oolly.

"Thank you," said the doll, politely.

Jem quite jumped.

"You can join the rest now and introduce yourself," said the worker.

The doll looked over her shoulder at her train.

"It hangs very nicely," she said. "I hope it's the latest fashion."

"Mine never talked like that," said Flora. "My best one could only say
'Mamma,' and it said it very badly, too."

"She was foolish for saying it at all," remarked the doll, haughtily. "We
don't talk and walk before ordinary people; we keep our accomplishments
for our own amusement, and for the amusement of our friends. If you
should chance to get up in the middle of the night, some time, or should
run into the room suddenly some day, after you have left it, you might
hear--but what is the use of talking to human beings?"

"You know a great deal, considering you are only just finished," snapped
Baby, who really was a Tartar.

"I was FINISHED," retorted the doll "I did not begin life as a baby!"
very scornfully.

"Pooh!" said Baby. "We improve as we get older."

"I hope so, indeed," answered the doll. "There is plenty of room for
improvement." And she walked away in great state.

S.C. looked at Baby and then shook his head. "I shall not have to take
very much care of you," he said, absent-mindedly. "You are able to take
pretty good care of yourself."

"I hope I am," said Baby, tossing her head.

S.C. gave his head another shake.

"Don't take too good care of yourself," he said. "That's a bad
thing, too."

He showed them the rest of his wonders, and then went with them to the
door to bid them good-bye.

"I am sure we are very much obliged to you, Mr. Claus," said Jem,
gratefully. "I shall never again think you are not true, sir".

S.C. patted her shoulder quite affectionately.

"That's right," he said. "Believe in things just as long as you can,
my dear. Good-bye until Christmas Eve. I shall see you then, if you
don't see me."

He must have taken quite a fancy to Jem, for he stood looking at her, and
seemed very reluctant to close the door, and even after he had closed it,
and they had turned away, he opened it a little again to call to her.

"Believe in things as long as you can, my dear."

"How kind he is!" exclaimed Jem full of pleasure.

Baby shrugged her shoulders.

"Well enough in his way," she said, "but rather inclined to prose and be
old-fashioned."

Jem looked at her, feeling rather frightened, but she said nothing.

Baby showed v