smerelda the Rag Doll<br >At the back of the toy cupboard on a dark and dusty shelf lay<br >Esmerelda the rag doll. She lay on her back and stared at the<br >shelf above， as she had done for a very long time. It seemed to<br >Esmerelda that it was many years since she had been lifted up by<br >Clara， her owner， and even longer since she had been out in the<br >playroom with the other toys. Now her lovely yellow hair was all<br >tangled and her beautiful blue dress was creased， torn and faded.<br >Each time Clara opened the toy cupboard door， Esmerelda hoped<br >very much that she would be chosen， but Clara always played<br >with the newer toys at the front of the cupboard. Every time<br >Clara put her toys back in the cupboard， Esmerelda felt herself<br >being pushed further towards the back. It was very uncomfortable<br >and indeed， Esmerelda might have suffocated if it wasn t for a<br >hole at the back of the cupboard， which enabled her to breathe.<br > These day~<br >eyed teddy be<br >he had fallen<br >was never see<br >been a lovely<br >feel herself b{<br >excitement a:<br >Sometimes s[<br >belonging to<br >she thought 1<br > One day l<br >today you m~<br >old toys you<br > Esmereld;<br >cupboard. St<br >the little girl<br >she said to h<br >eyes and jun<br > landed with<br >