Tales of the Toys, Told by Themselves   By: Frances Freeling Broderip

TALES OF THE TOYS,

TOLD BY THEMSELVES.

BY

FRANCES FREELING BRODERIP.

AUTHOR OF "MY GRANDMOTHER'S BUDGET," "MERRY SONGS FOR LITTLE VOICES," "MAMMA'S MORNING GOSSIPS," ETC.

With Illustrations by Tom Hood.

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LONDON: GRIFFITH AND FARRAN, ( Successors to Newbery and Harris. ) CORNER OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD.

MDCCCLXIX.

CONTENTS.

PAGE. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. THE TURNING OUT OF THE TOY CUPBOARD 1

CHAPTER II. THE HISTORY OF THE BALL; WITH THE STORY OF THE POOR WIDOW WHO MADE IT 19

CHAPTER III. THE HOOP'S ROUND OF ADVENTURES 33

CHAPTER IV. THE FATE OF THE LEADEN TEA THINGS 47

CHAPTER V. THE MAKING OF THE KITE BY THE HOME CIRCLE 64

CHAPTER VI. THE DOLL AND ALL HER MISTRESSES 79

CHAPTER VII. THE TOY KITCHEN; AND ITS MAKER 98

CHAPTER VIII. THE FATE OF THE SHUTTLECOCK 113

CHAPTER IX. WHAT BECAME OF NOAH'S ARK AND ALL ITS BEASTS 129

CHAPTER X. THE MARBLES AND THEIR PROCEEDINGS 142

CHAPTER XI. WHY THE ROCKING HORSE RAN AWAY 159

CHAPTER XII. THE MISHAP OF THE SKIPPING ROPE 176

CHAPTER XIII. THE HUMMING TOP'S HISTORY 194

CHAPTER XIV. THE INTERRUPTION AND CONCLUSION 210

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TALES OF THE TOYS.

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY.

THE TURNING OUT OF THE TOY CUPBOARD.

"Hurrah! We are going to have such a jolly holiday!" shouted Frank, suddenly bursting out of his imprisonment in the slate closet, to the great disturbance of his sisters, who were peaceably occupied with their lessons.

"Frank," said Miss Watson, "I must really at last report you to your Papa. I do not like to trouble him if I can help it, but I am afraid you will oblige me to do so. I desired you not to leave the book closet until you had made up your mind to sit straight on your chair, and go through the multiplication table properly."

"We're to go to Sandbay for a month!" shouted Frank, capering about and clapping his hands.

"To Sandbay, Frank! oh, how charming!" cried Celia and Florry, with one voice.

"We shall be able to collect so many shells, and perhaps to get some anemones!" said Celia.

"I shall make such gardens and ovens in the sand!" cried Florry, opening her blue eyes as wide as possible. "I wonder what has become of my spade?"

"I'll leave Pa no peace till he takes me out for a sail," said Frank, whose antics had not yet subsided.

"I think you have all gone suddenly mad!" said Miss Watson. "Celia, I am surprised at you ! I have ceased to hope for quiet manners from Frank, and Florry is so little, she scarcely knows better; but your giddiness is not usual."

"I beg your pardon, Miss Watson," replied Celia, demurely; "only it was so nice to think of going to the Sea."

"But I don't understand the matter now," said poor Miss Watson, looking very mystified; "you knew nothing about this at breakfast, Frank, and how your companionship with the books and slates in the cupboard has enlightened you now, I don't know, nor can I give even a remote guess!"

"Why, the store cupboard in the dining room is next to the book closet," replied Frank, eagerly, "and just now, when I had got my hand on the lock of the door to come out and tell you I had had enough of solitary imprisoning, I heard Mamma come into the store cupboard (for some jam, I daresay!) and she said out loud to somebody, 'I mean to take the children for a month to Sandbay this summer!' That's what made me rush out to tell the girls the good news!"