Edith King Hall

“ I am going to propose to the Rabbit a private performance in front of your sentry-box. I shall say I have suggested it in order to vary the terrible dulness of your existence. Having finished our performance I shall lead the way straight forward, with our backs towards you. When we have gone a few steps I shall 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 to step quietly out of your box, and, pretending to stumble, stab the Rabbit in the back with your bayonet. ”

“ The next day the Bicycle-man passed that way again, and she danced her very best, hoping to win his heart.
“That is really not bad,” he said; “not at all bad. You dance quite nicely, as dancing goes.”
“Oh sweetheart, I love you!” she said, encouraged by his praise.
“I really cannot stand such remarks,” said the Bicycle-man. “They make me both angry and confused.”
And he went on, leaving her in tears.
“Why do you trouble about him?” said the Little China Doll. “He is not worth it. A penny Toy, indeed! You turn his head. Take no more notice of him.” ”

“ On the morrow the Bicycle-man appeared as usual.
“It is all settled,” he said. “I hope to marry the doll to whom the Red House belongs, before the week is out. I fear my marriage will be a disappointment to many a lady.”
The Little Dancer made no reply: she was too heart-broken to utter a sound.102
“Are you not going to wish me happiness?” he asked.
But the Little Dancer still spoke not. She danced faster and faster as the tears fell from her eyes.
The Bicycle-man did not notice how quickly her tears were falling. ”

“ So great that it kept her silent.
“You seem rather surprised,” said the little Marionette. “Why?”
“Why, I never knew you could talk!” she exclaimed, recovering a little from her surprise. “Or any other toy, either,” she added.
“Life is full of surprises,” remarked the little Marionette; “especially in the toy-shop.” ”

“ I shall creep into his stall, and suddenly, and with a precise aim, throw a piece of gold at the pupils of his wicked eyes. Thus he will be totally blinded by the gold he has wrongfully helped to keep. A most fit and proper punishment.”
“Your plans are well and thoughtfully worked out,” said the Owl, blinking his eyes.
“To business, then,” remarked the Rabbit; and the two having first procured the gum took their way to the sentry-box; the Rabbit strolling thither on his hind-legs to avoid any appearance of alarm or haste, the Owl hopping by his side with a certain grave and sleepy dignity.41 ”

“ The days of the Rabbit are numbered.”
“Good!” neighed the Horse; “and the quantity of my corn, oats,—besides carrots, apples, and other luxuries,—will be beyond number. We’ll at once open an account with the fruiterer and corn-dealer.”
“Also the cheese-monger,” said the Mouse. “Well, I must go; there is not a moment to be lost if we wish to carry out our plan.” Then he hurried off to the Sentry.
“Sentry,” said he, “are you prepared to run some risk for the sake of money?”
“For the sake of money I’m prepared to do anything,” said the wicked fellow.
“Then listen,” said the Mouse. ”

“ I always used to like toy-soldiers. I never shall again.”
“I should not like you to judge of all soldiers by the wooden ones I have told you of,”94 said the Marionette. “We have had in the shop sets of wooden and tin soldiers of the highest character; gallant fellows, beloved and esteemed by all. I will tell you of them to-morrow if you like.” ”

“ And it was in this frame of mind that, on the following morning, he drove to the Butcher’s shop, outside of which a large crowd was gathered.
“Well,” he said with a smile to the Clown who headed the crowd; “well, and what is the ladies’ opinion about my beauty?”
“The ladies have decided,” said the Clown, nodding his head and speaking very rapidly, “the ladies have all decided—mind you, all decided—that you are a hansom man. And so say I.”
The Hansom-driver climbed down from his seat.
“Shake hands,” he said. “One doesn’t find a fellow of sense like you every day.” ”

“ Claribelle asked scornfully.
“Let bygones be bygones,” said he. “Besides, I never called you yaller.”
“Our engagement is ended,” she said.
“Claribelle,” he said kindly but firmly, “listen to what I say. If you do not tame your proud temper, you will one day bring sorrow upon yourself.” Then he left, wounded and displeased.131
The next day he came again.
“I may be going away,” he said, “to the other side of the shop, to the opposite counter.” ”

