Adventures in Toyland; What the Marionette Told Molly

by Edith King Hall

  ADVENTURES IN TOYLAND

  To my little friends Dorothy & Doris in recollection ofthe time we spent in fairyland together.

  Altemus' Young People's Library

  ADVENTURES IN TOYLANDWhat the Marionette Told Molly

  by

  EDITH KING HALL

  With Seventy Illustrations

  Copyright 1900 by Henry Altemus CompanyPhiladelphiaHenry Altemus Company

  Contents Page.

  Chap. I. AFTER THE SHUTTERS WERE UP 13 " II. THE RABBIT AND THE MOUSE 20 " III. BELINDA 57 " IV. THE OFFICER AND THE ELEPHANT 75 " V. THE LITTLE DANCER 93 " VI. THE HANSOM-DRIVER 107 " VII. PROUD CLARIBELLE 121 " VIII. THE GROCER AND THE FARTHING DOLL 139 " IX. THE LAST PERFORMANCE 156

  LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

  Molly and the Marionette, Frontispiece

  Page.

  Unrolling the Adventures vThree Friends in Fairyland viThe Farthing Doll gets a Surprise viiFrom Noah's Ark viiFour Merry Ducklings ixBirds of a Feather xiiA Procession from the Ark 13"Molly's astonishment was great" 15The two Dancers 19The Marionette is waiting 20The Rabbit plays and the Mouse dances 21The Mouse collects the Money 24A Pair of Conspirators 26"The Sentry is both brave and wicked" 29The Mouse discloses its Plan 31The Owl listens behind the Sentry-box 35The Owl takes charge of the Drum 37On their way to the Sentry-box 39The Rabbit bids the Sentry Good-day 41The Rabbit spreads the Gum over the Floor 44The Mouse tries to look pious 49The Rabbit takes Vengeance 52Two little Tell-tales 56Here the Marionette paused 57Belinda shuts her Eyes 59"Simplicity and Self" 61The Sailor-lad tries to startle Belinda 65"Oh, Belinda, how I love you!" 69Bedtime in the Ark 74The Marionette in a hurry 75The Two Enemies 76"The Lady Dolls shrieked" 79The Officer threatens the Elephant 81"He fell under the animal's trunk" 87"He grunted and walked slowly away" 92Molly sits beside her Friend 93"One day she saw the Bicycle-man" 96"A very handsome fellow" 97"Something within her went--_Snap_!" 103"Alas! alack-a-day!" 106"Come, this won't do!" 107"The Hansom-driver was very plain" 109"The Butcher, the Baker, and the Clown" 111"My face is my fortune" 113"Every time he looked in the Glass" 115"Drove off as fast as he could" 120"I should like to hear about her" 121"Claribelle was a haughty doll" 123"The Rag Doll was a pushing person" 125The Driver begins to sing 127"Then she swept away" 131"The Driver got up with dignity" 133"He loved but drove away" 135Proud Claribelle is penitent 138"The two met as usual" 139The Grocer meets the Farthing Doll 140"They walked away hand in hand" 143"She handed him a joint of beef" 147"Supposing I said 'Yes' and you said 'No '" 149"They were happy ever after" 152"Molly ran away content" 155"The little Marionette lay on the ground" 156"They had just finished their dance" 160"I begin to understand--nerves" 165The General rides off to the nearest chemist 167The Clown dances a double-shuffle 169"You are not crying, dear, are you?" 171"She rocked to and fro silently" 175The Marionette fell asleep quite happily 177

  CHAPTER I

  All sorts of toys were to be found in that toy-shop. It was truly a placeto please any child! A little girl, who had come to stay there with heraunt--the owner of the shop--and her little cousin, was always to befound amongst the toys; she was forever picking up and admiring thisone, stroking that one, nursing another. All her spare moments werespent in the shop.

  It so happened one evening that she wandered in after the shutters wereput up, and the place was deserted. She paused before the spot whereshe was accustomed to find her favorite doll, a little lady Marionette,who, when wound up, danced gayly in company with her partner, a veryfine gentleman.

  They were both very prettily dressed. The little lady Marionette wore abeautiful white silk dress brocaded with pink roses, whilst her partnerhad on a blue velvet coat, knee breeches, white silk stockings, anddiamond shoe buckles. Their clothes were really very grand!

  And they danced so gayly, too.

  "Just as if they like dancing with each other!" the little girl oncesaid to her aunt.

  "You are a fanciful child, Molly," answered the woman, laughing.

  "All the same, I believe I am right," replied the little girl.

  This evening, however, they were not to be found in their accustomedplace. The little platform on which they danced was there, but the dollsthemselves were gone!

  The little girl looked round the shop much bewildered.

  "Where _can_ they be?" she said.

  At last she saw the little lady Marionette sitting on the right handcounter, with her back against the Noah's Ark.

  "Well, how funny!" exclaimed the little girl aloud. "How have _you_ gotthere?"

  "Walked, of course," answered the little Marionette in a sweet littlevoice.

