Joe was not as lively as he had been that day he went to Mr. Mugg's
store and bought the toy. There were days when Joe never took the
Nodding Donkey off the shelf at all. The wooden toy just had to stay
there, while Joe lay on a couch near the window and looked out.

"This is too bad!" thought the Donkey. "Joe ought to run about and play
like Arnold and Sidney. They have lots of fun in the snow, and they take
out the Calico Clown and the Bold Tin Soldier, too. I wish Joe would
take me out. I don't mind the cold of the snow as much as I minded the
cold water."

But Joe seemed to have forgotten about his Nodding Donkey. The toy stood
on a shelf over the couch where the lame boy lay. Once in a while Joe
would ask his mother to hand him down the Donkey, but more often the
lame boy would lie with his eyes closed, doing nothing.

Then, one day, a sad accident happened. Mrs. Richmond was upstairs,
getting Joe's bed ready for him. Though it was not yet night, he said he
felt so tired he thought he would go to bed. On the shelf over his head
was the Nodding Donkey.

Suddenly, in through a kitchen window that had been left open came
Frisky, the Chattering Squirrel. Over the floor scampered the lively
little chap, and he gave a sort of whistle at Joe.

"Oh, hello, Frisky!" said the lame boy, opening his eyes. "I'm glad you
came in!"

Of course Frisky could not say so in boy language, but he, too, was glad
to see Joe.