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Toot! Toot! Toot!

“What started it?” asked Angelina, when the train had been put in a safe place.

“Oh, I think the spring began to unwind of itself,” answered Mr. Mugg. “Or our walking around may have jarred the engine, and started it off. At any rate no harm is done, and now we must finish unpacking the toys.”

The toy-dealer and his two daughters were soon busy over the large packing box, and the Plush Bear and his friends from the workshop of Santa Claus looked on, well pleased to be out of the box.

“This is ever so much a nicer place than the igloo of Ski, the Eskimo boy,” thought the Plush Bear. “I would not want to be up in that bleak North Pole Land, unless I were with Santa Claus, and of course one cannot stay long in his workshop. I think I shall have much more fun here. There is so much light and happiness.”

It was nearly midnight when Mr. Mugg and his daughters finished unpacking the toys. All about the floor wrapping paper and the covers of boxes were scattered. The toys, as they were taken out of the case, had been set on shelves about the room.

“This will be enough for to-night,” said the toy-dealer after a while. “We will leave things as they are, now that we have all the toys unpacked. To-morrow I will put some in the show window, and the boys and girls will come to buy them.”

“Be sure and put the Plush Bear in the window,” said Angelina. “I know he’ll be one of the first to go, he is so cute and he can do so many things when he is wound up. He shakes his head and moves his paws.”

“He is a good toy,” said Mr. Mugg. And a little later the toy shop was in darkness, except for one light that was left burning all night.

“Oh, ho!” thought the Plush Bear, when he saw Mr. Mugg and his daughters leave. “Now is our chance! Now we can come to life!”

He turned his head to one side, and spoke to the Wax Doll.

“How do you like it here?” asked the Plush Bear.

“Oh, very much,” the Doll answered. “As soon as we get to know the other toys I’m sure we shall like it.”

“We are glad to welcome you here,” said a Jumping Jack, who had been in Mr. Mugg’s store for a long time. “Make yourselves at home. After a bit we shall have some fun. You just came from North Pole Land, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” answered the Plush Bear. “But we like it here very much. Come, Miss Wax Doll,” he went on, “allow me the pleasure of taking you for a walk through the shop.”

The Wax Doll and the Plush Bear got down off the shelf where they had been put, and began to move about. Some of the other new toys did the same, while about them crowded the playthings that had been on the shelves and the counters for some days.

“Take a look through the store,” suggested the older Jumping Jack to the Plush Bear, “and then come back and we’ll have some fun.”

The Plush Bear and the Wax Doll, who took hold of his paw, moved along through the different rooms of the toy store. Everywhere they went they were made welcome by the playthings that had been in stock for some time. The old toys were glad to welcome the new ones.

Suddenly the Plush Bear and the Wax Doll found themselves in a strange place. All about were shining tools, pots of glue, pieces of wood, strips of cloth, glass eyes, wooden arms and legs, odd ears, noses, tails and heads.

“Oh, what a queer place!” cried the Wax Doll. “I don’t like it here! What is it?”

“I hardly know,” answered the Plush Bear.

“This is the repair department,” said the Jumping Jack, who had followed the two new toys. “It is here that Mr. Mugg mends the toys that get broken in the store, or toys that get broken when the boys and girls play with them. We had a fire here, not long ago, and the place is rather upset, but don’t mind that. It is almost in order again, but there are always things scattered about in this repair department. If ever you lose an eye or an ear, Mr. Plush Bear, just come in here and Mr. Mugg will make you a new one,” said the Jumping Jack.