“ The common-sense Doll looked even more practical than before.
“That is it, is it?” she said. “A morbid longing after a Dream. I begin to understand.164 Nerves,—indigestion,—too many sweet things,—I fear I cannot, then, be of much assistance. However, the General of the Tin Soldiers has a wonderful turn for doctoring, quite a natural gift. I will send him to you. He may be able to do you some good.”
So she went on her way, and the little Marionette was once more alone with her sorrow and regret. ”

“ Then before the Mouse could offer any protest, the Rabbit bit his head right off and swallowed it.
“You will observe,” said the Rabbit to the Owl with dignity, “that I still maintain my proper position in the eyes of the world as a Welsh rare-bit, but the Mouse, owing to his54 misdeeds, is now in the contemptible state of the biter bit. Such is the end of the wicked.
“As for you,” he continued to the Sentry, who, with his boastful spirit crushed, stood trembling in the Sentry-box; “as for you, you have seen too much of the world and its ways. ”

“ As a matter of fact, when she walked down the counter she held her nose so much in the air that it was very rarely she saw anyone. She did not care in the least whether she trod on other people’s toes or not.
From this you will easily understand that she was a Toy who gained more admiration125 than love. There was, however, one who was truly devoted to Claribelle. This was the Driver of the Wagon, who was always of the opinion that beneath her haughty manner lay a kind heart. ”

“ Now by the time the Rabbit and the Mouse returned to the sentry-box, the gum had had time to get well dried, so that the Sentry was firmly fixed in his box. Nevertheless, there was still the danger that he might attempt to move, and so find out too soon the trick that had been played upon him. To avert this, directly the Rabbit came back again he lost no time in remarking to the Sentry:
“Yes, I acknowledge you have won the bet. But you have only just managed to do so; you are looking quite tired out. ”

“ One cannot do too much to encourage the love of music amongst all classes.”
“When will our first dividends be paid?” asked the Rabbit.28
“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 to you, but I doubt you would not understand all the details.”
“Very good; I will not trouble you,” answered his companion easily. “I have perfect faith in your judgment, and will leave all to you.”
Yet from time to time, as was natural, he still made inquiries, which the Mouse began to find troublesome. ”

“ The China Doll she really could not be on intimate terms with, because she had a crack across her cheek. Fancy being seen walking with a cracky person!124 Also, she must really decline being introduced to the Farthing Doll. A very good, worthy person, no doubt, but really she and a doll worth a farthing could not possibly have many tastes in common.
As to the Rag Doll, she was a pushing person. At a tea-party at which they had both been present, she had asked Claribelle if she didn’t think that skirts were fuller. ”

“ The Horse himself was not the noble creature nature had intended him to be. He was26 to the full as greedy as the Mouse, and was indeed his helper in the plot. It was to the Horse the little swindler always ran when he pretended that he was going to invest the money, and it was in his stall that it was hidden. By the end of the half-year the Horse and the Mouse calculated that they would have27 sufficient money to carry out their design; when they intended to add further to their wickedness by causing the Rabbit to be killed, in order to prevent his asking any tiresome questions. ”

“ Then, having called the Owl and stated the terms of the bet, the Rabbit went home.
Here he awaited the arrival of the Mouse, who presently returned, full of pretended sympathy for the dulness of the Sentry’s life.
“He told me to-day,” said the little rascal, “that the dulness of his life was killing him. It struck me that it would be really an act of charity on our part to give him a little performance, and let him fully understand we expect no money for it. I hinted at something of the sort to him, and the poor fellow’s face lighted up in a way that was quite touching. ”

“ Whilst he is away I will spread the bottom of the sentry-box with gum. When, on his return, he steps into the box, I shall keep him still, and give the gum time to take effect, by offering him a bet of a gold piece that he will not stand perfectly motionless whilst I go home39 and back. He is very fond of a bet, and is sure to accept it. Leaving you to see that he acts fairly, I shall go and meet the Mouse, returning here for the performance which is to be suggested. ”

“ There was a certain Horse who lived some little way off in a luxurious stable. Here the Mouse was minded to pass his last years, so soon as he had made a sufficiently large fortune, or unless chance removed him from the toy-shop. ”

