Part 9 (1/2)

He looked over toward the chicken coop.

There was Old Speckle walking back and forth, putting her head out between the slats every once in a while, and looking greatly distressed.

There were the little chicks saying, ”Peep, peep, peep,” as they tried to find something to eat in the gra.s.s.

Bobby took the basins into the house.

”Mother,” he asked, ”did you feed the chickens?”

”No,” said she, ”that is your ch.o.r.e, Bobby.”

”But how came the basins empty?” asked he.

Mother could not answer. But at that very moment, the Big Rooster crowed, ”c.o.c.k-a-doodle-doo! I had a fine breakfast.”

Mother stirred up another basin of meal while Bobby got some more wheat.

He took them quickly to the chickens and threw the food into the coop.

”Cluck, cluck, cluck!” Old Speckle called.

”Peep, peep, peep!” cried the little chicks, as they came running to eat.

Bobby watched them until it was nearly gone.

”Now you feel better, don't you?” said he. ”And I feel better, too,” he added.

Which was strange, wasn't it?

For Bobby had not yet had his dinner.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ROVER GOES TO THE STORE]

X

Rover was useful in many ways about the farm. Sometimes he even went to the village store on errands.

One morning in Summer, Mrs. Hill needed some meat for dinner. She wrote a note and put it in a certain basket. With it she put a purse and covered them with a white cloth. Then she went to the door and called, ”Rover! Rover!”

Rover came bounding up the path.

”I want you to go to the store,” said Mrs. Hill, giving him the basket.

Rover took the handle in his mouth, trotted down the path to the road and turned toward the village. As he pa.s.sed the Allen farmhouse, he saw Sport, a little brown dog with whom he often played.

Sport came running out with a few friendly barks which meant, ”Come on, Rover, I am ready for a frolic.”

Rover turned his head toward his little friend, but kept trotting right on, with a look that plainly said, ”I can't stop to play now. I'm on important business.”