I’m searching for a short children’s story I remember from the late 1960s or 1970s, possibly from Reader’s Digest, a school reader, or a children’s magazine. It’s told from the point of view of an old doll.
In the story, a little girl is packing a suitcase for a trip. The old doll is thrilled to be included and looks forward to the adventure. At the last moment, the girl gets distracted by a new doll, grabs it instead, and leaves — the old doll is left behind, heartbroken. Later, the car returns, the girl rushes in, drops the new doll, and takes the old doll with her.
Rebecca Caudill’s The Best Loved Doll, maybe.