Chapters 22
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1 01 - A Crockery Crash 12:02
A Crockery Crash. "'Well, here we are back home again,' exclaimed Nan Bobsey, as she sat down in a chair on the porch. "'Oh, but we've had such a good time!' The best ever, exclaimed your brother Bert, as he set down the valise he had been carrying and walked back to the front gate to take a small satchel from his mother. "'I'm going to carry mine. I want to carry mine all the way,' cried little fat Freddy Bobsey, thinking perhaps his bigger brother might want to take two, his bundle. "'All right, you can carry your own, Freddy,' said Bert pleasantly. "'But it's pretty heavy for you.' "'It isn't very heavy,' panted Freddy. As he struggled on with his bundle, his short, fat legs fairly twinkling to and fro as he came up the walk, "'It's got some cookies in, too, my bundle has, and Flossie and I are going to eat them when we get on the porch.' "'Oh, so that's the reason you didn't want Bert to take your package, is it?' asked Mrs.
Bobsie with a smile, as she patted the little fat chap on the head. "'Oh, well, I'll give Bert a cookie if he wants one.' said Freddie generously. But I'm strong enough to carry my own bundle all the way, aren't I, Dina? And he appealed to a fat, good-natured-looking colored woman, who was waddling along carrying a number of packages. "'That's what you is, honey lamb, that's what you is,' Dina exclaimed. "'And if I could see that man of mine, Sam Johnson, I'd make him get some of these year tings.' As Dina spoke, there came from around the corner of the house a tall, slim, colored man, who, as soon as he saw the party of returning travelers, ran forward to help them carry their luggage. "'Well, it's about the time dat ye come to help us, Sam Johnson,' exclaimed his wife.
"'It's about time.' "'Didn't know you all was a-coming, Dinah. Didn't know you all would get here so soon, did I, didn't?' Sam exclaimed with a laugh that showed his white teeth in strange contrast to his black face. "'Freddy, shall I take your package? Flossie, let me relieve you, little missy.' "'No, Sam, thank you.' answered the little girl, who was just about the size and build of Freddy. I have only a stoop, or cat, and I can carry him easy enough. You help Dinah. "'Deed, and he'd better help me!' exclaimed the colored cook. Sam took all the packages he could carry and hurried with them to the stoop, but he had not gone very far before something happened. From behind him rushed a big dog, barking and leaping about, glad probably to be home again from part of the summer vacation.
Look out, Sam! cried Bert Bobbsy, who was carrying the valise his mother had had. Look out! What's the matter? Am I dropping something? asked Sam, trying to turn about and look at all the bundles and packages he had in his arms and hands. It's Snap! cried Nan, who was sitting comfortably on the shady porch. Look out for him, Sam! Snap! Behave yourself! ordered little Fat Flossie, as she sat down a wooden cage containing a black hat. Be good, Snap! Here, Snap! Snap! "'Come here,' called little Freddy. Snap, the big dog, was too excited just then to mind. With another loud, joyous bark he rushed up behind Sam, and as the colored man of all work about the bobbsey place had very bow or curved legs, Snap ran right between them—that is, he ran halfway—and then as he was a pretty fat dog he stuck there.
"'Good land of massey!' exclaimed Sam, as he looked down to see the dog halfway between his bow legs. Snap's head sticking out one way and his wagging tail the other. "'Get out of that, Snap!' cried Sam. "'Get out! Move on, sir!' "'Bow-wo!' barked Snap, which might have meant almost anything. "'Look out!' shouted Sam. "'You upset me! That's what you will!' And indeed it did seem as though this might happen, for Sam was so laden down with packages that he could not balance himself very well, and had almost toppled over. Here, Snap, called Bert, who was laughing so hard that he could hardly stand up, for it really was a funny sight. Don't call him Bert, advised Mrs. Bobsey. If you do, he'll run out, and then Sam surely will be knocked over.
