awakened. He heard a hammering, but it was not on his back. It was
outside the case in which he was packed, and he soon noticed that some
one was knocking off the boards that formed the cover.

With a wrench and a squeak one of the cover boards was raised, letting
in a flood of light. The Nodding Donkey blinked his eyes, coming out of
the darkness into the glare of the light. Then he felt himself being
lifted up and set on a shelf. At the same time he heard a pleasant voice
saying:

"Here is the case of new toys, Daughters. And see, one of the very
newest is a Nodding Donkey! I'm sure he will please some little boy or
girl!"

The Nodding Donkey looked around him. He was on a shelf in the jolliest
toy store he had ever imagined. It was almost as nice as the workshop of
Santa Claus. Standing in front of the shelf was a white-haired old man
and two ladies, one on either side of him. The three were looking at the
Nodding Donkey, who bowed his head at them as if saying:

"How do you do? I am very glad to meet you!"




CHAPTER IV

THE CHINA CAT