The Wedding Procession of the Rag Doll
by Carl Sandburg · from Rootabaga Stories
Adapted Version
A Rag Doll lived long ago. All loved her very much. She had many good friends. The Whisk Broom liked her. The Coffee Pot liked her. They all liked the Rag Doll.
One day, a child played with her. The child was not gentle. Bang! Her head hit a door. Both glass eyes fell off. The Rag Doll had no eyes. She felt sad.
The Broom Handle saw her. He wanted to help. He found two black prunes. He put them where eyes were. Now she had new black eyes. People called her Black Eyes. She liked them.
The Rag Doll was happy. The Broom Handle was kind. She chose to marry him. He fixed her eyes. They planned a wedding.
There was a big wedding day. The Rag Doll married her love. A big parade was planned. It was a grand day.
First came the Spoon Lickers. They had big spoons. Some had sweet jam. Some had sweet fudge. They licked their spoons. Slurp, slurp! They marched and they licked. They looked around. They licked again. They were happy.
Next came the Tin Pan Bangers. They had tin pans. Some had dishpans. Some had frying pans. They banged on pans. Bang, bang! They used forks and knives. They marched and banged. They looked around. They banged again. So much noise!
Then came the Chocolate Chins. They ate sweet candy. Candy was on their chins. Some had it on their noses. Some had it near their ears. They marched with chins up. They looked around. They held chins up again. They were messy and proud.
Next came the Dirty Bibs. They wore many bibs. Some were white. Some had stripes. All the bibs were dirty. Their fingers were dirty too. They marched and laughed. Ha, ha, ha! They looked around. They laughed again. They were happy.
Then came the Clean Ears. Their ears were very clean. Outside was clean. Inside was clean. No dirt was on their ears. They were very proud. They marched and wiggled ears. They looked around. They wiggled ears again. So clean!
Last came the Sleepyheads. They were smiling. But their eyes were half shut. Their heads went down, down. They walked a little slow. They were very sleepy. They marched and they smiled. They did not look around. They were happy and sleepy.
It was a grand parade. The wedding was so happy. All had much fun. The Rag Doll was so happy. The Broom Handle was happy too. It was a very special day. Kindness brings much joy. What a great wedding!
Original Story
The Wedding Procession of the Rag Doll
and the Broom Handle and Who Was in It
The Rag Doll had many friends. The Whisk Broom, the Furnace Shovel, the Coffee Pot, they all liked the Rag Doll very much.
But when the Rag Doll married, it was the Broom Handle she picked because the Broom Handle fixed her eyes.
A proud child, proud but careless, banged the head of the Rag Doll against a door one day and knocked off both the glass eyes sewed on long ago. It was then the Broom Handle found two black California prunes, and fastened the two California prunes just where the eyes belonged. So then the Rag Doll had two fine black eyes brand new. She was even nicknamed Black Eyes by some people.
There was a wedding when the Rag Doll married the Broom Handle. It was a grand wedding with one of the grandest processions ever seen at a rag doll wedding. And we are sure no broom handle ever had a grander wedding procession when he got married.
Who marched in the procession? Well, first came the Spoon Lickers. Every one of them had a tea spoon, or a soup spoon, though most of them had a big table spoon. On the spoons, what did they have? Oh, some had butter scotch, some had gravy, some had marshmallow fudge. Every one had something slickery sweet or fat to eat on the spoon. And as they marched in the wedding procession of the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle, they licked their spoons and looked around and licked their spoons again.
Next came the Tin Pan Bangers. Some had dishpans, some had frying pans, some had potato peeling pans. All the pans were tin with tight tin bottoms. And the Tin Pan Bangers banged with knives and forks and iron and wooden bangers on the bottoms of the tin pans. And as they marched in the wedding procession of the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle they banged their pans and looked around and banged again.
Then came the Chocolate Chins. They were all eating chocolates. And the chocolate was slippery and slickered all over their chins. Some of them spattered the ends of their noses with black chocolate. Some of them spread the brown chocolate nearly up to their ears. And then as they marched in the wedding procession of the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle they stuck their chins in the air and looked around and stuck their chins in the air again.
Then came the Dirty Bibs. They wore plain white bibs, checker bibs, stripe bibs, blue bibs and bibs with butterflies. But all the bibs were dirty. The plain white bibs were dirty, the checker bibs were dirty, the stripe bibs, the blue bibs and the bibs with butterflies on them, they were all dirty. And so in the wedding procession of the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle, the Dirty Bibs marched with their dirty fingers on the bibs and they looked around and laughed and looked around and laughed again.
Next came the Clean Ears. They were proud. How they got into the procession nobody knows. Their ears were all clean. They were clean not only on the outside but they were clean on the inside. There was not a speck of dirt or dust or muss or mess on the inside nor the outside of their ears. And so in the wedding procession of the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle, they wiggled their ears and looked around and wiggled their ears again.
The Easy Ticklers were next in the procession. Their faces were shining. Their cheeks were like bars of new soap. Their ribs were strong and the meat and the fat was thick on their ribs. It was plain to see they were saying, “Don’t tickle me because I tickle so easy.” And as they marched in the wedding procession of the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle, they tickled themselves and laughed and looked around and tickled themselves again.
The music was furnished mostly by the Musical Soup Eaters. They marched with big bowls of soup in front of them and big spoons for eating the soup. They whistled and chuzzled and snozzled the soup and the noise they made could be heard far up at the head of the procession where the Spoon Lickers were marching. So they dipped their soup and looked around and dipped their soup again.
The Chubby Chubs were next. They were roly poly, round faced smackers and snoozers. They were not fat babies—oh no, oh no—not fat but just chubby and easy to squeeze. They marched on their chubby legs and chubby feet and chubbed their chubbs and looked around and chubbed their chubbs again.
The last of all in the wedding procession of the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle were the Sleepyheads. They were smiling and glad to be marching but their heads were slimpsing down and their smiles were half fading away and their eyes were half shut or a little more than half shut. They staggered just a little as though their feet were not sure where they were going. They were the Sleepyheads, the last of all, in the wedding procession of the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle and the Sleepyheads they never looked around at all.
It was a grand procession, don’t you think so?
Story DNA
Plot Summary
The Rag Doll, a beloved toy, loses her glass eyes in an accident. The resourceful Broom Handle replaces them with black California prunes, an act of kindness that leads the Rag Doll to choose him as her husband. Their wedding is celebrated with a grand and whimsical procession, featuring a parade of uniquely characterized groups like the Spoon Lickers, Tin Pan Bangers, Chocolate Chins, and Sleepyheads, each performing their signature actions. The story concludes by marveling at the unforgettable grandeur of this joyous event.
Themes
Emotional Arc
joy to sustained joy
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Carl Sandburg was known for his poetry and folk tales, often incorporating American vernacular and a sense of everyday wonder. This story reflects a whimsical, almost childlike perspective on ordinary objects.
Plot Beats (15)
- The Rag Doll is introduced as a popular figure among household objects.
- The Rag Doll's glass eyes are accidentally broken by a child.
- The Broom Handle creatively replaces the Rag Doll's eyes with black California prunes, earning her the nickname 'Black Eyes'.
- The Rag Doll chooses to marry the Broom Handle due to his kind act.
- A grand wedding procession is organized for the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle.
- The Spoon Lickers, each with a spoon of sweet or fat food, march while licking their spoons.
- The Tin Pan Bangers march, making noise by banging on various tin pans.
- The Chocolate Chins, covered in chocolate, march with their chins in the air.
- The Dirty Bibs, wearing various types of dirty bibs, march and laugh.
- The Clean Ears, with impeccably clean ears, march and wiggle them.
- The Easy Ticklers, with shining faces, march and tickle themselves.
- The Musical Soup Eaters provide music by noisily eating soup from large bowls.
- The Chubby Chubs, described as roly-poly, march on their chubby legs.