And there are some fresh eggs in one of those packages he took from Dinah. Snap himself did not seem to know what to do. There he was, tightly held fast, his fat sides between Sam's bow legs. Snap could go neither forward nor backward just then. He barked and wagged his tail, for he knew it was all in fun. "'Open your legs wider, Sam, man!' exclaimed his wife. "'Den de d'org can get out!' Sam, holding tightly to the packages, did manage to stoop down, and so spread his legs a little farther apart. This released Snap, who, with a happy bark and a wild wagging of his tail, bounded up on the stoop where Nan sat. A little later, the whole bobbsey family, with the exception of Mr. bobbsey, were sitting comfortably in the porch chairs while Sam was opening the front shutters, having already unlocked the front door for the returning family.
Home again, exclaimed Mrs. bobbsey with a little sigh, as she looked around at the familial scenes. My, but how dusty it is after being on the lovely water. Yes, m'y, there sure has been lots of dust, exclaimed Sam. We need rain mighty bad, and I've had the garden hose going every night too. "'I'll soon sweep off this here porch,' said Dina. "'Sam, go get me a broom.' "'Oh, don't bother now, Dina,' said Mrs. Bobsey. "'Make me a cup of tea first. "'The dust doesn't matter, and we'll not be here long.' "'Won't we?' exclaimed Nan. "'Oh, where are we going next?' "'We'll talk about it as soon as your father comes home,' said Mrs. Bobsey, for her husband had stopped on the way from the houseboat dock, where the family had lately landed, to go to his lumber office for a little while.
Let Snoop out," begged little Flossie. Snoop's tired of being shut up in that box. In order to carry him from the boat to the house, Snoop had been put in a small traveling crate. "'I'll get him out as soon as I get a screwdriver,' promised Bert. "'My, but it's hot here.' "'Indeed it is,' agreed his mother, who was fanning herself with her pocket-handkerchief as she sat in a rocking chair. "'It isn't much like our nice houseboat, is it?' "'No, indeed,' agreed Nan. I wish we hadn't come home. "'And summer's only half over,' went on Bert. "'Here it is only August.' "'Oh, well, there are plenty of good times ahead of you children yet before school begins,' said Mrs. Bobbsy. "'Now let's see. Have we everything?' and she looked at the pile of bundles and valises on the porch.
"'I guess we didn't forget anything except Papa,' said Freddy. "'And he's coming,' he added, as the others laughed. "'Sam and the firemaid?' demanded Dina. "'I must make a cup of tea.' "'Fire all made,' reported the colored man. "'I'll go get a fresh pail of water now.' "'I didn't know just prosactively when you was coming,' he said to Mrs. Bobsy, "'or I'd have been down to the dock to meet the houseboat.' "'Might a come anyhow,' muttered Dina. "'You all didn't have nothing to do here.' "'Huh, I didn't, eh?' cried Sam. "'Nothing to do. Why, I cut the grass and fed the chickens and watered the lawn and—' "'Go along with you,' ordered his wife with a laugh. "'Bring in some more wood for the fire.' "'And get a screwdriver so I can let Snoop out,' begged Flossie.
"'He's tired of being shut up in the crate.' "'Right away, Missy, right away,' promised good-natured Sam." A little later, Snoop, the black cat, was stretching himself on the porch, while Snap, the big dog, rushed up and down the lawn, barking loudly to let all the neighbors' dogs know he was back home again, at least for a time. Meanwhile Bert, as the little man of the house, had brought in the packages and satchels from the porch. Nan was helping her mother get out a cool kimono, while Dina was down in the kitchen getting ready a cup of tea for Mrs. Bobsey. Flossie and Freddy, the youngest Bobsey twins, had nothing in particular to do, so they ran about, here, there, everywhere, renewing acquaintance with the familiar objects about the yard, things they had forgotten during the two months they had been on a way on a houseboat for part of their summer vacation.
