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“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. “And I think we all have the same wish–that we will have kind boys and girls to own us when we go from here. But now let us be jolly. I’ll tell you a funny riddle.”

“Oh, yes, please do!” begged the Lamb. “I love riddles!”

“Let me see, now,” mused the Calico Clown, softly banging together his cymbals. “I think I’ll ask you the riddle about the pig. What makes more noise than a pig under a gate?”