1920s Fantasy Adventure Audiobook 📖 The Story of a Stuffed Elephant — Laura Hope

Chapter 1 of The Story of a Stuffed Elephant. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit librivox.org. Read by Gabriella Sasser. The story of a stuffed elephant by Laura Lee Hope. The elephant and the mouse. Oh, how large he is, isn't he? And such wonderfully strong legs. See his trunk, too? Isn't it cute? And he is well stuffed. This is really one of the best toys that ever came into our shop, Gerald Dean. Don't you think so? Yes, Angelina. I must call father to come look at him. He will make a lovely present for some boy or girl. I mean, this stuffed elephant will make a lovely present, not our father. And Miss Angelina Mug smiled at her sister across the big packing box of Christmas toys they were opening in their father's store. Oh no, of course we wouldn't want Father to be given away as a toy, laughed Gerald Dean. But this stuffed elephant. Oh, I just love him. Miss Geraldine Mug caught up the rather large toy animal and hugged it tightly in her arms. Be careful, called her sister. You may break him. Oh, he's just a stuffed elephant, laughed Geraldine. I mean, he hasn't any works inside him to wind up. He's just full of cotton. But I'm beginning to like him more than I care for some of the toys that do wind up. I almost wish I were small again so I could have this elephant for myself. He is nice, admitted Angelina. Well, I'm glad they like me, thought the stuffed elephant to himself, for just now he was not allowed to speak out loud or move around, as the makebelieved toys could do at certain times. But these times were when no eyes of boys, girls, men, or women were looking. It was mainly at night after the store was closed for the day that the toys had their fun talking to one another, moving about, doing tricks, and the like of that. Now, all that the stuffed elephant could do was to stand on his four sturdy legs, with his tail on one end and his trunk almost like a second tail at the other end of his body. He had two white tusks sticking out on either side of his trunk. And at first you might have thought these tusks were toothpicks, but they were not. An elephant's tusks are really teeth grown extra long so he can dig up the roots of trees and the plants on which he feeds. But a stuffed elephant doesn't dig with his tusks. Of course, he never has to eat being already stuffed, you know. And the elephant in the story was well stuffed with cotton. I'm sure this elephant is going to be one of our very nicest Christmas toys, went on Miss Geraldine Mug as she lifted more play things from the big box that had come from the workshop of Santa Claus at the North Pole. Yes, I wish we had more like him, added Miss Angelina. The two ladies helped their father, Mr. Horatio Mug, in his toy store. It was a delightful place where children and many a boy and girl would have been glad to stay all day in the mug toy shop as the big sign out front named the place. "Well, here are some more of those China cats," went on Miss Geraldine as she lifted some white from the box. "Oh, aren't they, darling," exclaimed her sister. "Do you remember the first China cat we had?" "Indeed I do. It was brought for a little girl named Jenny, and she told me only the other day that her china cat had had ever so many adventures. The dear child, the children, I believe, really think their toys are alive and can move about. Of course, we can, only you don't know it, and you never see us, whispered the stuffed elephant to himself. And then he winked one eye at a China cat, an eye that neither Angelina nor Geraldine saw blinking. Gracious, how surprised the two young ladies would have been to see a stuffed elephant winking one eye at a China cat. But stranger things than that are going to happen. I promise you. Be careful, Gerald Dean. Be careful, suddenly cried Angelina as her sister arose from stooping over the box and started toward the shelves with an armful of toys. What's the matter? Why, you nearly stepped on the stuffed elephant. Oh, I'm glad that it didn't really happen. We have only one toy like him, and it would never do to have him crushed all out of shape before he was sold for Christmas. I forgot that we left him standing on the floor. "Gracious, but he's a big fellow," she exclaimed. "I'll lift him up on the shelf," Angelina said. She picked up the stuffed elephant. "Really, he was one of the largest toys that had ever come from the workshop of Santa Claus. and he was a very finelymade toy. Only the best cotton in cloth having been used. "Does he squeak?" asked Gerald Dean as she saw her sister set the creature with trunk and tusks on a board shelf. Squeak? Goodness, of course not. What made you think that? Well, some of the toy animals have a squeaker inside them and make a noise when you press it. I was thinking perhaps the elephant had a squeaker. No, if he had anything, he would have a sort of trumpet in him, said Angelina. Real elephants make a trumpeting noise through their trunks. But of course, a stuffed one can't. Oho, you just wait until it gets dark and the toy shop is closed, whispered the stuffed elephant to himself. Then I'll show you whether I can trump it or not. Though I forgot. I can't show you nor let you hear. It isn't allowed. But after the store is closed, we'll have some fun. Toy after toy was taken from the big packing box. There were sawdust dolls, candy rabbits, tin soldiers, plush bears, and a monkey on a stick, just like other toys of the same name, who had had many adventures, and about whom stories like this have been written. As the toys were taken out of the box, they were placed on the shelves in Mr. Mug's store. This was in a back room, for the toys had yet to be sorted and looked over to make sure each one was all right before they were put in the front part of the store to be sold. Mr. Mug had a larger and finer store than the one before the fire. When the china cat had so nearly been melted by the great heat, and having a larger store, Mr. Mug bought larger Christmas play things, such as the stuffed elephant. Finally, all the new toys were taken from the box and placed around on the shelves. While Angelina and Gerald Dean had been doing this, their father was in the front part of the store waiting on customers. After a bit, when it grew dark outside and the lights were lit inside the store, Mr. Mug locked the front door and came back into the rear room. "I think we have worked enough for today," the toy man told his daughters. "We will wait until tomorrow before looking over the new things and marking prices on them. I am tired and want to go to bed. Good, thought the stuffed elephant. That is, I'm not glad Mr. Mug is tired, he went on in his thoughts. But I'm glad he is going to bed so I can move about and talk to some of my koi friends. It's been no fun to be shut up in that box ever since I came from the shop of Santa Claus. A little later, the store was in darkness, except for a small light burning near the safe, so the passing policeman could look and see that no burglars were breaking into it. "Hello, everybody?" suddenly called the stuffed elephant, waving his trunk around in the air. "How are you all?" "Who is that speaking?" asked a nodding donkey. A toy whose head kept moving all the while as it was fastened on a pivot. A new chap. A stuffed elephant, answered a jumping jack, who wore a blue and yellow cap. A stuffed elephant? Let me see him. I never heard of such a creature. Braid did the nodding donkey, and he slid along the shelf to get a better view, for it was the mystic hour when the makebelieve toys could pretend to be alive, when they could move about and talk. "Here I am, right over here," trumpeted the stuffed elephant. And if Miss Gerald Dean and Miss Angelina or even Mr. Mug could have heard him, they would have been very much surprised. "Oh, you have two tails," cried the nodding donkey. "No, only one," said the stuffed elephant. "The other is my trunk. It really is a long nose, but it is called a trunk." "Is there anything inside it?" asked a calico clown. "Nothing but air. I breathe through my trunk," the stuffed elephant answered. But I myself am filled with the very best cotton. Lots and lots of it. Have you cotton inside you? He asked the donkey. No, I'm wood clear through was the reply. But as long as you are a new toy, let me welcome you among us. We are glad to see you. What is the latest news from the land of Santa Claus? Well, let me see. So many things happen up there that I hardly know where to start to tell you about them, replied the stuffed elephant. in the first place. I'm stuffed, too, suddenly interrupted a high squeaky voice. I am stuffed with sawdust. Here I am over here. Yes, Miss Sawdust Doll, we see you, prayed the nodding donkey. But please don't interrupt the stuffed elephant. He is going to tell us about Santa Claus, and I want to hear as it is sometime since I came from the North Pole. Well, I can tell you as well as that stuffed elephant can, went on the squeaky sawdust doll. I came from Santa Claus's shop in the same box with him. You're not the first sawdust doll, though. She was brought by a little girl named Dorothy, I've heard said, remarked a rubber dog. Yes, that's right, said the nodding donkey. And her brother Dick had a white rocking horse. But as long as the stuffed elephant kindly offered first to tell us the latest news from the North Pole, I think it would be only polite to let him finish. Oh, of course, yes, squeaked the new soda doll. Well, began the creature with the trunk in tusks. I think I will tell you. But just then there was a worring noise at the end of the shelf, and a little voice cried, "Oh, save me. Somebody, please save me. I'm wound up too tight and my wheels are running away with me. I'll run to the edge of the shelf and fall off. Save me, somebody, please. A rolling mouse that could run across the room on wheels when wound up dashed along the toy shelf. As she had said, she was in danger of falling off. Straight toward the stuffed elephant ran the rolling mouse, squeaking in fright. I'll save you. I'll save you, trumpeted the big toy. Don't be afraid, Miss Mouse. I'll save you. He uncoiled his long nose of a trunk and stretched it out toward the rolling mouse. End of chapter 1. Chapter 2 of The Story of a Stuffed Elephant. