there were so many toys in the nursery. on the top of the cabinet stood the penny bank, made of clay in the shape of a little pig. of course, he had a slit in his back, which had been enlarged with a knife so that silver dollars also could be put in; and two such dollars had been slipped into the box, along with a great number of pennies. the money pig was stuffed so full he could no longer rattle, which is the highest honor a money pig can attain. there he stood, high up on the shelf, looking down on everything else in the room. he knew very well that with what he had in his stomach he could buy all the other toys, and that's what we call having self-confidence.
the others thought the same, but they didn't speak of it, because there were so many other things to talk about. the cabinet drawer was half open, and a large doll appeared; she was somewhat old, and her neck had been riveted. she peeped out and said, "now let's play human beings; that's always something!"
now there was a great commotion, and even the pictures on the walls turned around to show they also had a backside; but that didn't mean they objected.
it was the middle of the night; the moon shone in through the windows and gave free lighting. they were ready to begin the game now, and all of them, even the children's gocart, which certainly belonged to the coarser, out-of-door-toys, were invited to join the fun.
"everyone has his own particular value," said the gocart. "we can't all be noblemen. there must be some to do the work, as they say."
