Part 3 (2/2)

”We will come to-morrow surely,” said Aunt Clara, and then, after Jennie had taken one more look at the toy she hoped soon would be hers, she followed her aunt out of the store.

Mr. Mugg and his two daughters were very busy in their toy shop that day. A load of packing boxes arrived, direct from the North Pole workshop of Santa Claus, and these boxes were stored down in the bas.e.m.e.nt.

”We will open those boxes some day next week,” said Mr. Mugg to his daughters. ”Perhaps among the new toys there may be another China Cat. I certainly hope so, for when Jennie's aunt comes for this one we shall feel lonesome.”

Mr. Mugg took a box of matches and went down into the bas.e.m.e.nt to light the gas and see about storing away the cases of new toys. And when the men had opened some, not taking many of the toys out, however, the storekeeper was called up stairs by one of his daughters.

”Leave the cases the way they are,” he said to the expressmen. ”Don't open any more. I'll do that later in the week.”

Then Mr. Mugg turned the gas down low, for he thought he might come back again, and up the stairs he hurried to see what his daughter wanted. As he walked across the bas.e.m.e.nt floor the box of matches dropped out of his pocket, near some straw from one of the packing cases.

”I'll get the matches when I come back,” thought the toy man. But the rest of the day he was so busy he forgot all about them.

Back on the shelf, out of sight, the China Cat thought over what had happened that day.

”I surely am glad Jennie didn't let me fall and break,” said the Cat to herself. ”And I am glad I am going to belong to such a nice, clean little girl.” Then, as one could see her, hidden away as she was, the China Cat washed her paws with her red tongue.

Once again night came. The toy store was closed, and all the lights turned out except a small one in the middle of the store. For a time it was quiet, and then, once more, the Trumpeter blew a jolly blast on his horn.

Toot! Toot! Toot! went the trumpet.

”Are you ready for more fun?” asked the Talking Doll.

”Yes,” was the answer. ”It is now night, no one can see us, and we can do as we please. Let's play tag again,” said a number of toys.

”Where is the China Cat?” asked Tumbling Tom. ”We don't want to leave her out of the good times.”

”Oh, I'm here!” mewed the white p.u.s.s.y. ”I'm just sort of hidden away so I will not be sold. I am to go to a little girl named Jennie Moore.”

”Hum! Jennie Moore! Seems to me I heard her spoken of by the father of the little lame boy when the Nodding Donkey was brought back here to have his leg mended,” said the Jumping Jack. ”Wouldn't it be funny, Miss China Cat, if you should go to live in a house near your friend, the Nodding Donkey?”

”It would be very nice, I think,” said the China Cat. ”But I have something new to suggest,” she went on, as she moved out near the edge of the shelf. ”Instead of playing tag, why can't all of us go down into the bas.e.m.e.nt?”

”What for?” asked Tumbling Tom.

”I heard it said that a new lot of toys was put down in the bas.e.m.e.nt to-day,” went on the China Cat. ”Let's go down and call on them. It's always polite to call on new neighbors, you know,” she added.

”Yes, let's do that!” shouted the Trumpeter. ”We'll make them feel at home.”

So down the cellar stairs trooped the China Cat, the Talking Doll, the Jumping Jack, Jack Box and many other toys.

Clip! Clap! Clump! they went down the stairs.

”h.e.l.lo, new toys!” mewed the China Cat. ”We have come to call on you!”

”That is very kind of you,” said a Red Fireman, who was one of the new toys that had been taken from the boxes. ”We were just wondering what sort of place this was--so dark and gloomy.”

<script>