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit librivox.org. Read by Leah Lo. The story of a Stuffed Elephant by Laura Lee Hope. The Man and the Elephant. Catch me, save me, catch me before I fall off the shelf and break to pieces, squeak the rolling mouse. Don't be afraid. I'm right here, trumpeted the stuffed elephant. On his sturdy legs, big round and stuffed with cotton, the elephant stepped to the edge of the shelf. As quickly as the China cat could blink her eyes, the elephant reached across to the tip of his trunk and caught the rolling mouse, just as she was going to slip over the edge of the shelf. Holding her very tightly so as not to squeeze the breath out of the mouse, the elephant lifted the tiny creature up in the air, keeping her there until her spring ran down. Then, in a spirit of fun, he reached around and set the mouse down on his broad back. "There you are!" laughed the elephant in his hearty voice. There you are, Miss Mouse. Yes, but where am I? Oh, so high up as I am. Oh, where am I? squeaked the little mouse. You're up on my back, laughed the jolly elephant toy. Don't be afraid. Stay there, and I'll give you a ride to where you come from. On what shelf do you belong? Oh, put me down. Oh, I'm so afraid I'll fall off, cried the tiny mouse. It's almost as high up here on your back as it would be to fall to the floor from the shelf. Do please put me down kind Mr. Elephant. Don't be silly Miss Mouse braided the nodding donkey. The elephant is good and strong and he is also careful. He will not let you fall. Are you sure? asked the little mouse trembling. Of course I will not let you fall, chuckled the elephant. Just stay quietly on my back and I'll take you to where you come from. But maybe her wheels will go around again and make her roll off, remarked the sawdust doll. No, the spring unwound as I slid across the shelf, said the rolling mouse. I'm all right now. Mr. Mug round me up today to show me to a little boy. But the boy wanted a pair of skates, not a mouse like me. So Mr. Mug put me down on the shelf without letting my spring unwind. He stuck me up against a tin soldier, and the soldier kept me from rolling around. But just now the soldier came out to look at the new stuffed elephant and left nothing to hold me back and away I rolled. "Oh, I'm sorry," said the tin soldier, touching his red cap in a salute to Miss Mouse. "I'll forgive you, as I know you didn't mean to do it," said the mouse toy with a smile that made her whiskers wiggle. "But I do wish you'd put me down, Mr. Elephant. I'm nervous up on your back, broad and big as it is." All right, Miss Rolling Mouse. I'll lift you down, trumpeted the elephant. And here you are at your own place on the shelf. The big toy, stuffed as he was with cotton, reached back with his trunk, gently picked up the mouse in it, and set her down where she had started to roll from. As she had said, the wheels no longer whizzed around, as the spring, which made them move, had all uncoiled. It had run down, as it is called. There you are, went on the elephant after he had gently put down the mouse toy. Anytime you're afraid of falling off the shelf, just call for me and I'll save you with my trunk. You are very kind, said the mouse. And so big and strong. Isn't he big though? Giggled the Sawdust Doll. I wonder if he's strong enough to give me a ride on his back. Of course he is, prayed the nodding donkey. Do you want to ride on my back, Miss Sawdust Doll? asked the good-natured elephant. All right, up you go. With a swing of his trunk, he set the doll in his back, as he had done with Mouse. Then the stuffed elephant carefully walked around among the toys, taking care not to step on any of them. I'm glad the elephant has come to stay with us, whispered a little celluloid doll. I'd love to ride on his back, but I don't like to ask him. I'll ask you if you're too bashful to do it, said the calico clown, and he did. Why, of course I'll ride you too, Miss Celluloid Doll, chuckled the elephant. I'll ride all of you in turn. That is all but the very largest toys. They might make my seams come open in the cotton stuffing puff out. For the elephant was made of gray cloth, you know, and he was sewed together. His tus of wood had been stuck in on either side of his trunk. "I thought elephants were always afraid of mice," said the cellular doll when she was having her ride. "Poo! Me afraid of a little mouse?" laughed the big elephant. I guess not. What made you think that? It's in some of the story books, went on the tiny celluloid doll. The story says real live elephants are afraid of mice because they fear the tiny creatures will crop up the nose holes in their trunks. That may be all right for real live elephants, laughed the big stuffed toy. But I'm only make believe, you know, like the rest of you toys. The rolling mouse couldn't get up my nose. And if I could, I wouldn't, because you have been so kind to me," squeaked the little toy mouse. "Next time I ride in your back, I shall not be so afraid." "Would you like to ride now, Miss Mouse?" asked the elephant, as he sat down with his trunk of fuzzy duck, who had just been given a ride around the shelf. "Oh, no, thank you. Not now," answered the mouse. "And I think it'll soon be time for us to stop our makebelieve fun. It will be morning in a little while, and you know we can't talk or laugh or do anything in daylight when Mr. Mug and his daughters are any customers are in the store. I hope the elephant will have time to tell us a little of what has happened to the North Pole land since we came away, said the rocking horse, who had been to this toy store a long time. Yes, do tell us, begs the other playthinks. I will, said the elephant. So the elephant swaying on his four big legs in the same way the real elephants do told the latest news from the workshops of Santa Claus once he had lately come with a box of other toys. "Is Santa Claus as jolly as ever?" asked the tit horse. "Just as jolly," replied the elephant. "More so if anything, his whiskers are a little longer and his cheeks are a little redder. But that is all. I heard him tell some of his workmen as they packed me in the box that he'd hoped I'd like it down on the earth among the boys and girls. "You're sure to like it," said the nodding donkey. "A brother of mine used to be in this store, and he was given to a boy who took very good care of him." "And a sister of yours is owned by a little girl named Dorothy," said a cloth rabbit to the sawdust doll. "She was lovely fun, your sister has. You're very likely to go to some boy. It seems you are too big a toy for a little girl, said the calico clown to the stuffed elephant. What will happen then? The elephant asked. But just then, Mr. Mug came in to open the shop for the day, and the toys had to stop talking and pretend to be stiff and unable to move. They always had to be this way when anyone looked in at them. Well, said Mr. Mug as he and his daughters began dusting the toys ready for today's business. Christmas is coming and we shall soon be losing some of our toys. You mean people will come to buy them? Smiled Geraldine. Yes, her father answered. Well, I hope this lovely big stuffed elephant goes to someone who will take good care of him, remarked Angelina as she moved the big toy further front of the shelf. Oh my, she exclaimed. His back is all dusty. Dusty? Cried Geraldine. Did you let him fall on the floor? Indeed, I did not. He hasn't been off the shelf or moved since he was taken out of the box last night. I wonder how the dust got on his back. I haven't the least idea, answered Angelina. But I'll take it off with a brush. This she did. Of course you know how the dust got on the elephant's back. It came from the toys who rose him along the shelf. And though neither of the mug sisters knew it, the elephant had moved from his place on the shelf. He had walked all about it. People began to come into the store to look for Christmas. As Santa Claus is so busy nowadays, he has to let some of the toy buying be done by the grown folks. And a number of them coming to see what their little boys and girls would like. Among those who passed by the shelf on which the elephant stood was a jolly looking man wearing a big fur coat, for the day was cold and it was snowing outside. "Oh ho!" exclaimed the man as he saw the stuffed elephant. "This is just what my son Archie wants, an elephant. I'll get this for him as he wrote Santa Claus letter saying he wanted the stuffed elephant more than anything else. This elephant is just from the shop of Santa Claus, said Angelina Mug as she stepped up to wait on the man. Is he indeed? Yes, he was taken out of the box only last night. He is wellmade and strong, and he has heaps and heaps of cotton stuffing inside of him. Even if he fell over on a little baby, this big elephant could do no harm, as he is so soft. Yes, is indeed," said the man, feeling the toy. "I suppose he doesn't bite," he added, looking at Miss Angelina and smiling. "Of course he doesn't bite," laughed Miss Monk. "Shall I have him sent to your house so your son Archie will get him for Christmas?" "Thank you. It is so near Christmas that I think I better take the elephant with me," said Mr. Dunn. "I have my auto outside, and as it is a closed car, the elephant will not take cold." "I'm glad of that," said Miss Angelina. Very often she used to make believe the toys were real and alive and could take hold and become ill. Of course, she did not know that the toys really could move about after dark when no one saw them. Yes, I'll take the elephant with me. But on Mr. Dunn, I'll hide some away in the attic until Christmas. And then let Santa Claus give him to Archie. That boy of mine loves toy animals. A little later, the stuffed elephant was standing in among the other packages in the back of the auto. On the front seat, Mr. done was guiding the car through the storm, for it was now snowing hard. "My, this reminds me of the North Pole land," thought the elephant, as he looked out of the windows of the car, and saw the white flakes swirling about. "The ground is covered, too." "It had been snowing some time before Mr. went to the toy store, and now he was having hard work to make his machine plow through the drifts on the way home." They took me away in such a hurry I had no time to say goodbye to any of my toy friends. Thought the elephant as he snuggled down in the blanket in the rear of the auto. For elephants need to be kept warm, you know. That is real ones. And this stuffed elephant made believe he was real. But of course I shouldn't have dared say anything while people were around, thought the toy. I hope I see some of them again, for it wasn't very polite to come away as I did. All at once, as the otter was rolling along quite fast, it came to a sudden stop with a bump and a jerk. "Hello, we're stuck!" cried the man. "I must see if I can break through the snow drift." He backed the car and started ahead again with the motor going full speed. Bang! The car struck the snow drift. There was a crash of glass. Oh dear," whispered the elephant to himself, for he went toppling, legs overhead, out through a broken window of the car into a deep snow drift stuck the poor soft elephant. "Oh, this is terrible," said the toy. "Oh, I am freezing to death." End of chapter 2. Chapter 3 of The Story of a Stuffed Elephant by Laura Lee Hope. