“These fleecy white clouds also help to keep the sun off,” said Mr. Poodle. “That is why they are so big.”
“I thought clouds made it rain,” said Tommy. “Don’t the clouds make it rain, Mr. Poodle?”
“Oh yes,” said Mr. Poodle, “of course that is the way it is back in our land, but here it never rains. You see the Toy people do not like to be out in the wet; it would spoil their games and all their fun, so here it is always sunshiny.”
“And can the Toy people play out of doors all the time?” asked Helen. “Don’t they ever need to go in the house, Mr. Poodle?”
“Not on account of rain, dear,” answered Mr. Poodle. “Of course people go in their houses to sleep at night, but the Toy boys and girls are never called in to go to bed at half past seven, just when they are having the most fun; their mothers allow them to stay up until almost nine o’clock, or at least until eight.”
Tommy and Helen thought that it would be fine to live in that kind of a city, and told Mr. Poodle they know the Toy children must be very happy.
“You are right,” said Mr. Poodle. “I am sure the Toy children are happy; everyone in Toyville is happy.”
While Tommy and Helen were talking in this way with Mr. Poodle, the road went on twisting about a bend and presently brought them into a rolling bit of pasture land, strewn with buttercups and daisies. But that was not all {45} the pasture contained. No, for, feeding beside a red pump was a pink barley pig, also some barley cows, and sheep, and at the far end of the pasture were two tame barley deer. A barley rabbit, startled by the approaching footsteps, went skipping across the road, almost under the very toes of Rolie Polie. My, but Rolie Polie was scared, and stopped so quickly that he almost tumbled and tucked his nose in the dust before he could get his balance.
The little clown then began to laugh and the next minute away he went over the hedge and through the pasture, chasing the rabbit as fast as ever his legs could carry him, with never a thought for danger.