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“Mr. Jehosophat Green,” said the Toyman very politely, “let me make you acquainted with Jack, or, as he is sometimes called, ‘Ole Man Pumpkin.'”

Jehosophat bowed low.

“Pleased to meet you,” he said, just like grownup folks.

Then Marmaduke piped up,–

“Make me acquainted, too.”

“To be sure,” said the Toyman, “Mr. Marmaduke Green meet Mr. Jack Lantern.”

“Very glad to know you,” said Marmaduke, bowing even lower than had Jehosophat, while Hepzebiah, dancing in her eagerness, shouted,–

“Make me ‘quainted, make me ‘quainted!”

The Toyman took her by the arm, and he in turn made a grand bow.

“Now, Jack, old fellow, this is an honor. Here’s a lady expressin’ a desire to make your acquaintance. Miss Hepzebiah Green, let me present Mr. Jack O. Lantern, otherwise known as ‘Ole Man Pumpkin.'”

Then he turned to Jack.

“You don’t mind my calling you so familiarly, do you?”

Apparently Jack didn’t mind, for he just squatted there, lazy-like, and grinned with all his big square teeth.

Hepzebiah giggled back at him. She was having a glorious time. So were they all.

So, through that long–no, very short–afternoon, the kitchen was filled with pleasant smells and the air of fun and a pleasant surprise to come. They almost thought they could smell the surprise as well as the pies.

It came at last, that is the surprise did, for, just after supper, the Toyman disappeared, probably to do some of his chores.

A little while later there came a tap at the window.

Marmaduke turned.

Jehosophat turned.

Hepzebiah turned.

“Ooh, ooh!” said she;

“Golly!” said Marmaduke; and

“Gee whiz!”, Jehosophat.

Great yellow eyes looked in through the window, and a nose, and a great grinning mouth with big teeth in it.

The visitor nodded, needing no introduction, for they had made his acquaintance already.

He came into the house, helped a little by the Toyman, and still nodding his great yellow head.

They gave him a seat of honor, not by the table, but on it, right in the centre. Marmaduke climbed up and looked down into the big hole in the top of his head. In it was a thick candle, dancing inside his old yellow skull, and he seemed a good comrade, that Ole Man Pumpkin.

But what was the Toyman doing now?

He had a tub in his arms. He set it down, filled it with water, then popped three red apples in it.

And the children got down on their knees around the tub and tried to take the apples in their teeth. But round and round they bobbed, so fast that it was difficult to catch them.

“Ugh!” exclaimed Jehosophat;

“Kerchoo!” sneezed Marmaduke;

“Guhuh!” coughed Hepzebiah, all their eyes and their mouths, noses and tummies, too, full of water. And always those little red apples bobbed out of reach. Once Jehosophat thought he had caught one, but his teeth slipped on its smooth round cheek and all he got was a piece of skin. It was fun just the same.

A lot of other games they played, with flour, and candles, and rings, and things, then the Toyman gathered them up on his knees and the arm of his chair, and told them a story. A good one? Of course! He never told a poor one.

By this time the children were sneezing and Mother said they’d have to go to bed or they’d catch their “deathocold.”

When they were at last undressed Jehosophat lay his head on the pillow. But it wouldn’t stay down. He could see Ole Man Pumpkin sitting there on the dining-room table–so still! The Toyman had forgotten to put out the candle in his head. It was a thick candle, and it burned a long, long time. Ole Man Pumpkin seemed to be very cheerful with it inside his hollow skull. It made him feel “all lit up,” he heard the Toyman say.

The big, round eyes never blinked. They just watched the little boy all the time, and the big mouth was “just laughin’ an’ laughin’ an’ laughin’ at him.”

Then all of a sudden Ole Man Pumpkin started to move. He didn’t have any legs, but he slid from the table to the floor, and somehow climbed up on the window sill, and rolled out of the window. Jehosophat had to get out of bed to see what his new friend was going to do. He followed him across the dining room, over the window sill, and by the barn. And all the little boy had on were his pajamas, but he didn’t feel cold, for Ole Man Pumpkin looked so bright and jolly and warm that Jehosophat felt bright and jolly and warm, too.