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"Would like to ride your pony," he said. "Big-Wigth's ponyth very under-bred." "You shall," said Dallas heartily, then he turned to Cassowary. "A fellow would want a double-barrelled memory to keep all your names straight. Let's see if I can rattle them off--Cassowary, Big Chief, Champ or Sleeping Dog, Dovey, Sojer, Li...
"Call him Stranger," said Dovey, "'cause he's new." "No, that isn't polite," said Cassowary; "name him something friendly." Her brothers suggested different names--Neighbour, Visitor, Crony, Chum, Pal, Mate, all but Big Chief, who stood aside smiling wickedly. Finally he shouted, "Let him swap nicknames with Sleeping D...
My young master became so red that he was almost purple. What lively blood he had that it could so quickly surge to his face. He felt already that I was his friend through thick and thin, and turning his head to me he muttered, "Let sleeping dogs lie." These children, in spite of their politeness, had sized him up, jud...
This was such a queer statement that it distracted my young master's attention from himself. He gave a kind of stagger, and went along with Cassowary. "We'll call Dallas, Cousin," she suddenly screamed at the top of her young lungs. "That will make him feel at home." As she said this we were all--children and pony--swe...
Coming from the north was a grunting drove of creatures. Almost priceless Tamworth pigs I saw they were, and in prime condition. This wild country seemed to agree with pigs as well as with human beings. A yellowish brown old fellow was leading them, and Cassowary said to Dallas, "Another introduction--Sir Veteran Vere ...
"Are they performing pigs?" asked Dallas. "No, not really performing. We're not allowed to tease any animal by making it do unnatural tricks. They just do what they're inclined to. See--they're circling round him now trying to find out what he's got in his pockets." "Latest dance," yelled Big Chief. "Pig-trot," and he ...
Big Chief kept moving toward the children and me, and seeing that my young master was half afraid of this drove of lusty pigs, I went toward him so that he could get on my back if he wished. He understood--the clever lad, and looked at me wistfully, but alas! he did not know how to mount even a pony. Of course I am nea...
As we whirled along the road in front of the rose garden Mr. Devering called out, "Where are the dogs?" and Cassowary stopped short. "Ah! my beloveds," she exclaimed, "I was forgetting them." I looked up the road, and there were two tired looking collies lagging along side by side, their heads down, their tails droopin...
She was down on her knees caressing the two beautiful animals who were responding somewhat wearily. Then she led them to the wood-shed, where the cook handed her two bowls of soup, some bones and dog biscuits. While Lammie-noo surveyed them benevolently, they ate and drank in a dainty well-bred fashion, then without of...
"And they watch the pigs through the day?" "Yes, they are both splendid fighters, and no wild beast would dare to go near the Vere de Veres when they are about. Never a fox will take a piggie-wiggie. I can tell you a story about that. Would you like to hear it?" "Yes, indeed." "Well, one day this spring Mr. Talker had ...
"Mr. Talker says Foxy, after staring at the piglets, picked up a stick about the length of one of them and jumped through the hole with it in his mouth. "Mr. Talker says undoubtedly he was measuring the hole. Finally he dropped the stick, went through the hole, seized a piggy and tried to go back through the hole with ...
"Ran down and gave Lady Annabella some milk and petted her, but come on--Guardie and Girlie are trotting up to the barn to put their pigs to bed." "Where are the other kids?" asked Dallas as he and Cassowary loped along after the two collies, who were in a great hurry. "I don't know--Oh! there they are down at the crib...
"Yes for this district. Then the government has a lovely big hydroplane. You'll see it soaring overhead. Big Wig calls it the fire-bird." "And when there's a blaze anywhere in the forest the plane reports it?" asked Dallas. "Sure--Canada doesn't want her splendid settlers burnt up. And Dad says trees are so valuable no...
"Yes, in the cellar, though it's as airy as the barn floor. It's fun to see them make their beds. Hurry up. You're a slow boy." "Are they fussy?" panted Dallas as he hurried along beside her. "I thought pigs liked dirt." "Indeed they don't. You just watch them travelling round with their mouths full of clean straw. Fir...
