"What can I do?" asked Charlie. "Have I got to stay out of the play?"
Mr. Treadwell thought for a moment.
"No," he said. "I'll tell you what we'll do. You were to be a fireman
and wear this red hat, weren't you?"
"Yes," answered Charlie.
"Well, you can still be a fireman, but instead of a red hat you can wear
a tin one. A tin hat will be just the thing for a fireman. It will keep
the make-believe hot sparks, as well as the water, off his head."
"But where can I get a tin hat?" asked Charlie.
"I'll have Mr. Raymond bring up a small tin pail from his hardware store
downstairs."
And that's what was done, and the new, shiny tin pail made a very funny
hat for Charlie. He liked it better than the red one that Splash had
chewed.
After some delay the curtain went up again, showing the barnyard scene,
and in this Bunny and Sue were to drive Toby, their Shetland pony, on
the stage. It had been decided they could do this, as the pony was a
very little one.
Up went the curtain again, and once more the big crowd clapped as they
saw how pretty and natural it was. There was part of a barn with a real
door that opened, and when it swung wide and out trotted the Shetland
pony on to the stage, drawing a little cart in which sat Bunny and Sue,
why, then you should have heard the applause!
And then something happened.
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