Dolly, draw the Cake
by Walter Jerrold
Dolly's Magic Cake
There was a kind girl named Dolly. She lived with her dad. He was a baker. They lived in a small town. Dolly had many little brothers and sisters. She was very kind.
Some days, there was not much food. Bread cost a lot of money. Dolly's dad could not sell his bread. He felt very sad. He worried for his dad and kids.
A man called the Miller came. He took their things. He took their chairs and their table. They had nothing left. They had no beds to sleep in.
Dolly slept on a bag of flour. It was hard and cold. She prayed to God. "Please help my dad," she prayed. You see, Dolly had great faith.
That night, she had a dream. In her dream, an oven lit up. It glowed with a warm light. Then, cake things fell from the sky. Flour and sugar rained down.
Fairies came in her dream. They were small and sparkly. They got the cake things. They mixed them in a bowl. They made a big cake. They baked it in the oven.
The fairies danced around the oven. They were very happy. They said, "Dolly, draw the cake! Dolly, draw the cake!"
Dolly woke up. She thought of her dream. She went to the cold oven. She took the cake from the oven. It was real!
The cake was special. It was big and round. It had nice pictures on top. The pictures were very pretty. They showed kind things.
The king heard about this special cake. He wanted to see it. He sent a man from the king.
The king bought the special cake. He loved it. He was very happy. He wanted to thank Dolly. He let Dolly marry his bird keeper. The bird keeper was a kind man.
Dolly was a good wife. She had a happy home. They were all very kind to each other.
Kindness and faith can bring good things. Dolly and her dad and kids lived with joy ever after.
Original Story
Dolly, draw the Cake
At an early age St Dolly showed the sweetness of her nature by her tender love for her widowed father, a baker, dwelling at Pie Corner, with a large family of little children. It chanced that with bad harvests bread became so dear that, of course, bakers were ruined by high prices. The miller fell upon Dolly’s father, and swept the shop with his golden thumb. Not a bed was left for the baker or his little ones. St Dolly slept upon a flour sack, having prayed that good angels would help her to help her father. Now sleeping, she dreamt that the oven was lighted, and she felt falling in a shower about her, raisins, currants, almonds, lemon peel, flour, with heavy drops of brandy. Then in her dreams she saw the fairies gather up the things that fell, and knead them into a cake. They put the cake into the oven, and dancing round and round, the fairies vanished, crying, “Draw the cake, Dolly—Dolly, draw the cake.” And Dolly awoke and drew the cake, and, behold, it was the first Twelfth Cake, sugared at the top, and bearing the images of Faith, Hope and Charity. Now this cake, shown in the window, came to the king’s ear; and the king bought the cake, and married Dolly to his grand falconer, to whom she proved a faithful and loving wife, bearing him a baker’s dozen of lovely children.
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There was a general laugh at Pink’s story, it was so *very* short, and Pink felt quite proud of herself in having got through her tale telling about twice as quickly as Quick.
“Only two more stories,” said Oberon, “and then all must fly back to their proper work as fairies. There are so many of us here that would like to take a turn on the tale-teller’s stool that it is now not easy to choose, so we will have our next story from the first fairy who can get on the stool—but wait,” for as soon as Oberon spoke the rush began, “you must all go to your places and start fair when I say ‘three.’” There was a pause while all settled back in their places, and then Oberon said slowly, “One—Two—Three.”
As soon as the last word was heard there was such a scramble and rush from all parts of the ring, some running, some flying, but the nimblest of all was a Kobold, who seated himself firmly on the stool and would not let himself be pushed off. As soon as it was seen that the stool was occupied all the fairies who had tried to get there went laughing merrily back to their places, and the Kobold triumphantly began the story of
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Moral of the Story
Kindness and faith can lead to unexpected blessings and a better life.
Characters
St Dolly ★ protagonist
A small, slender girl of English descent, with a delicate build and a gentle demeanor. Her movements are quiet and unassuming.
Attire: Simple, practical attire typical of a working-class English child in a pre-industrial setting. A plain, light-colored linen smock or dress, possibly with a simple apron over it, made of durable, undyed fabric. Her clothes would be clean but well-worn.
Wants: To help her widowed father and alleviate her family's poverty and suffering.
Flaw: Her youth and lack of worldly power, making her reliant on divine intervention.
Dolly transforms from a helpless child witnessing her family's ruin into the instrument of their salvation and the creator of the first Twelfth Cake. She rises from poverty to marry the king's grand falconer, becoming a loving wife and mother.
Sweet, tender, devoted, prayerful, resourceful.
The Baker (Dolly's Father) ◆ supporting
A man of English descent, likely thin and worn from hard work and worry, with a stooped posture. His hands would be calloused from kneading dough.
Attire: Simple, practical baker's attire of the period: a sturdy linen shirt, trousers, and a flour-dusted apron, all in muted, earthy tones. His clothes would show signs of wear and tear.
Wants: To provide for his large family, despite overwhelming odds.
Flaw: His inability to overcome the economic hardship, leading to despair.
He experiences ruin and despair but is ultimately saved by his daughter's miraculous cake, leading to a restoration of his family's fortunes.
Loving, hardworking, despairing (due to circumstances), responsible.
