Tommy’s eyes were almost closed. “I don’t know,” he answered. “Please, sir, I am very sorry, because I wanted to play and make you happy, you are so kind to me, but I am pretty tired. If I could go to sleep for only a minute, then when I awake I would be all rested and could play some more. Please, may I go to sleep for only a minute?”
“Yes, indeed you may,” said the toymaker.
Tommy’s tired eyes looked timidly up into Mr. Poodle’s. “Please sir, may I kiss you for being so good to me?” he asked. {8}
Mr. Poodle bowed his head. “Good night, boy,” he said. “Good night, sir,” answered Tommy.
This was the manner in which Tommy Piper came to Peter Poodle’s toy shop. Who he was and from where he came, Mr. Poodle could not learn; only this much—that he had been found unconscious in the forest by a poor wood chopper, and tenderly nursed during a long illness by the wood chopper’s good wife.
As for Mr. Poodle, he was the kindest and jolliest little man you ever did see. His business was the making of toys for little girls and boys, and he had a fine big shop all littered with yellow, curly shavings, blocks of wood and bits of colored cloth. In this shop, the first thing the next morning, Tommy went to play.
He had on a nice new suit of clothes which Mr. Poodle had provided, and he was glad indeed to be dressed so finely, for right in the midst of the floor, sat a little girl.
“Good morning, Helen,” said Mr. Poodle.
“Good morning, Mr. Poodle,” Helen answered, and then turning to Tommy, she said: “Good morning, little boy.”