Part 9 (1/2)

And he strictly kept his resolve At first the other Toys laughed: then they wondered; then they inquired into the e a performance And when they heard the story, such of theravely:

”'Tis well and nobly meant But it won't mend the poor Little Dancer's heart Alas! Alack-a-day!”

CHAPTER VI

When the tale was ended the little girl took out her handkerchief and wiped her eyes

”Come, this won't do,” said the little Marionette ”I should not have told you the story if I had thought you were going to take it so much to heart”

”I am very sorry for the poor Little Dancer,” she replied sadly; ”I wish that the Bicycle-man had not been so unkind”

”Well, well, it is all over now Wipe your eyes; you can't do any good by crying, and I don't like seeing tears,” said her friend

”Neversad,” Molly answered politely, though tearfully

”Still, a little sadness goes a long way,” remarked the Marionette

”There is no doubt of that I think I had better tell you soht aat?” asked the little girl with curiosity

”At the remembrance of the Hansom-driver,” she answered ”I never can think of hi Shall I tell you his story? I shall have ti, for it is short, like the one I have just finished” And she began the story of: ”The Hansom-driver”

THE HANSOM DRIVER

The Hansom-driver was indeed very plain, but he fancied himself very beautiful 'Tis thus that we are liable toourselves

His cheeks were crimson and his nose was the sa lady dolls envied him his complexion His eyes were dull as lead, but in his boundless conceit he always co diaainst him, yet his constant complaint was that he attracted so much attention, and won so much admiration wherever he went, that he could ally

His own looks were his constant topic of conversation, till at length the other Toys quaked when he opened histo suffer

Ast those who suffered the most from his talk were the Butcher, the Baker, and the Clown They lived at the opposite side of the counter, where he drove every ht of driving away at once when he had done this, but always stopped to th, in common with the rest of the world, they became wearied to death of the subject The Butcher and Baker tried to put a stop to it byrude jests But the conceit of the Hanso to his three acquaintances, the Butcher happened to re

”Some people,” said the Hansolow of the sunset sky, solow of the healthy countenance By the by, a chap Iwith health”

”Especially your nose, my pretty fellow,” remarked the Clown

”Frolow of a pretty color,” replied the Hansolad I alected or left out in the cold”