Helen was glad when the war ended for it frightened her and besides she did not like battles, so she thought she would go home to her mamma. But Tommy said: “Don’t you be afraid Helen, I was holding your hand and I would not let any of the soldiers hurt you.” {15}
“Did the soldiers really and truly fight, Tommy?” Helen asked, when they were again seated in the pile of yellow, curly shavings. “Didn’t Mr. Poodle move them about with his hand, and wasn’t it he who blew upon the trumpet?”
“O, yes, the soldiers certainly were fighting,” said Tommy. “When Mr. Poodle moved them, he did only what the captains ordered. Didn’t you hear Captain Pinkle and Captain Poddle shouting their commands, Helen?”
“Yes, I think, I did,” said Helen. “Which captain do you think was the best fighter, Tommy?”
“I believe captain Poddle was the best fighter,” said Tommy. “Don’t you think Captain Poddle was the best, Helen?”
“I don’t know,” said Helen. “I think Captain Pinkle was a very brave fighter, too, and I wished he had a horse to ride, like Captain Poddle’s.”
“Yes,” said Tommy, “Captain Pinkle was a brave fighter. I think they were both brave fighters; don’t you think they were both brave fighters, Helen?”
When Mr. Poodle heard these words of the children, he said: “Well, well, well, you certainly are getting clever at learning the toy language. I think you must know it now nearly as well as I do. That is because you love the toy people and they love you. What do you say to our taking a trip tomorrow to Toyville?”
“Toyville?” asked Helen and Tommy. “Please, Mr. Poodle, where is Toyville?”
Mr. Poodle laughed when he heard that question. “O, dear,” he said, “the idea of any little boys or girls not knowing about Toyville! that really is most absurd. Why, Toyville is the finest and jolliest little city to be found {16} anywhere in the whole world. I thought everybody knew about Toyville.”