Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 9, 2025
It was pretty steep and Jehosophat and Marmaduke wanted to get off and walk up so as to make it easier for the Toyman. He wouldn't hear of that, but just set his shoulders like Teddy in the shafts and puffed and pulled up hill. On the fields the snow was light and feathery like powdered sugar, but on the hill it had been packed down hard by the coasters.
"I know," said his brother Jehosophat, "they are whistles." "Yes," said the Toyman. "They are willow whistles. Now put them in your mouths and blow." Each put the end of his whistle in his mouth and blew. It sounded very pretty, the three whistles and then what do you think? Not far from the weeping willow or the "Crying Tree," was an elm tree. It was taller than the willow and darker green.
But the three happy children love the Toyman very much. Yesterday he sat by the edge of the pond. On one side sat Jehosophat, Marmaduke, and big Rover. On the other side sat Hepzebiah, Brownie, and little yellow Wienerwurst. They were all looking down at the water of the pond. It was very clear. "Keep still, Wienerwurst," said the Toyman, "or you will scare the fishes."
So Jehosophat, Marmaduke, Hepzebiah, Rover, Brownie, Wienerwurst and the Toyman marched with Robber Hawk on towards the cornfield. There by the side of Jim Crow they buried him. And the Toyman took two pieces of wood. On these he cut with his knife: JIM CROW KILLED 1918 THIEF At their heads he placed the two boards side by side.
"That you will make," she said. "The jolly old Sun, the gentle Rain, and brown Mother Earth will help you." Jehosophat laughed. "Oh! I see now. But we can't finish that fairy story all in one day." "No, it takes time and it takes work. But it's a prettier story than any in books. And you can make it come true yourselves." Then Marmaduke piped up: "What do we do first?"
He was the little fellow they had noticed before, the funny little fellow with a longer bill than the rest, and the odd-looking feet. His soft downy back was turning black. And he was starting for that pretty water shining in the pond. Jehosophat looked him all over. "Why, he looks like a duck." "What did you expect?" laughed the Toyman. "He is a duck.
And they guessed everything under the sun, enough toys and articles to fill the biggest store in the world, or the whole of Santa Claus' workshop, which stands under the North Star where the polar bears live and the Aurora weaves pretty scarfs in the sky. Well, that day passed, and in the morning Jehosophat climbed on a chair again and put a little mark through the next number 24.
So, after dinner, old Methuselah was hitched up, and away they drove, the Toyman, Jehosophat, Hepzebiah, and Marmaduke, with little Wienerwurst, as usual, in back. He was very happy, barking at all the carriages hurrying up the road to the circus. They came to the field with the big white tents and were just going to turn in, when they heard music way off in the streets of the town.
"Better than grubbing for bugs in the dirty earth, this nice clean cool water," quacked he, and he was as happy as happy could be. The Toyman was looking at him with a smile on his face. "He's just like me," he said at last, and the children, surprised at that, asked all together: "Who's like you?" "That little duck there." "Like you!" Jehosophat shouted. "Why he doesn't look like you at all!"
And whether or not that was the worst he ever said I do not know. I hope so. What could they be exclaiming about? Marmaduke! He was all alone as far as human beings went, for Jehosophat was putting axle-grease on his little red cart, and Hepzebiah was playing with Hetty, her rag doll, and the rest were busy at their tasks, as we have just seen. But he had some fine company, oh, yes, he had.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking