"
At this very minute, to the surprise of all, Grandpa Grumbles came
sailing in through the window. He said,
"If I were little and young and gay,
I'd sail away for a year and a day."
The Seventeen Little Bears shouted, "Please tell us about the Toy
Shop!"
Grandpa Grumbles shook his umbrella. Out fell a little rocking horse.
He shook it again. Out fell a horn. He shook it again. Out fell a drum.
The Seventeen Little Bears shouted, "Hurrah, hurrah! It is really true,
Grandpa Grumbles, you are going to open a Toy Shop."
Snubby Nose and Tippy Toes and the Seventeen Little Bears did not know
whether Grandpa Grumbles was teasing or not. They did not know if he
meant to open a real Toy Shop.
The Seventeen Little Bears said, "Will you tell us the whole story
to-morrow?"
CHAPTER X
The Seventeen Little Bears still had to stay in bed next day. Snubby
Nose and Tippy Toes danced about the room and cried, "Grandpa Grumbles,
do tell us the story of the Toy Shop!"
Grandpa Grumbles came upstairs leaning on his green cotton umbrella. He
coughed six times and then he sat down in the rocking-chair by the
Window. He said, "The story of the Toy Shop begins with a question."
The Seventeen Little Bears clapped their paws and shouted, "Hear, hear,
the story is going to begin!"
Snubby Nose and Tippy Toes danced this way, and danced that way, and
cried, "Hear, hear, the story is going to begin!"
_Then the most surprising thing happened!_
Grandpa Grumbles pointed his green cotton umbrella at Snubby Nose and
asked, "Which of your toys did you break first at Christmas?"
Snubby Nose could not remember, so he cried and he screamed and he
howled!
Grandpa Grumbles said, "I cannot begin this story until I have nineteen
questions answered.
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