“The BANQUET”
| Frontispiece | |
“The Toy Shop”
| Facing Page | 3 |
“The Song”
| ““ | 11 |
“The Sign of the Black Lion”
| ““ | 21 |
“The Gateway”
| ““ | 29 |
“The Capture”
| ““ | 35 |
“The Orchard”
| ““ | 41 |
“A Surprise”
| ““ | 49 |
“On to Toyville”
| ““ | 55 |
“The Arch of Welcome”
| ““ | 65 |
“Professor Wow Bow”
| ““ | 68 |
“The Musicians”
| ““ | 75 |
“Stop!”
| ““ | 76 |
“The Black Rover”
| ““ | 83 |
“The House Guards”
| ““ | 89 |
“The Artillery”
| ““ | 94 |
“Fire!”
| ““ | 99 |
“To the Rescue”
| ““ | 107 |
“The Miller of Dee”
| ““ | 113 |
“The Rose Wreath”
| ““ | 121 |
“In the Gardens”
| ““ | 129 |
“The Parley”
| ““ | 135 |
“The Ducking”
| ““ | 143 |
“The Royal Guard”
| ““ | 151 |
“The Toy Box”
| ““ | 157 |
“The Sign”
| ““ | 163 |
 | ||
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.