“ Though in the end, poor creature, she became, it is true, an altered character.”122
“‘Poor Claribelle!’ Who was she?”
“A young lady doll whose bad temper, unfortunately for her, brought her great sorrow.
“I should like to hear about her,” said the little girl.
The little Marionette mused a moment. “I should not do wrong to tell you,” she remarked. “The story of this poor, proud creature may perhaps serve as a lesson and warning to some other haughty and fanciful young lady. Yes, you shall hear to-morrow evening of Claribelle.” ”

“ The Mouse considered for a moment, then he said:
“I think I know the very fellow for the job. There is the Sentry who always stands in his wooden box. He is a chap who will do anything to vary the dulness of his life and earn a little money. ”

“ It is an occasion to seize, for he is hardly ever awake when other people are, and he tells a story better than anyone else I know.”
“Well, I rather think I will,” answered the Sentry. “I’m very fond of a good story. You take my place whilst I’m away, there’s a43 good fellow. Here, put down your drum and take my bayonet.”
“Very good,” answered the Rabbit, and the Sentry hurried off.
The moment he had turned the corner the Rabbit set to work and spread gum all over the floor of the sentry-box. ”

“ From this instance, which is only one example78 of many, you will easily understand how the Wooden Soldiers came to be disliked in the toy-shop.
As for the fear they inspired, this was partly owing to the long swords they wore, and partly owing to the boasting way in which they vowed they could use them.
“My men and I really command the whole shop,” said the Officer one day. “Moreover, who faces one, faces all, for we all march in the same direction. We not only have our good swords, but we know how to use them. ”

“ Who would have imagined so great an amount of deceit dwelt in so small a body?”37
Then he recovered his spirit. “I will baulk him yet!” he exclaimed, his pink eyes flashing, and his white fur bristling with excitement.
“How can I help you?” asked the Owl. “I will endeavor to keep awake as long as I am wanted.”
“Wait a moment,” answered the Rabbit,38 and then he beat a tattoo thoughtfully on his drum. “I think I have arrived at a conclusion,” he said presently. “I will meet their dastardly plot by a counter-plot. I do not expect the Mouse back for another half-hour ”

“ On the morrow he came once more.
“I have come to say good-bye,” he said.
“Oh!” she replied; but not a word more.
“Aren’t you sorry?” he asked again.
“Yes,” she replied, “because the Farthing Doll put her foot on my dress this morning in passing me, and tore it. She is a clumsy thing.”
“You are trying my patience too far,” he said. “Proud Claribelle, beware! Beware, proud Claribelle!”
“You confirm me in my resolution,” said133 she. “I will never marry a Toy who gives way to his temper over nothing. Once for all, our engagement is at an end.” ”

“ And she smiled.
“Force of habit, I suppose, as she herself said,” she remarked after a pause. “We all have our little ways. Now what sort of story would you like to-morrow?”
The little girl thought deeply for a few73 moments. Then she said: “You have told me a story about a sailor, so I should like the next one to be about a soldier.”
“A soldier—a soldier—” the Marionette answered. “I don’t think I know one about a soldier—Yes, stay; there is the story of the Officer and the Elephant. That is about a soldier.”
“An Officer and an Elephant! How nice!” exclaimed the little girl eagerly. ”

“ We shall never act together again. I heard the woman who owned the shop say that she was going to separate us, and sell us as ordinary Toys. She said there was so little demand161 for Marionettes nowadays.... But you heard that as well as I, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I heard,” he answered. “And more, too. She said she was going to send me away with some other Toys to a Christmas-tree. So that it will be good-bye for a long while.”
The little lady Marionette patted the paniers of her pretty brocade dress and remained silent.
“You don’t mind that, do you?” her partner said. “I thought you wouldn’t.” ”

“ Alack-a-day!”
107When the tale was ended the little girl took out her handkerchief and wiped her eyes.
“Come, this won’t do,” said the little Marionette. “I should not have told you the story if I had thought you were going to take it so much to heart.”
“I am very sorry for the poor Little Dancer,” she replied sadly; “I wish that the Bicycle-man had not been so unkind.”
“Well, well, it is all over now. Wipe your eyes; you can’t do any good by crying, and I don’t like seeing tears,” said her friend. ”