"I'll get a little oil and rub the spots out. They won't show, and the
Horse will be as good as ever. It's a shame such boys are allowed in
the toy department."

"Buy me this Calico Clown!" cried the boy, who was punching the gaily
dressed toy, and making the cymbals clang. "I want this, if I can't
have the Rocking Horse!"

"No, you can't have anything until Christmas," said his mother. "Put
it back, Reginald!"

The boy frowned and tossed the Calico Clown back on the counter so
hard one of the cymbals struck the Candy Rabbit and chipped a little
piece of sugar off one ear.

And all the toys were glad when the boy's mother finally took him
away.

"I must get you a pair of shoes, Reginald," she said.

"I hope she gets him a pair that pinches his toes!" thought the Bold
Tin Soldier. "Such boys should be taught not to break toys, and they
never, never should be allowed to pull the ears off a rocking horse."

And if the White Rocking Horse could have spoken, he would have said
the same thing, I am sure.

Other boys came in to try the White Rocking Horse, and they were all
good boys. They took their place in the red saddle very quietly, and
did not bang with their heels. Nor did they yank and seesaw on the