The boy stood first on one foot and then on the other.  He looked first at the Jack in the Box and then at the Donkey.

“They are both nice,” he said; “but I think I would rather have the Jack.  I’ll have the Donkey next Christmas.”

The Jack in the Box was set aside with the Cloth Doll, and then the lady and the little boy and girl passed on.  But all that day there were many other boys and girls who came into the store to look at the toys.  Some only came to look, while others, as before, bought the things they wanted, or had them set aside for Christmas.

After a while it began to grow dark in the store, just as it had grown dark in the workshop of Santa Claus.

“Now I will soon be able to move about and talk to the other toys,” thought the Nodding Donkey.  But this was not to be—­just yet.

“Turn on the lights, Angelina,” called Mr. Mugg to his daughter, and soon the store was glowing brightly.

“Hum!  It seems they work at night here, as well as by day,” thought the Nodding Donkey.  “It was not so at North Pole Land.  But it is very jolly, and I like it.”

During the evening, when the lights were glowing, many other customers came in, but there were not so many boys and girls.  The Nodding Donkey had been taken down more than once and made to do his trick of shaking his head, but, so far, no one had bought him.  And though the China Cat had also been looked at and admired, no one had bought her.

At last Mr. Mugg stretched his arms, yawned as though he might be very sleepy, and said: 

“Turn out the lights, Angelina!  It is time to close the shop and go to bed.”

Soon the toy shop was in darkness, all except one light that was kept burning all night.  The place became very still and quiet, the only noise being made by a little mouse, who came out to get some crumbs dropped by Mr. Mugg, who had eaten his lunch in the store.

“Ahem!” suddenly said the Nodding Donkey.  “Do you mind if I speak to you?” he asked the China Cat, who stood near him on the shelf.

“Not at all,” was the kind answer.  “I was just going to ask how you came here.”

“I came direct from the workshop of Santa Claus at the North Pole,” answered the Nodding Donkey.  “And I suppose, just as we toys could do there, that we are allowed to move about and talk while here.”

“Oh, yes,” answered the China Cat.  “We can make believe we are alive as long as no one sees us.  But tell me, how is everything at the North Pole?  It is some time since I was there, as I was made early in the season.”

“Well, Santa Claus is as happy and jolly as ever,” said the Nodding Donkey, “and his men are just as busy.  We had a dreadful accident though, coming down to Earth!”

“You did?” mewed the China Cat.  “Tell me about it,” and she moved her tail from one side to the other.

Before the Nodding Donkey could speak in answer to this request, a voice suddenly asked: