Part 12 (1/2)

So Aunt Clara opened the door, and there she saw the Wooden Doll on the floor. The Doll had fallen on some felt slippers and so was not in the least hurt.

”There it is,” said Jennie's aunt. ”Your Wooden Doll fell off the shelf.

You couldn't have put her far enough back.”

”Oh!” murmured Jennie sleepily. ”I'm glad she wasn't broken, and I'm glad my China Cat is all right.”

Then Jennie went to sleep again, but she never knew, nor did her aunt, that Jack had knocked down the Wooden Doll.

”Behave yourself now, Jack,” said the Celluloid Doll, when the toys were once more left alone. ”If you play, let it be some easy game, like telling stories or riddles.”

”All right,” agreed Jack. ”Suppose the China Cat tells us the story of the fire and the flood.”

So the China Cat did, just as they are set down in this book. And after that the toys played guessing games, and told riddles until it was time for them to stop, as morning was at hand.

Jennie awakened early, and got her China Cat from the closet.

”You are one of my nicest toys,” said the little girl. ”To-day I am going to put you in the front window where you can see everything, and where the other children can see you.”

So after breakfast the China Cat was set in the front window of the house, while Jennie sat near in a chair reading a book of fairy stories.

After a while Jennie was called away to help her aunt, and the China Cat was left alone. For the first time that day she could look about as she pleased, moving her head and stretching her paws, as no one was in the room.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The China Cat Gazed Out of the Window.

_Page 110_]

The China Cat gazed out of the window toward the house next door, and what was her great surprise to see in the front window there an old friend.

”Well, I do declare!” mewed the China Cat to herself. ”How did he get here? Oh, if I could only speak to him! See, he is bowing to me! Oh, isn't this just wonderful!”

CHAPTER X

THE GLARING EYES

s...o...b..ll, the China Cat, was so excited that she felt she must really jump out of the window and go across the yard to her old friend, when Jennie, the little girl, came back into the room. Of course the China Cat had to be very still and quiet then.

”Oh, Joe has his Nodding Donkey in the window!” exclaimed Jennie.

”That's a sign he wants me to come over and play with him. I'll go and ask Aunt Clara if I may go!”

Out of the room sped Jennie again, and the China Cat, who had heard what the little girl said, mewed to herself:

”At last I shall have a chance to see the Nodding Donkey again.” For it was this old friend at whom the China Cat had looked through the window, watching him nod his head.

”Yes, Jennie. What is it?” asked Aunt Clara, as the little girl called to her.

”Please may I go over and see Joe?” begged Jennie. ”He has set his Nodding Donkey in his front window, and that means he wants me to come over. He always does that when he wants me. I'll take my new China Cat over to see him.”

”Very well, dear,” agreed Aunt Clara, and a little later Jennie was crossing the yard, carrying s...o...b..ll under her arm. The China Cat was very glad that she was going to be taken to see the Nodding Donkey, with whom she used to live in Mr. Mugg's store.