“Oh, excuse me,” said the Jumping Jack.  “Let me introduce Mr. Plush Bear and Miss Wax Doll from North Pole Land,” and the Bear and Doll made polite bows, as did the Lamb on Wheels and the Calico Clown.

Then the toys talked together and had a good time among themselves until morning came, when they had to go back to their places and become quiet.  As soon as the store was opened for business Mr. Mugg and his daughters began arranging the playthings.  The Plush Bear was put in the show window, with the Wax Doll and some of the other new gifts.  It was the first time in his life that he had been in such a place, and you may be sure the Plush Bear looked about him with eagerness.

He was gazing out into a busy street—­a street where people were passing up and down all the while—­a street in which there was a layer of newly-fallen snow, only not as much as at the North Pole.

“I wonder if Santa Claus is here?” thought the Plush Bear.

But he could not speak aloud because so many eyes—­those of the passers-by in the street and the customers in the store—­were watching.  There was so much to see that the Plush Bear did not know at which to look first, but, all of a sudden, he heard a voice saying: 

“Oh, I want that Plush Bear!  I want that!  Can he do any tricks?”

The Plush Bear felt himself being lifted out of the show window of the toy shop.  The springs inside him were wound up by Mr. Mugg and when he was set down on a showcase near the window the Bear began to move his head and paws, and from his red mouth came a make-believe growl.

“Oh, I want him!  I want him!” the eager voice went on, and the Plush Bear was caught up by a fat boy—­the very fattest and jolliest boy that the toy had ever seen.  “I want this Plush Bear for my very own!” cried the fat boy.  “He’s the best toy I ever saw!”

CHAPTER VI

OUT OF THE WINDOW

“Don’t squeeze the Bear so hard, Arthur,” said a lady who was with the fat boy.  “You may break the toy before I have paid for him.”

“The Plush Bear is strong and well-made, Mrs. Rowe,” said Mr. Mugg.  “He is one of the newest of the Christmas toys, and I only put him in the show window this morning.”

“And I saw him when I was walking along!” exclaimed Arthur Rowe, the jolly fat boy.  “As soon as I saw him I knew I’d like him!  Oh, Mother, hear him growl!  And see him wave his paws!”

Indeed the Plush Bear was doing all his tricks, for he had been wound up by Mr. Mugg for that very purpose.  There he sat on the top of the glass showcase, growling away (make believe of course) and waving his paws like a real bear.

Other persons in the toy store crowded up to the showcase to watch the Plush Bear do his tricks, and Arthur, the jolly fat boy, laughed loud and long as his plaything amused the throng.  For the Plush Bear was to belong to Arthur.  Passing down the street early that Winter morning, he had seen the toy in Mr. Mugg’s window, and had begged his mother to stop and go in and inquire about him.