saw himself put in the closet with the Noah's Ark animals.

"What is the matter?" asked the Lion. "Is Joe tired of playing with you,
as he grew tired of us?"

"I hope not," said the Nodding Donkey sadly.

But as that day passed, and the next, the Nodding Donkey grew very
lonesome for Joe, for he had learned to love the little lame boy.




CHAPTER X

JOE CAN RUN


About a week after Joe had been taken to the hospital, where he had been
put in a little white bed, with a rosy-cheeked nurse to look after him,
there came a knock on the door of the house where Joe lived, and where
the Nodding Donkey also had his home.

"Is Joe here?" asked a little girl named Mirabell, who carried in her
arms a toy Lamb on Wheels.

"Joe? No, dear, he isn't here. He is in the hospital having his lame
legs fixed," answered Mrs. Richmond. "Didn't you hear about his going
away?"