He went up to Grandpa Grumbles and made a low bow and said, “Dear Grandpa Grumbles, I want to thank you for the ride in your green cotton umbrella.”

Grandpa Grumbles could hardly believe his ears.  He grumbled,

     “You might be fooling me I suppose,
     Except for your ugly little nose.”

CHAPTER IV

What do you suppose Snubby Nose was doing all this time?  He woke early one morning and danced before the mirror and asked,

     “Who is so ugly?  Nobody knows.” 
     The mirror answered, “Tippy Toes.”

Snubby Nose cried, “That settles it, broken nose, or no broken nose, I will go out and find Tippy Toes to-day.  Perhaps he will be a fine playmate for me.”

Snubby Nose crept down stairs.  He ran down the road and was soon out of sight.

Bunny and Susan woke up and they looked in Snubby Nose’s little bed, but he was not there.  They expected to hear him cry and scream and howl any minute.  They looked in the big chair.  There was the pink flannel wrapper but Snubby Nose was gone.

Bunny cried, “My fur and whiskers, he has gone out with his broken nose.”

Susan cried, “Bless my buttons, I expect to see him back any minute.”

At that very minute Tippy Toes came tripping along, swinging his basket to and fro and singing a nonsense song.

“My fur and whiskers, here he comes,” cried Bunny, “and he is not crying, but he is singing a song.”

“Bless my buttons,” said Susan, “he is not crying this time.”

Tippy Toes came in and said, “Good morning Bunny and Susan, I have brought you a present this fine winter morning.”

Bunny and Susan could scarcely believe their ears, but Tippy Toes opened his basket and took out the lamp and spectacles, and Bunny and Susan were pleased, you may be sure.

Bunny lighted the lamp, saying, “How can I ever thank you, Snubby Nose?  Now I shall not burn my paw, as I read by candle-light.”

Tippy Toes tried not to laugh when he was called “Snubby Nose.”  He said, “Please tell me how you burned your paw, I am never tired hearing about it.”

Bunny Cotton-Tail began, “Once when I was young—­”

“Rap-a-tap” was heard on the door, and Tippy Toes was so polite he went to the door and brought the milk in.

Tippy Toes curled up then at Bunny Cotton-Tail’s feet and begged, “Do tell me now why you liked to read by candlelight.”

Bunny Cotton-Tail began again, “Once when I was young—­”

“Rap-a-tap” sounded on the door.

Tippy Toes went and let in the Grocer boy.  He curled up again at Bunny Cotton-Tail’s feet and said, “Now Bunny, please tell me the story.”

Bunny Cotton-Tail began again, “Once, when I was young—­”

Then the most surprising thing happened!

Soot began to pour down the chimney.  It flew all over the room.  It covered the carpet and furniture and pictures.