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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 12 (April 1, 1929)

More About Toyland — “Wanted—A Home”

page 41

More About Toyland
“Wanted—A Home”

“Well I never!” grumbled the Jack-in-the-box. “Just look at this!”

He dived down into the bottom of the box, and brought to light a tiny grey mouse.

“I was just wondering why my springs wouldn't work properly. Run away, you naughty little thing!”

A Maid Of Honour. Miss Mona Clark (Railways), Maid of Honour to Cleopatra (Transportation Queen), who was voted the winner of the Queen Carnival held in Wellington in aid of the Dominion War Memorial and Museum.

A Maid Of Honour.
Miss Mona Clark (Railways), Maid of Honour to Cleopatra (Transportation Queen), who was voted the winner of the Queen Carnival held in Wellington in aid of the Dominion War Memorial and Museum.

“Oh, please, Jack-in-the-box, won't you let me stay with you?” pleaded the little mouse. “I don't take up much room, and I am so afraid to go on the floor, because the big black cat is there.” The poor little thing shivered, and crept up closer to Jack, whose ill-humour vanished.

“Oh, you dear little thing! Do you need a home as badly as all that? I am very sorry, because you can't stay in my box for my springs won't work properly. Then the shopman wouldn't be able to sell me. Not that I want to be sold! I rather like it here. I wonder what I can do for you.”

He thought hard for a while, and then called the other toys who were sleeping in their boxes.

“Toys! Come here, I want you!”

Out they scrambled from their boxes, and came over onto the table where the Jack-in-the-box was standing.

“What is the matter, Jack?” asked the toy soldier; “what can I do for you?”

Jack leaned over and picked up the little mouse.

“This little fellow is wanting a home ever so badly. Will somebody adopt him, please? He can't go in my box, you see, because my springs won't work properly.” He glanced anxiously around at the assembled toys, who all seemed to be thinking deeply.

“I'm sorry,” sighed the baby doll; “I'd like to have him in my box, but there really isn't room.”

“And there's no room in mine, either,” cried the monkey sadly.

The little mouse clasped his hands together tightly.

“Oh, won't somebody take me, please? I'm only a little mouse.”

Suddenly the teddy bear clapped her hands.

“I knoww,” she cried joyfully. “We'll make a nest for him right at the top of the shelf. We can all spare a piece of tissue paper from our boxes!”

“Hurray!” cheered Jack; “I'll make the nest for you!”

“And I'll climb up to the shelf with it!” shouted the monkey. “I'm a good climber.”

Such a busy time followed! And such a heap of tissue paper was found! The little baby mouse was so excited; he kept jumping about and falling head over heels, and that made the busy toys laugh merrily at him.

Then when the nest was made, the little mouse was carefully placed in it. So cosy he looked, and so very pleased with himself!

After a while the monkey took him ever so carefully in one hand and climbed with him up to the high shelf, where he placed the little mouse in the darkest corner.

“Hurray!” cheered all the toys together. “You have a home of your own now little baby mouse!”