The wooden horse had a queer voice; the dolls could hardly understand
him at first, but when his bashfulness wore off, he talked quite
plainly.
"It is the first time I have ever tried to talk," he explained when he
became acquainted, "and I guess I was talking down in my stomach instead
of my head!"
"You will like it here in the nursery very much!" said Raggedy Andy. "We
have such jolly times and love each other so much I know you will enjoy
your new home!"
"I am sure I shall!" the wooden horse answered. "Where I came from,
we--the other horses and myself--just stood silently upon the shelves
and looked and looked straight ahead, and never so much as moved our
tails."
"See if you can move your tail now!" Henny, the Dutch doll, suggested.
The wooden horse started to roll across the nursery floor and if Raggedy
Ann had not been in the way, he might have bumped into the wall. As it
was, the wooden horse rolled against Raggedy Ann and upset her but could
go no further when his wheels ran against her rag foot.
When the wooden horse upset Raggedy Ann, he stood still until Uncle Clem
and Henny and Raggedy Andy lifted him off Raggedy Ann's feet. "Did I
frisk my tail?" he asked when Raggedy Ann stood up and smoothed her
apron.
"Try it again!" said Raggedy Ann. "I couldn't see!" She laughed her
cheery rag doll laugh, for Raggedy Ann, no matter what happened, never
lost her temper.
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