edition showcases Gruelle's original text, further enhanced by his wonderful colour drawings, in order that the two may be fully appreciated by young and old alike.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pook Press
• Release date: Jan 31, 2018
• ISBN: 9781528782616

Johnny Gruelle

Johnny Gruelle was a newspaper man who began writing stories about Raggedy Ann at the turn of the century, in order to entertain his ailing daughter, Marcella. He wrote many stories about the rag doll and her brother Raggedy Andy, including two collections, Raggedy Ann Stories and Raggedy Andy Stories. Though Mr. Gruelle died in 1938, his legacy is continued by his family and the millions around the world who have been touched by his simple messages of love, respect, and friendship.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION TO WISHING PEBBLE

RAGGEDY ANN and Raggedy Andy were two little rag dolls. Very quiet little creatures; stuffed with . nice white cotton. They had bright shoe button eyes and cheery, happy smiles painted upon their rag faces.

Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy were very happy little creatures, too, for they were over fifty years old and had always had so much fun in all their raggedy lives, they just couldn’t help being joyous and kindly.

Raggedy Andy always said, The reason Raggedy Ann is so lovable and kindly and generous and able to think so nicely, is because she has a candy heart with the words, ‘I love you,’ printed on it; but Raggedy Andy was just as kindly and cheery and generous as dear Raggedy Ann and he has no candy heart.

And maybe it is just as Raggedy Ann has often said to the other dolls in the nursery, If one just thinks nice, kindly things; if one just does generous, helpful deeds, then that person is filled with a thrill of happiness which shines right through even the shabbiest clothes and brings loving friends close by!

One evening, all the dolls in the nursery, Raggedy Ann, Raggedy Andy, Henny, the Dutch doll, Fredarika, Uncle Clem (a very nice man doll with yarn moustache and a policeman’s uniform) and the French doll and all the others, sat around telling stories.

And when it came to Raggedy Ann’s turn, she told of the adventures she and Raggedy Andy had with the camel with the wrinkled knees. It was very exciting and so interesting none of the dolls closed their eyes even a smidgin while Raggedy Ann spoke in her soft, cottony, rag voice. Then, when Raggedy Ann had finished, she told all the dolls it was time they were in bed; and indeed, it was, for it was almost time for smiling Mister Sun to come peeping into the windows. So all the dolls hurried and jumped into bed, in just the same positions their little Mistress, Marcella, had placed them early in the evening. In a few minutes everything was so still you could have heard the patter of a teeny weeny mouse if he had trip-tripped across the floor. Then Raggedy Andy raised up on his cotton stuffed elbow and whispered to Raggedy Ann, Less have another adventure! Shall we?

And Raggedy Ann’s shoe button eyes wiggled with pleasure and she whispered in reply, Yes, Raggedy Andy! Less do! So they tiptoed quietly to the window, climbed to the sill and catching hands jumped to the ground below,

BLUMP! BLUMP! And so this adventure began.

Let us start a garden, you and I.

Let us turn the soil of acquaintanceship

And in this fertile ground plant kindly thoughts,

Let us pull all weeds of envy and selfishness

And destroy them!

Let us water our garden with the dew of sympathy.

Let us keep our growing plants in the sunshine of love

And happiness is ours; our garden is filled

With the beautiful flowers of friendship

THE ADVENTURES OF RAGGEDY ANN AND RAGGEDY ANDY

RAGGEDY ANN and Raggedy Andy went skipping over the Yellow Meadow; each with a rag arm around the other’s neck. When the two Raggedys reached a clump of Golden Rod they heard tiny voices, laughing and singing.

Sh! both Raggedys whispered to each other as they crept up closer.

You need not be so quiet! a teeny weeny silvery voice called to them from the Golden Rod, We can see you easily, and knew you were coming!

Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy laughed happily as they pushed aside the Golden Rod and saw hundreds of cunning little Brownies. We did not know who it might be, said Raggedy Ann, And we did not wish to frighten you away until we saw who you were.

And then did you wish to frighten us away? one of the tiny Brownies asked. Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy laughed as cheerily as all the Brownies at this. No, indeed! Raggedy Ann said when they had stopped laughing, We did not wish to have you quit your happy games! That’s what I meant to say, so we were just tiptoeing up easily, and then we would have gone away!

Well! We are glad you came! one of the little Brownie men said, for you can join in our fun! Thank you! the two Raggedys cried, We like fun! What were you playing?

We were just planning to fly down to the Looking Glass Brook and slide on the water, so you may go with us!

We would like to go, Raggedy Andy answered, But we cannot fly, nor can we slide upon the surface of the water without getting wet; but then that’s fun too, because our rag bodies are stuffed with nice white cotton and we soon dry out in the lovely warm sunshine!

The little Brownies laughed and one said, When you slide with us, you won’t get even a little teeny weeny speck wet! And waving his hand to the other Brownies, he caught Raggedy Andy’s hand; other little Brownies caught Raggedy Andy’s feet and Raggedy Ann’s hands and feet and whisked them up over the Golden Rod and out across the Yellow Meadow to the Looking Glass Brook.

When the little Brownies and the two Raggedys reached the Looking Glass Brook, they all ran as hard as they could and went sliding across the smooth surface of the water. It was just like sliding upon ice, except when one of the Brownies or one of the Raggedys fell down, they bounced up again; for the surface of the Looking Glass Brook gave beneath them like rubber ice and they did not get their heads bumped. As they slid along upon the top of the water, Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy could see the pretty little fish swimming about and chasing each other back and forth just as if they were having games too.

The Raggedys and the little Brownies were not the only ones who were sliding upon the surface of the water, for while they were resting, they saw queer little tiny long-legged creatures come sliding along. And one came right up to the Brownies and Raggedy Ann and Andy. Why! He has a tiny boat on each of his feet! Andy cried in surprise.

Oh, yes! a little Brownie