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Gabriella Sasser. Up in the attic. Banging, puffing, and grinding noises sounded all about the stuffed elephant. Around him swirled the white flakes of snow, but he could hardly see them. For part of his head, part of his trunk, and one eye were stuck in the drift. Mr. John's automobile had lurched to one side as Archie's father tried to send it through a big white drift, and the noise was made by the motor or engine of the car, working its best to force the car ahead. The glass window of the automobile had broken as it tipped to one side, a piece of ice flying through. And it was through the broken window that the stuffed elephant had been tossed right out into a snowdrift. Oh, it's so cold, so cold, said the elephant, shivering. Of course, it was cold up at the North Pole where Santa Claus has his workshop, and there was more snow and ice than near Archie's home. But up there, the elephant had been inside the warm shop, just as he had been kept in the warm toy store, and until a few minutes ago in the warm auto. Well, I guess I'll have to go back up and go around another way, said Mr. Dunn after a while. I can't make my machine go through that snow drift. No use trying. I'll upset if I do. Hello. One of the windows is broken, too. I'm sorry about that. But I can go on with a broken window, which I couldn't do if I had a broken wheel. And I guess the toys won't take cold. Yes, I must back up and go home by another road. Starting the car slowly, Mr. Dunn backed it out of the drift. The front wheels and the radiator, where the water is, were covered with masses of white flakes. But aside from the broken window, no damage had been done. "I'd better hurry home, too," said Mr. Dunn, talking to himself. "Away some jolly men have. It's snowing worse, and I don't want to be kept out here all night. I want to get back with the Christmas presents. Archie will surely like the stuffed elephant." And then, never thinking that the elephant had been tossed out of the broken window into a bank of snow, Mr. Dunn started his car off on another road, leaving the poor elephant stuck in the drift. "Oh, this is dreadful, terrible," thought the elephant. "I'm freezing to death. Santa Claus wanted me to have adventures, but none like this, I'm sure. What shall I do?" If the elephant had been allowed to come to life and call out when Mr. done was around, all would have been well. For though Archie's father might have been surprised at hearing a toy speak, he never would have gone away and left it in the snow. But the toy elephant did not dare call out, though, now that no one could see him, he pretended to come to life and began to struggle to get out of the snow. It was getting dark and growing colder, and even a toy elephant does not like to be left all night in a snowdrift. Oh, if only I could pull my trunk out and get the snow from my left eye. Maybe I can see which path Mr. Dunn took and follow him home, thought the elephant. I don't want to stay here alone. It is dark and no human eyes can see me moving. I must get out. He struggled and wiggled, but he seemed to be sinking deeper into the snow instead of getting out. Down, down, down into the white flakes sank the poor stuffed elephant. Farther and farther down, down, down. Knowing nothing of having lost the fine new elephant out of his auto, Mr. Dunn went along by an easier road where there were not so many drifts. He was driving past a garage when a man outside called. Hey, mister, your car door is open. I guess you mean the windows broken, don't you? Asked Archie's father. I know about that. Thank you. I ran into a drift. No, your door is wide open. and is swinging to and fro," the garage man went on. "It may bang against something and break off. Wait a minute and I'll close it for you." Mr. Dunn had slowed his car as the man called to him. And now he brought it to his stop. So the door is open, is it? Mr. Dunn asked. "Well, that's too bad. I didn't know about that. It must have come open after the glass was broken. And if the door is open, some of the things may have fallen out. I'd better get down and take a look." And no sooner had Mr. Dunn looked within the gar than he cried, "The elephant is gone." "Elephant!" exclaimed the garage man. "Elephant? Surely an elephant? I was taken home to my boy Archie." went on. Mr. Dunn, I had the elephant in the car. And oh my, cried the garageman, backing away and nearly falling into a snow drift himself. Do you mean to tell me that you had an elephant in that machine? Oh, I see what you're thinking of. You mean a real elephant, and I'm speaking of the stuffed elephant that I bought in the toy store. It's a toy elephant that is lost, Mr. Dunn explained. Oh, that's different, laughed the man. I was wondering how real elephant could get inside your car, unless he was a baby one. No, this was a toy one, said Mr. Dunn. And I think I know where he must have slipped out. Back at the big drift where I broke the glass off the door, trying to smash my way through. I'll go back there and see if I can find Archie's Christmas present. Back through the storm drove Mr. Dunn. The snow was coming down thicker and faster, and the wind was piling it into more drifts. It was dark, too, but the headlights on the car made the road bright enough, especially on account of the white snow, for Mr. Dunn to see his way. Soon he was back again at the same drift which had made him turn about and take another road. "Now to find that elephant," said Mr. Dunn. All this while the stuffed elephant had been trying to wiggle out of the snow drift, but not being used to such work. He was not having very good luck. The snow was soft, and the more he wiggled, the deeper in he sank. "Oh dear," sighed the poor elephant. "What am I going to do? The snowflakes are getting in my trunk and they tickle me and make me want to sneeze. It's no fun to be in a snow drift. I used to like to look at them through the window in the shop of Santa Claus. But they're prettier to look at than to be in. If only a lot of nodding donkeys and four or five of the white rocking horses were here now, they could pull me out of this drift, went on the elephant. But they aren't, and I'll have to help myself. I wonder if I gave a trumpet or two through my trunk whether that would do any good. He was just about to try it when all at once he heard a noise. That sounds like an automobile, thought the elephant. I dare move or trumpet if any real folks are around. I'll have to stay quiet and then Oh, then I'll sink deeper into the snow. Just then a man's voice said, "It was right here I ran into the drift. The elephant must be somewhere about here." Dazzling lights shown in the elephant's one eye that was not in the drift. He saw a big Otto come to a stop just the other side of the snowdrift, and Mr. Dunn, for he it was, jumped out. "Oh, now I'll be all right, I guess," joyfully thought the poor elephant. Mr. Dunn stopped through the snow until he was close to the drift. The headlights on the car made it almost as bright as if the moon had shown. "Ah, there he is!" cried Archie's father. A moment later, he caught hold of one of the elephant's hind legs and pulled him from the drift. "Here's Archie's elephant," exclaimed Mr. Dunn. "Not hurt a bit. Only some snow on him. But that will brush off. I'm glad that man at the garage saw my open door, or I'd never have known I'd lost the elephant. Now for home." A moment later, the elephant was put back into the auto with the other Christmas toys. I'll cover them with a blanket to keep the snow from blowing in on them through the broken window, said Mr. Dunn to himself. The elephant was glad of this, for he felt very cold. Then back started the auto, and it was so warm and cozy under the blanket that the elephant almost fell asleep. He wanted to talk to the other toys and tell them what had happened, but he did not dare to do this with Mr. Dunn on the front seat. At last, the car turned into the drive of a handsome country place. Mr. Dunn tooted the horn. A door of the house opened, letting out a stream of light, and a boy's voice cried, "You're late, Daddy." "Yes, I ran into a snow drift. But now listen to me, Archie. You go inside and keep out of the way until I bring in some things." "Oh, Daddy, what are you going to bring in?" cried a small boy. "Never mind now. They aren't for you to see just yet. Besides, they are covered with snow, for some came in through the broken window, and I don't want you to catch cold. Go hide yourself, Archie, until I call you to come." Archie laughed and went into another room away from the front hall. And then Mr. Dunn carried in many bundles, including the stuffed elephant, which was not closely wrapped in paper, as were some of the others. "Oh, from Santa Claus for Archie," whispered Mrs. Dunn. Hush," cautioned her husband. "He might hear. I'll take the things up to the attic to stay there until Santa Claus says it's time to put them under the tree at Christmas." So, the elephant was carried up to the attic. It was a queer old dusty place. And when the elephant had been put on the floor with some other toys, Mr. Dunn went downstairs and closed the door. At first, the elephant did not know where he was, but he soon saw the moonlight streaming in through a window. and he noticed the other toys about him. "Hello there, who are you?" asked a creaking voice. And near the elephant, a big wheel of wood began slowly turning. "Anybody want a ride?" asked the wheel. "I'm a spinner." "I am, and I'm making believe I'm a merrygoround. Anyone want a ride?" "Dear me! What a strange place an attic is?" thought the stuffed elephant. It isn't as nice as the toy shop, but still maybe I can have some fun. I wonder if I could ride on that wheel. I'm afraid I'm too big, but I could try. I may never have another chance. And but before the elephant could ask the spinning wheel how to get on. All at once, there was a banging noise in one corner of the attic, and a voice cried, "Make way. Stand aside. Here I come. >> My I wonder who this is. Not a lion, I hope, thought the elephant. >> End of chapter 3. Chapter 4 of The Story of a Stuffed Elephant. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit librivox.org. Chapter 4. Christmas fun. Since there were no real persons up in the attic, no boys or girls or grown folks to spy around, the toys and other things in the dusty top of the house could do as they pleased. The toys could pretend to come to life, and even such a thing as a spinning wheel could whirl about and speak. Thus, when the spinning wheel was invited, whoever wished to get on and have Mary go around ride, and the harsh voice had called, "Make way, here I come." The stuffed elephant hardly knew what was going to happen. Then all at once, a big brown rat, a real live rat and not a toy, ran from a hole in the corner and with a squeal of delight, jumped up on the twirling spinning wheel. "Here I go on the merrygo round. I ride this way every night," squeaked the rat to the elephant and the other Christmas toys, which Mr. Dunn had hidden in the attic until it was time for Santa Claus to come around. "Do you indeed?" asked the elephant. "You must have lots of fun." "I do," answered the brown rat. But who are you? And he stood up among the spokes of the spinning wheel and looked over toward the moonlight patch on the floor where there stood the new toy. I am a stuffed elephant, was the answer. And I have just had the most dreadful adventure. I was pitched out of the auto into a snowbank. I don't like snow, squeak the rat. It's too cold. And I'm glad to see you, Mr. Elephant. Don't you want to ride on this merry-go round? Thank you. I'm afraid I'm too big, answered the elephant. And I never before saw a merrygoround that spun this way like a wheel. In Mrs. Dermug's store where I came from, there was a toy merry-goround, but it would spin like a top. I am not a regular merrygoround, said the spinning wheel. I just make believe. I'm up here in the attic. Time was when I used to spin yarn from the grandmother of Mr. Dunn. But now all yarn is spun in factories by machinery, and spinning wheels are out of fashion. So I am up here in the dust and it makes the time pass quickly to pretend I'm a merrygoround. Yes, and we rats and mice have good times, cried the brown chap, as he wound his tail among the spokes of the wheel to hold on tightly as he spun around and around. I believe I'd like a ride, too, said the tin soldier, which was another toy Mr. Dunn had brought home. "All right, climb up," called out the rat. So the tin soldier, being able to pretend to come to life since no prying eyes saw him, got up on the spinning wheel and rode with the rat. The elephant wanted to have this fun, but he was too large to get on the wheel. Besides, he said, something might happen to my trunk. He was very proud of his trunk and his tusk, was the stuffed elephant. Several days passed during which the toys had to remain hidden in the attic, waiting for Christmas. They did not mind it, however, as they were left to themselves and could have fun. At last, however, Christmas Eve came, and when the house was quiet and still, when Santa Claus was on his way flying over the chimneys with his sleigh and eight reindeer, the stuffed elephant and the other toys were carried down to the parlor and placed beneath the Christmas tree. And when Christmas morning came, Archie Dunn came racing downstairs in his little pajamas, crying, "Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! What did Santa Claus leave for me? Go and look, replied his mother. When Archie saw all his toys, but especially the stuffed elephant, the little boy shouted and clapped his hands for joy and cried, "Oh, what a lovely Christmas! Oh, I always wanted a stuffed elephant, and now I have it. Oh, what a fine big elephant you are." He threw his arms around the stuffed creature's neck and hugged him so hard that the cotton stuffing almost oozed out of the elephant's ears. I hope he doesn't squeeze me any harder, thought the elephant, though he dare 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 in the servants, a room full of people, and of course the elephant had to remain quiet. "Look at my new dolly!" 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 till he was out of shape. Yes, your dolly is nice, but I like my elephant better, said Archie. Elephants is for boys and dollies is for girls, isn't they, Daddy. 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 get dressed 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 10:00, Elsie, looking out of the window across the snow coververed yard, gave a squeal of delight and cried, "Oh, here comes Mirabel, and she has her lamb on wheels. Oh, now we can have fun, and I can show her my new doll." Is anyone else coming? I want to show as somebody my stuffed elephant, said Archie. Elsie looked again before running to the door to welcome her little collar. Yes, went on Archie's sister. I see Joe, and he has his nodding donkey. That's good, laughed Archie. Into the house came Mirabbel, who carried a lamb on wheels, which had been given her as a present sometime before. Of course, this isn't for Christmas, said the little girl. I didn't bring out my Christmas present stepped in this. and she showed on her finger a gold ring that Santa Claus had left. "And I got a steam engine, only I couldn't bring it over," said Joe, who used to be lame, but was better now. "So, I brought my old nodding donkey," he said. "He was in the hospital once, as was I. And Mr. Mug mended his broken leg." At the mention of Mr. Mug, the stuffed elephant began to listen more carefully. If he had dared, he would have flapped his big ears, but that was not allowed. "I wonder," thought the elephant, if he means the same, Mr. mug of the toy store where I came from. I wish the children would go out of the room for a minute until I could speak to the nodding donkey and the lamb on wheels. But the children were having too much fun to leave the room. Marbel with her lamb and Joe with his donkey looked at the present Santa Claus had brought for Elsie and Archie. Then there came a ring at the doorbell and in came a boy named Sydney with a calico clown and a girl named Dorothy with a sawdust doll. These toys were not new Christmas presents, for Dorothy and Sydney had brought only their old toys since it was snowing again. The stuffed elephant was getting excited. He had heard these other toys spoken of by friends in Mr. Mug store and wanted to talk to them. But while the children were in the room, he dared not say a word. At last, however, Mrs. Dunn invited the little collars out to the dining room to have some milk and cake. And out they rushed, leaving the toys in the middle of the floor. Ah, at last we are alone, said the elephant. Please tell me, Mr. Noding Donkey, he said. Were you ever in Mr. Mug's door? I came from there, was the answer. So did I, joyfully exclaimed the elephant. I don't remember seeing you there, the nodding donkey said, swaying his head up and down. I was one of the very newest toys, went on the elephant. I suppose you were there last year or the year before. Yes, said the donkey. It was some time ago, and I have had many adventures. Tell me, did you ever have a broken leg? Mercy, no! Exclaimed the elephant. Well, I did, and Mr. Mugman did it for me, went on the donkey proudly. This Sawdust Doll here, he said, has also had many adventures. Tell him about them, Sawdust Doll. Oh, it would take too long, replied Dorothy's play thing. But they are all in a book. and Dorothy's brother Dick as a rocking horse and his adventures are in a book too. For that matter, I have a book written about me, said the donkey. So have I, declared the calico clown, jumping up and down. It tells about my trousers catching fire. I wonder if I'll have a book written about me, said the elephant. Perhaps, answered the lamb on wheels. You are much larger than I, and there is a book about me. But let's have some fun now that the children are out of the room. All right, agreed the elephant. This is like it used to be in Mr. Mug's store after closing time. What shall we do? I know what I should like to do, said the calico clown as he looked up at the big stuffed toy. What? said the nodding donkey. I should like to ride an elephant's back, went on the clown. All my life I've wanted to ride on an elephant's back and never yet had a chance. You shall have it now, replied the kind elephant. I'll come over and get you. Can you climb up? I'm pretty tall, you see. I'll stand on top of this trolley car, said the clown. Wonder if Archie's presents was a toy trolley car. And by jumping on this, the clown managed to reach the elephant's back. Now, hold on tightly and you won't fall, said the elephant. If I thought, I could have lifted you with my trunk as I did the rolling mouse. But I'll lift you down again. Sit tight now. So the clown sat tight, and the elephant walked around the room with him, giving the gay fellow a fine ride. The sawdust doll was just making up her mind that she would be brave enough to get on the elephant's back when all at once the nodding donkey cried. Quick, quiet, everyone. The children are coming. Oh, let me off your back, whispered the clown to the elephant. They must never see me up here. It isn't allowed. But he was too late. Before he could slide off the elephant's back, Archie, Elsie, and the other children came running into the room. Oh, oh, oh, they cried as they saw the calico clown on the back of the stuffed elephant. End of chapter 4. Chapter 5 of The Story of a Stuffed Elephant by Laura Lee Hope. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Gabriella Sasser. In the Barn. Hearing the shouts of the children as they hurried back into the room where the Christmas tree stood, Archie's mother came to see what the matter was. "Oh, mother!" exclaimed Archie. "Look, the clown is riding on my elephant's back. Isn't he funny?" "He looks very odd," said Mrs. Dunn. "Who put him up there? Did you lift Sydney's calico clown to your stuffed elephant's back, Archie?" "Oh, no, mother," Archie answered. It wasn't I, nor I, said Elsie. And I didn't either, said the other children in turn. Well, said Mrs. Dunn, looking from one to the other, of course, the clown couldn't have gotten up on the elephant's back by himself. And of course, the elephant couldn't have lifted him up there with his trunk. Though I know a live clown could jump on a live elephant's back, and a live elephant could lift a live clown up in his trunk. But these are only toys. They must be moved about. Well, I didn't put the clown there, said Archie again. Nor I, echoed the other children. And while this talk was going on, the elephant, the clown, and the other Christmas toys were very much worried, lest their part in the fun be found out. Of course, we know how the clown got on the elephant's back, but Mrs. Dunn did not, nor did the children. They didn't know that the toys had the power to make believe come to life when no one was watching them. If they had only stayed out of the room a little longer, I would have had a chance to slip down the elephant's back, and all would be well, thought the calico clown. But coming in so quickly, they caught me. I hope they never find out about our having fun when they are out of the room, or they'll never leave us toys alone. How do you suppose the clown got on my elephant? asked Archie of his mother a little later. I think some of you children must have put him there and forgotten about it, said Mrs. Dunn. No, no, the children cried. Well, then Nip must have been playing with the clown and just dropped him on the elephant's back, said Mrs. Dunn. Nip was Archie's dog. a great big fellow, but very kind and good and especially fond of children. He was called Nip because he used to playfully nip or pretend to bite cats. He never really bit them, though. But Nip isn't here to take the clown up in his mouth and put him on the elephant, said Archie. Oh, I guess your dog ran in here while you were out in the other room eating the cake and drinking the milk. Mrs. Dunn said then Nip ran out again after dropping the clown. Anyhow, we don't need to worry about it. Go on with your Christmas fun. This the children did, and having seen the clown on the elephant, Dorothy wanted to have her sawdust doll ride in the same way. So, the clown was lifted off and the doll was lifted on. "Oh, I'm having my wish. I'm having my wish," joyfully thought the sawdust doll to herself as she was put on the elephant's back, and Archie pulled the big stuffed elephant about the room. The elephant too was glad to give his friend the doll a ride on his back, as he had carried the rolling mouse and the other toys, though of course he would not speak and tell her so, for there were children in the room. The doll too would have been glad to thank Mr. Elephant, but it was not allowed. So all the stuffed elephant could do was to swing his cloth trunk to and fro as Archie pulled him over the smooth floor, and all the sawdust doll could do was to wave her arms a little. The children thought it was such fun to give the smaller toys rides on the back of the big stuffed elephant that they shouted and laughed with glee, making a great deal of noise. And there was more noise when Dick, who owned the white rocking horse, came over with his friend Herbert, who had a toy monkey on a stick. "Oh, my dear children, you are making so much noise," called Mrs. Dunn, entering the Christmas tree room. Don't you want to go out in our big barn to play? Isn't it cold out in the barn? asked Mirabel as she looked from the window and saw the snowflakes falling. I wouldn't want my lamb to catch cold. It isn't cold in our barn, Archie answered. It has steam heat cuz my father doesn't want the horses to catch cold, and he doesn't want the water in our automobile to freeze either. So, he has steam heat in our barn. And it's warm and cozy, added Elsie. Oh, out there we can have a lot of fun. Let's go out there then, said Joe. My donkey likes it in the barn, I guess. And so will my elephant, called Archie. A little later, the children were running over the snow to the big barn on Mr. Dun's estate. The gardener had shoveled a path through the snow from the house to the barn so the children would not get their feet wet. Each child carried some toy, and Archie had all he could do to clasp the big elephant in his arms. For Archie was a small boy, and the elephant was one of the largest toys. Once on the way from the house to the barn, Archie, carrying the elephant, stumbled and nearly fell. "Oh!" cried the little boy as he slipped along the snowy