For a minute or two longer the lame boy and his mother stood in front of
the show window of the toy shop of Mr. Horatio Mugg and his two
daughters. The lame boy looked at the Nodding Donkey and the Nodding
Donkey bobbed his head in such a funny fashion that the lame boy smiled.

"I'm glad I could make him do that," thought the Donkey. "He doesn't
look so sad when he smiles. I wonder what is the matter with him that he
walks in such a funny way?"

Of course the Nodding Donkey did not know what it meant to be lame. His
own wooden legs were straight and stiff, and he did not need crutches,
as did the lame boy.

"Be sure it is the Nodding Donkey you want, and not some other toy,"
said the boy's mother, as they looked at the things in the window.

"Yes, Mother, I'd rather have him than anything else," the boy answered,
and into the store they went. Mr. Mugg came out from behind the counter.

"Would you like to look at some toys?" asked the storekeeper.

"My little boy thinks he would like the Nodding Donkey in the window,"
said the lady, whose name was Mrs. Richmond.

"Ah, yes, that is a very fine toy!" said Mr. Mugg, with a smile for the
lame boy. "It is one of the very latest from the shop of Santa Claus.
Geraldine, please show the boy the Nodding Donkey," Mr. Mugg called, and
as Joe, the lame boy, walked along with Miss Geraldine, Mr. Mugg said to
Mrs. Richmond: