In the nursery a number of toys lay strewn about. High up, on the
cupboard, stood the money box, made of clay in the shape of a little
pig. The pig had by nature a slit in his back, and this slit had been
so enlarged with a knife that whole silver dollars could slip through.
Indeed, two dollar pieces had slipped into the box beside a number of
pennies. The money pig was stuffed so full that he could no longer
rattle, and that is the highest point of perfection a money pig can
attain.
There he stood upon the cupboard, high and lofty, looking down upon
everything else in the room. He knew very well that what he had in his
stomach would have bought all the toys.
The others thought of that, too, even if they did not say it, for
there were many other things to speak of. One of the drawers was half
pulled out and there lay a great handsome doll, although she was
somewhat old, and her neck had been mended. She looked out and said,
"Now we'll play at being men and women."
And then there was a general uproar. Even the framed pictures on the
wall turned round to show that they had a wrong side; but that was not
because they objected.
It was late at night. The moon shone through the window frames and
afforded the most economical light. The game was now to begin and all,
even the children's go-cart, which certainly belonged to the coarser
playthings, were invited to take part in the fun.
"Each of us has his own peculiar value," said the go-cart. "We cannot
all be noblemen. There must be some who work."
The money pig was the only one of the toys who received a written
invitation, for he was of high standing and great pride, and they were
afraid he would not accept a verbal invitation. Indeed he did not
answer to say whether he would come, nor did he come. They understood
that if he were to take a part, he must enjoy the sport from his own
home. The others must arrange things accordingly, and so they did.
The little toy theatre was set up in such a way that the money pig
could look directly in. They wanted to begin with a play, and
afterward there was to be a party and a little conversation among
themselves. They began with this latter part immediately. The rocking
horse talked about training and racing, and the go-cart of railways
and steam power, for all this belonged to their professions and it was
quite right that they should speak of it.
The toy clock talked politics--_tick_--_tick_--and knew what was the
time of day, although it was whispered that he did not go correctly.
The little boy's cane stood there, stiff and straight, for he was
conceited about his brass tip and his silver handle. On the sofa lay
two embroidered cushions, pretty and stupid.
And then the play began.
They all sat and looked on. The play was not very good, but the actors
did their part. These were little card-board figures who turned their
painted side to the audience. They were so made that they should only
be looked at from that side, and not from the other. They all played
wonderfully well, coming out beyond the footlights because the wires
were a little too long, but that only helped them to come out the
more.
The worsted doll enjoyed the play so much that she became quite
exhausted from excitement. She laughed so hard that she burst at the
darned place in her neck. And the money pig was so enchanted in his
way that he decided to do something for one of the players in his
will.
It was a great deal of fun. They gave up all thoughts of having tea,
and just played and talked together. That was what they called playing
at being men and women, and there was nothing wrong in it for they
were only playing. Each one thought, however, of what the money pig
might think; and the money pig thought of his own riches and of making
his will. This seemed to him a long way farther on.
When might it come to pass? Certainly far sooner than was expected.
Crack! The money pig fell from the cupboard--fell to the floor and was
broken to pieces. All the money came out. The pennies hopped and
danced about in a comical fashion; the little ones spun around like
tops, and the bigger coins rolled away, particularly one great silver
dollar that wanted to go out into the world. It came out into the
world and so did they all.
And the pieces of the money pig were put into the dustbin. The next
day a new money pig was standing on the cupboard. It had not a penny
in its stomach and so it could not rattle, and in this it was like the
other. And that was a beginning--and with that we will make an end.