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“When are you going to take a load of toys down to Earth?”

“The first thing in the morning,” was the answer. “Many of the stores have written me, asking me to hurry some toys to them. I shall hitch up my reindeer to the sleigh and take a big bag of toys down to Earth to-morrow. So get ready for me as many as you can.

“Yes,” went on Santa Claus, and he looked right at the Nodding Donkey, “I must take a big bag of toys to Earth to-morrow, as soon as it is daylight. So hurry, my merry men!”

And the workmen hurried as fast as they could.

Ting! suddenly struck the big clock in the workshop. And ting! went the little toy clock in the toy house.

“Time to stop for supper!” called Santa Claus, and all the little men laid aside the toys on which they were working. Then such a bustle and hustle there was to get out of the shop; for the day had come to an end.

Night settled down over North Pole Land. It was dark, but in the house where Santa Claus lived with his men some Japanese lanterns, hung from icicles, gave them light to see to eat their supper.

In the toy shop it was just dimly light, for one lantern had been left burning there, in case Santa Claus might want to go in after hours to see if everything was all right.

And by the light of this one lamp the Nodding Donkey saw a curious sight. Over on his left the Plush Bear raised one paw and scratched his nose. On the Donkey’s right the China Cat opened her china mouth and softly said:

“Mew!”

And then, on the next shelf, a Rolling Elephant, who could wheel about, spoke through his trunk, and said:

“The time has come for us to have some fun, my friends!”

“Right you are!” mewed the China Cat.

“And we have a new toy with us,” said the Plush Bear. “Would you like to play with us?” he asked the Nodding Donkey.

The Nodding Donkey moved his head up and down to say “yes,” for he was afraid of speaking aloud, lest he might wrinkle his new varnish.

“All right, now for some jolly times!” said the Rolling Elephant, and he began to climb down from the shelf, using his trunk as well as his legs.

“Ouch! Look out there! You’re stretching my neck!” suddenly cried a Spotted Wooden Giraffe, and the Nodding Donkey, looking up, saw that the Elephant had wound his trunk around the long neck of the Giraffe.

“Oh, I’m going to fall! Catch me, somebody!” cried the Spotted Giraffe. “Oh, if I fall off the shelf I’ll be broken to bits! Will no one save me?”

CHAPTER II

A WONDERFUL VOYAGE

“Goodness me! this is a lot of excitement for one who has just come to life and had his first coat of varnish!” thought the Nodding Donkey as he saw what seemed to be a sad accident about to happen. “I wonder if I could do anything to help save the Spotted Giraffe? I must try to do all I can. It will be the first time I have ever moved all by myself.”

“Stand aside, if you please! I’ll save the Spotted Giraffe!” suddenly called a voice, and from a shelf just underneath the one from which the Rolling Elephant had pulled the long-necked creature there stepped a Jolly Fisherman. This toy fisherman had a large net for catching crabs or lobsters, and he held it out for the Spotted Giraffe to fall into.

Down the Giraffe fell, but he landed in the net of the Jolly Fisherman, just as a circus performer falls into a net from a high trapeze, and he was not harmed.

“Dear! I’m glad you caught me,” said the Giraffe, after he had managed to climb out of the net to the top of a work table which ran under all the shelves.