path. "Oh!" The elephant wanted to cry. "Oh," also, but he dared not. He felt shivery and frightened, though, as he saw the banks of snow on either side of him. I don't want to be pitched into another drift headirst, he thought to himself. But Archie did not fall, and the elephant did not get a second bath in the snow, for which he was very glad. Into the warm barn trooped the children with their Christmas toys, some old and some new. Jake, the man who looked after the horses, giving them oats for my big bin and hay from the loft, opened the doors for the children, and laughed to see how happy they were. We're going to play here and have a lot of fun, Jake, called Archie. See my big elephant? I just got him for Christmas. He's a fine fellow, Jake agreed. Shall I put him in a stall as I do the horses? No, we are going to keep him here to play with, said Archie. And I think I'll get a little hay to make believe feed him. Well, be careful, warned Jake. Don't fall off the hay mau. The hay mau was a big place in the barn where the dried grass, which is what hay is, you know, was stored away. While the other children were having fun with their toys, Archie climbed to the mau to get some hay for his elephant. Now dried hay is slippery as you know if you have ever tried to climb up a pile of it in a barn. And no sooner was Archie at the top of the mau then down he slid on the hill of hay. "I'm falling," he cried, and his sister and the other children came running to see what would happen. Archie slid down the hay mau toward the floor of the barn, and it seemed as if he would get a hard bump. But as it happened, a lot of the hay slid along with the little boy, and it was under him when he struck the barn floor, so he fell on the hay, which was like a cushion, and Archie wasn't hurt in the least. In fact, he rather liked it. "Oh, this is fun!" he cried. "I'm going to slide down the hay mouse some more." Again, he climbed to the top, and down he slid, sitting upright as though on a chair. Again, he slipped over the edge of the mau and fell on the pile of hay on the barn floor. "Hooray!" shouted Joe, who being no longer lame, could play like other boys. "I'm going to do that," he did, as did the other boys and girls, and soon they had forgotten their Christmas toys for the time being in the newer fun of sliding down the hay. Thus, the elephant, the donkey, and the different makebelieve animals were left to themselves in a distant part of the barn. "This is our chance," said the donkey to the elephant. "Let's walk around. My legs are stiff, especially the one that was broken in which Mr. Mug mended." "Yes, a little walk will do us good," agreed the elephant. "I'm a bit stiff myself, and I want to swing my trunk." So the donkey and elephant, making the leave come to life, walked about the barn floor while the children were farther off, sliding down the hay mau. There were many strange things in the barn, at least strange to the elephant and donkey. There were garden tools of all sorts, rakes, hose, shovels, and picks. There were strange pieces of machinery for cutting hay, planting corn, and potatoes, and the like. In one corner was a big wheel with a rope around it. And for a moment the elephant thought his friend the spinning wheel had come out of the barn to play. But a second look showed that this wheel was larger, stronger, and different in every way. I wonder what this wheel and rope are for, said the elephant to the nodding donkey. I don't know, I'm sure, prayed the nodding donkey. Just then the wheel turned slowly and the long dangling rope swayed to and fro. I wonder what that is for, went on the elephant, like most animals, he was curious about something he did not understand. Just as your cat or dog will try to find out what causes a strange noise. Why don't you reach up with your trunk and feel it? asked the donkey. I've heard you say your trunk was almost like a hand to you. It is," the elephant answered. "I will feel the rope and wheel and see what it is like." >> As the children were in another part of the barn having fun in the haymau, and as there was no prying eyes to watch, the elephant could do as he pleased. He raised his trunk and stretched it toward the dangling rope. And then, all of a sudden, something happened. The rope turned and twisted like a snake. A loop of it wound around the elephant's neck. And a moment later, he felt himself being lifted off the barn floor and the hemp coils. Through the air like the pendulum of a big clock, he swayed. As the rope pulled tighter and tighter, the poor elephant cried, "Oh, my dear friend," nodding donkey, "I'm in a terrible state. This rope is so tight, it is squeezing all the cotton stuffing out of me. Oh, what shall I do?" End of chapter 5. Chapter 6 of A Story of a Stuffed Elephant by Laura Lee Hope. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Leah Lo. A dangerous slide. Anxious as the nodding donkey was to help his friend the stuffed elephant. Nothing could be done, for the rope had suddenly been pulled up, taking the elephant with it. And there he swung, dangling to and fro, the coil of the rope getting tighter and tighter around his neck, choking the poor toy. "Oh, I know all the stuffing will squeeze out of me. I just know it will," sighed the elephant. "Then I'll look like a balloon and all the air out of it. Oh dear." "Can't you get yourself loose?" asked the donkey. "I wish I could climb up and help you, but I can't." "And I'd help you, for I am a good climber. Only I can't get off my stick. I'm fastened on tight just now." chattered Herbert's monkey. "Well, something will have to be done if I am to be saved," called the elephant, of course, not speaking loudly enough for the children in another part of the barn to hear. Archie and his friends were still having fun sliding down the slippery hay, and they were making a great deal of noise, but you know how it is yourself. You often get tired of playing one game and want to go to another. It was this way with Archie and his friends. They slid and slid and slid on the hay until they had enough of it. Then Elsie said, "Let's go back and get our play things. I want to see my Christmas dolly." Back to where they had left the toys, trooped the children. And Archie, who ran ahead, was just in time to see a stuffed elephant swaying on the rope that was choking him. "Oh, look, look at my elephant!" cried Archie. ie hung on a rope. "Oh, he'll be killed. Oh dear." "Run and grab him! Pull him down!" shouted Joe. Archie ran. By this time the rope was pulled up still further and the elephant was far above the barn floor that even Herbert, who was taller than Archie, could not reach the play thing. "Oh, stop!" cried Archie. "Stop hurting my nice elephant rope!" Archie's voice was loud and clear. Suddenly, the rope which had been winding up around the big wheel came to a stop, and a voice called, "What's the matter down there? Are any of you children hurt?" "Oh, that's Jake!" exclaimed Elsie. "It's our man Jake." What's the trouble there, Archie? Jake asked. He was somewhere in the loft of the barn. It's my elephant, Archie answered, trying to keep from crying. My dice stuffed elephant. He's hanging on a rope. On a rope, exclaimed Jake. Do you mean this wheel rope that I used to hoist up bags of oats to the bin here? Is it that rope? I don't know, but it's some rope, Archie answered. Can't you save my elephant? Of course I can, called Jake. Don't worry, your elephant isn't alive. Choking with a rope can't hurt him. Yes, it can too, insisted Archie. It can choke all the stuffing out of him and make him flat like a pancake. Well, yes, that might happen, admitted Jake. But I didn't know any of your toys were tangled in the hoisting rope, or I would not have pulled it. Wait a minute now, and I'll turn the wheel the other way and let your elephant down to you. Slowly, the big wheel turned in the other direction, and the end of the rope that was about the elephant's neck dropped toward the barn floor. The elephant also began to slowly come down. "Thank goodness," said the toy to himself. "I could have never been hanged much longer. I'm glad it's over." "And it was a moment later when Archie would reach up, take the loop of the rope from around his play thing's neck, and set the elephant down on the barn floor." "How did it happen?" asked Jake. He came down out of the loft, or place where he stored the bags of oats. Those were hauled to the lower floor of the barn. There the rope was put about each bag and was lifted to the upper floor where it was stored in a bin. The lifting rope went around a big wheel acting like a dumb waiter in some houses. Jack had turned the wheel by pulling on a second rope upstairs in the barn and as the wheel turned it wound up the larger rope. It was the end of this rope that had looped itself about the elephant. "How did it happen?" asked Jake again. "I don't know," Arty replied. I left my elephant here when I went to slide down the hay. When I came back, he was on the rope. Some of the children must have left the elephant too near the end of the rope, said Jake. When I wound it up, the elephant became tangled in a loop. And of course, he was lifted up. Nope. We didn't any of us leave the elephant near the rope, did we? asked Archie of his little friends. Nope, they all answered. Well, that's queer, said Jake. That elephant never got on the rope by himself, I'm sure. But that is just what the elephant did as we know. Anyway, I'm glad he's all right now, said Archie as he looked carefully at his new toy. None of the stuffing came out. But it might have if the elephant had been left hanging much longer on the rope. Finding that everything was all right and that none of the children were in danger. Jack went back to the oak bin. There was a long shoot or slide from the upper bin to a box to the first floor of the barn, and the oats came rushing down the slide when a door in the top bin was opened. This door could be opened by pulling a rope near the horse stalls. And sometimes Archie was allowed to pull the rope open the door of the large grain bin and let the oats slide down the chute to the smaller bin on the lower floor. But this day, Jake was putting a new supply of oats in the upper bin, and Archie was not allowed to play near it. The little boy and his friends soon began having more fun with their Christmas toys, giving the clown and Smalls dolls rides on the backs of the stuffed elephant. Thus, Christmas passed, New Year's came, and the elephant lived and was happy in Archie's home. The elephant did not often think of Mr. Mug and his daughters, Geraldine and Angelina. He liked it much better, did the elephant in Archie's house than in the store. Of course, the toy store was a jolly place, but no boys or girls were permitted to play with the toys. They were for sale and could not be played with until after they were bought and taken home. So, the elephant was glad he belonged to Archie, who was a boy that took very good care of his play things. Nearly every day, Joe, Dick, or Arnold would come over to see Archie, bringing their play things. And in this way, the elephant met many friends whose adventures are related in other books of this series. And at night, when Archie and Elsie were in bed, of course, the elephant and the other toys in the Dun house had their usual fun. They would make believe, come to life, and talk and play about in the nursery or in the closet, wherever they happened to be left at the close of the day. It was still winter, though Archie and Elsie wished spring would come so they might play oft Jenner out of