Of course the White Rocking Horse was too big to get up on the counter and jump around with the Candy Rabbit and the Sawdust Doll, but he had fun staying on the floor near the toy blackboard and watching the chalk draw funny pictures. For not only the toys that are in the shape of animals and persons have fun when no one is watching them, but the others, also, like the roller skates and the velocipedes, have good times among themselves at these midnight frolics. And so the fun went on. The Sawdust Doll was having a lovely time, playing on a little toy piano for the Monkey on a Stick to dance with the Calico Clown, and the Candy Rabbit was listening to a Stuffed Duck tell how she learned to swim in the Goldfish bowl when all at once the Tin Soldier cried: “Back to your shelves and counters, everybody!” “What’s the matter? Is the rat coming again?” asked the Sawdust Doll, as she stopped playing the toy piano. “No, but it is getting daylight,” was the answer. “I can see the gleam of the sun in the eastern windows. Soon the store will be open and people will be coming in to buy--perhaps some one may buy me and my brave men.” “Oh, I hope not!” sighed the Sawdust Doll. “If you go away, what shall we do if the rat comes back?” “Maybe I can stop up his hole before I go away,” the Bold Tin Soldier answered. “But quick, now! Everybody back on shelf or counter! Here comes the sun!” And as the sun rose and filled the world with light, the doors of Toy Town opened. The clerks came in to dust the different things and set them to rights, for it was the Christmas season and many people would come to buy. “I wonder if some one will buy me,” softly murmured the Sawdust Doll. “Do you want them to?” asked the Candy Rabbit. “Well, I suppose that is why I was put in Toy Town,” answered the Doll. “I want to do my duty, and make some little girl happy.” “Yes, that’s what we’re for,” laughed the jolly Calico Clown. “It’s fun to make boys and girls happy. I only wish I could crack some of my jokes for them, but it isn’t allowed. I know one about an ear of corn and----” “Hush!” whispered the Sawdust Doll. “Here comes the girl who has charge of our counter!” Then all the toys stopped talking among themselves and became straight and stiff. They were waiting--just waiting for some one to come in and buy them. CHAPTER III THE LITTLE GIRL Into the store came a little girl, her mother, and a little boy. They took their places in the elevator and were lifted up, just like a balloon, only different, of course. “May we stop in the toy department, Mother?” asked the little girl. “I want to look at some dolls.” “What for?” asked the boy. “Because my birthday is next week, Dick,” answered the little girl, whose name was Dorothy. “It’s my birthday, and maybe I’ll get a doll then, or for Christmas.” “It isn’t my birthday until after Christmas,” said Dick. “But I don’t want a doll either of those times.”