"Where are the young chappies going?" asked Dallas. "To the pig cafeteria. There are self-feeders there. What in the name of common sense are they yelling about?" and she vaulted over a railing. "It's that scamp Big Chief," she called presently. "He pretends to love his pigs, yet the little darlings haven't a morsel of...
Dallas watched her with wondering eyes. Then he put his fingers in his ears. The yells of the indignant small pigs were terrific. One would think they were being murdered. "And no corn for the big pigs," said Cassowary presently. "I'll have to go to the grain-room again. Dad will dock Big Chief's weekly pocket money fo...
"Why ring the snout?" asked Dallas. "To prevent their rooting. This farmer lived in a good fat farming country. Up here it's wild and poor land for farms. We use the pigs to clear fields for grain." "How can pigs clear fields?" "They root the soil from around stumps and rocks. The men either pile up the rocks or put th...
"That's a fine road along the lake," said Dallas. "Yes, because Dad believes that good roads open up a country. He says he wishes his crusher would break enough rocks to make a highway to the North Pole." "Your Dad is a perfectly splendid man," said Dallas enthusiastically. "Isn't he!" said the girl. Then she lowered h...
"This seems a safe sort of a place," said Dallas consolingly. "It is and it isn't. One day he fell from a tree and hurt his back. He's too bold." My young master's mind took a youthful skip. "I say," he observed, "you tell me you don't kill pigs, but you must kill sheep. I saw a skin." "Mr. Talker did it. That was Mrs....
"Of course," said Dallas uneasily, "we all have to die." "Dad says to live well and not fuss about death and when our time comes he says he hopes we'll all go as comfortably as our animals do. It isn't the death that's bad, Cousin. It's the teasing and torturing before death." Dallas shuddered. "It's awful to suffer." ...
The collie was pulling her white frock with his teeth. Cassowary went over the railing again to a corner where a shoat lay on a heap of clean straw. The other collie was licking his shoulder. "Only a scratch, Guardie," said the girl "It's not worth washing."
But the dog persisted. I knew what he wished, but my young master asked Cassowary why he was behaving so peculiarly. "Because young Jaundice has bruised his shoulder and Guardie wants some lotion put on it. Watch him take me to the medicine room. Lead on, my boy." The good dog, looking over his shoulder, led the way to...
"Now let's go," said Cassowary. "I'll just shut the little pigs' bedroom door. They're old enough to sleep alone and if they run to their mammas sometimes they get rolled on. Good night, children," and with a motherly air she led us away from the barn cellar. "Hello! what's the fuss about?" she cried when we got outsid...
The children had all swept up to the nice clean barnyard. "I say," cried Cassowary, pushing her way among them, "what's the trouble?" Champ was speaking--"Dad said Drunkard wasn't to be let loose till dark and it's only dusk now." "He didn't," yelled Big Chief, "he said in blindman's holiday."
"Well, blindman's holiday is black dark." "It isn't," said the Chief, "it's betwixt and between." Champ took hold of Cassowary's arm and drew her forward. "You talk to him. He's a nut-head." "I'll attend to Drunkard myself," said the girl loftily. "Dad put him in my care. He said you two boys were too jerky in your lit...
The two boys turned on her. "Undependable," sneered Champ. "I don't believe there's any such word," while Big Chief shook an irritated fist at her. "Look here, Miss Cassowary--you've just got to stop bossing me. I'm going to speak to mother about it." A pony hasn't any sleeve to laugh in, so I turned round and hid my s...
"Not so much noise, please," he said agreeably. "The cows can't hear the nightingale song." To my amusement I saw that he was running a stable gramophone, which of course arrested my bright boy's attention. He stood stock still and said to Cassowary, "Well--I never thought before that cows would enjoy music, but why sh...
