The Dodo presents Alice with her own thimble

The Dodo presents Alice with her own thimble, an illustration by JVL in 

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Artists' Choice Editions, 2009.

The text:

However, when they had been running half an hour or so, and were

quite dry again, the Dodo suddenly called out 'The race is over!' and

they all crowded round it, panting, and asking, 'But who has won?'

This question the Dodo could not answer without a great deal of

thought, and it sat for a long time with one finger pressed upon its

forehead (the position in which you usually see Shakespeare, in the

pictures of him), while the rest waited in silence. At last the Dodo

said, 'EVERYBODY has won, and all must have prizes.'

'But who is to give the prizes?' quite a chorus of voices asked.

'Why, SHE, of course,' said the Dodo, pointing to Alice with one

finger; and the whole party at once crowded round her, calling out

 in a confused way, 'Prizes! Prizes!'

Alice had no idea what to do, and in despair she put her hand in her

pocket, and pulled out a box of comfits, (luckily the salt water had

not got into it), and handed them round as prizes. There was exactly

one a-piece all round.

'But she must have a prize herself, you know,' said the Mouse.

'Of course,' the Dodo replied very gravely. 'What else have you got

in your pocket?' he went on, turning to Alice.

'Only a thimble,' said Alice sadly.

'Hand it over here,' said the Dodo.

Then they all crowded round her once more, while the Dodo

solemnly presented the thimble, saying 'We beg your acceptance of

this elegant thimble'; and, when it had finished this short speech,

they all cheered.

Alice thought the whole thing very absurd, but they all looked so

grave that she did not dare to laugh; and, as she could not think of

anything to say, she simply bowed, and took the thimble, looking as

solemn as she could.

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