Стійкий олов’яний солдатик

           "Tinsoldier,"hesaid."Willyoupleasekeepyoureyestoyourself?" Thetinsoldierpretendednottohear. 

           Thebogeysaid,"Justyouwaittilltomorrow." 

           Butwhenmorningcame,andthechildrengotup,thesoldierwassetonthewindowledge. Andwhetherthebogeydidit,ortherewasagustofwind,allofasuddenthewindowflewopenandthesoldierpitchedoutheadlongfromthethirdfloor. Hefellatbreathtakingspeedandlandedcapfirst,withhisbayonetburiedbetweenthepavingstonesandhisonelegstuckstraightintheair. Thehousemaidandthelittleboyrandowntolookforhimand,thoughtheynearlysteppedonthetinsoldier,theywalkedrightpastwithoutseeinghim. Ifthesoldierhadcalled,"HereIam!" theywouldsurelyhavefoundhim,buthethoughtitcontemptibletoraiseanuproarwhilehewaswearinghisuniform. 

           Soonitbegantorain. Thedropsfellfasterandfaster,untiltheycamedownbythebucketful. Assoonastherainletup,alongcametwoyoungrapscallions. 

           "Hi,look!"oneofthemsaid,"there’satinsoldier.Let’ssendhimsailing." 

           Theymadeaboatoutofnewspaper,putthetinsoldierinthemiddleofit, andawayhewentdownthegutterwiththetwoyoungrapscallionsrunningbesidehimandclappingtheirhands. Highheavens!Howthewavessplashed,andhowfastthewaterrandownthegutter.