The Story of a Lamb on Wheels | Page 2

little tune on his
cymbals," suggested the Bold Tin Soldier. "My men and I like to hear
his music. After that we will march around and then--"
"Then we must listen to what the Lamb has to say," cried the Monkey

on a Stick. "She said she had something to tell us."
"Oh, excuse me," came from the Bold Tin Soldier Captain, with a wave
of his shiny sward. "Perhaps you want to tell us your story now, Miss
Lamb?"
"No," she answered. "Later will do. It is not exactly a story--it is more
of a wish. But first I should like to listen to the Calico Clown."
"All right! Here we go!" cried the jolly Clown. He was a gaily dressed
fellow, and his calico suit was of many colors. One leg was red and
another yellow, and his shirt was spotted and speckled and striped.
The Calico Clown stood up near the box where the Bold Tin Soldier
was ready to lead his men in a march. And the Clown banged together
his shiny cymbals.
"Bang! Bung! Bang! Bung!" clanged the cymbals, making music that
the Toy Folk liked to hear, though I cannot say you would have cared
much for it.
"Now it is your turn to march, Captain!" called the Candy Rabbit.
"Show us what you and your men can do. That will amuse us." "All
right!" agreed the Bold Tin Soldier. "Attention, men!" he cried, "Ready!
Shoulder arms! Forward--March!"
Out of their box, following their Captain, came the tin soldiers. Around
and around the toy counter they marched, the Calico Clown making
music for them on his cymbals.
"Isn't this jolly!" cried the Monkey on a Stick.
Once more around the toy counter marched the Bold Tin Soldier and
his men. They were careful not to get too near the edge, for they did not
want to fall off.
"There, how did you like it?" asked the Captain, as his men stopped to
rest.

"It was fine!" answered the Candy Rabbit. "Now we will listen to the
Lamb on Wheels."
"Oh, I'm sure I haven't so very much to say," said the white, fuzzy toy.
"But I was thinking, to-day, of the Sawdust Doll, and--"
"Do you mean the Sawdust Doll who used to live here with us ?" asked
the Calico Clown. "Excuse me for interrupting you," he said politely,
"but I just couldn't help it. I was thinking of the Sawdust Doll myself.
And I was wondering if you meant the same one that used to be here."
"Yes," answered the Lamb, "I did. It was of her I was thinking. She was
on our toy counter about the same time the White Rocking Horse lived
with us."
"And she went away just before he did," said the Monkey on a Stick.
"The Sawdust Doll comes back, once in a while, to see us. But the
Rocking Horse does not."
"It is harder for him than for her," said the Lamb. "The little girl, whose
mother bought the Sawdust Doll, often brings her back to see us. And
the Sawdust Doll once told me she had a lovely home with a little girl
named Dorothy."
"And I think I heard her say that the White Rocking Horse lived in the
same house with her, and belonged to a boy named Dick," said the
Bold Tin Soldier.
"Yes, that is true," said the Lamb. "Well, what I was going to tell you
about was a little girl who came in to look at me to-day. She was one of
the nicest little girls I ever saw--fully as nice as the Dorothy who has
the Sawdust Doll."
"And did this little girl buy you--or did her mother ?" asked the Calico
Clown. "I should hate to see you leave us," he went on. "Of course we
want you to get a nice home, but it will be lonesome if you, too, go
away." "That's so," said the Bold Tin Soldier. "We have lost our
Sawdust Doll and our White Rocking Horse, and now, if the Lamb on

Wheels goes away from us--dear me!"
"I have no idea of going away!" answered the Lamb. "All I was going
to say was that a beautiful little girl came to the toy department to-day
with her mother, and she admired me very much--the little girl did. She
patted my back so softly, and she rubbed my head and she asked her
mother to buy me."
"And did she ?" asked the Calico Clown.
"No, I think not," replied the Lamb. "At least, if she did, I was not
taken away. But I wish, oh, how I wish I could get into a nice home,
such as the Sawdust Doll has."
"I trust you will get your wish," said the Calico Clown.