"'Oh, look! My flower bed is full of weeds!' cried Flossie, as she came to a corner of the yard where she had set out some pansy plants just before going away. "'And I can't even see the lettuce I planted,' said Freddy. "'I guess Sam didn't weed our gardens.' "'Never mind. We can make new ones,' Flossie said. "'Oh, Freddy, look! There's a strange cat!' Both children ran to where Snoop was making the acquaintance of a pussy friend. The cats seemed to like one another, and the strange one let the little twins pet it as it lapsed in milk from Snoop's saucer. A little later Gina called Flossie and Freddy into the house to have a glass of milk and some bread and jam, for it was past lunch time. The small twins came willingly enough.
"'What are we going to do the rest of the summer?' asked Nan, as she sat next to her mother at the table. "'Are we going away again?' "'I hope so,' exclaimed Bert. The house-boat suited me, but if we can have a trip to the seashore or go to the country, so much the better. "'We shall see,' half promised Mrs. Bobsey. "'As soon as Papa comes home from the office, he will know how much more time he can spare from business to go with us. Then I can tell you—'Oh, there he comes now, Mama!' exclaimed Nan. "'Oh, excuse me for interrupting you,' she went on, for Mrs. Bobsey insisted upon the children being just as polite at home, and to one another, as they would be among strangers. "'That's all right, Nan,' said her mother kindly.
"'When Papa comes in and has had a cup of tea, we'll talk over matters and decide what to do.' "'Well, are you all settled?' asked Mr. Bobsey, as he came in catching little Freddy up in his strong arms. "'Haven't put out any fires since you got here, have you?' he asked, for Freddy had a great love for playing firemen, and he often put out make-believe blazes with a toy fire-engine he had which squirted real water. No alarms to-day, laughed Freddy, for his father was tickling him in his fat ribs, as Freddy called them. How's my little fat fairy? went on Mr. Bobsey, catching Flossieff as he had Freddy. All right, she answered. Oh, papa, your whiskers, prick, she cried as Mr. Bobsey kissed her.
Sit down and have a cup of tea, invited Mrs. Bobsey. Then we can talk about what we are to do. The children are anxious to get away again. And if we are to go, there is no need of unpacking more than we have to. "'Would you like to go to Meadowbrook?' asked Mr. Bobsey, looking at his happy family. "'You know I would,' answered his wife with a smile. "'Meadowbrook! Oh, are we going there?' cried Nan. "'Well, Uncle Daniel has sent us an invitation,' said Mr. Bobsey. "'And your mother and I are thinking of it.' "'Can you leave your lumber business long enough to go with us?' asked Mrs. Bobsey. "'I think so,' replied her husband. I just stopped at the office, and everything there is going along nicely.
So I think we'll go to Meadowbrook in the country for the rest of the summer. Hurrah! Hurrah! Oh, how nice! cried the children. Dina, I think I'll have another cup of tea, went on Mr. Bobsey as the colored cook waddled in. Make it cold this time, with ice in it. I'm very warm. Yes, sir, said Dina, taking his cup. Then followed a confusion of talk, the two sets of twins doing the most. They were joyfully excited at the idea of going to Meadowbrook Farm. "'I'm going to turn somersaults in the grass, just like this,' cried Freddy, rolling over and over on the floor. He rolled toward the door that led from the dining room to the kitchen, and just as he reached it, Dina came in with Mr. Bobsey's cup of iced tea.
Before Freddy could stop himself, and before fat Dina could get out of the way, the little Bobsey chap had rolled right into the cook, and down she went in a heap on the floor. The cup and saucer crashing into dozens of pieces, and the tea spilling all over.
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2 02 - New Summer Plans 10:51
New Summer Plans. O Freddy! Oh, Dinah! Are you hurt? Thus came the cries, and his snap the dog rushed in just then. Barking and leaping about, he made the confusion all the worse. Mr. Bobsey sprang from his chair, lifted Freddy out of the way, and then helped Dinah to her feet. The fat-colored cook looked around in a dazed manner, and Freddy, too, did not seem to know just what had happened to him. Oh, don't tell me he is hurt. "'Or Dinah either,' cried Mrs. Bobsie, holding her hands over her eyes, as though she might see something unpleasant. "'I'm not hurt,' said Freddy, "'but I'm—I'm all wet.' "'Bless your heart, honey lamb. I'm glad's o dat,' cried Dinah, as she wiped her face on her apron, for the tea had splashed on her.
"'Are you all right, Dinah?' asked Mr. Bobsie, setting Freddy down, for he had caught his little fat son up in his arms. Sure, I's all right, suh, the colored cook answered. Just shook up a bit. I so fat it doesn't hurt me to fall, she explained, and I sure am glad I didn't fall on Freddy. He done knocked my feet right out from under me. Yes, you shouldn't have turned somersaults in the house, said Mrs. Bobsey. That wasn't right, Freddy. I-I wasn't exactly turning somersaults, Freddy explained. as he dried his face in his pocket-handkerchief. "'I was just rollin' over and over, like I'm goin' to do down at Meadowbrook.' "'Well, it was almost as bad as turning somersault,' said Nan. "'My, but I got so excited.' "'Poo, it wasn't anything,' spoke Bert.
"'It's a good thing, though, that it was iced tea instead of being hot.' "'Indeed, that was a blessing,' said Mrs. Bobsey, while Dinah began picking up the pieces of the cup and saucer. You must be more careful, Freddy. "'I will, Ma,' he promised. "'But tell us about Meadowbrook. When can we go?' "'Not until you get a dry suit on, at least,' said Mr. Bobbsey, with a smile. "'You had better change, Freddy. You are all wet from my cup of tea.' "'I'll put dry things on him,' offered Nan, leading the little fellow from the room. "'But don't talk over any plans until I come back,' she begged. "'We won't,' promised her mother.' And, while the house is settling into quietness after the confusion of the temporary home-coming and the upsetting of Dinah and Freddy, I will take just a few moments to tell my new readers something about the Bobsey twins, as they have been written about in the other books of this series.
There were two sets of twins, and that may seem strange until I tell you that Bert and Nan, aged about nine, formed one set, and Flossie and Freddy, Aged four years younger, made up the second set. Bird and Nan were tall and slim, with dark hair and eyes, while Flossie and Freddie were fat and short, with light hair and blue eyes, making a very different appearance from the older twins. Besides the two sets of Bobsey twins, there was Mr. Richard Bobsey and his wife, Mary. They lived in an eastern city called Lakeport, on Lake Metoka, where Mr. Bobsey had a large lumber business. I might say that Dinah Johnson and her husband Sam also formed part of the Bobsie household, for without Dinah to cook, and without Sam to do everything around the house, from watering the grass to putting out the ashes, I do not know how Mrs.
Bobsie would have gotten along. And then, of course, there was Snoop the Black Cat, and Snap the Nice Dog, who had once been in a circus and could do many tricks. So much for the Bobsie family. As for what they did, if you will read the first book of the series, which volume is called The Bobsie Twins, you will get a good idea of the many good times Flossie, Freddy, Bert, and Nan had. Uncle Daniel Bobsie, who was Mr. Bobsie's brother, and his wife, Aunt Sarah, lived in the country at Meadowbrook Farm. They had a ten-year-old son named Harry, and he and Bert were great chums whenever they were together. The bobbsey twins often went to the country, and also to the seashore, where their uncle William and Aunt Emily, as well as their cousin Dorothy lived, at a place called Oceancliff.
You may read of the fun the twins had at these places in the country and seashore books. Bert, Nan, Flossie, and Freddy also had fun at school, and when they went to Snow Lodge they had what were, to them, a wonderful series of adventures, and solved a strange mystery. Their last trip had been on a houseboat. It was called the Bluebird, and they had voyaged down Lake Metoka to Lumbee Creek, and through that to Lake Romano, where they had fine times. There was a mystery on the Bluebird, but Bert and his cousin Harry, who was with him, found out what made the queer noises.
