"Now I will pretend that this table is the circus ring," said Joe,
talking to himself, as he often did. "I will put the Nodding Donkey in
the middle and all the other animals around him. Then I'll be the
Ringmaster and make believe they are doing tricks."

So Joe put the Nodding Donkey in the very center of the table, where the
new toy bobbed his head up and down and sidewise, just as he had done in
the store of Mr. Mugg and in the workshop of Santa Claus.

"Now comes the Tiger," said Joe, going on with his circus play, and he
set that striped animal down near the Donkey. "And then the Lion. I hope
they don't bite my new Donkey."

But the Noah's Ark animals were very good and kind, and they did not so
much as open their mouths at the Nodding Donkey. Joe played away and had
lots of fun at his pretend circus, while his mother got the supper
ready. Once when she came into the room where the lame boy sat at the
table, Mrs. Richmond said:

"I just saw some friends of yours going past, Joe."

"Who were they?" asked Joe.

"Arnold and Sidney," was the answer. "Arnold had his Bold Tin Soldier,
and Sidney was carrying his Calico Clown."

"Oh, I want to see them!" cried Joe. "They have such fun with their
toys, and I want them to come in and see mine."