- The Sleepyheads, smiling but half-asleep, are the last to march in the procession.
- The narrator concludes by affirming the grandeur of the entire procession.
Characters
The Rag Doll ★ protagonist
A soft, cloth doll, likely made from various fabric scraps, with a generally floppy and huggable form. Her original glass eyes were knocked off, replaced by two black California prunes, giving her a distinctive, dark-eyed appearance.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but as a rag doll, her attire would be simple, likely a sewn-together dress or garment made from patterned or plain fabric scraps, perhaps with visible stitching.
Wants: To be loved and cared for, to have her 'eyes' fixed so she can 'see' and be whole again.
Flaw: Fragile due to her construction; easily damaged or broken.
From a damaged, incomplete doll, she is 'healed' by the Broom Handle, leading to her marriage and a grand celebration, signifying her finding her place and partner.
Loved, adaptable (accepting new eyes), resilient (surviving being banged around), cherished (by her friends and eventually the Broom Handle).
Image Prompt & Upload
A soft, fabric rag doll, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a simple fabric face with two dark, shriveled California prunes sewn in place of eyes. Her body is made of various sewn fabric scraps, giving her a slightly mismatched but endearing appearance. She wears a simple, patched dress made from faded calico fabric. Gentle, slightly smiling expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Broom Handle ★ protagonist
A long, slender wooden handle, likely smooth from use, with a natural wood grain. Its exact length is not specified but it would be proportionate to a standard broom.
Attire: None, as it is an inanimate object.
Wants: To help and care for the Rag Doll, to make her whole again, which leads to their union.
Flaw: As an inanimate object, it lacks agency without someone to wield it.
From a simple, utilitarian object, it becomes a 'husband' and a central figure in a grand celebration, elevated by its act of kindness and ingenuity.
Resourceful (finding the prunes), caring (fixing the Rag Doll's eyes), practical, observant.
Image Prompt & Upload
A long, smooth, light brown wooden broom handle, standing perfectly upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. It is unadorned, showing its natural wood grain. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Spoon Lickers ◆ supporting
Likely children, given their activity. Their physical appearance is not detailed beyond their actions with spoons.
Attire: No specific clothing mentioned, but would be typical, simple children's attire of the early 20th century, perhaps smocks or simple dresses/trousers.
Wants: To enjoy their sweet or fatty treats.
Flaw: Distracted by their own pleasure.
Static characters, serving to add flavor to the procession.
Indulgent, focused on immediate gratification, slightly messy, joyful.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young child, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. The child has a round face with wide, curious eyes and a slightly messy mouth from eating. They wear a simple, light blue linen smock over plain trousers. They hold a large silver tablespoon to their mouth, licking a visible dollop of brown marshmallow fudge. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Tin Pan Bangers ◆ supporting
Likely children, given their boisterous activity. No specific physical details are provided.
Attire: No specific clothing mentioned, but would be typical, simple children's attire of the early 20th century, perhaps smocks or simple dresses/trousers.
Wants: To make noise and be a noticeable part of the celebration.
Flaw: Can be disruptive due to their noise.
Static characters, serving to add flavor to the procession.
Boisterous, noisy, enthusiastic, attention-seeking.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young child, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. The child has a determined expression, with bright, focused eyes. They wear a simple, sturdy brown corduroy overall with a striped long-sleeved shirt underneath. They hold a large, dented tin frying pan in one hand and a wooden spoon in the other, poised to strike the pan. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Chocolate Chins ◆ supporting
Likely children. Their chins are covered in chocolate, and some have chocolate on their noses and near their ears.
Attire: No specific clothing mentioned, but would be typical, simple children's attire of the early 20th century, perhaps smocks or simple dresses/trousers, likely with chocolate smudges.
Wants: To enjoy their chocolates and participate in the procession.
Flaw: Their messiness.
Static characters, serving to add flavor to the procession.