Cousin Dorothy was also a guest on the houseboat trip, And she and Nan, who were about the same age, greatly enjoyed themselves. The bobbseys and their country and seashore cousins had come back from the trip, Dorothy going to her home and Harry to his, where there happened the little accident to Freddy and Dinah, which I have mentioned in the first chapter of this book. Now the house was quiet once again. Freddy had on a clean, dry suit. Dinah had changed her damp apron for a fresh one, And Mr. Bobsey was sipping his cup of iced tea, which was not spilled this time. Now can you tell us what we are going to do the rest of this summer vacation? asked Bert. Yes, said Mr. Bobsey, I can. Your Uncle William, as I started to tell you, before Freddy gave us that circus exhibition, has invited us up to Meadowbrook.
And as I have a little time I can spare from my business, I think I shall take you all down there. We can go to the country and have a fine time. We had a good time on the houseboat, said Nan. It was lovely there. Indeed it was, agreed Mrs. Bobsey. And when we found the ghost, exclaimed Bert, Hush, you mustn't say ghost, cautioned Mrs. Bobsey, with a smile. It wasn't a ghost, you know. Well, we thought it was at first, laughed Bert. Anyhow, we'll have some fun at Meadowbrook. I'm going to fly a kite, declared Freddy. All right, as long as you don't tie Snoop to the tail of it," said his father. "'And I'm going to feed the chickens,' exclaimed Flossie. "'But you mustn't chase the rooster,' cautioned her mother.
"'I won't,' promised the little fat twin. "'Now when are we going?' asked Nan. "'What train do we take?' Bert wanted to know. "'I'll have to see to all that tomorrow,' said Mr. Bobsie. "'We might as well go right off to the country, for it is not very pleasant staying in the hot city.' We won't need to unpack much, for we'll stay here only this one night. Tomorrow morning we shall start for Meadowbrook. And are we going to take the Bluebird along? inquired Flossie. No, the houseboat will stay at home this trip, her mother said. There isn't enough water at Meadowbrook to sail the Bluebird. They talked over their new summer plans, and the children were delighted at the prospect of going to see their cousin, their uncle, and their aunt.
Dinah is going, isn't she? asked Nan. Oh, yes, we couldn't get along without her, answered Mrs. Bobsey with a smile. And I'm going to take Snoop, cried Freddy, hugging the big black cat, which did not seem to mind being loved so hard. Well, if Snoop goes, then we ought to take Snap the dog, too, declared Bert. Snap would be lonesome if he were left behind, wouldn't he? Oh, may we take them both, Mama? begged Nan. Well, I guess so, was the answer. as Mrs. Bobbsey looked at her husband. "'That will be all right,' he nodded. "'The country is just the place for dogs and cats. It's better for them than houseboats.' "'Oh, what fun we'll have,' sang Flossie. "'What lovely times!' "'And I'm going to take my fire-engine and squirt water in it from the brook,' declared Freddy.
"'Well, be careful not to fall in,' his father said. "'And now I shall have to go back to the office again, to do a little work, so as to get ready for going away again.' So I'll leave my little fat fireman and fat fairy for a while, and he smiled at Freddy and Flossie as he called them by their pet names. As the bobbseys were to leave town soon, they did not unpack very much from the valises they had brought from the houseboat. This boat was tied up at a dock in the lumberyard, which was on the edge of the lake. The children spent the morning playing about in the yard. Some of their friends, who had not gone away for the summer, coming to join in their games. After lunch, Mr. Bobbsey came up to the house in an automobile, bringing his wife some things she had asked him to get from the store.
"'Oh, may I have a ride?' begged Freddie, when he saw his father in the machine, which Mr. Bobbsey and some of the other members of his lumber firm used when they were in a hurry. "'Yes, jump in,' invited his father. "'Want to come, Bert?' he asked of the older Bobbsey boy. "'Yes, thank you,' was the answer. "'Where are you going?' I have to go up the lake shore to a place called Tenbley to see another lumber dealer on some business, Mr. Bobsey said. Where are Nan and Flossie? He asked his wife, who had come out on the porch just then. I could take them along also. There is plenty of room. Flossie and Nan have gone over to Mrs. Black's house, Mrs. Bobsey said. Run along without them. It's just as well.