doors. And one rainy day when it was too cold and stormy to be out, Archie and Elsie went to the big warm barn to have fun. Archie carried his elephant and Elsie had her doll. Let's go upstairs with the grain bins, suggested Elsie when they had played about in the hay for a time. Maybe Jack will let us open the bin from there, and we can watch the oats slide down the chute, said Archie. I like to watch the oats slide. So do I, Elsie admitted. The grain bin was so built that the door of the shoot could be opened from above or below. Up to the upper floor of the barn went the two children with the elephant and the doll. "Are you here, Jake?" called Archie, but there was no answer. "I don't guess he's around," said Elsie. "I don't guess so either," replied Archie. "But I don't guess he'd care if I let down some oats. I looked in the lower bin, and there's hardly any there. I'm going to let some down the chute." I'll watch you, offered Elsie as she set her doll on top of a big oat box. The cover of the box was open. Archie liked this because he could see the smooth oats go down the wooden chute or slide like so much water. "I'll let a lot of oats down," said the boy to his sister. He placed his elephant on the edge of the bin near the doll. "Then Archie pulled the handle that opened the door. It was hard work, for the oats pressed against the door. Elsie came to help him, and at last the children managed to get it open." "There they go!" cried Archie, as the oats began to pour down the chute. "Yes, and there goes your elephant!" shouted Elsie, as she spoke, that stuffed toy fell into the open. And a moment later, the poor chop was sucked into the smooth chute with the running grain and the oats closed over his heads. Lost to the sight of the children, the stuffed elephant was taking a dangerous slide. End of chapter 6. Chapter 7 of The Story of a Stuffed Elephant by Laura Lee Hope. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Gabriella Sasser. The Big Dog. Archie was so surprised at what happened that for a moment he could do nothing but stand and look at the stream of oats gliding down the wooden chute to the bin on the floor below. "There goes your elephant!" cried Elsie again. "He fell right into the oats, Argie. Ye, yes, I I see he did, stammered the little boy. I'm glad my dolly didn't go, too, went on Elsie. I guess I better take her away before she tumbles in. Elsie reached over to take her toy from the side of the oat bin where the Christmas doll had been put by her mistress. But Elsie's foot slipped on some hay on the floor. She tried to save herself from falling. Her arm struck her doll and a moment later the doll was sliding down the stream of smooth oats as the elephant had done. Oh. Oh, cried Archie. Look at your doll. She went down just like my elephant. Oh dear. Oh dear, wailed Elsie. Where has she gone? Down into the open on the first floor, explained Archie. The oats go from this big bin to the little bin where Jake takes them out to give to the horses. Don't cry, Elsie. We'll get your doll back. Archie had almost been going to cry himself when he saw his elephant being buried in the rushing stream of oats. But when he heard his sister's sobbs, he made up his mind to be brave and try to help her. Archie was so excited that he still held up the sliding door of the open, and the grains kept on sliding down the chute, carrying with them the elephant and doll, though now the toys were not in sight. "Come on downstairs and get my doll!" begged Elsie, tugging at her brother's hand. "Come on and get your elephant and my doll." "Yes, we better do that," Archie agreed. Then he saw that he was still holding open the little door in the oat bin, so that pecs and bushels of the grains were still sliding down the chute. "I'd better close that, or the elephant and the doll will be buried away down under so many oats they'll never get out," said the little boy. He let go the handle that they had pulled to raise the door, and it dropped shut, thus preventing any more oats from sliding down the chute. Then he took Elsie's hand and hurried toward the stairs that led to the lower floor of the barn. Meanwhile, as you have guessed, the elephant and the doll were not having a very good time. At first, when the elephant felt himself fall in with the sliding oats, he did not know what had happened. I wonder what sort of adventure this is, thought the elephant. It's almost as bad as being pitched out into the snow drift, though I'm glad it isn't cold. These oats are very scratchy, though, and they make me want to sneeze. But where am I going? The elephant did not know. All he could tell was that he was being hurried along in the dark with a lot of oats, for it was dark inside the grain chute. Down, down, down, went the elephant, just as he had gone up, up, up on the rope. Where shall I land? Thought the elephant. A moment later he found out, for he was shot from the chute into the almost empty grain bin on the lower floor. Out of the chute tumbled the elephant, and he was very glad to be in an open space once more. But it is almost as dark as it was before," he said. A little light came from the top of the bin, which did not close tightly, but it was only a little light. But the elephant's troubles were not over, for no sooner had he been slid clear of the chute, landing on his feet, very luckily, than more oats poured out, for Archie was still holding open the door of the grain bin up above. So many oats came sliding down the chute that they rose all around the elephant like rising water around a rock. The oats rose to his knees to his stomach where they tickled him a little and then began to rise over his back. "Oh," he trumpeted, raising his trunk as high as he could. "I am going to be covered from sight in the oats." And then when the oats almost covered his eyes, he had a glimpse of the doll coming down the chute in a shower of oats. "Oh, you poor child," called the elephant. "Yes, isn't this terrible?" exclaimed the doll. "Oh, how are we ever going to get out?" The elephant tried to answer, but now the oats rose over his mouth, and he could not speak. Only the top of his head and the tip of his trunk stuck out above the oats. The doll, having come down a little later, was not so deeply covered by the grains. She tried to stand up to keep her head as far above the oats as she could, but it was hard work. Around and around she slipped from side to side. More and more oats poured down, for Archie still held open the door, and at last the poor doll was covered from sight, as was the elephant. And it was now that Archie and Elsie came racing down the stairs. Archie called. Jake. Jake, come here. Where are you? Oh, my elephant is in the oat bin, and so is Elsie's doll, and we've got to get him out. What's that? Elsie in the oat bin, cried Jake, who had just come back to the barn. No, not Elsie, but her doll, shouted Archie. And so is my stuffed elephant. Well, that isn't so bad as if one of you children were in the bin, replied Jake. I'll help you though. Show me which bin. Archie told what he had done, and when Jake opened the bin on the lower floor, it was brim full and running over with oats. You surely let down enough grain, said Jake. How are we going to get my doll? Elsie asked. And my elephant, added Archie. Oh, I'll shovel them out, said Jake. Don't be afraid. I'll get the doll and the elephant. Well, you'd better hurry cuz they may smother, Elsie said. I'll hurry, promised Jake. With a shovel, he carefully took some of the oats from the bin so that first Elsie's doll could be seen, and then the elephant came into view. "There you are," said kind Jake as he handed the toys back to the children. "Wasn't that a terrible time?" said the doll to the elephant that night when they were left by themselves in a closet. I should say so, agreed the elephant. I never want anything like that to happen again. I hope I have no more adventures. But he was to have more. For a time, however, nothing very exciting happened. Archie played with his elephant and Elsie with her doll, and their boy and girlfriends brought over their toys to have fun with. Often they amused themselves in the big warm barn, though never again did Archie go near the grain bin. Sometimes Nip, the big dog, would go to the barn to play with the children. And once, though not meaning to, the elephant gave the dog a scare. It was this way. Archie had set his elephant down on the barn floor near a big box. Nip the dog coming suddenly around the corner of the box did not know the elephant was there until a draft of wind swayed the elephant's trunk making it wiggle to and fro. "Oh my, a snake! A snake!" cried Nip, who was afraid of the crawling creatures. "It's a big snake." "Nonsense! I'm not a snake!" said the elephant, who could speak since Elsie and Archie were in another part of the barn. "What was it that looked like a snake?" howed Nip. It was my trunk. The wind blew it was the answer. H said Nip, who now that he took a second look, saw that there was really no snake and nothing to frighten him. Um, I believe you did that on purpose just to scare me. No, I really didn't, said the elephant. Yes, you did, too, barked Snip. And just for that, I'm going to play a trick on you. Please don't, begged the elephant. Yes, I will, grow Nip, who was a little angry and not as kind as he might have been. I'm going to carry you away off, he barked. Then, before the elephant could do anything to save himself, Nip, the big dog, caught the soft stuffed elephant up by his back and carried him into a dark and distant part of the barn. End of chapter 7. Chapter 8 of The Story of a Stuffed Elephant by Laura Lee Hope. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Leah Lo. An elephant judge. Let me go. Oh, please put me down. Where are you taking me? Called the stuffed elephant to Nip the big dog. Nip did not answer. This was not because he could not speak the toy language or the language of stuffed elephants. But Nip held Archie's Christmas play thing in his mouth. And you know, a dog can't even bark when he has something in his mouth. He can only growl. Now, Nip was not a bad dog, and though he was playing a trick on the stuffed elephant, still Nip was not cross enough to do any growling, so he just kept still and trotted along the barn floor carrying the elephant. Nip, being a big dog, had no trouble in carrying the stuffed elephant, though the toy was rather large. Stuffed with cotton as the elephant was, he was not very heavy, you see. Stop. Oh, please let me go. Where are you taking me?" asked the elephant again. But Nip never answered a word. All the dog had said at first was, "I'm going to carry you away." And he seemed to be doing this. Through the barn, he trotted with the stuffed elephant in his mouth. The elephant had never been in this part of the barn before. Archie and Elsie had never come here to play. It was too dark and rather dusty and dirty, with cobwebs hanging down from the walls and ceiling. Down the stairs tro nip, carrying the stuffed elephant. The dog trotted over to a dim and dusty corner, dropped the Christmas toy upside down on the floor, and then barked. "There you are. Now, let's see you find your way back. I'll teach you to scare me by making believe your trunk is a snake." "Oh, but I didn't do that. Really, I didn't," exclaims the elephant as he scrambled to his feet. "He could move about now and talk, because no human eyes were there to watch him." "It was all an accident," he went on. "The wind blew my trunk. I didn't wave it at you to scare you by making you think it was a