He took down three of the cans, humming to himself:
"We'll paint 'em red
An' yeller an' blue."
"A little brown would go well too," he added as he took down another can.
He worked away with his paint brushes until the surprise was finished. Then he placed it on the work-table to dry.
The next afternoon there was another tap at the bedroom door.
But Marmaduke didn't answer. He was taking his afternoon nap. So the Toyman slipped in and put the surprise at the foot of the bed. After that he sat by the fire, watching the little sick soldier. He sat very still, stirring the embers just once in a while to keep the room warm.
At last Marmaduke opened his eyes, a little at first, then wider.
The very first thing that he saw at the bottom of the bed was a tiny sleigh. The body was bright blue and the runners were red. And what do you think—in front, hitched to it, were two tiny brown reindeer with yellow horns! They looked so much alive that Marmaduke thought any minute they would start running away—away over the comforter, out of the window, and up the snow-covered hill.
The Toyman came over to the bed. Marmaduke curled his little fingers around his friend's hand. The hand was brown and hard, but it was a nice hand, Marmaduke thought.
"We're good ole chums, aren't we?" he said to the Toyman.