The Animals That Wound Up
When they came to the railway track they were careful not to get run
into by the rushing tin train. They waited until the cars had passed
the spot where they stood and then quickly ran across the track
before the engine came around again.
The merry-go-round was turning smoothly, and the saddled animals
galloped along in an inviting way, while the barrel-organ played some
very loud and frisky circus tunes.
"It's almost like a side show!" cried Dot enthusiastically, as she
seated herself upon a camel. Tot bestrode a dapple-gray horse, and
the Queen sat upon a lion and took hold of its mane to steady
herself.
They whirled around in a very pleasant and exhilarating manner for
some time, and Dot was laughing and enjoying herself immensely when
she happened to notice a number of big teardrops rolling down the
cheeks of the tiger that was galloping just in front of her.
"I--I think it's--it's--real mean of you," whimpered the tiger with
sobs in his voice, "for you to ride on that humpbacked animal all the
time, and--and neglect a roy--royal Bengal tiger!"
"Oh, I shall be glad to make a change," she cried, and leaping off
the camel's back she sprang upon the tiger, who thereupon dried his
tears and smiled in a most delightful manner.
"We seldom have visitors in this Valley," he said, after he had wiped
his eyes with a handkerchief that was sticking in his bridle, "so
most of the time there is no one to ride us. I don't see the good of
a merry-go-round if it isn't used."
The Queen now noticed some of the other animals looking discontented,
so she and Tot changed seats also, and by the time Mr. Split came to
call them to supper they had ridden all the animals in turn, and the
keeper noticed that his merry-go-round was bathed in one whirling
smile of gladness and content.
"It is good for my animals to have visitors," he said, happily, "it
cheers them up."
Mr. Split had spread a white cloth upon the grass close to one edge
of the forest, and Dot and Tot and the Queen sat around this and ate
of the delicious fruit the queer man had gathered. There were melons,
grapes, bananas, oranges, plums, strawberries, and pears and all were
ripe and exquisitely flavored.
By the time they finished their meal it had become twilight, and the
Queen declared it would soon be dark.
"I wonder where we can sleep," said Tot. But Dot looked around and
saw that Mr. Split was fastening three big hammocks between the trees
at the edge of the forest. These hammocks were lined with soft,
silken cushions and looked very pleasant and cozy to the sleepy
children.
The Queen and Dot and Tot each climbed into one of the hammocks and
were covered over with silk-quilted comfortables, after which Mr.
Split turned a key at the end of each hammock and set them moving
gently to and fro like the rocking of a cradle.
Before she went to sleep Dot looked over the edge of her hammock and
saw that the merry-go-round and the tin train were now motionless,
while all the animals seemed to have run down and were standing quite
still waiting for morning, when Mr. Split would come and wind them up
again.
* * *
The little girl was awakened next morning by a sharp clicking sound
near by, and opening her eyes she saw a tin monkey running up and
down a string fastened to a branch of the tree.
"Dear me!" she said, looking at him intently; "are you wound up so
early in the morning?"
"Yes, indeed," replied the monkey, still busily climbing his string;
"Mr. Split was here some time ago. I suppose nearly everyone in the
Valley must be going by this time."
"I didn't know it was so late," said Dot, slipping from her hammock
to the ground and feeling rather ashamed of her laziness.
Tot was already up and sitting near the railway track watching the
tin train go round. The Queen now joined Dot and they called Tot to
breakfast, for Mr. Split had loaded the cloth with a variety of cool,
fresh fruit and berries.
"He gathered those before he unhooked himself," said the Queen, "for
then he had two arms to carry them. But when it came to winding up
the animals he had to separate in order that he might use each hand
in a different place, and so get around quicker."
"Mr. Split's name suits him very well," said Dot, who was enjoying
the fruit.
"Yes, it would be hard to call him anything else," replied the Queen.
"I suppose your own name fits you in the same way," ventured the
girl.
"Certainly it does," answered the Queen.
Dot's heart now began to beat rapidly, for she thought she would at
last discover what the Queen's name was. Tot also looked interested,
and forgot his slice of melon as he listened.
"You haven't told us yet what it is," said the girl.
The little Queen laughed merrily. "Isn't it funny," she exclaimed,
"that I always forget to tell you? There is no reason in the world
why you should not know my name."
"Then," said Tot, sharply, "tell it!"
"Well," she said, "it's--"
Just then they heard a great crash, a whirling of wheels and the
scream of a whistle. Springing to their feet they saw the tin train
lying upside down near the track, with its wheels whirling around
like the wind, and near by was a wooden goat and cart, completely
wrecked and splintered into many pieces.
They all ran down to the place, and the brave little Queen picked up
the tin train and set it upon its track. It started to run again in
its usual rushing way, but Dot noticed that the cow-catcher was badly
bent and that some of the paint had been knocked off.
"There has been a collision," said her Majesty, calmly. "I was afraid
that goat-cart would get into trouble if it ran so near to the
engine. But it is wrecked now, beyond repair, so there is nothing
more to worry about."
As she spoke the Police Patrol and the Fire Engine both dashed up to
the spot, and one of the officers asked: "What's the trouble?"
"You are too late," said the Queen; "the trouble is all over."
"Then we may as well go back," said the officer, grumpily. "The
trouble usually is over when we get anywhere; that's why we take our
time about coming."
"Well," said the Queen, when the Patrol and the Fire Engine had gone
back to their stables, "it is time for us to go."
They looked around for Mr. Split, but not seeing him they walked
across the opening to the path that led through the forest to the
river. They each squeaked the Alligator when they came to him, and
left him feeling joyful and contented.
The boat was lying where they had left it, and they at once stepped
in and seated themselves.
"I'm sorry not to say good-bye to Mr. Split," said Dot, as the boat
glided out into the river.
"He is so busy he won't mind it," answered the Queen. "I suppose he
was in the forest winding up the animals there when we came away. I
do not think there is another man in the whole world that does so
much work as Mr. Split, and he seems to enjoy it, too."
The boat was rushing swiftly through the water, now, and soon the
forest of trees was passed and our voyagers entered a deep archway
that led to the Seventh and last Valley of Merryland.