The Story of a Bold Tin Soldier

n North Pole Land, and even the immense workshop of Santa Claus was almost buried in

et quite finished. "What makes such a breeze in here?" and she shivered as she pulled up o

s lying on the work bench next to the wax t

at the snow blowing in! Hurray! Now we can have a snowball fight without going outside. Come on!" cried the Wo

d the Flannel Pig. "

Wax Doll. "Give me more covers, please, somebody!

bed in a playhouse that stood next to him on the work table. "This will keep you warm. I guess

Claus that day, for it was getting near to Christmas. The little men, like elves, who built t

Santa Claus himself entered his shop, the windows

unch, for we must work overtime to-night so that we may finish a lot of toys to be taken down to E

ied the merr

olls, Jumping Jacks that could not yet leap, Jacks in Boxes that could not yet spring out, trains of cars that could n

Claus, and away trooped the jolly little men. Just who had left some of the windows op

p her feet warm. "I'd like to be out in this storm. But this is the next best thing. Hi there!" he

d be spoiled!" cried the beautiful toy

el Pig. "Don't you want to have fun i

but I am not, though I do look like a Teddy. But I am a real Plush Bear, and when I

gan to turn, and soon his head moved slowly from side to side, he raised his

'll join the s

That was just his way. He was really most jolly, though he had a very wise look on his plush face, as though always thinking of ha

th his warm coat, almost like fur, he loved to roll in the snow. So did the Flannel Pig and the Woolen Boy Doll. But the Wax

nta Claus at the North Pole. The Plush Bear caught up a paw full of the white crystals from the bench, made them into a

r face! I'll w

ow so that her feet were no longer cold, and in a safe

said the Plush Bear, as he quickly stooped down to get out of th

e we could have no fun

s was v

oking at them. They could talk, tell jokes and stories, as well as riddles, play games, have races and even snowball fights, as they were having one now. But the moment any one looked at them, o

the boys and girls of the Earth. And as fast as he had several boxes of toys ready, Santa Claus would hitch his eight reindeer to his sleigh, and down to Earth he would go. He would leave boxes and bags of toys at th

ball went sailin

k the Plush Be

s not at all cross, and, an instant later, he s

led the Flannel Pig, as he tried to dodge out of t

uin, as the Bear was sometim

in the workshop of Santa Claus had fun, but never before, at least i

gain, as he moved his paws and shook his head from side to side. "I

Wax Doll, as the Flannel Pig and the

h," answered the Plush Bear. "He could nod his head, and he did not have to be wound up with a key

way in which we can do that is to allow ourselves to be taken to Earth by Santa Claus. Yes, I suppose I shall be take

lush. This plush covered from view the clock wheels and springs inside the Bear, which when wound up, caused him to move a

uffled along to join the fun. The Polar Bear was like the Plush Bear only

lannel Pig, as he wiped some sn

," went on the Polar Bear. "There is enough snow being blown in through the open

Doll Boy. But just then the Plush

s coming! We must not be seen in motion, o

ame as still as a li

boy, but he was covered with skins and fur, almost like an animal. Only his face could be see

ys!" said the fur-dressed Eskimo boy, for such he

the North Pole, was just climbing in through the open wind

open and a lot of snow has blown in! Quick, my merry men! Close th

a Claus himself hu