“Oh, I wish I had that Jumping Jack!” exclaimed Arnold.
“But you have plenty of toys,” said his mother.
“Yes, I know,” he answered. “But I wish–I er–wish–I er–a-ker-choo!” suddenly sneezed Arnold, and as he felt his nose tickling he took his handkerchief from his pocket with a jerk.
And with the handkerchief out came the Bold Tin Soldier which the boy had stuffed into his pocket when he hurried downstairs as his mother called him to go shopping with her and Mirabell.
Out popped the Bold Tin Soldier, and he bounced right over on to the toy counter, just the very same place where he had lived before he came to Arnold’s house.
“Oh. look!” cried Mirabell. “How funny! I didn’t know you had brought your Tin Soldier Captain with you, Arnold.”
“I didn’t know it myself! I guess I must have stuffed him into my pocket and forgotten about him,” the little boy said. “But I am not going to leave him here. I like him too much.”
As it happened, the Bold Tin Soldier, when he was pulled out with the handkerchief, landed on the toy counter right side up, standing on his feet. And, as it also happened, he landed near the Candy Rabbit.
“I didn’t know, my dear, that you were going to bring any of your toys with you,” said Arnold’s mother, with a smile.
“I didn’t know it either!” he answered, with a laugh. He reached out his hand to pick up his Soldier and put him back in his pocket when, down at the other end of the toy counter, one of the clerks suddenly began spinning a humming top, which showed different colors and played a little tune as it whirled around.