"Where is the Nodding Donkey?" asked the Lion. "Why is he not here with
us?"

"I hope he hasn't become too proud, because he is a new, shiny toy and
we are old and battered," said the Tiger sadly.

"Nonsense!" rumbled the Elephant. "The Nodding Donkey is not that kind
of toy. He would be here if he could. Some accident has happened, you
may depend on it."

"Well, I'm glad my train didn't run over him," said the Engineer of the
toy locomotive.

"It was some kind of accident, I'm sure," insisted the Elephant. "I
heard Joe cry out, and his mother came running downstairs."

And it was an accident, as you know. All night the Nodding Donkey lay on
the shelf in the dining room. He had no other toys to talk to, and
perhaps it was just as well, for he did not feel like talking with his
broken leg hurting him as it did.

Early the next morning Mr. Richmond was on his way to the office, taking
the Nodding Donkey with him.

"Let me see him once more before you take him to the toy shop to be
fixed!" begged Joe, who had been told what was to be done with his
plaything.

Joe's father put the Nodding Donkey into his son's hands.