Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
[Illustration: White Rocking Horse Races With the Elephant on Skates.
Frontispiece]
Author of "The Story of a Sawdust Doll," "The Story of a Bold Tin
Soldier," "The Bobbsey Twins Series," "The Bunny Brown Series," "The
Six Little Bunkers Series," Etc.
One by one the lights went out. One by one the shoppers left the toydepartment of the store. One by one the clerks rode down in theelevators. At last all was still and quiet and dark—that is, all darkexcept for a small light, so the night-watchman could see his wayaround.
"Now we can have some fun!" cried a voice, and it seemed to come froma Calico Clown, lying down in a box next to a Bold Tin Soldier. "Nowwe can really be ourselves, and talk and move about."
"We can, if we are sure there is no one to watch us," bleated a Lambon Wheels, who stood on the floor near a White Rocking Horse. "Youknow, as well as I do, Calico Clown, that we cannot do as we please ifthere are any eyes watching us," said the Lamb.
"No one can see us," said the Bold Tin Soldier. "I am glad the clerksand shoppers are gone. It will be some time before the watchman comesup here, and my men and I will be glad to move about. All readythere!" he called to his soldiers, for he was captain over a bravecompany of tin warriors. "Attention! Stand up straight and get readyto march! You have been in your box all day, and now it is time tocome out!"
It was true; the Bold Tin Soldier and his men had been in a box on thetoy counter all day. For, as you have been told, the playthings cannotmake believe come to life nor move about when any human eyes arewatching them. They must wait until they are alone, which is generallyafter dark. That is why you have never seen your doll or your rockingho