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Updated: May 9, 2025
His knife is like a fairy's wand. With it he whittles boats for Jehosophat, kites for Marmaduke, and dolls for Hepzebiah. He paints them pretty colours too. So I think they gave him the right sort of nickname when they called him "the Toyman." He hasn't many clothes and no house of his own and no relatives of any sort. He isn't exactly a handsome man.
Jehosophat had no answer at all for this, and all they could do now was to watch the rain and the Pond and the Brook, but Marmaduke was very happy picturing to himself the big Ark which the Toyman would build, and how he would help, and the fine time, too, he and all the animals would have, living together under the very same roof. Of course, the rain had to stop some time.
And he looked down at his clean suit and his Sunday best shoes. And from out the corner of his eye he saw wet places on the floor and muddy tracks, about as big as his feet. No answer now had Jehosophat. He guessed he would go into the parlour. So he sat down at the marble-topped table, and looked at the picture book which Uncle Roger had given him.
And when they turned in the drive and Teddy and Hal walked off to the barn, the sleighbells jingling like Christmas chimes in the air, they shouted "hooray" again, one and all. Then Jehosophat said as they reached the door, "And now for tomorrow!" And of course Tomorrow came, as it always does only to become Today. Jehosophat didn't climb on the chair that morning.
And all the boys came dressed in new suits, or suits made over from Father's old trousers, with stiff collars, and ties of red, or blue, or brown; and the girls had pretty white dresses with sashes sticking out like butterflies' wings. Jehosophat thought they did resemble butterflies until he looked down at their feet; and then very crossly he decided that those feet spoiled "the effect."
Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks, Cochins, and Leghorns are some of the chicken family names, but Jehosophat's father does not believe in mixing families, he says, so only the White Wyandottes live on the Green farm. Jehosophat and Marmaduke love the big rooster best. The red comb on the top of his head has teeth like a carpenter's saw, and is so large it will not stand up straight.
Jehosophat didn't have to learn how to drive Little Geeup. Father had often let him drive Old Methuselah when they went to town, and the little black pony was quite safe. At last Father and the Toyman stopped and waved good-bye. So off the children drove, up the road by the river. "Where shall we go?" asked Jehosophat.
You could hear the wagon-wheels rattling away long after he turned the corner. Then the Toyman "tlucked" to Hal and they drove off, too. "How did you know him?" Jehosophat asked, after they had trotted a little way. "Oh, I used to know him out West. He didn't remember me, but I did him. I bought one of his bottles once." "Is he a robber?"
"Hal" and "Teddy" and "Chestnut" are very tired for they have been pulling the plough, the wagon, or doing some farm work all day. Very glad they are to get their heavy leather collars and harness off and rest in the cool barn. They have hay to eat but they have been working hard so they have oats besides. Jehosophat, Marmaduke, and Hepzebiah eat oats too but theirs are flattened out and cooked.
Again the spectacles of the Presidentboardeducation looked over the children in grave surprise. They lighted on Jehosophat. "Come, come, my little man, there's nothing to be afraid of." And the Presidentboardeducation smiled on him, with that sort of smile "grownups" always put on when they're going to "do something for your good," like pulling a tooth, for instance, or offering you castor oil.
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