books just to tell about half of it. Joe and
his Nodding Donkey were the guests of honor, and all the others tried to
make them feel happy. And Joe was happy! One look at his smiling face
told that.

As for the Nodding Donkey, you could tell by the way he moved his head
that never, in all his life, had he had such a good time.

When Mrs. Richmond called the children to the dining room to eat, the
toys were left by themselves in a playroom.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," said the Calico Clown in his jolly voice, "we
have all met together, after a long time of being apart. We have all had
good times together, and now I hope you will all agree with me when I
say that we are glad to welcome the Nodding Donkey among us."

[Illustration: The Nodding Donkey is Welcomed by the Calico Clown.
_Page 118_]

"Yes, he is very welcome," said the Sawdust Doll. "We are glad he has
come to live in this part of the world."

"I am glad of it myself," said the Nodding Donkey. "I never knew, while
I was in the workshop of Santa Claus, that so many things could happen
down here. Yes, I am very happy that I came. There is only one thing I
wish."

"What is that?" asked the Monkey.

"I wish the China Cat were here," said the Donkey. "She lives in Mr.
Mugg's store, and I'm sure you would all like her, she is so clean and
white."

"Three cheers for the China Cat!" called the Bold Tin Soldier, waving
his sword.

And the toys cheered among themselves.

"Tell me more about this China Cat," begged the Candy Rabbit to the
Donkey. "Is she anything like me?"

The Nodding Donkey was just going to tell about the China Cat when Joe
and the other children came trooping back into the room, having finished
their lunch.

"Now let's play circus!" cried Joe. "We have a lot of toys and animals
now. Let's play circus."

And so they did. But as there is a story to tell about the China Cat,
and as I have no room in this book, I will make up another, and it will
be all about the Nodding Donkey's friend, the white China Cat, and how
she had many adventures, but managed to keep herself clean.

As for Joe and his friends, they had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year, and the Nodding Donkey lived for a long while after that,
happy and contented, and he never even had so much as a pain in the
broken leg that Mr. Mugg had mended so nicely.

THE END

THE MAKE-BELIEVE STORIES

(Trademark Registered.)

By LAURA LEE HOPE

Author of THE