He unwrapped a long train of cars and an engine.

“I got ’em for Christmas,” he said.  “They wind up with a key and you don’t have to have any track,” and down on his hands and knees went Carleton to start his train.

The assembly bell rang while the train was still running around, and Miss Davis had to catch it and leave it turned upside down with the little wheels whirring around while she marched her class into Miss May’s room for the morning exercises.

Several of the children brought new toys with them to school the next day.  Perry Phelps carried a sand toy which was a little car that ran up and down an inclined plane when filled with sand.  Jimmie Butterworth had a jumping rabbit that took a long hop when you pressed a rubber bulb.  Lottie Carr brought her new doll, and Dorothy Peters even carried her toy piano, though it was rather heavy.

“My dear little people!” said Miss Davis, when she saw all these toys, “do you think you will be able to keep your mind on lessons with these delightful and distracting presents arranged around the room?  Or shall I put them in the cloak room for you till recess?”

The children were sure they could pay attention to lessons and still look at the Christmas toys, so Miss Davis allowed them to put the presents under the sand table, and she said no one must touch a thing till recess.  And then, goodness me, wasn’t there a gay time!  Jessie’s doll walked and Carleton’s train ran around and around, the little sand car jerked up and down its track, the rabbit hopped on top of the desks, and Dorothy’s piano tinkled seven different tunes at once as seven different children tried to play on it.  Miss May came across the hall to see what the class could be doing to make so much noise.

“Why, it looks like Christmas!” she said, smiling.

“Yes, and I don’t know whether we can settle down after so much excitement,” answered Miss Davis doubtfully.  “There goes the bell.  Put the toys back under the table, children, and take your seats.”

Sunny Boy walked home thoughtfully.  He usually walked most of the way to school and home again alone, for none of the pupils lived very near him.

“I’m going to take something to show ’em, to-morrow,” he said to himself.  “My ice skates and sled aren’t much fun.  I know what I’ll do!  I’ll take the lead soldiers!”

He was so excited over this idea that he ran the rest of the way home and was quite out of breath by the time he reached his front door.  He had to go up in the playroom and put his lead soldiers back in the box they had come in before he could come to lunch.

“What were you doing, precious?” his mother asked him, when he came into the dining-room.  “Didn’t you hear Harriet calling you?”

“Yes, Mother, and I did hurry,” replied Sunny Boy.  “But I have to take my lead soldiers to school to-morrow and I was putting them in the box.”