"I hope he doesn't squeeze me any harder," thought the Elephant, though
he dared not so much as give a trumpet sound, and as for saying
anything or waving his trunk--that was not to be thought of!
For Archie was there, and his sister Elsie, and Mr. and Mrs. Dunn and
the servants--a room full of people--and of course the Elephant had to
remain quiet.
"Look at my new Dollie!" called Elsie to Archie, and it is a good thing
the little boy had something else to look at, or he might have kept on
squeezing the Elephant until he was out of shape.
"Yes, your Dollie is nice, but I like my Elephant better," said Archie.
"Elephants is for boys an' Dollies is for girls; isn't they, Daddy?"
asked Elsie.
"I guess that's right," replied Mr. Dunn. "But get dressed now,
children, and have breakfast. Then you may play with your toys."
Archie and Elsie were so excited over Christmas that they did not want
to stop to dress, or even eat. But they managed to get some clothes on,
eat a little, and then they started again to play with the many presents
Santa Claus had brought them.
About ten o'clock Elsie, looking out of the window across the
snow-covered yard, gave a squeal of delight and cried:
"Oh, here comes Mirabell, and she has her Lamb on Wheels! Oh, now we can
have fun, and I can show her my new Doll!"
"Is anybody else coming?" asked Archie.
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