The Miller ⚔ antagonist
A robust, perhaps portly man of English descent, indicating his prosperity. He would carry himself with an air of authority and self-importance.
Attire: Sturdy, well-made clothes befitting a prosperous miller of the period: a thick wool tunic or coat, practical breeches, and sturdy boots, possibly with a leather belt. His clothes would be clean and well-maintained, contrasting with the baker's poverty.
Wants: To collect debts and protect his own financial interests, regardless of others' suffering.
Flaw: Greed and lack of compassion.
The Miller serves as the catalyst for the baker's ruin, setting the stage for Dolly's intervention. He does not change within the story.
Ruthless, opportunistic, financially driven, unsympathetic.
Fairies ◆ supporting
Tiny, ethereal beings, delicate and graceful, with translucent wings like those of insects. They glow faintly with an inner light.
Attire: Gossamer-thin garments made of leaves, petals, or shimmering dew, in natural, iridescent colors. They would appear almost naked, adorned only by nature's elements.
Wants: To assist those in need, particularly pure-hearted individuals like Dolly, and to bring joy and magic into the world.
Flaw: Bound by certain magical rules or unable to directly interfere without a catalyst like Dolly's prayer.
They appear to Dolly in a dream, guiding her to create the miraculous cake, and then vanish, their task complete.
Playful, benevolent, magical, industrious (when helping Dolly).
The King ◆ supporting
A regal and dignified man of English descent, likely of a mature age, with a commanding presence.
Attire: Rich, formal English royal attire of the period: a velvet doublet, breeches, and a flowing robe or cloak, all in deep, regal colors like crimson or royal blue, possibly embroidered with gold thread. A jeweled crown or circlet would adorn his head.
Wants: To investigate the unusual and remarkable cake, and to reward its creator.
Flaw: Not explicitly shown, but perhaps a certain detachment from the common people's struggles until something extraordinary catches his attention.
He hears of the miraculous cake, buys it, and arranges Dolly's marriage, thus elevating her status.
Curious, discerning, benevolent (in his actions towards Dolly).
The King's Grand Falconer ◆ supporting
A noble and capable man of English descent, likely athletic and well-built from his profession. He would carry himself with confidence and grace.
Attire: Fine, practical court attire suitable for a falconer: a fitted tunic or jerkin made of sturdy wool or leather, possibly embroidered, with breeches and tall leather boots. A gauntlet or glove for handling falcons would be a key accessory. Colors would be rich but practical, like forest green or deep brown.
Wants: To serve the King and fulfill his duties, and later, to be a good husband and father.
Flaw: Not explicitly shown.
He is chosen by the King to marry Dolly, becoming her faithful husband and the father of her many children.
Loyal, capable, presumably kind (as he makes Dolly a faithful husband).
Locations
The Baker's Shop at Pie Corner
A modest, likely half-timbered Fachwerk house in a German village, serving as a baker's shop and home. It would have a prominent oven, work tables, and a small display window. After the miller's visit, it's stripped bare, leaving only flour sacks for bedding.
Mood: Initially humble and struggling, then desolate and desperate, but with an underlying sense of hope and piety.
Dolly's family loses everything, and she sleeps on a flour sack, praying for help, leading to her miraculous dream.
Dolly's Dreamscape (Inside the Oven)
A fantastical, magical space within Dolly's dream, centered around a glowing oven. Ingredients for a cake fall like rain, and tiny fairies work to knead and bake a magnificent cake.
Mood: Magical, whimsical, hopeful, and slightly surreal.
Dolly dreams of the first Twelfth Cake being created by fairies, receiving instructions to 'Draw the cake, Dolly'.
Story DNA
Moral
Kindness and faith can lead to unexpected blessings and a better life.
Plot Summary
St. Dolly, a kind young girl, lives with her widowed baker father and many siblings, facing ruin due to bad harvests. After losing everything, Dolly prays for help and dreams of fairies baking a magnificent cake. Upon waking, she finds the first Twelfth Cake, beautifully decorated, which she draws from the oven. The king hears of this miraculous cake, buys it, and marries Dolly to his grand falconer, leading to her prosperous and happy life.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story references a specific London location, Pie Corner, which was historically known for its bakeries and the Great Fire of London starting nearby. Twelfth Cake was a significant part of Christmas celebrations in England.
Plot Beats (12)
- St. Dolly, a kind girl, lives with her widowed baker father and many siblings at Pie Corner.
- Bad harvests cause bread prices to rise, ruining bakers, including Dolly's father.
- The miller seizes all their possessions, leaving them destitute.
- Dolly sleeps on a flour sack and prays for divine help for her father.
- She dreams of an oven lighting and a shower of cake ingredients falling around her.
- Fairies appear in her dream, gather the ingredients, knead them into a cake, and bake it.
- The fairies dance around the oven, chanting, "Draw the cake, Dolly—Dolly, draw the cake."
- Dolly awakens and, following the dream's instruction, draws the cake from the oven.
- The cake is revealed to be the first Twelfth Cake, sugared and adorned with images of Faith, Hope, and Charity.
- News of this unique cake reaches the king.
- The king buys the cake, and Dolly is married to his grand falconer.
- Dolly proves to be a faithful and loving wife, bearing him many children.