Indulgent, messy, proud, slightly oblivious to their own appearance.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young child, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. The child has a wide, happy smile, but their entire chin and parts of their cheeks and nose are smeared with melted dark brown chocolate. They wear a simple, cream-colored cotton shirt with a few chocolate smudges. Their head is held slightly high. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Dirty Bibs ◆ supporting
Likely children. Their most defining feature is their dirty bibs and dirty fingers.
Attire: They wear various bibs (plain white, checker, stripe, blue, butterfly-patterned), all of which are noticeably dirty. Their underlying clothing would be typical children's attire.
Wants: To participate in the procession and have fun.
Flaw: Their lack of cleanliness.
Static characters, serving to add flavor to the procession.
Carefree, playful, unconcerned with cleanliness, joyful.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young child, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. The child has a wide, joyful smile and sparkling eyes. They wear a white linen bib with a faint checker pattern, heavily stained with various food marks. Their small fingers are smudged with dirt, resting on the bib. They wear a simple blue cotton dress underneath. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Clean Ears ◆ supporting
Likely children. Their ears are impeccably clean, both inside and out.
Attire: No specific clothing mentioned, but would be typical children's attire of the early 20th century, likely neat and tidy to match their clean ears.
Wants: To display their cleanliness, perhaps to stand out.
Flaw: Their pride in a seemingly minor detail.
Static characters, serving to add flavor to the procession.
Proud, meticulous, unique (in their cleanliness amidst the other messy characters).
Image Prompt & Upload
A young child, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. The child has a neat, tidy appearance with a slightly self-satisfied expression. Their ears are noticeably clean, with no visible dirt or dust. They wear a crisp, white collared shirt and dark blue knickerbockers. Their hands are clasped neatly in front of them. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Sleepyheads ◆ supporting
Likely children. Their heads are 'slimpsing down,' eyes half-shut, and they stagger slightly.
Attire: No specific clothing mentioned, but would be typical children's attire of the early 20th century, perhaps slightly rumpled from sleepiness.
Wants: To participate in the wedding, even if they are too tired to fully engage.
Flaw: Overwhelming sleepiness.
Static characters, serving to add flavor to the procession.
Drowsy, content (smiling), slightly disoriented, persistent (marching despite sleepiness).
Image Prompt & Upload
A young child, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. The child has a soft, sleepy expression, with eyes half-closed and a faint, fading smile. Their head is tilted slightly downwards. They wear a simple, loose-fitting nightshirt made of soft, pale blue cotton. Their posture is slightly slumped, as if struggling to stay awake. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Child's Room / Home Interior
A domestic interior, likely a child's play area, where the Rag Doll resides among other household objects. The incident of the doll's eyes being knocked off suggests a common, perhaps slightly cluttered, home environment.
Mood: Playful, slightly chaotic, domestic.
The Rag Doll's original glass eyes are knocked off, and the Broom Handle replaces them with prunes, leading to their eventual marriage.
Image Prompt & Upload
A sunlit corner of a child's room in a simple, early 20th-century American home. Scattered wooden blocks and a worn rag doll with prune eyes lie on a braided rug. A sturdy wooden broom handle leans against a painted plaster wall, near a slightly scuffed wooden doorframe. Dust motes dance in the warm light streaming from a window, illuminating the texture of a knitted blanket draped over a small, unmade bed. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Wedding Procession Route
An unspecified outdoor route, likely a street or path, where the whimsical wedding procession takes place. The description focuses on the characters in the procession rather than the background, implying a public or communal space.
Mood: Joyful, boisterous, festive, slightly absurd.
The grand wedding procession of the Rag Doll and the Broom Handle, featuring a diverse and eccentric cast of characters.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, slightly elevated view of a lively, whimsical parade moving down a sun-dappled, unpaved street in a quaint, early 20th-century American town. The street is lined with simple, clapboard houses with small front gardens. Overhead, a clear blue sky with fluffy white clouds. The ground is a mix of packed dirt and sparse grass. The focus is on the long line of marching, peculiar characters, with the environment providing a charming, slightly rustic backdrop. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
