The Indiana State sentinel., 1879-12-24
All About a Toy Shop.
BY LESLIE THORNE.

BY LESLIE THORNE
The shelves of the Toy Thop were crowded
full of toys, for Christmas was not very far
off, when, as every one knows, Santa Claus
needs lots of fine things to select from-and
at night when the little shop-keeper was
asleep in his bed under the counter, they all
began to whisper to one another.
Somebody fetch me my little wooden
hammer" said the Xylophone, hoarsely, II
can't talk without my hammerl'
Nobody wants you to talk" said the
Jews harp.
"Give every man fair chance" said the
Tin Whistle.
ave got pair of hammers" said the
Drum, "only they're tied up in brown paper,
SO that / can't get at 'eni."
$50 have l." said the Tool Box
"If anyone would turn my crank" said the
Music Box, ,''Pd show 'em what Hail Column
bia' meant
But the Checker board lay quite silent and
never said a word, while box of Wooden
Soldiers went through the drill exercise,
Tin Train o. Cars ratified along the top shelf
and party of French Dolls, who considered
themselves very exclusive, chattered to-
gether in their box, and the little brown
Story Book said nothing at all. A Jack in
the Box kept bobbing his shaggy head upand
down, and the Wooden Acrobats Jumped
and leaped. and the Woolly Dog on the
counter, peeped over to see why the Wheel
barrows were making such racket.
'.If there's burglars about" said the Wool
ly Dog, sits my business to give the alarmp.
you'd better mind your own business"
| said Donkey, with two baskets glued on his
| back
'I don't see, for my part" said the King
in box of Ivory Chessmen, ''how ever got
into such vulgar company. 1 beg your
pardon, ma'am," to the biggest French Doll,
II don't mean to include you"
But the French Doll, elegant as she ap-
peared, could say nothing but mamma,
mammal Papa, papal" which, after all, was
no answer to the Chess Kings remark
Il wonder which of us will be bought
first" said velocipede.
Me, of course" said the Chess King
promptly. ;.
"Mamma! Papar' said the biggest French
| Doll, rolling up the fine blue eyes which
were made to shut and open with the pulling
| of wire.
"Me," said Dancing Darkey who was
| Gathering up and down on his spring-board.
| "Me, to be sure" said the Woolly Dog,
who had pink ribbon tied about his fluffy
neck.
But the Checker-board was silent, and the
Story Book said nothing.
The Xylophope, who had got at his ham,
mer by this tiney began to pound away like
good fellow; the Tin Tea Sets clinked to-
gether in their boxes; the Marbles danced up
| and down on Solitaire Board; Toy
| Monkey began to turn the crank of the Mu-
sic Box, which ground "Hail Columbia over
and over again; the Drum beat a Tattoo,
| and the French Doll cried, 'sMamma, MAN.
mai Papa, papal" until every one was sick
of the two words, and in the midst of the
general racket, the Toy Seller walked up in
his bed under the counter.
"Bless me-" said the Toy Seller, 'whatever
is the matter? Has Bedlam broken loose, or
| is the whole city on fre?"
But all was quiet and silent. Every toy
| held its breath.
at must have beenrats," said the Toy Mer-
| chant. So he turned over and went to sleep
| again.
As soon as it was morning. the little child
rem began to gather around the windows and
| peep in at the brave show of toys. The
| Darkey danced as hard as he could. The
Woody Dog stared straight before him-the
French Doll simpered, and the Train of Tin
Cars stood ready to start off as soon as any
one would buy him. A French Fort, with
real little cannons, sentinels. and soldiers in
full uniform, looked contemptuously at a
box of cheap Tin Soldiers, and decorated
China Dinner Service pretended not to see a
Pewter Tea Set which was marked "Only five
cents" And every toy in the shop was in
autter of expectancy to know whether or
not he would be bought first.
While the Toy Seller ate his breakfast of
mush and milk in the little back shop, and
secretly hoped that trade would be good, so
that he could pay his rent, and get in new
stock of toys for the New Year.
aIf was rich," said a little ragged lad
who was 1attening his cold nose against the
window glass, "I'd buy that there dancing
nigger wouldn't it make the children at
home laugh7"
The Dancing Darkey was very much
pleased at this, and skipped up and down
more nimbly than ever.
"I'd have the little white pupl' said another
ragged elf, with hair sticking out of the crew
ices Of his tattered straw hat, 81 like dogs-I
doesl"
At this, the wool of the Woolly Dog stood
up erect with indignation.
sThe impudence of some folksp said he
"Where are his eyes, not to see that belong
to the aristocracyi"
.sHow should like that charming big doll
in the blue satin Dress" said q little girl, who
had been sent by her mother for pitcher Of
, beer, and was lettering by the way.
The French Doll made no remark, but
stared right straight over the little girls head,
as if she were too naughty even to notice her
And q humble Rag Doll, lying on the bot
tom SHELF. where nobody could see her, Sc
cretly longed to be carried away to some little
: girls home, and be cared for and made much
off
"But of course" said she, snobody would
!. notice a Door creature like me with thai
beautiful Talking Doll up in the windowp