“How do you do?” said Dorothy. “Have you found the sheep that were lost?”
“Not yet,” replied Bo-Peep, “but I am looking for them.”
“I will help you,” cried Dorothy, and she jumped up and taking Little Bo-Peep’s hand walked all over Toy-land looking for the lost sheep. Suddenly they met the old woman who lived in a shoe with her whole brood of children hurrying along.
“Whither away so fast, good woman?” asked Dorothy.
“To the grand parade, my dear,” was the answer, while Little Bo-peep exclaimed, “Sure enough, it is the first of April, the birthday of our dear Mother Goose, you know.”
“Let us go too,” cried Dorothy, and they hurried after the old woman.
They passed Little Boy Blue fast asleep under a hay-mow, but Bo-Peep gave him a little shake and he awoke and followed them.
They reached a bridge just in time to see Mother Goose and all her followers passing along. All Toy-land clapped and shouted; and what with dogs barking and cocks crowing there was a merry time.
Dorothy was delighted, and the toy soldiers who marched in the procession were straighter than any real soldiers that she had ever seen.
“What beautiful times you have in Toy-land!” exclaimed Dorothy.