Peter Poodle, Toy Maker to the King

The First Chapter.
In which is told of a little Lad that came from out the Hills. Also of Peter Poodle’s wonderful Toy Shop. And how Helen had a Playfellow.
OMMY stood with his little nose pressed flat against the pane. He was very tired, and also very hungry, for he had walked ever and ever so far. How far, he did not know. At first, he had thought it would take only a day to reach the city, and now, he could not remember how long it had taken. A good many days, of that he was certain.
Over hills and through fields and forests he had travelled, sleeping at night in the lee of some rick of hay, or on the soft moss beneath low hung fir boughs. Sometimes, a shepherd or a forester had shared with him his simple fare of bread and cheese. At other times, he ate berries, or such of the wild fruits as were then ripe, and once, or {4} twice, he had gone to sleep hungry. But here he was, at last, in the big city and before the most wonderful window into which a boy ever looked. It was evening, and the window, with its bright lights, seemed like a bit of fairyland, for in it were all manner of the finest games and toys imaginable.
Tommy did not know that this was Mr. Peter Poodle’s famous toy shop. He did not even know the toys were for sale. He had never been in a big city and knew nothing about stores. He thought this was merely somebody’s fine house, and when he lifted his eyes from the toys and saw a big card that hung beneath one of the lamps, he was more than ever filled with wonder.
“BOY WANTED!”
Those were the words on the card. Tommy spelled the letters twice to make sure; “I suppose the people inside must be lonely,” he thought “I will go in and visit them, and perhaps they will tell me how to find the King.”
Mr. Poodle, a kindly little man with gray hair and bright twinkling eyes, answered the rap at the door.
“Please sir,” said Tommy, “do you live here and are you lonely? Because, if you are, I can come in and play with you; but by and by, I must go and find the King. Please, can you tell me where the King lives? Because the kind lady, who took care of me when I was sick, is very poor. Did you know that once I was very sick? When I was sick the kind lady told me all about the Fairy King. I am well now, and I am going to find the Fairy King and get some gold and jewels for the kind lady. Would you like me to come in and play with you a little while? I am too tired to play very much, because I have been walking all day. {5} And tonight, when I came through a dark street, a bad, rough man chased me, and I ran so fast that it made me more tired. Don’t you think I am a fast runner to get away from the man? Please, shall we play games now? Perhaps you don’t want to play with a little boy that has such raggedy clothes. Would you rather have a little boy that has fine clothes and wears shoes and stockings? I am sorry you are lonesome. I think you are a nice man and I like you; but perhaps you don’t want such a raggedy boy.”