sfortunes the poor animal now lacked the whole of one leg, and
part of another, and being past mending, it had not seen daylight for a
long while. A doll, with one arm, and whose bland, faded face had lost
all expression with her missing eyes, presided in a solemn manner over
the whole. The shelf above was empty, with one exception, for on it lay
a very large ball, made of leather in many pieces, carefully joined
together. Why it had been placed in the old toy cupboard was a mystery,
for it seemed nearly new from the brightness of its colours and the full
roundness of its form. That it was gifted with more strength and
vitality than its companions was evident enough, for it gave a violent
roll on the shelf, and then bounded suddenly down into the midst of its
companions.

"And so _we've_ got a holiday at last," said the Ball, with a lively
frisk as he spoke.

"Oh! don't be so rough," faintly shrieked the Doll; "you have almost
taken away all the little breath I had left!"

"I'll fan you with the greatest pleasure!" said the Kite, eagerly, "or
at least, I'll try to do so, for I have stood here so long, that I am
quite stiff, but I'll do my best!"

And so he vigorously flapped backwards and forwards, till all the dust
was set in motion that had rested quiet so long. So that at last, the
Rocking-horse even was roused from his long slumber, and hobbled out of
the corner on his lame legs.

"How very pleasant!" exclaimed the Ball, hopping about with the greatest
agility; "I declare it is quite worth while living in retirement for a
while, if only to enjoy life once more when we come back to it again.
How's the Doll now?" enquired he, politely, bounding towards her.

"Better I hope," puffed the Kite; "but you know this cupboard has been
stifling for a long while, and so now the first breeze of fresh air is
almost too much for us all."

"Speak for yourself," snapped the Shuttlecock, very peevishly; "you have
fanned out my last feather, and what I'm to do now I can't think; I'm
nothing but cork and leather!"

"We are none of us much to be boasted of," remarked the old leaden
Teapot; "I'm sure I have been battered and dinted till I've no shape
left. But one gets used in time to being trodden on."

"Yes, indeed, and to get one's horns and legs snapped off," chimed in an
eager lilac wooden Cow, who certainly had lost most of her members,
"over and above parting with your relations. My twin brother was
destroyed ages ago,