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"The Sawdust Doll was very clever at answering riddles,"
said the Bold
Tin Soldier. "I wish she were here now."
"But she isn't," said the Candy Rabbit. "I liked that Sawdust
Doll
very much, but she has gone away."
"Yes, some lady bought her for a little girl's birthday," came from
the Monkey on a Stick. "You are right, Tin Soldier, that doll was very
clever at answering the riddles the Clown used to ask."
"Well, if you don't all stop talking now, how am I going to tell this
joke?" asked the Calico Clown crossly. "Now, who is a--"
"I wonder if the Sawdust Doll will come back and see us once again, as
she did before?" asked the Lamb on Wheels, not paying much attention
to what the Calico Clown said. "Don't you remember, Tin Soldier, how
she once came back to us, after she had been sold and taken away?"
"Clang! Bang!" went the cymbals of the Calico Clown.
"What's the matter?" asked the Monkey on a Stick.
"Matter? Matter enough, I should say!" replied the Clown. "Here
I am
asked to tell a funny joke, and none of you will listen. You keep on
talking about the Sawdust Doll. I liked her as much as any one. But
she is gone--she was sold away from us. To-morrow some of us may be
sold, and never see the others again. Let's be gay and jolly while we
can!"
"That's what I say!" exclaimed the Candy Rabbit. "Really, we
are not
very polite to go on talking when the Calico Clown wants to amuse us
with one of his famous jokes. We should listen to him."
"You are right!" cried the Bold Tin Soldier. "Come now,"
he went on,
as he waved his sword over his head, "I do not want to be cross with
you, my toy friends, but I command silence! Silence while the Calico
Clown tells his joke!"
The toys on the counters and shelves settled down and turned their
eyes toward the Clown in his funny calico suit of many colors.
"I'm sure you will all laugh at this joke!" cried the Calico Clown.
"It is so funny I have to laugh myself whenever I tell it. Thank you
for getting them quiet so they can listen to me, Bold Tin Soldier. I
am glad you are a friend--"
"Say, you'd better tell that joke, if you're going to!" broke in
the
captain. "I don't know how long they'll stay quiet. And I want to
march around some more before morning comes and we have to stay in our
box all day. You know it is the Christmas season, and any one of us
may be bought any day and taken far off. So let us be jolly together
while we may. All quiet now, for the Calico Clown's joke!"
"Thank you," returned the funny fellow again. "Now, why is it
that
when--"
And just then there was a rumbling, rolling sound on the floor of the
toy department.
"Dear me!" exclaimed the Candy Rabbit, "can that be the watchman
coming so soon?"
They all listened, and heard the noise more plainly. It rumbled and
rolled nearer and nearer.
"Dear me!" said the Calico Clown, "I'm never going to get a
chance to
tell my joke. What is it, Candy Rabbit? Can you see?"