Up and down, between the rows of benches, walked Santa Claus himself.
Now and then some workman would call:
"Please look here, Santa Claus! Shall I make this Tin Soldier with a
sword or a gun?"
And St. Nicholas would answer:
"That Soldier needs a sword. He is going to be a Captain."
Then another little man would call, from the other side of the shop:
"Here is a Calico Clown who doesn't squeak when I press on his stomach.
Something must be wrong with him, Santa Claus."
Then Santa Claus would put on his glasses, stroke his long, white beard
and look at the Calico Clown.
"Humph! I should say he wouldn't squeak!" the old gentleman would
remark. "You have his squeaker in upside down! That would never do for
some little boy or girl to find on Christmas morning! Take the squeaker
out and put it in right."
"How careless of me!" the little workman would exclaim. And then Santa
Claus and the other workmen would laugh, for this workshop was the
jolliest place in the world, and the man would fix the Calico Clown
right.
"I'm glad I was born in this place," said the Nodding Donkey to himself,
as his head swayed to and fro. "This is really the first day of my life.
I wish night would come, so I could move about and talk to the other
toys.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25