His Heart’s Desire
Andy Belton has a secret…
“His Heart’s Desire” is a short story about a boy who wants a doll. First published in the Chicago Daily News in 1900, it was written by Alice Dunbar-Nelson, inspired by her work teaching Black kindergarteners at the White Rose Mission in New York City in 1897 and 1898.
This beautifully crafted story about boys and toys is funny and serious at the same time. It raises some great questions about what boys are allowed to want and how boys are expected to behave.
From this page, you can access the full story, get started with an overview of the plot and characters, access educator resources designed to deepen the reading experience, or listen to the story.
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Read the full story, or listen to a reading of, His Heart’s Desire
Getting Started
The Plot
Five-year-old Andy Belton has a secret wish to have a doll. He makes a rag doll for his sister and shares it with her, but he longs for a doll with blue eyes. Andy begins attending kindergarten at the Pure in Heart Mission, a school that is run by middle-class women from outside his poor city neighborhood. When the Mission holds a school pageant, Andy is chosen for a lead role.
At the school event, there is a booth selling dolls. Andy falls in love with a blonde, blue-eyed doll. While he is performing in the pageant, he sees the doll being sold. He gets so upset he forgets his lines and interrupts the show, calling out from the stage, “She’s tooked my doll!” He is ashamed by his outburst, which ruins the show’s big finale. But a kind teacher rescues the doll from the woman who bought it and gives it to Andy at the end of the story.
The Characters
Andy Belton: Boy who secretly wants a doll and stars as “Young America” in the school pageant
Sissy: Andy’s little sister
Mrs. Belton: Andy’s mother, who washes clothes to support her children
Dobson, Abe Powers, Jimmy Brown, and Scrappy Franks: boys in Andy’s neighborhood
Gus Schwartz: boy in Andy’s neighborhood who appears as “World Peace” in the school pageant
Mrs. Jackson: volunteer in charge of the doll booth at the school event
Mrs. Morton: teacher at the Pure in Heart Mission
Andy’s Dolls
The rag-doll
“Its eyes were buttons, and its mouth the sprig of a bit of figured calico … None of its arms and legs matched”
The doll Andy imagines he will buy (for Sissy?)
“She’s gointer have blue eyes, an’ purty hair, an’— an’— she’ll walk an’ talk”
“The doll of his dreams”
“his golden-haired lady doll in the pink-silk frock”
“A blue-eyed doll”
“The doll of his dreams” that Andy sees for sale
“his golden-haired lady doll in the pink-silk frock”
A blue-eyed doll
Keywords & Spelling
Desire—strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something
Pretence (spelled “pretense” in American English)—a false act; trying to make something that is not true appear true
Agony—great physical or mental suffering
Pageant—a show, usually with people in costumes
Flaxen—pale yellow color
College mortarboard—black hat with flat square attached to cap; worn by teachers & students at a college or university
Losing caste—to have your social status lowered because of something you do
Laurels/laurel wreath—given to a person to honor or praise their achievement
Pièce de résistance—most important feature of a creative work or event
Shame—painful feeling caused by awareness of wrong or foolish behavior
Dignity—being worthy of honor or respect
Values—principles, standards, worth of what is important to people, societies
Freedom—the power and right to act, speak, or think as one wants without restraint
Reflections Questions
What did you notice or wonder about Andy’s character in the story?
How did you feel about what happened to him??
What kind of relationship does he have with his sister (Sissy)?
What about his mother’s reluctance to send him to school? What role does she play in the story?
Takeaway Questions
What are boys allowed to do? What are they not allowed to do?
What are girls allowed to do? What are they not allowed to do?
Why does it matter?
Educator Resources
Recommended Reading (coming soon)