The Story of a Nodding Donkey | Page 4

Rolling Elephant. "I didn't mean to do it, Mr. Giraffe."
"Well, as long as no harm is done, we'll forget all about it and have some fun," put in the Plush Bear. "This doesn't happen every night," the Bear went on, speaking to the Nodding Donkey. "You must not get the idea that it is dangerous here."
"Oh, no, I think it's a very nice place," the Nodding Donkey answered. "It's my first day here, you see."
"Oh, yes, it's easy to see that," said the China Cat. "You are so new and shiny any one would know you were just made. Well, now what shall we do? Who has a game to suggest or a riddle to ask?" and, as she spoke, she put out her paw and began to roll a red rubber ball on the shelf near her. For, though she was very stiff in the daytime, being made of china like a dinner plate, the Cat could easily move about at night if no human eyes watched her.
"Let's play a guessing game," suggested the Rolling Elephant, who, by this time had managed to get down to the table without upsetting any more of the toys. "If we play tag or hide and go seek, I'm so big and clumsy I may knock over something and break it."
"That's so--you might," growled the Plush Bear, but, though he spoke in a growling voice he was not at all cross. It was just his way of talking. "Well, what sort of a guessing game do you want to play, Mr. Elephant?"
"I'll think of something, and you must all see if you can guess what it is."
"That's too hard a game," objected the China Cat. "There are so many things you might think of."
"Well, I'll give you a little help," returned the Rolling Elephant. "I'm thinking of something that goes up and down and also sideways."
For a moment none of the toys spoke. Then, all of a sudden, the Plush Bear cried:
"You're thinking of the Nodding Donkey! His head goes up and down and also sideways."
"That's right!" admitted the Rolling Elephant. "I didn't imagine you'd guess so soon. Now it's your turn to think of something."
"Let's have the Nodding Donkey give the next question," suggested the China Cat. "It's his birthday, you know, and we ought to help him remember it."
"Go ahead! Give us something to guess, Nodding Donkey!" growled the Plush Bear.
"Let me think," said the new toy, slowly. "Ah, I have it! What am I thinking of that is like a snowball and has two eyes?"
"A snowman!" guessed a wax doll.
"No," said the Nodding Donkey, laughing.
"A Polar Bear," suggested the Rolling Elephant.
"No," said the Donkey again.
Then the toys thought very hard.
"Is it a rubber doll?" asked a Jack in the Box. "No, it couldn't be that," he went on, "for a rubber doll isn't as white as a snowball. I give up!"
"But I don't!" suddenly cried a Tin Soldier. "You were thinking of our White China Cat, weren't you?" he asked.
"Yes," answered the Nodding Donkey, "I was. You have guessed it!"
"Now it's the Tin Soldier's turn to give us something to guess," said the Elephant. "Oh, we're having lots of fun!"
And so the toys were. All through the night they played about in the North Pole workshop of Santa Claus. When it was nearly morning the Nodding Donkey spoke to the Plush Bear, asking:
"Where is this Earth place, that Santa Claus said he was going to take some of us?"
"Oh, my! don't ask me," said the Plush Bear. "I've never been down to Earth, though I know packs and packs of toys have been taken there. But it must be a real jolly sort of place, for every time Santa Claus goes there he comes back laughing and seems very happy. Then he loads up some more toys to take there."
"I think I should like to go," murmured the Nodding Donkey. "How does one go--in one of the toy trains of cars I see on the shelves?"
"Oh, my, no!" laughed the Plush Bear. "Santa Claus takes the toys to Earth in his sleigh, drawn by reindeer."
"Oh, how wonderful!" brayed the Donkey. "I wonder if I shall soon take that wonderful voyage. I hope I may!"
"Hush!" suddenly called the Rolling Elephant. "Santa Claus and the workmen are coming in and they must not see us at our make-believe play. Quick! To your shelves, all of you!"
Such a scramble as there was on the part of the toys! Some helped the others to climb up, and just as the last of them, including the Nodding Donkey, were safely in place, the door of the shop opened and in came Santa Claus and his men.
Then such a bustling about as there was! And from outside the shop could be heard the jingle of bells.
"Those