Keith G wrote:

So I opened up the Finder and dragged the Documents Folder thingy down
to the Duck to squeeze a *copy* of it between the Apps Folder and the
Trash Can - thinking (hoping) it would duplicate it there but, to my
horror, it went *poof* (you know - puff of smoke animation) and disappeared!

In that case all you did was drag it out of the Dock.

Your Documents folder, like the rest of your user files, is in your Home
folder. Drag it from there to the Dock.

u.comp.sys.mac is the best place to go for help.

Daniele