I'd rather they wouldn't be out in the hot sun, as we have to take a long train journey tomorrow. All right, agreed Mr. bobbsey, as he started off in the automobile with Freddy and Bert. We'll soon be back. Neither Mr. bobbsey nor the boys knew what was to happen on that ride, nor how it was to affect them afterward.
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3 03 - The Runaway Boy 9:13
The Runaway Boy. It was a pleasant trip for Freddy and Bert to ride with their father in the automobile along the shady shores of the lake. The little twin and the bigger one sat back on the cushions, now and then bouncing up and down as the machine went over a rough place in the road. Freddy, being lighter than Bert, bounced up and down oftener, but then he was so fat, almost like a lump of butter, as his mother used to say, that he did not much mind it. I wish we could take this machine to Meadowbrook Farm with us," said Bert, as they neared the lumber yard of Mr. Mason, with whom Mr. Bobbsy had business that day. "'We can ride in one of Uncle Daniel's carriages,' said Freddy. "'Or maybe I can ride horseback.
That would be fun,' he cried, his bright eyes sparkling. "'It's fun if you don't fall off,' Bert said. As the automobile passed around a curve in the road where the lake could be seen stretching out its sparkling waters in the bright sun. Bert suddenly uttered a cry and pointed her head. Look! he exclaimed. There are two little girls drifting out in that boat, and they don't seem to know how to row to shore. Mr. Bobsey steered the machine down to the edge of the lake, over the grass at one side of the road. As he did so, he and the two boys heard voices Faintly calling. Help! Help! Oh, somebody, please come and get us. I'll get them. I can row, and there's another boat on shore, said Bert, pointing to a craft drawn up on the sand.
I guess I'd better go out. You stay with Freddy, directed the lumber merchant, as he brought the automobile to a stop and jumped out. I'm coming, he called to the two little girls in the drifting boat. Don't be afraid and sit still. Don't stand up. He needed to caution them thus, for one of the girls, seeing that help was on the way, grew so excited that she stood up. And this is always dangerous to do in a rowboat on the water. Robots tip over very easily, and sometimes even good swimmers may be caught under them. I wish I could help get them, sighed Fat Freddy, as he saw his father run down to the shore of the lake and shove the other boat into the water. It is best to let Papa do it, said Bird, though he himself would have liked to have gone to the rescue.
They'll mind Papa and sit down and keep still, but they wouldn't mind us, went on Bird, explaining the matters to his little brother. That's right, agreed Freddy. Girls are awfully afraid in the boat. Anyhow, I'm not afraid. Well, not all girls are afraid, either," said Bert, with a smile. "'Nan isn't afraid. Of course not. She's our sister, and so is Flossie,' exclaimed Freddy, as if that made a difference. Mr. Bobbsy was now rowing out to the two small girls in the drifting boat. They did not seem to have any oars, and Bert and Freddy heard their father call to them again to sit down so they would not tip over. Then the lumberman reached the drifting craft and carefully fastened it by a rope to the boat he was in.
"'Now sit quietly, and I'll pull you to the shore,' he said to the girls. "'You must not come out in a boat all alone. Where's your home?' "'Up there,' replied the older girl, pointing to a house back of the lake, Shaw wrote. "'We didn't mean to come out,' she went on. "'We just sat in the boat when it was tied fast to the dock. But the note must have come loose.' And we drifted out. We have ever so much obliged to you for coming out to us. Well, don't get in boats again unless some older person is with you," cautioned Mr. Bobsay. By this time, he had towed the boat with the girls in it to shore. As he did so, a woman came running from the house, calling out, Oh, what has happened? Oh, are they drowned?
