The Story of a Calico Clown

Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
Author of The Story of a Sawdust Doll, The Story of a Monkey on a Stick, The Bobbsey Twins Series, The Bunny Brown Series, The Six Little Bunkers Series, Etc.
To-night we shall have a most wonderful time, said the Elephant from the Noah's Ark to a Double Humped Camel who lived in the stall next to him.
What kind of a time? asked the Camel. He stood on the toy counter of a big department store, looking across the top of a drum toward a Jack in the Box who was swaying to and fro on his long spring. What do you call a wonderful time, Mr. Elephant?
Oh, having fun, replied the big toy animal, slowly swinging his trunk to and fro. And to-night the Calico Clown is going to give a special exhibition.
Oh, is he? suddenly asked a funny little Wooden Donkey with a head that wagged up and down. Is he going to climb a string again and burn his red and yellow trousers as he once did?
Indeed I am not! exclaimed the Calico Clown himself. The Clown was leaning against his friend Mr. Jumping Jack, who was a cousin of Jack in the Box. I'm not going to give any special exhibition like that, went on the Clown. I'm just going to do a few funny tricks, such as standing on my head and banging my cymbals together. And, I am not sure, but I may ask a riddle.
Will it be that one about what makes more noise than a pig under a gate? inquired a Celluloid Doll. Well, yes, it will be that riddle, replied the Clown, trying to look very stern.
That's the only riddle he knows, whispered the Elephant.
What I should like to know, said the Camel, is why a pig should want to get under a gate, anyhow. Why didn't he stay in his pen?
Oh, there's no use trying to make you understand, sighed the Clown. I'll just have to dance around, do a few jigs, bang my cymbals together, and do things like that to amuse you.