(1838)
A wipping top and a little ball lay together in a box, among other toys,
and the top said to the ball, “Shall we be married, as we live in the same
box?”
But the ball, which wore a dress of morocco leather, and thought as much
of herself as any other young lady, would not even condescend to reply.
The next day came the little boy to whom the playthings belonged, and
he painted the top red and yellow, and drove a brass-headed nail into the
middle, so that while the top was spinning round it looked splendid.
“Look at me,” said the top to the ball. “What do you say now? Shall we
be engaged to each other? We should suit so well; you spring, and I dance.
No one could be happier than we should be.”
“Indeed! do you think so? Perhaps you do not know that my father and
mother were morocco slippers, and that I have a Spanish cork in my body.”
“Yes; but I am made of mahogany,” said the top. “The major himself
turned me. He has a turning lathe of his own, and it is a great amusement to
him.”