  The little girl's astonishment at this reply was very great. So greatthat it kept her silent.

  "You seem rather surprised," said the little Marionette. "Why?"

  "Why, I never knew you could talk!" she exclaimed, recovering a littlefrom her surprise. "Or any other toy, either," she added.

  "Life is full of surprises," remarked the little Marionette; "especiallyin the toy-shop."

  "I wish you would tell me all about it," said the little girl, becomingbolder. "If toys can walk and talk, why don't children know it?"

  "Because, although they have known many toys, yet they are very ignorantregarding their habits," she answered. "_That_ is the reason.

  "At the same time," she continued, "as it is, generally speaking, onlywhen mortals are not present that we _can_ move and speak freely, thisignorance is, perhaps, partly excusable."

  "But how long will you be able to go on talking to me?"

  "That I can't tell you. I can only say that our power of talking to aMortal--a power which comes but once in the lifetime of everytoy--generally lasts from a for
tnight to three weeks."

  The little girl clapped her hands.

  "You will be able to talk to me, then, every day that I am here!" sheexclaimed with pleasure. "I am only going to stay with my aunt and mycousin for twelve days longer."

  She paused a moment, then added:

  "How I should like you to tell me some stories of toys--a new storyevery day, you know. Couldn't you do that?"

  The little Marionette looked doubtful.

  "Before I attempt anything of the sort, I shall have to consult FatherChristmas--the well-known and much-esteemed patriarch. As he is the Headof our Society, I should like to do nothing without his advice andsanction."

  The little girl sighed anxiously.

  "I _do_ hope he'll say 'yes'," she said. "I want so much to hear storiesof toys told by a toy."

  "I'll do my best to please you," said the little Marionette. "Come hereat the same time to-morrow,--by yourself, for I can only speak beforeone Mortal at a time,--and I will see what I can do."

  "Thank you," she said gratefully. "Please give my best love to FatherChristmas; and tell him if he says 'yes' I will see that Auntie puts himat the very top of the Christmas tree."

  She turned to go, then paused and came back.

  "I should just like to ask you one thing before I go," she said. "Don'tyou and your partner enjoy dancing together?"

  The pink cheeks of the little lady seemed to grow a little pinker.

  "Perhaps we do," she replied.

  "I thought so," remarked her new friend with some satisfaction. "Goodevening! I shall come again to-morrow at this same time."

  CHAPTER II

  The next evening the little girl returned to the Noah's Ark, where shefound the little Marionette in the same position.

  "Well!" she said eagerly.

  "I have consulted Father Christmas," answered the little Marionette. "Heis of the opinion that I may, without harm, tell you tales of _some_ ofthe toys. You shall therefore hear the most interesting stories I canremember."

  "That will be very nice," said the little girl. "Will you begin atonce?"

  "At once," she agreed, and began the story of "The Rabbit and theMouse."

  THE RABBIT & THE MOUSE

  The white Rabbit and the brown Mouse were both talented, though indifferent ways. The Rabbit's talent showed itself in the precision andvigor with which he could beat a drum as he sat on his hind-legs; theMouse in the swiftness and grace with which he could speed to and froupon the counter.

  Talking over the matter, they arrived at the conclusion that if theywent up and down the counter together as a traveling-show they mightturn a very pretty penny. The Rabbit was to display his musical talent,whilst the Mouse was to exhibit his powers of graceful movement.

  The profits were to be equally divided. Such, at least, was thearrangement as _understood_; but it was not a _written_ agreement, whichwas a great mistake.

  The reason, however, that the two partners omitted to be morebusiness-like was this: the Rabbit trusted the Mouse, and the Mousehoped to cheat the Rabbit. Not that anything of the sort was openlyexpressed, but each was quite well aware of his own view of the matter.

  The two started off upon the most amiable terms, stopping at such placesas they thought most likely to prove profitable: in front of the dolls'houses; before the race-courses; by the shops. Then the Rabbit wouldannounce loudly:

  "I am a rare-bit from Wales, and the Mouse is a tit-bit from Ireland.We charge no fees for performing, but trust to your kind generosity."

  After this the Rabbit played the drum with great energy, whilst theMouse ran up and down in the most nimble manner.

  It was probably owing to a report which got abroad, to the effect thatthe performers were noble strangers, working in the cause of charity,that the success of the pair was so great. It was, indeed, wonderful,and in a short time the two had gained quite a little fortune.

  It was the Mouse who collected the money. For purposes of his own, hepersuaded the Rabbit to let him always take upon himself this duty. Andhis companion, who was rather stiff in the joints after sittingperfectly still upon his hind-legs for the length of time he was obligedto, was quite willing to let the Mouse do as he wished.

  Not that he would have been willing to had he known the real facts ofthe case. For as you will understand by what I have said, the Mouse wasacting towards him in the most dishonest fashion, in spite of his manyfair words and speeches.

