gest Parkney child and wore "real" clothes that one could take
off like a real child's. Jessie spent a good many minutes taking off
her doll's hat and coat and her leggings and mittens and putting them
on again.
"I brought my railroad train," announced Carleton Marsh, the next
morning.
He unwrapped a long train of cars and an engine.
"I got 'em for Christmas," he said. "They wind up with a key and you
don't have to have any track," and down on his hands and knees went
Carleton to start his train.
The assembly bell rang while the train was still running around, and
Miss Davis had to catch it and leave it turned upside down with the
little wheels whirring around while she marched her class into Miss
May's room for the morning exercises.
Several of the children brought new toys with them to school the next
day. Perry Phelps carried a sand toy which was a little car that ran
up and down an inclined plane when filled with sand. Jimmie
Butterworth had a jumping rabbit that took a long hop when you pressed
a rubber bulb. Lottie Carr brought her new doll, and Dorothy Peters
even carried her toy piano, though it was rather heavy.
"My dear little people!" said Miss Davis, when she saw all these toys,
"do you think you will be able to keep your mind on lessons with these
delightful and distracting presents arranged around the room? Or shall
I put them in the cloak room for you till recess?"
The children were sure they could pay attention to lessons and still
look at the Christmas toys, so Miss Davis allowed them to put the
presents under the sand table, and she said no one must touch a thing
till recess. And then, goodness me, wasn't there a gay time! Jessie's
doll walked and Carleton's train ran around and around, the little sand
car jerked up and down its track, the rabbit hopped on top of the
desks, and Dorothy's piano tinkled seven different tunes at once as
seven different children tried to play on it. Miss May came across the
hall to see what the class could be doing to make so much noise.
"Why, it looks like Christmas!" she said, smiling.
"Yes, and I don't know whether we can settle down after so much
excitement," answered Miss Davis doubtfully. "There goes the bell.
Put the toys back under the table, children, and take your seats."
Sunny Boy walked home thoughtfully. He usually walked most of the way
to school and home again alone, for none of the pupils lived very near
him.
"I'm going t
|