wered. And the one who had made the
Nodding Donkey asked:

"When are you going to take a load of toys down to Earth?"

"The first thing in the morning," was the answer. "Many of the stores
have written me, asking me to hurry some toys to them. I shall hitch up
my reindeer to the sleigh and take a big bag of toys down to Earth
to-morrow. So get ready for me as many as you can.

"Yes," went on Santa Claus, and he looked right at the Nodding Donkey,
"I must take a big bag of toys to Earth to-morrow, as soon as it is
daylight. So hurry, my merry men!"

And the workmen hurried as fast as they could.

Ting! suddenly struck the big clock in the workshop. And ting! went the
little toy clock in the toy house.

"Time to stop for supper!" called Santa Claus, and all the little men
laid aside the toys on which they were working. Then such a bustle and
hustle there was to get out of the shop; for the day had come to an end.

Night settled down over North Pole Land. It was dark, but in the house
where Santa Claus lived with his men some Japanese lanterns, hung from
icicles, gave them light to see to eat their supper.

In the toy shop it was just dimly light, for one lantern had been left
burning there, in case Santa Claus might want to go in after hours to
see if everything was all right.

And by the light of this one lamp the Nodding Donkey saw a curious
sight. Over on his left the Plush Bear raised one paw and scratched his
nose. On the Donkey's right the China Cat opened her china mouth and
softly said:

"Mew!"

And then, on the next shelf, a Rolling Elephant, who could wheel about,
spoke through his trunk, and said:

"The time has come for us to have some fun, my friends!"

"Right you are!" mewed the China Cat.

"And we have a new toy with us," said the Plush Bear. "Would you like to
play with us?" he asked the Nodding Donkey.

The Nodding Donkey moved his head up and down to say "yes," for he was
afraid of speaking aloud, lest he might wrinkle his new varnish.

"All right, now for some jolly times!" said the Rolling Elephant, and he
began to climb down from the shelf, using his trunk as well as his legs.

"Ouch! Look out there! You're stretching my neck!" suddenly cried a
Spotted Wooden Giraffe, and the Nodding Donkey, looking up, saw that the
Elephant had wound his trunk around the long neck of the Giraffe.

"Oh, I'm going to fall! Catch me, somebody!" cried the Spotted Giraffe.
"Oh, if I fall off the shel