"Put your papers down here by mine," he said as Gerald picked up the
top and started on.
They were almost home now, and just as they reached their own street
he heard the voices of his two friends, Peter and Polly, and they were
very loud, cross voices indeed.
"It's my turn to ride in the cart," shouted Peter.
"No, it's my turn to ride in the cart!" shouted Polly.
"Peter and Polly, look; see what I have for my birthday," said Gerald.
Then Gerald wound the little tin top and started it spinning in front
of Peter and Polly. It could sing and spin anywhere, even in front of
a little quarreling brother and sister. Round and round it whirled,
and it seemed to be saying once again:
"To and fro on my little tin toe,
Singing and spinning, oh, see me go!
This is the song that I sing to-day,
'Children should always be glad and gay.'"
"Oh, the pretty top!" shouted Peter and Polly as they listened to its
sweet, cheerful, humming song. Then Peter said to Polly:
"It's your turn to ride in the cart, Polly."
But Polly said to Peter: "Oh, no, it's your turn to ride in the cart,
Peter."
And that was the wonderful secret of the little tin top; wherever it
took its spinning, singing way it made little children glad and gay.
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