Part 8 (1/2)

Finally, they came to the Red Barn. The big front doors were open. Very wide and high they were, but the load of hay reached almost to the top.

”We must all scooch down,” said Father, ”or it will strike us.”

So they all bent over flat on the hay, while Prince and Daisy drew them safely into the big barn.

”Now we must climb down the ladder,” said Bobby.

”Wait a minute,” said Father. ”Sit quietly until I call you.”

Father climbed down.

”Ready, Hobson,” he called.

Hobson took Bobby over to the side of the load. There was Father standing below him, waiting with outstretched arms.

”Slide down, Bobby; I'll catch you,” said Father.

Down the side of the load of hay slid Bobby, straight into Father's arms.

Then it came Betty's turn.

”It's so high,” she said. ”I'm 'fraid.”

”Don't be scared; I'll catch you,” said Father.

”Father'll catch you,” called up Bobby.

Betty took courage.

Down she slid, down the side of the load of hay, straight into Father's arms.

After that load was pitched into the hay-mow, they went for another, and then another, all day long.

Every time, Bobby and Betty rode in the nest on top of the load of hay.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BOBBY FORGETS]

IX

In a chicken coop in the back yard at Cloverfield Farm, lived Old Speckle with her ten chickens.

It was Bobby's duty to feed them. Three times a day--morning, noon and night--he would take the basin of corn meal and water which Mother had stirred up, and would throw it by spoonfuls into the coop for the chickens.

Old Speckle would call, ”Cluck, cluck, cluck!” and the ten little chicks would come running to eat.

He would throw some corn or wheat in for Old Speckle.

One morning Mother said, ”Here is the breakfast for the chickens, Bobby.”