In front of the cow stable was a kennel with a running chain for a dog. A deerhound was tearing up and down like mad, only stopping occasionally to go through all the motions of barking without uttering a sound. He knew better than to disturb the placid Holsteins who were sweetly chewing their cud. He was a dreadfully ...
Dallas was looking eagerly at him. "Why Drunkard?" he asked, "and why the chain?" "'Cause he's just drunk about dogging deer in season and out of season. He hikes to the woods the minute he's free, and sometimes he goes 'way over the mountain." "Can't you break him of the habit?" "Nohow," she said solemnly. "Dad has tr...
"What about moonlight nights?" asked Dallas. "Oh, night's night to him, light or dark. Besides, he's on guard then and feels solemn. Every evening before Dad goes to bed he says in a deep, deep voice, 'Drunkard, watch out, don't let the bears come and take our good cows and calves; don't let the foxes steal the chicken...
"Well! I never heard of a dog like that," said Dallas. "Lots of 'em up here," said Cassowary, "and in many places they're kept pretty well chained up except in the hunting season. That makes Dad furious. He hates to have Drunkard chained even for part of the time. He's just meditating some way to cure him. Come on, old...
"Where are you going now?" asked Dallas as he suppressed a yawn. "The round of the cow stable to say good night to the Holsteins," and she actually went and patted each serious-eyed creature in their comfortable stalls. I found her a very amusing girl and very active and boyish with her short skirts and long legs, but ...
"I do just," said my young master, "though I don't know who Daddy Single-Comb is." "He's my Daddy, he's my dear," said Cassowary, skipping out of the stable. "If you want to see him, come right here." Trailing Drunkard behind her she flew south across the barnyard and brought him up with a round turn at the door of a v...
Faint clucks and hen whispers reached my ears, but when she turned on some bright lights several of the hens spoke to her quite amiably and distinctly, while a finely feathered Plymouth Rock rooster got off his perch and shaking his big wings came to put his beak in her hand. "Even your hens have lights," said Dallas. ...
"Who's calling me?" said the young girl as her pet left my young master. From outside we could hear clear voices--"Cass--Cass--Cassowary!" "Coming," she replied. "Dallas, you wait here, I want to show you the other hen houses," and she and the dog dashed away. My young master stood in the doorway staring at the drowsy ...
He was too sleepy to keep his eyes open any longer. When Cassowary came back she stared at him. "Upon my weary word, he's gone sleepy." Then she shook him. "Wake up and walk to bed." He wouldn't budge and she looked round for help. Her father was coming across the yard, and his eyes twinkled when he saw Dallas. "Daught...
"He's as sound as a drugged top," she replied. Mr. Devering shook my young master slightly, then smiled as he heard a murmur from the half-open lips. "What's he muttering in his sleep?" asked Cassowary. "Over the mountain."
"Is he thinking of the wolf?" "Who knows--that active young brain of his goes leaping like a mountain stream. These words have a peculiar significance from him." "What is it?" she asked. "My daughter, there are some things I can not tell even you."
She was laughing at the antics of young Dallas, whom Mr. Devering was trying to set on his feet. "Poor lamb," said this strong man, and he lifted my young master's limp body as easily as if he had been Lammie-noo. Cassowary and her dog and I trotted alongside, as we went to the house. Her eyes were on Dallas' head bobb...
I could see Mr. Devering's broad shoulders shaking with amusement in spite of the burden he carried. "Cassowary," he said, "there's some truth in that statement of yours, only the guns are family and not enemy." "He's a queer boy," she said. "Not like us." "You're highland plants. He's a hot-house product. Be good to h...
"He's an awful liar," she said bluntly. "He has more imagination than all you young ones put together," said her father warmly. "He knows 'How short the way to fairyland Across the purple hill.' He will go further than----" then he stopped.
"I know what you were going to say," she remarked shrewdly. "You think he'll go further than any of us." "He will when he gets his horns out of the velvet. I see in him a leader of men. Don't you feel his strange fascination?" "Not a bit. He's a nice boy, but he's not as much of a boy as Big Chief. This chap couldn't l...
