“No, not quite yet,” said the Calico Clown. “The sun has not yet risen, and it will be ten minutes before the watchman comes in to turn out the lights and get the store ready for the day’s trade.”
“But what can be done in ten minutes?” asked the Rag Doll.
“I can do a funny trick for you,” said the Clown. “I have not yet done my share towards the night’s fun, so I will do my trick now.”
“Are you going to tell a joke or ask a riddle?” inquired the Candy Rabbit. “If you are, I wish you’d tell that one about what makes more noise than a pig under a gate.”
“No, I am going to do a funny trick. Do you see that string there!” he asked the other toys, pointing upward.
“Do you mean the one hanging near the gas jet?” asked the Box Jack.
“Yes,” answered the Clown. “Well, I am going to climb that string and hang by my toes.”
He quickly walked over to a long string that hung down from the ceiling. At Christmas time it had held some wreaths of holly, but now nothing was fast to it.
“Up I go!” cried the Clown.
It was hard work for him to climb the string with the cymbals fast on the ends of his arms, but he managed to get up nearly as high as the flaming gas jet which lighted the store at night, so the watchman could see his way around.