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tired Mary Louise inside the gate； after which he locked it with a silver
key。
〃Come with me to our Candy Factory；〃 and he ran down the street；
which was paved with little red brick candies； until he came to a big Rock
Candy Building。
〃Look here；〃 gasped Mary Louise； all out of breath with running； for
that Chocolate Man was the best athlete in all Peppermint City； 〃I said I
was lost。 I'm not a poetry maker。 I wouldn't make poetry for anything。
I want to see things； not dream about them！〃
〃Dear me；〃 said the Chocolate Man； and he let go the lollypop door
handle； 〃I'm sorry。 I thought you'd like to stay here。〃
〃Don't feel badly about it；〃 said Mary Louise as he shook hands and
said good…by。 〃I must find my way home。 I've no time to lose。〃
〃Heigh ho； this is a big river；〃 she exclaimed a little later as she stood
on the bank of a swiftly flowing stream。
〃There isn't any bridge； how can you get across； There isn't any boat
and you haven't any horse That could swim across this river with you
upon its back； So I guess you'll have to turn about and go back upon
your track；〃
sang a cross voice。
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〃She won't have to do anything of the sort；〃 answered a kind voice and
a little white duck in a boat rowed up to the bank。
〃Come； jump aboard；〃 quacked Commodore Drake； for that was the
name of this duck sailor。
Mary Louise jumped in and away they went down the river to the deep
blue sea。 And after a while； maybe a mile； and perhaps a little more； they
came to the restless ocean。
〃Now；〃 said the duck； with a wheezy； breezy quack； 〃I'll take you to
the Hotel Wave Crest。〃
Presently they came to an island where a lovely coral building shone
pinky bright in the rays of the sun。 Right in front of it were two bell
buoys who rang little bells to tell the man who owned the hotel that
somebody wanted a room with a fresh salt water bath。
As soon as Commodore Drake had fastened the little boat to the wharf；
he and Mary Louise walked up the steps and into Wave Crest Hotel。
When the proprietor； a nice old Dolphin； saw Mary Louise's lovely sea
green coat； he at once asked where she had bought it。
〃The King of the Crabs gave it to me。〃
〃You don't tell me；〃 exclaimed the old Dolphin。 〃Do you know that
coat is a magic one？〃
〃What can it do？〃 asked Mary Louise； even more surprised than you
are。
〃Why； anybody who wears it can swim like a fish；〃 answered the
good…natured Dolphin。 〃It's better than a pair of water wings；〃 and he
turned over three times and began to sing；
〃Oh； many a mile I've swum in the sea Like a hoop that rolls on
the ground； Over and over and over again； Round and around and
around； But I always come right side up at last； Out in the deep blue
sea； You bet I can do the loop de loo High diddle diddledy dee。〃
As he finished speaking； the good…natured Dolphin turned a
somersault； and after that I guess he thought he'd done enough to amuse
Mary Louise； and the little white sailor duck； so he went inside the hotel
and stood at the desk behind the big register book。
Just then a great whale came swimming by； blowing a stream of water
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high in the air。 Maybe a piece of seaweed had tickled his nose； for when
a whale spouts he's really sneezing； I'm told。
And after that a pretty Cat Fish began to purr； and I guess she would
have asked Mary Louise a lot of questions if all of a sudden a Dog Fish
hadn't barked； which so frightened the pussy cat fish that she went into her
room and locked the door； dropping the kin in her vanity bag which she
hid under her pillow。
〃If you'll stay awhile；〃 said the old Dolphin； 〃I'll give you the finest
fish dinner you ever ate；
〃A whale fish steak； And some sea gull eggs； And a pint of sea
cow's milk； Green sea weed sauce And water cress And oysters
served on silk。〃
But； would you believe it； little Mary Louise didn't feel hungry。
Instead she asked the duck sailor to take her back to the boat and to sail
away； over the ocean's misty spray； until they should come to the Land of
Nod where sleep is sent by the Little Dream God。
As soon as she and the little white duck reached this wonderful little
land； they became sleepy and their eyes winked and blinked and pretty
soon they both lay down on the soft grass and went sound to sleep。 And
then the twinkle； twinkle star shone down with its pretty golden eye and
sang a sleepy lullaby；
〃Over the ocean cool and sweet Up to the sea grass's waving feet
Blows the wind from the rainbow west Whispering low； 'It is time for
rest。'〃
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Toy Land
Now； when Mary Louise and the little white sailor duck woke up in
the land of Nod； they both rubbed their eyes to make sure who stood there
dressed in pink pajamas and little starry crown。
It was the little Dream God。 In his hand he carried a silver wand； in
the handle of which was a little whistle which made a soft sound when he
blew upon it。
〃Did you have a good sleep？〃 he asked； and with a laugh； he took off
his crown and sat down on the grass。 And oh； what a sweet laugh it was。
Just like the tinkle of a far…away bell or the ripple of a little brook。
Well； after a little talk； the big Dream Bird came out of his wicker cage
and said： 〃I'm going to take Mary Louise for a ride；〃 and away he flew；
while the little white sailor duck went back to his boat and sailed away；
too； over the ocean big and blue。
〃Where would you like to go？〃 asked the Dream Bird。 〃I'm the bird
who brings dreams to people。 Dreams of doing great big wonderful
things； you know。 Not sleepy dreams。〃
〃Take me to some place that is different from anything I've ever seen；〃
answered Mary Louise。
So the big Dream Bird scratched his head with his foot； but for a long
time he couldn't tell where to go。
Well； anyway； by and by； not so very long； for the big Dream Bird kept
flying on as he scratched his head with his foot； they came to Toy Land
where all the toys of the world are made by little dwarfs and fairies。
〃Now I'll leave you；〃 said the big Dream Bird； and he flew away；
leaving little Mary Louise in front of a pretty shop full of Little Jack
Rabbits。 and； would you believe it； there was a toy Puss in Boots； Junior；
with red top boots and a hat with a gold feather and a sword。 And the
workman who made these toys was a funny little dwarf with a green suit
and a red cap and a long white beard。
〃This is the land of wonderful toys That are made for good little girls
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and boys； Talking dolls and horses that run； Everything here is made
for fun； But only good little girls and boys Can have our wonderful；
beautiful toys。〃
〃Heigh ho；〃 said Mary Louise； 〃what next； I wonder；〃 and she looked
at a toy regiment of wooden soldiers marching down the street。
Just then an old hand organ began to play；
〃Oh； where are the songs of yesterday； And the songs we used to
sing； When you and I in the days gone by Danced in the Fairy's
Ring？〃
And up ran a little monkey dressed in a red coat and cap。 Mary
Louise gave him a penny； to hand to the old man who had stopped to set
another tune to the organ。
〃Over the hills and far away； I've tramped all my life till I am gray；
And now with my organ and monkey clown I find myself in little Toy
Town；〃
sang the old organ grinder as he sat down to rest with the little monkey
on his lap。
〃Are you very tir