"I don't love people the way you do, Dad," she said. "You're a dear. Everyone likes you. I'm hard as nails." "No, no, child, you have a tender heart." "I love my animals," she said softly, "better I think than human beings." "Don't say that," said her father; "don't say that, my daughter."
"Why not, Dad?" "We come first. Love animals, but keep them second. Now I want you to promise to stand by this lad." "I've kept him on the trot all the evening." "You know what I mean. The boys may bully him. I depend on you to look out for him till he gets his footing here."
"Big Chief will beat him if he lies," she said calmly. "He must not. I won't have it. Don't you know he is of your own blood?" "No, Dad--is he a relative?" "Your own and only first cousin."
"What! Has Aunt Ranna a son?" "She has, indeed." "Why didn't we know before?" "Family reasons."
"Why isn't he with his mother?" Mr. Devering stopped short despite his burden, and didn't I pull up closer and prick up my pony ears. Now I was going to hear something interesting about my boy. "I don't know whether to tell you or not," he said. "Tell me, Dad," she begged softly. "You and I have lots of secrets and I n...
"Well, girlie," said Mr. Devering as he walked on slowly, "I will confide in you. When my young sister went as a girl to live with multi-millionaire Great-Aunt Beverly Ronald, our family virtually gave her up. The old lady took her to Europe, had her beautiful voice trained and made a wonderful singer of her. During on...
"Yes, and your aunt is coming back to America. I hope to have her meet her son here." "You will be glad to see your only sister," said the girl gently. "Tremendously glad--we were devoted to each other as children and we should never have been separated. The love of money, my child, is indeed the root of all evil." "An...
"She has a gentle, yielding disposition like her boy's." "They call her the Ronalda, don't they?" "Yes, that is her stage name--her old aunt's choice. Now here we are at the house. Remember you are to speak of this to no one but your mother." "Cross my heart, Dad--my! wouldn't I fret if I'd had no mother."
The man gave her a strange look that I had interpreted later. "And you promise to stand by your cousin," he went on. "Sure, Dad." She spoke with great conviction, yet in a few days this queer girl was beating my young master like a little fury. Mr. Devering sauntered in to Dallas' room through the open French window an...
CHAPTER IX CASSOWARY TRIES MY PACES "The evening is young yet. Dad says you are a racing pony. Come, show me your paces," and in a jiffy this swift girl had Drunkard chained to a veranda post, and had seized a new riding bridle that someone had thrown on a chair. Then she sprang on my back, and giving my neck a slap sa...
I went slowly for a few paces to see what kind of a seat she had, but I soon found that she rode like a fearless boy and would stick on no matter if I went like the wind. Now what about the road? I didn't want to break a leg and have to be shot. There was no trouble here. It was as smooth as a table. Mr. Devering's cru...
I pricked up my ears and she went on just as if she knew that I understood her, "Apache Girl is a dear and don't you dare to cross her. If you do, you'll reckon with me. She's up in the far pasture now with the other ponies, but she is soon coming home and you'll have a chance to get acquainted. Now away, away. I'm joc...
I had not been exercised for some days, and the road did feel good to my hoofs, while the keen sharp air seemed to cut open to let us through and to bathe us with wood scents as we passed. There was the pungent odor of burning logs in the settlers' cottages that seemed to dance by us and the lovely scent of flowers and...
Suddenly we came into shadow and partial darkness. We were rounding the head of the lake and high above us towered forbidding steep rock cliffs shorn of all greenness by a bush fire that had passed over and left them desolate. I flashed by them like a streak of lightning, but just beyond them when we got into the neigh...
I hated to think of this nice girl being scolded, so I took her back as quickly as we had come, she clinging to my back like a crab and making as much noise as a loon. She did wake the loons up, and afterward I learned that they knew her voice and loved her, for she was good to them and protected them. They were in ful...
