Part 4 (1/2)

The school was all right again the next day. The broken pipes had been mended, and the boys and girls could come back to their lessons. The teacher in the room where Herbert, d.i.c.k and their friends studied was much surprised when the janitor gave her the Doll and the Monkey, and told about finding them in her desk with an upset bottle of ink. He related how he had taken them home over-night for safe keeping.

”And so your little girl cleaned them,” said the teacher. ”That was very good of her, and I am going to make her happy. You may take back to her this doll, with the make-believe tanned face.”

”Are you really going to give my little girl the doll?” asked the janitor.

”Yes,” replied the teacher. ”The little girl from whom I took the doll is not coming back to this school any more, and her mother sent word I might give the doll away. So I'll give her to your little girl.”

”That is very kind of you,” said the janitor. ”My little girl will be happy.”

The Monkey was put back in the desk until after school. Then Herbert was called up.

”Here is your Monkey on a Stick, Herbert,” said the teacher. ”You must not bring him to school again.”

”No'm, I won't!” promised the little boy.

”I am sorry he got that blot of ink on the end of his tail,” went on the teacher.

”Oh, I don't mind,” said Herbert, with a smile. ”He can climb his stick just the same.”

And the Monkey really could. The ink on his tail didn't bother him a bit. Up and down the stick he went, when Herbert pulled the string, and even the teacher had to laugh, the Monkey was so funny.

”I'm so glad I have my Monkey back!” thought Herbert as he ran along the street.

All the other boys and girls were ahead of him, as he had been kept in a little while after school to get his toy back. All at once, as Herbert was pa.s.sing a candy store, he saw, coming out of it, d.i.c.k, the boy who owned the White Rocking Horse.

”Oh, h.e.l.lo, Herbert!” called d.i.c.k, giving his friend a piece of candy.

”So you have your Monkey back!”

”Yes,” Herbert answered. ”I stayed in to get him.”

”I know how we can have some fun with him,” went on d.i.c.k.

”How?” Herbert wanted to know.

”We can give him a ride on the back of our dog Carlo,” went on d.i.c.k. ”We can take the Monkey off the stick, and tie him on Carlo's back. Then Carlo will run and the Monkey will have a fine ride.”

The two boys hurried down the street toward d.i.c.k's house.

”This world is full of surprises,” thought the Monkey. ”I wonder what my toy friends in the store would think if they knew I was going to have a ride on a dog's back. What a wonderful adventure it may be!”

The Monkey was not afraid. He was a courageous chap, almost as brave as the Bold Tin Soldier. One has to be brave to climb up and down a stick day after day, and turn somersaults from the top; I think.

”How can we make my Monkey stay on your Carlo's back?” asked Herbert, as they reached d.i.c.k's house.

”We can tie him on, same as my sister once tied her Sawdust Doll to the back of the Lamb on Wheels,” d.i.c.k answered.

”And maybe, some day, we can have a little show,” said Herbert.

”What kind of show?” d.i.c.k asked, as he ate the last piece of candy he had bought on his way from school, having shared some with Herbert.