snake. Really, I didn't. Yes, you did, said Nip. And away he ran, soon being lost to sight in the darkness of this part of the barn. For a little while, the stuffed elephant stood there, swaying slowly to and fro, as real elephants do. He reached out with his trunk and gently touched the wooden walls. He could dimly see things all about him, but he did not know where he was. "Oh dear," said the poor stuffed elephant. I don't like this at all. I wonder what I had better do. He was trying to think and wondering if he could walk up the stairs and find his way back to the place where Archie had left him before Nibb carried him away, when suddenly the stuffed elephant heard voices talking. "Maybe he could settle it," said one voice. "Well, I'm willing to leave it for him if you are," said the second. "Who is he anyhow?" asked the third voice. "Oh, he's some sort of animal," went on the first voice. "He isn't an angleworm." I know that much. But just what sort he is, I don't know. But he looks smart, and maybe he can settle this dispute for us. I'm a stuffed elephant. That's who I am, said Archie's pet, speaking for himself. And who are you, if you please? I can't see anyone, but I hear you talking. Who are you? I am the garden shovel, answered the first voice. And I claim to be the most useful tool in the world. Without me, there would never be any garden, and things would not grow. Nonsense, exclaimed the second voice. I am the garden rake and I claim to be the most useful tool the gardener ever uses. Without me, the ground would never be raked nice and smooth so the seeds could be put in. I should get the prize for being the most useful. How foolishly you talk within the third voice. Everyone knows that I am entitled to the prize. Talk about shoveling the ground and breaking the ground. What can you do by yourselves or together for that matter if the ground is hard? Answer me that. You must send for me. You know you must. And who are you? asked the stuffed elephant, for this tool had not yet named himself. I am the pick was the answer. It with my sharp points the hardest ground could be made soft. So the rake and the shovel can work. I am the most useful tool of all. No, I am, cried the rake. Indeed you are not. I am, exclaimed the shovel. Well, there we are, just where we started to complete the pick. Why not leave it to this gentleman animal here? What did you say your name was? He asked politely. And then Archie's toy saw the pick, the rake, and the shovel step out from a dark corner and stand in a row before him. I am the stuffed elephant, was the answer. This is my first visit to this part of the barn. What is it you want me to do? If this is your first visit, you have never seen any of us before, have you? asked the shovel. Never before did I see any of you? The elephant replied. Just the proper one for a judge, declared the rake. He will be honest and fair. I'm willing to have him if you are, said the pig. What's it all about? asked the elephant. I don't understand. What is a judge? Someone who tells you the right from the wrong, answered the rake. Listen, Mr. Softed Elephant. Get up on that box, for a judge must be above everyone else, and we will tell you what the trouble is. The elephant got up on a strong, empty onion crate, and stood there with the shovel, the rake, and the pick standing in a row in front of him. You must say a hem and bang on the box like a real judge, said the shovel. Ahem, coughed the elephant as loudly as he could. Then he took a piece of wood in the end of his trunk and banged the side of the onion crate. Now this is like a real court, said the rake. And we shall have our quarrel settled. "Oh, have you three been quarreling?" asked the elephant judge. "Well, not exactly. And the quarrel is not an angry one," replied the shovel. "You see," he went on. We three tools work in the garden, or rather Jake the man uses us when he works. Now I claim I am the most useful of the three. Jake always takes me out when there is a bit of ground to be spayed up or turned over when he wants to make the garden in the spring. So I think, Mr. Judge Elephant, your honor, that I am entitled to the prize. H Let me see now, said the elephant, trying to look very wise. I suppose I must listen to what the others have to say. Oh yes indeed," exclaimed the rake. "We must each state our case as in a real court, and then you shall decide who is right." "Now for myself." "Oh, by the way, you had you quite finished?" he asked the shovel politely. "Yes," was the answer, "I think I said enough to have the elephant judge give me the prize." "Go on, Mr. Rake." "Well," said the rake, smiling a little to show his teeth. "I claim to be more useful than the shovel. It is true Jake uses him to turn the ground over. But before the ground can be turned, Jake uses me to take away the dead leaves and sticks that are not wanted. And even after the shovel is used to turn the ground over, no seeds can be planted, and the garden cannot really be made until I am used again to smooth things over. So I claim to be the most useful tool. The rake stepped back in line with the others, and they all waited for the elephant to speak. Said the animal judge very loudly. There is one more to be heard. Proceed Mr. Pick. And Pick, who had at least two good points in this favor, stepped forward, made a stiff little bow with his handle, and said, "What my friends Rake and Shovel have told you, of course, is true. They are useful, each in his own way, but I do the really hard work of the garden. When the earth is packed hard and dry, so neither the shovel nor the rake can be used. Jake always comes and gets me. I'm larger and stronger than either, the rake or the shovel, though of course the rake has a longer handle, but is a very thin handle. And if Jake struck a hard blow with the rake as he strikes with me, the rake's handle would break, and no matter how hard he digs the shovel into their hard ground, no earth can be turned over until I first loosen it. So I claim the prize. The pig stepped back in line with the other two. All three bowed politely and waited. "What am I to do now?" asked the elephant. "You must act as judge and tell which of us is the most useful to decide who gets the prize," said the rake. That is it, chimed in the pig in the shovel. This is very hard, very hard indeed, said the elephant. In fact, I never before knew how hard it was to decide between right and wrong. Let me think a minute. He passed his trunk over his head, which was beginning to ache with all the talk he had listened to. H, let me see now. The elephant spoke slowly. It is true, Mr. Shovel, that you are very useful. Without you, the ground could not be turned. There. See, I told you I'd get the prize, cried the shovel. Wait a minute. Wait a minute, trumpeted the elephant. I have not finished. It is also true, he went on. That the rake is very useful. Before the shovel can be used, the ground must be raked clean. And after the shovel has spayed the earth, it must be raked smooth. There, I knew it. Oh, what a fine judge. He is going to say I am entitled to the prize, exclaimed the rake, laughing. Not yet. Wait a minute, cried the elephant. I have not finished. I want to say that the pig used very good arguments. He is right when he says without him in case the ground is hard nothing can be done and he is certainly the strongest. So I think Oh ho, what did I tell you? I get the prize, cried the pig. Wait a minute. I am not finished, said the elephant. What I was going to say was that before I could decide who wins, I must see the prize. What is the prize? Bring it here that I may see it and I will decide who is to get it. Oh, the prize, cried the shovel. That's so we forgot all about it, gasped the rake. What was the prize to be? asked the pic. I declare we did not settle on any. How stupid. Until I see the prize, I cannot give judgment, said the elephant. So the case will have to go over, as I believe they say in court, until the prize is brought here. Stop disputing now and get me the prize. Yes, yes, the prize, the prize, cried the rake, the shovel, and the pick. And away they scured. Haha, laughed another voice in the corner whence the three tools had come. What silly chaps? Came in another voice. I forgot the most important thing of all, the prize, added another. Who are you, if you please? asked the elephant, stepping down from the onion crate. I am the hoe, was the answer of the first. If I had wished, I could have told how useful I am. In fact, I think I will have a try for the prize. I am just as much entitled to it as you are, someone else said. You didn't think you can get ahead of me. Who are you? asked the elephant. The wheelbarrow, was the reply. You ought to see the loads I carry. I ought to get the prize. What about me? asked the third voice. Who are you? asked the elephant. The lawn mower. Just think what an ugly place this estate would be unless I kept the grass trim and neat. I should get my prize. Oh my goodness, exclaims the poor elephant. If there are to be more disputes and more evidence in this case, I shall go mad. Stop, he cried as the wheelbarrow of the hoe, and the lawn mower came forward. all talking at once. Stop. I will do nothing until I see the prize. Court is adjourned. And as the elephant said this, the sound of loud barking sounded throughout the barn. Oh, maybe that is Nip coming to carry me back, thought the elephant. I certainly hope so. End of chapter 8. Chapter nine of the story of a stuffed elephant by Laura Lee Hope. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Read by Gabriella Sasser. Out in the rain. You remember that Nip the big dog had carried away the stuffed elephant when Archie set his Christmas toy down on the barn floor for a moment. And coming back after having gone to look for the nest of a cackling hen, Archie did not find his elephant awaiting him as he expected to. "Oh, Elsie!" exclaimed the little boy. "Didn't I leave my elephant right here?" And he pointed to the place where he had said it. "Why yes, I think you did," Elsie answered. "I saw you put it there. I was going to leave my doll there, too, but she isn't feeling very well and has a little cold, so I carried her in my arms. I have her here now," she added as she held up her Christmas toy. "Well, my elephant is gone!" exclaimed Archie. And I know I left it here. Yes, you can see where his feet stood, he added as he pointed to some marks in the dust of the barn floor. Elsie, holding her doll, stooped down beside her brother and looked at the dust. There are lots of marks, said the little girl. Your elephant must have been walking around. Oh, Archie, she cried with shining eyes. Maybe he came to life and walked away. Nope, he couldn't do that," Archie said. Of course, he knew nothing of what the toys did after dark, how they made believe come to life, talked, and had fun among themselves. "But now I know what has happened," Archie exclaimed. "I can tell by the marks in the dust." "What did happen?" asked Elsie. "Nip has been here," went on the little boy. "I can tell his paw marks in the dust. It wasn't my elephant walking around. It was Nip. And Nip has carried off my elephant. Oh, just as he did once with my old rag doll, cried Elsie. That's it, her brother said. Nip has carried away my elephant. Come here, Nip. Where are you? Called Archie. Now Nip was always ready to come when Archie called. For he and the little boy had many good times together, romping and playing tag in the yard. So when he heard his name called, Nip came running into the barn to where Elsie and Archie were standing. Nip