"Not good poetry, Prince," she gasped, "but Dad says--he says when your heart is bursting, break into verse--any old verse. It's yours. Other fellow doesn't know your thoughts. I'll sing again--about you and Dallas. Echo! loonies," and she began to shout, "With hoofs of gold and temper sweet, A pony's come to our farm,...
"What's the matter with you, boy?" she asked as she nearly plunged over my head. "Oh! you want me to go say good-night to Happy Harry--bright thought," and in a trice she was off my back and running up a path to a pretty red house. No pony could get ahead of this girl, and I watched her as she went into the Talker home...
Tall Lombardy poplars that I found out afterward were the pride of Mr. Talker's life, lined the road, and their leaves glistened like silver in the bright light that evidently came from Mr. Devering's power house. I thought I would go and look in the windows, to see what Miss Cassowary was doing, so I stepped softly up...
He minded it, though, and many a time later on when he thought no one was looking, I saw him passing his hand over his eyes as if he wanted to shut out the sight of other young people dashing about on their own strong feet. Mr. Talker looked quite gentlemanly in dark house clothes, for he had shed his working suit. I s...
She was telling about our race and an old dog who was lying by the fire got up and came to growl at me. "There's your intelligent wee beastie at the window," said Mrs. Talker. "Invite him in, please Father," said the young man, lifting himself on his elbow. Mr. Talker threw him an affectionate glance, then he came to t...
I am always sorry for young people who are not strong, and I have often been taken into their rooms to cheer them up. Pausing in the doorway, I bowed my head to the company, then I went in, picking my steps carefully so as not to bump into chairs or tables. Happy Harry had been in the artillery and was used to horses. ...
"Lots," said Cassowary, "his grandfather came from Fetlar in the Shetlands." "He's a good deal more than forty-six inches high," said the young man. "Yes, for his parents were bred in the American corn belt." "It's queer," said Happy Harry, "how the Old Country people run to a stocky, blocky pony. We like more refineme...
"Yes," said Cassowary, "I've heard that the real Shetland type over there is like a tiny draft horse." "This little fellow is a bit too high," said Harry. "He'd be disqualified in a pony show." "He isn't going to be shown," said Cassowary, patting me, "he's just going to have a good time,--aren't you, Fetlar?" I pawed ...
"He's a beauty," said Happy Harry, and he grinned cheerfully. "Oh! to be a boy again and on a pony's back!--Can you shake hands, little fellow?" I lifted my right fore-foot and he shook it heartily and then began to fumble in a basket of wool. "He knits," said Cassowary to me. "Isn't he splendid! Dad is wearing some of...
I didn't care. I ate all I wished from the kind palm of the brave young soldier man, then I made one more bow to the company and backed toward the door. They all clapped their hands. "I didn't know he could do tricks," said Cassowary delightedly. "I'll get Dad to put him through his amusement paces." As I went out to t...
"To teach you manners," I said. "This was my first call, and you received me in a surly way." He drooped his head so sadly that I said, "What's the matter with you?" "I'm getting old," he said, "and I'm afraid Mr. Talker will shoot me." "You don't want to die?"
"No, I want to live. I like the Talkers and the feeding is good." "Well, if you want to live," I said, "hold up your head and look cheerful. I'd shoot you on sight if you were my dog. You've such a disagreeable air." He didn't care anything about my opinion. He was a very selfish old dog, but he snapped at my suggestio...
"Don't I just! Toss up your head now, pretend you're a pup, and gambol down the road. Come on, I'll go with you." He made a desperate little break for a few paces, then he stopped short. "My breath's gone." "What's the matter with you?" I asked. "You haven't any wind at all. Don't you exercise every day?" "No. I lie mo...
"Oh! get out, old dog," I replied, "you only think you're old. Let me see your teeth." He curled back his lips. "You're lazy," I said. "That's all the trouble with you. Spruce up, and go trotting for a while, then run, then leap. Mr. Talker will say you've got your second wind and he'll spare you." "But I might fall de...
