Part 1 (1/2)

Adventures in Toyland

by Edith King Hall

CHAPTER I

All sorts of toys were to be found in that toy-shop It was truly a place to please any child! A little girl, who had come to stay there with her aunt--the owner of the shop--and her little cousin, was always to be found a this one, stroking that one, nursing another All her spare mo that she wandered in after the shutters were put up, and the place was deserted She paused before the spot where she was accustomed to find her favorite doll, a little lady Marionette, ound up, danced gayly in coentleman

They were both very prettily dressed The little lady Marionette wore a beautiful white silk dress brocaded with pink roses, whilst her partner had on a blue velvet coat, knee breeches, white silk stockings, and diarand!

And they danced so gayly, too

”Just as if they like dancing with each other!” the little girl once said to her aunt

”You are a fanciful child, Molly,” answered the woht,” replied the little girl

This evening, however, they were not to be found in their accustomed place The little platform on which they danced was there, but the dolls theirl looked round the shop much bewildered

”Where _can_ they be?” she said

At last she saw the little lady Marionette sitting on the right hand counter, with her back against the Noah's Ark

”Well, how funny!” exclaiot there?”

”Walked, of course,” answered the little Marionette in a sweet little voice

The little girl's astonishreat that it kept her silent

”You seem rather surprised,” said the little Marionette ”Why?”

”Why, I never knew you could talk!” she exclai a little from her surprise ”Or any other toy, either,” she added

”Life is full of surprises,” remarked the little Marionette; ”especially in the toy-shop”

”I wish you would tellbolder ”If toys can walk and talk, why don't children know it?”