Hurray! Hurray!"

Then the Toy Party began, and the children and the toys had so much fun
that it would take three books just to tell about half of it. Joe and
his Nodding Donkey were the guests of honor, and all the others tried to
make them feel happy. And Joe was happy! One look at his smiling face
told that.

As for the Nodding Donkey, you could tell by the way he moved his head
that never, in all his life, had he had such a good time.

When Mrs. Richmond called the children to the dining room to eat, the
toys were left by themselves in a playroom.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," said the Calico Clown in his jolly voice, "we
have all met together, after a long time of being apart. We have all had
good times together, and now I hope you will all agree with me when I
say that we are glad to welcome the Nodding Donkey among us."

[Illustration: The Nodding Donkey is Welcomed by the Calico Clown.
_Page 118_]

"Yes, he is very welcome," said the Sawdust Doll. "We are glad he has
come to live in this part of the world."

"I am glad of it myself," said the Nodding Donkey. "I never knew, while
I was in the workshop of Santa Claus, that so many things could happen
down here. Yes, I am very happy that I came. There is only one thing I
wish."