"Suppose you did. There's another life for dogs, many good people say. You'll start afresh and live forever. No one could kill you if they tried." "I like the sound of that," he said, putting his head on one side. "Perhaps I'd better just loaf along here and slip off as soon as I can." "No, no, that won't do," I said. ...
"Now you just think that out," I returned. "Your dog mind is as rusty as your dog body. Good-night, here comes my young Missy," and I stepped down to the path. However, Miss Cassowary did not get on my back. One never knew what that girl would do. "Race me to the house, Prince Fetlar," she said and off she started on h...
A voice from the veranda said, "Late again, my daughter. No pocket money this week." "Ah! Daddy," she said in a wheedling voice. "Rules must be kept, and wild girls must be broken," he replied gaily, "and poor Dad must be sacrificed on the altar of family affection," and he laid a hand on her head. "Oh! dear," she said...
"Go face your mother," he returned, "she's in a fine state about you. No girl must be outside the gates of Devering Farm after dark. Rule six--Come on your highness," and cheerily whistling he led the way to my log cabin. There was no light in my little home, so he hung up an electric torch, and when he found my brushe...
"Fuss-box, eh!" he said. "I thought so. What about some nice warm gruel?" How I pricked up my ears and whinnied at this. "Then come up to the barn kitchen," he said, and off we started. He led the way round the big barn to a room in the carriage house. There was an electric stove here and he soon had water heating and ...
"All right, Prince," he said, patting me, "you'd do as much for me if you could. Now go put yourself to bed. I must wash up. 'Leave pots and pans as you find them'--Rule 8, Devering Farm." I made him a bow, which he did not see, as he was washing his dishes, then I paced thoughtfully to my cabin. This was a remarkable ...
CHAPTER X EARLY MORNING ON DEVERING FARM What a good sleep I had! Then--slowly, slowly I lifted my head, as I thought, from the warm pillow of my mother's side, but alas! it was only the warm pillow of my wheat straw. I heaved a pony sigh, and staggered to my feet.
"My land! what a morning, My land! what a morning!" a young darky groom that I used to have down South would sing when he was passing his nice black paws over my skin after breakfast. Then his master, who was a poet, would come and glance in the stable door and say, "Lift up your eyes, boys--there's gold in the sky," a...
The dainty little breezes rippling the surface of the lake reminded me that I was thirsty and Mr. Talker, who was passing by with a covered milk pail in each hand, said, "Go down to the lake, boy. You are the only quadruped without running water in your stall." I felt like a colt, and kicking up my hoofs, raced through...
I once knew a mother fish on the Maine coast who deliberately gave her life for her little fishes. They were caught in a pool when the tide went out. She couldn't get them to follow her to deep water, so she stayed and perished beside them. When I said to her as she flopped about in the shallow water, "Leave them and c...
She was quite excited, and began to talk to them about me. "This is the new pony--he has a good eye. He's kind to hens. Don't put your heads on one side. He won't scare you. Come on. I like ponies. Horses are too big." "Cut, cut, ca, da, dee," they all said, and I put my head down to them in a kind manner, for to tell ...
"Oh, here you are, here you are," he gasped, while I thought how queer it is that nearly every winged creature says a thing, then says it over again. We quadrupeds say a thing, and it's over. "My dears, my dears," cackled Daddy, "come down to the river hollow, come down, come down. The early worms are out. Soon they'll...
I heard him screaming after some wandering ones, "Not to the hill. No, no. Trust me. Cut cut cro! I know, I know. This way, dears. Quick, quick, such a worm--c-crack what a worm. Grab him quick. Biddy first, Biddy first." I smiled at his jabber. Evidently he was the only rooster on the place, and he had his claws full ...
"Near pasture, Pattie," he said and waved his hand up the hill. The beautiful Holstein turned in her calm way and with her friends lagged up to the top of the hill and over to a low-lying field that would be green and fresh in spite of the slight drought they had been having. While I gazed admiringly after this fine he...
While Sir Vet and Guardie had their spat, Girlie was rounding the other pigs away from them. I listened to the abuse. "Down the lake," Guardie was growling. "Up, up," grunted Sir Vet. "I say I won't go down."
