The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1912-11-13
THE TOY
MAN
D. VIRGINIA BLAIR

arc you BuL0 yOo RA0 heAAAo 49,
the truth I" Mrs. Danforth asked. %
course I do not want to doubt youl
word. Peggy. but you know you de
weave fairy tales sometimes. and thit
sounds like one"
mo. this is a really and truly man.
Peggy insisted. land he lives In biz
house on top Of a hill. and you go In
BY a little gate and there is a wall
with holly trees on each side Of IT.
and at the end there is a door. with
q brass knocker with funny face
and you knock. and the man opens the
door. and shows you into a long room
that 10 almost dark except at one end
where there IL q window with a lot
Of colored glass In It, and all around
the room are toys. and the man wears
. velvet coat and he has lovely
smile. mother"
But how" Mrs. Danforth demand.
cd. did you happen to go there.
Pegsyf"
IAN the children do" Peggy do
clared. When we go home from
school We run up the path and bang
with the knocker and see the toys,
and he never soolds. but just seems
glad to have u.s."
We'll. don't you go again." Mrs.
Danforth said. until ! find out about
him. Peggy. 1t is a strange kind OF
man that wanted to bother with all
the small boys and girls from your
school"
They don't all go. mother" said
Josephine. who was Peggy's sister,
nineteen. and very pretty. II went
To meet Peggy yesterday and there lie
. colored porter who stands at the
gate and he does not let all the chill
dren in. Just the littlest ones like
Psgsy."
Yes. Just the littlest ones like
me-" said Peggy. complacently. "and
asked him who the toys were for and
no said he was making them for good
children for Christmas"
Josephine laughed. DO you think
you're going to get somer'
Peggy nodded.
Il am going to be as good a. good"
she said.
When Peggy had left the room Mrs.
Danforth asked. rs 1t the new tenant
at the Oaks that she IL talking about.
Josephinef"
Yes. He moved in a week ago. and
It 10 4 funny household. mother. There
10 Just the toy man with two old
servants. two wolf-hounds and q white
cat"
Does he make the toys" Mrs. Dan.
forth asked.
Josephins nodded. Yes. he carvee
all day. 80 the teacher told me.
met her the other day when I went
for Peggy"
The next afternoon Peggy did not
get home on time. Her apologies
when she did return were profuse.
The Toy Man was waiting for me
and Just had to CO."
But I told you not to-" Mrs. Dan.
forth said.
He asked me and asked me. moth.
err" Peggy said. "and you wouldn't
want me to be not polite. would your
THE next time you must tell him
that mother does not want you to 60
in. Now. remember. Peggy"
The next day Peggy came home
with a rueful countenance.
He came out and asked me to &c
in," she stated. "and / did not feel
very nice to tell him you wouldn't lei
me-"
Il wonder why he wants Peggy
more than the other children" Mrs
Danforth asked Josephine.
Goodness only knows" said 10
sephine. and that afternoon. moved
by curiosity. she made her walk take
her in the roadway that led to the
Oaks
Thus 1t happened that she met the
gentleman with the nice smile and
the velveteen coat face to face He
was standing at the gate. and as the
children passed he asked them tC
come in. selecting, as Peggy had said
the littlest ones. Josephine JOINED
Peggy as the little maid said. regret
fully, 81 mustn't come in. Mother
won't let me-" Then she questioned
Josephine. Don't you think I could
Josey?"
Josephine hesitated. Maybe If
went, too"
Would your" asked the Toy MAI
eagerly. 81 should be SO glad to hav'
you"
He led the way to the big doc
and a group of little folks followed
Josephine found that Peggy had no
half told Of the beauty and charm O