A NICE MAN


"Dear me!" thought the White Rocking Horse to himself, as he felt the
boy banging hard, leather heels into his side. "This is quite
dreadful! I hope I am not sold to this boy! He would be a very
unpleasant master to have, I am sure!"

Just because the White Rocking Horse and the other toys could not talk
and move about when human eyes were watching them, did not stop them
from thinking things to themselves, or from having feelings. And you
may be very sure the White Rocking Horse felt that his feelings were
very much hurt when the boy banged his heels so hard into the sides of
the steed.

"I certainly hope I am not going to belong to this boy," thought the
White Rocking Horse, and he looked toward the toy counter. He saw the
Calico Clown glancing sadly at him, and he noticed the Monkey on a
Stick making funny faces at the boy.

"I wish I could make that boy come over here and look at me," thought
the Monkey. "Then he would let my friend, the White Rocking Horse,
alone."

But the rude boy seemed to like being in the red leather saddle on the
back of the Rocking Horse.

"Grid-dap! Go 'long there!" cried the boy, and again he clapped his
heels against the wooden sides of the Horse, chipping off bits of
paint. With his hands the boy yanked on the reins until he nearly