sternly said Archie as he shook his finger at his big dog. Did you take my elephant? Did you carry him away? Now Nip understood a great deal that was said to him. He knew when he was being scolded for having done wrong, and he knew he was being scolded now. He also knew that he had taken away the elephant. So when Archie talked this way, Nip hung his head and put his tail between his legs. Nip went on Archie. Where is my stuffed elephant? Go get it. Bring back my elephant. Go on, Nip. Nip gave a little bark. He sprang up, barked again, louder than before. And off he ran to a dim and distant part of the barn. "Is he going after your elephant?" asked Elsie. "I hope so," her brother answered. "We'll follow him and see where he goes." But Nip ran too fast for the children to follow. Down the stairs into the dark corner of that part of the barn where the garden tools were kept, ran Nip. He knew he had been found out and that he must bring back Archie's elephant. So just as the shovel, the rake, and the pick had hurried away to look for the prize. And while the wheelbarrow, the hoe, and the lawn mower were fussing to see why they couldn't have a chance to win, Nip pounced down on the elephant, lifted him up and started back with him to Archie. "Oh, I'm so glad you came to get me," said the elephant. "I was just going to try to find my way back myself, for I have had a most dreadful time trying to settle a dispute among the garden tools. Oh, I never should like to be a judge. Nip did not answer because he had the stuffed elephant in his mouth. I hope we are going to be friends, Mr. Nip, went on the elephant. Please don't carry me away again. Nip wanted to say that he would not, for he felt sorry because of the trick he had played. But just then Elsie and Archie came running up, and the dog could not talk, nor could the elephant pretend to be alive, for the eyes of the children were upon them. "Oh, he has my elephant," joyfully cried Archie. "I guess you must have hidden him, Nip, for you knew where to find him. Bring my elephant here." Nip put the elephant down on the barn floor at Archie's feet, and then the dog wagged his tail. He's asking you to forgive him, said Elsie. And I will, promised Archie. But don't do it again, he added, shaking his finger at Nip. Barked the dog. And perhaps that meant he would not. Oh, I'm so glad to have my elephant back, said Archie, as he began to play with his toy. And I'm glad to be back, thought the elephant. That judge business was a great trial. Through the spring and into the summer, Archie had fun with his Christmas elephant. Then one day, something very exciting happened. Archie was playing out in the backyard near a little brook with his elephant when along the front road came a hand Oregon man and a monkey. Archie and his sister ran to hear the music and see the monkey. And Archie left his elephant in the grass. Soon after this, it began to rain very hard, and the children hurried into the house. Going up the steps, Archie fell and bumped his head, making his nose bleed, and there was so much excitement for a time that the elephant was forgotten. He was left out in the storm, and the rain came down harder and harder, making little puddles in tiny brooks in the yard, brooks that flowed into the large one. "Oh, this is dreadful. thought the poor elephant as the rain pelted down on him. Of course, if I was real, I wouldn't mind the rain, for real elephants like water. But I'm getting soaking wet. It's beginning to come through my stuffing. I'm feeling like a sponge. Oh, why doesn't Archie come and get me? Or at least give me an umbrella. I think I'll try to walk under a toad stool to keep out of the wet, if I can only find one large enough. As no one was watching him, the elephant had a chance to move about and make believe come to life. But he had waited too long. The rain had soaked into his cotton stuffing, making him so heavy that now he could not move. "Oh, what is going to happen?" he thought. He tried to lift first one leg, then another, but it was hard work. The water was beginning to rise about him. His feet were in mud puddles. He struggled hard to pull them out. And then, all at once, he lurched to one side and fell over flat right into a pool of water. End of chapter nine. Chapter 10 of The Story of a Stuffed Elephant by Laura Lee Hope. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Chapter 10. A voyage home. Down pelted more and more rain harder and harder until the backyard where Archie had been playing with the stuffed elephant was almost a little lake of water. The puddle rose higher and higher above the stuffed elephant as he lay on his side, unable to move because he was so soaked with water like a sponge. Inside the house where Archie lived, there was trouble because the little boy was hurt worse in his fall than at first was supposed. They had to send for the doctor. And of course, no one thought of the poor elephant. I'm glad I'm not out in this rain with my doll, said Elsie as she sat at the window after the doctor had gone. Yes, it's a regular flood, said mother, sadly thinking of her little boy. And still, no one thought of the elephant out in the storm. If Elsie remembered anything at all, she probably thought that Archie had brought his elephant into the house. As for Archie, the doctor had given him something to make him sleep, and the little boy was too ill even to dream of his Christmas toy. As for the elephant, well, he was in a sad state. The wet cotton and stuffing inside him was cold and clammy. His trunk was like a wet piece of paper, and he feared his wooden tusk would come out if the glue that held them got too much soaked. "Oh dear, what am I to do?" thought the poor toy. "Now it happens that Jeff, the colored boy, who had once taken the China cat from Mr. Mug's store after a fire, lived not far from Archie's house. Jeff and his folks had moved in this country from the city, and about this time Jeff's mother sent him to the store." "How's that done got to go out in all this rain?" asked the little colored boy. "Yes, s honey," replied his mother. "You isn't salt or sugar, and you won't melt. Put on your old cloak, and do as you told." "So Jeff went. He took a shortcut, which led across the dun's backyard, and Jeff passed the place where the poor elephant lay in a puddle of water. "Oh, golly!" cried Jeff, his white teeth glistening against his funny black face as he laughed. "A dun gun and found another play toy. Only this one found one in the rain, but the other was on a fire. I knows what I was going to do. I'll put this elephant on a board till I comes from the store. Then I'll take him home with me. Jeff looked around until he found a flat board large enough to hold the elephant. Putting the toy on his board, Jeff laid it to one side and ran to the store. He did not want to take the elephant with him for fear someone would see it and ask him about it. But Jeff was not to have that elephant. While the colored boy was at the store, the rain came down harder than ever, making so much water that the little brook in Archie's backyard rose higher and higher. So high did the brook rise that the water reached the board on which the limp and soaking elephant was lying on his side. And then the water lifted up the board, elephant in all, and floated them down the stream. Oh my, thought the poor stuffed elephant. This is the last of me. I am going on a long voyage. I shall never see Archie again. Down the stream he floated on the board which was like a boat. Once a fish poked his head out the of the water and called, "Who are you and where are you going?" Before the elephant could answer, the swift current had carried him further downstream and away from the fish. Once the board with the elephant on it bumped against a big water rat. "Be careful who you're bumping," snurled the rat. "Excuse me," replied the elephant. "I didn't mean to." The rat tried to bite the elephant's trunk, but again the swift current carried the boat downstream. Finally, the rain stopped after a day or so, but by that time the elephant had been carried a long way down the brook, at last coming to a stop when the board was caught in the roots of an overhanging tree. By now the elephant was almost glued fast to the board, so wet and soaking was he. The rain stopped, the brook went down, and the sun came up, and the elephant dried, but he still lay on the board on the bank of the stream under the roots of the tree. A man who happened to be passing, saw the elephant, picked him off the board, and seeing that he was an expensive toy, took the play thing to his house. "What a fine elephant," said the man's wife. "I'll put him on the mantle over the stove so he'll dry out some more. Some child lost this. We haven't any children small enough to want to keep it. I wish I could find out who owns this elephant. I wish so myself, thought the elephant. Oh, shall I ever get back to Archie? It was a day or so after the big storm that Archie was able to be up and around, and the first thing he thought of when he would go outdoors was his elephant. "Oh, where is he?" cried the little boy. "I remember I left him in the yard when we heard the hand organ music and ran to see the monkey. Then it rained and I fell down and bumped my nose. "Oh, where is my elephant?" "If you left him out here in the yard, I fear the elephant has floated away," said Mrs. Dun. The brook rose very high, almost up to our backst steps, and it probably carried your elephant away. "Oh, shall I ever get him back?" cried Archie, feeling sad. "I'm afraid not," his mother answered. Archie felt so bad about his toy that his father put an advertisement in the paper asking whoever found the elephant to please bring him back to get a reward. If Jeff the colored boy had been able to read, he might have seen the advertisement and have told what he did with the toy. But Jeff never read the papers. And besides, it rained so hard that the colored boy went back to the store after putting the elephant on the board. The Jeff had to go home another way, and he forgot all about the stuffed play thing he had set aside. But the man who had taken the elephant home read the paper and saw the advertisement Mr. Dunn put in. "There," called the man to his wife. "Now I know where the elephant belongs. I'll take him back to the little boy." "Well, he's good and dry," said the wife. "I mean, the elephant is good and dry. He's almost good as new. And in fact, the elephant was, for she had brushed off all the mud, and the heat had dried out the water." Carrying the stuffed elephant, the man who found the toy took it to Archie's house. Oh, here he is, my Christmas elephant. He's come back to me. Oh, how glad I am, cried Archie as he clasped the cotton creature in his arms. Oh, how glad I am. And I'm glad too, thought the elephant. I feared I would never see Archie and Elsie again. And I'm even glad to see Nip, for the dog came to the door, wagging his tail. And so, after several adventures, the stuffed elephant was back home again. But many more things happened to him, though I have no room for them in this book. The elephant even acted again as a judge in the dispute of the rake, the shovel, and the pick. But who won the prize? I cannot tell. I think each should have a prize, don't you? Once again, there was happiness in the Dun house, for the lost elephant was back, and Elsie gave her brother a pink ribbon to tie to his toyy's neck. It may look pretty, but it tickles me, thought the elephant as Archie pulled him about. End of chapter 10 and end of the stuffed elephant by Laura Lee Hope.