  It was in this way that he plotted against his friend: As soon as acertain sum of money had been collected, the Mouse always suggested thathe should go and invest it. To this the Rabbit never made any objection,having great faith in the Mouse as an animal with a good business head.

  When the little rascal returned after a long absence, he had always afine story to tell of the cleverness with which he had laid out themoney, and of the fortune which would shortly be coming in. This wasperfectly untrue. The Mouse was not investing a penny. On the contrary,he was hoarding it all up, and for his own benefit.

  There was a certain Horse who lived some little way off in a luxuriousstable. Here the Mouse was minded to pass his last years, so soon as hehad made a sufficiently large fortune, or unless chance removed him fromthe toy-shop. But in order to carry out his plan, he would have to paythe Horse a large sum for the right of sharehold--since it was his stallhe wished to share,--and also to get the warm, cosy corner he especiallydesired.

  The Horse himself was not the noble creature nature had intended him tobe. He was to the full as greedy as the Mouse, and was indeed hishelper in the plot. It was to the Horse the little swindler always ranwhen he pretended that he was going to invest the money, and it was inhis stall that it was hidden. By the end of the half-year the Horse andthe Mouse calculated that they would have sufficient money to carry outtheir design; when they intended to add further to their wickedness bycausing the Rabbit to be killed, in order to prevent his asking anytiresome questions.

  Now, as the time drew near when the money, had it been invested, shouldhave brought in some returns, the Rabbit began to talk of what heintended doing with _his_ share.

  "I think," said he, "after I have supplied my own wants, I shall found adrum-scholarship for Musical Rabbits;" for he was a creature of a kindand generous nature, and truly devoted to the cause of art.

  "A most excellent notion," said the Mouse. "I shall follow your goodexample, and found a scholarship for the encouragement of harmonioussqueaking amongst Mice. One cannot do too much to encourage the love ofmusic amongst all classes."

  "When will our first dividends be paid?" asked the Rabbit.

  "The money ought to have been paid already," answered the little scamp,"but business is very bad just at present. I would explain the matter toyou, but I doubt you would not understand all the details."

  "Very good; I will not trouble you," answered his companion easily. "Ihave perfect faith in your judgment, and will leave all to you."

  Yet from time to time, as was natural, he still made inquiries, whichthe Mouse began to find troublesome. He therefore consulted with hiswicked friend the Horse, and they resolved that, as the half-year wasapproaching, and they had got sufficient money for what they wanted, itwas better to delay the carrying out of their plot no longer, but tokill the Rabbit as soon as it could be managed--indeed that very day.

  "To whom shall we intrust the deed?" asked the Horse. "There would betoo great a risk for either of us to undertake it, I fear. If we werediscovered there would at once be an end of all our plans. Our moneywould be taken, and possibly our lives also."

  The Mouse considered for a moment, then he said:

  "I think I know the very fellow for the job. There is the Sentry whoalways stands in his wooden box. He is a chap who will do anything tovary the dulness of his life and earn a little money. He told me so theother day. He is both brave and wicked. Let _him_ him do the deed."

  "Very well," replied the Horse; "I think your idea is good. Will youarrange the matter so that it be carried out
without any mistake?"

  "Leave it to me," replied the other. "You need not disturb yourself. Thedays of the Rabbit are numbered."

  "Good!" neighed the Horse; "and the quantity of my corn, oats,--besidescarrots, apples, and other luxuries,--will be _beyond_ number. We'll atonce open an account with the fruiterer and corn-dealer."

  "Also the cheese-monger," said the Mouse. "Well, I must go; there is nota moment to be lost if we wish to carry out our plan." Then he hurriedoff to the Sentry.

  "Sentry," said he, "are you prepared to run some risk for the sake ofmoney?"

  "For the sake of money I'm prepared to do anything," said the wickedfellow.

  "Then listen," said the Mouse. "There is a sum of money that, strictlyspeaking, ought to be divided between the Rabbit and myself. But thebest way appears to be that I should have it all. But that is a littledifficult so long as he is alive. So I come to you to ask you if youwill kill him, provided I fill your knapsack with gold."

  "Upon that condition, yes," said the ruffian. "But don't attempt tobreak it, or I shall put an end to you as well as your friend."

  "Never fear. Rest assured you shall have it," said the Mouse.

  "Now for the details of the plot," he continued. "I am going to proposeto the Rabbit a private performance in front of your sentry-box. I shallsay I have suggested it in order to vary the terrible dulness of yourexistence. Having finished our performance I shall lead the way straightforward, _with our backs towards you_. When we have gone a few steps Ishall remark loudly, 'That Sentry friend of ours is a smart chap; _he_knows how to handle the bayonet'. This is to be the signal for you tostep quietly out of your box, and, pretending to stumble, stab theRabbit in the back with your bayonet. This should be quite easy, for heis sure to be walking away on his hind-legs. He has fallen into thathabit since he has taken to playing the drum. You and I will, of course,exhibit much grief, and declare that his death was an unfortunateaccident. You see the plan offers no difficulty."