"You shall," yapped Guardie, "the boss said so. Up work is done. The rocks are loose. We've got to clear burnt land by the dam." "Up," snorted Sir Vet again. "Better feeding up. I'm boss. I hate down. I'm a prize boar. I cost a thousand dollars. Shut up, you cur." Collies are high strung and Guardie just yelled at this...
"He's forever setting up his boar mind against Guardie," said Girlie in my ear as I put my head down to get her opinion of the quarrel. "I'll lick his wound a bit when we get settled down. He and Guardie really love each other, but they're always quarrelling--all right, boy, I'm ready." Guardie had given her a signal b...
When they were out of sight, I was about to run to my young master's bed-room, but was arrested by an extraordinary sight. A big dark man who was not very tall though his shoulders were as broad as a table came down from a bed-room over the carriage-house. Picking up a mowing machine that stood in the yard, he carried ...
I moved closer to him--that strange man after putting down the machine was moving toward the barn cellar, a barrel under each arm. Then he came out with a small tractor on his back. "He's Samp, short for Sampson," said Mr. Talker. "Mr. Devering rescued him from a situation as strong man in a theatre where bad air and l...
At my shrill protesting neigh Mr. Talker told him to put me on the ground and with a fearful glance over my shoulder I scampered away to the house, wondering what this strange creature was made of. I don't like unnatural beings. However I soon forgot him in the pretty sight of all the kiddies sleeping out on the lower ...
Champ, Sojer and Little Big-Wig were all sleeping nicely and in straight lines. The girls must be behind some high screens. I could hear their gentle breathing, but could not see them. I went on very quiet shoes to the veranda outside my young master's window. He was sleeping inside his room but the windows were wide o...
She was not cross with me, for she was smiling kindly, so I followed her along the veranda to the front of the house where she went lightly into the living room and began to tidy chairs, tables and sofas. She glided about so quickly that she reminded me of Cassowary. "These bathing suits are fine for housework, Pony-Bo...
It was the big wood stove instead of the gas one that was going this morning. It seemed to be shouting with glee. He had crammed it full of wood sticks happy to give up their lives for the dear human beings they were so fond of, for trees have much sentiment. They were all telling the story of their lives in the forest...
"And I was a beech," roared a deeper voice, "and for twenty years I shaded the sugaring-off place. Then a great wind blew me down and men cut me to pieces." "I was a tamarac," and "I an elm," I heard in other dying voices, but I had to follow Mrs. Devering who had seized a basket and was going to the woodshed. Bingi lo...
He stood looking at the stove in a way that showed he had morning as well as evening milk. Sheep are usually very patient creatures, too patient perhaps, for if they asserted themselves a little more they would get better treatment. Lammie-noo being petted was not a typical sheep. He became impatient at Bingi's devotio...
Bingi was stroking him with one hand when I left, and heating his milk with the other. Once I saw a man beating a lamb. It was a dreadful sight. However in my ramblings I am forgetting the little house-mother who was building a great roaring fire in the living-room. "Ah! Prince Fetlar," she said when I trotted in and s...
Out on the verandas we heard calls and cries. "Mother don't---- It's too early to get up---- Please a little longer." Oh! how the bugle shrilled at them--then she sang at the top of her lungs, "I can't get 'em up, I can't get 'em up, I can't get 'em up in the morning. The girls are right slow The boys they are worse An...
"Hot cakes for breakfast, Maple sugar and cream, Potatoes and bacon And apples and eggs." At this, there was a great sound of running and jumping, and I stepped to my young master's windows to find out whether all this noise had awakened him. It had. He was sitting up in bed, a bewildered look on his face as if to say,...
Someone opened his door and flung a bathing suit in. "You said you hadn't one," remarked Champ and he withdrew his tousled head. "My Prince," said Dallas, "do you suppose those crazy kids are going in the water this cold day?" I looked up and down the veranda. The children were certainly coming out in bathing suits. I ...