Nothing has always happened, said Mr. Bobsay quietly. Your children just drifted out, and I went and got them. Oh, and I've told them never, never to get into a boat, cried the mother. Girls, girls, what am I going to do with you? she went on. You might have fallen overboard. Yes, that is true, they might have, said Mr. Bobsey. But I think this will be a lesson to them, and no harm has come to them this time. But it is best for children to keep out of boats. Indeed it is, agreed the lady. Oh, I can't thank you enough, sir, she said to Mr. Bobsey. I have told Sally and Jane never to go out on the lake unless Frank is with them, but he isn't there now. Is Frank their brother? asked Mr. Bobsey. Not exactly a brother.
My husband is his guardian, the lady went on. I am Mrs. Mason. Oh, I'm glad to know you, said Mr. Bobsey. I'm on my way to your husband's office now to see him on business. I'm glad I could do you a favor. Indeed, it is more than a favor, said Mrs. Mason. I cannot thank you enough. When Frank was home, I did not worry so much about the girls, as he looked after them. But my husband thinks he is now old enough to help in the lumber yard, and so he keeps him down at the office. You are going down there, you say? Yes, replied Mr. Bobsey. I am going along the river road. I can show you a shorter route, said Mrs. Mason. who now had tied hold of her daughter's hands, as though she feared they would run down to the boats again.
My husband has cut a new road through the orchard down to his office. She went on. You can come that way in your machine and save nearly a mile. I shall be glad to do that, Mr. Bobsey answered, as I haven't very much time today. We're getting ready to go away. Mrs. Mason showed Mr. Bobsy where he could cross the main road and take a shortcut through the old orchard to reach the lumber office, and soon after waving goodbye to the frightened little girls, Mr. Bobsy, Bert, and Freddy were again on their way. Is it the Lake Wade Leap where those girls were? Freddy wanted to know. It doesn't make much difference whether it is deep or not, said Mr. Bobsey. They would probably have been drowned if they had fallen overboard.
You must always be careful about boats, he cautioned the little fellow. I will, Freddy promised. That must be the lumberyard, exclaimed Bert a little later, when they turned from the new Orchard Road into another highway. Yes, that is it, Mr. Bobsey agreed. I never came this way before. It is a good road to know when you are in a hurry. Mr. Mason's lumber-yard, like that of Mr. Bobsey, was partly on the edge of the lake, so the logs, boats, and planks could be easily loaded and unloaded from the boats. Part of the yard was on the other side of the road, back from the lake, and it was on this side that the office was built. As Mr. Bobsey and his two boys rode up in the automobile, they saw out in front of the office a strange and not very pleasant sight.
A man stood there, roughly shaking a boy about Bird's Edge. The boy seemed to be crying and trying to get away, but the man held him tightly by one arm and shook him again and again. "'I don't like that,' said Mr. Bobsey in a low voice as he stopped the automobile. "'What makes him do it?' asked Freddy. "'Is the boy bad?' "'I'll teach you to make me lose money that way,' cried the man, as he again roughly shook the boy. "'You ought to have better sense than to be cheated that way. It wasn't your money that you lost. It was mine, and money isn't so easily made these days.' "'But I couldn't help it,' the boy cried, trying to pull his arm away. He could not do this, for the man held it too tightly.
"'Yes, you could help it too, if you'd had your eyes open,' the man said in harsh tones. I left you in charge of the office, and you ought to have been sharp enough not to be fooled and cheated. I don't know what to do with you. Again he shook the boy. Ouch! you hurt me, Mr. Mason! cried the lad. Well, you deserve to be hurt. Losing money that way was the answer. I've a good notion to, but the sentence was not finished. Just then, by a sudden motion, the boy pulled away from the man who was shaking him, and ran down the road. For a moment it seemed as if the man would run after him, but he did not. The two stood looking at one another, while Mr. Bobbsey, having alighted from the automobile, walked up towards the lumber office.
"'You'd better come back here, Frank,' called the man, who had been shaking the boy. "'You'd better come back.' I'll never come back, was the answer. I'm going to run away. I'll never live with you again. You treat me too mean. It wasn't my fault about that bad money. I couldn't help it. I'm going to run away, and I'm never coming back again. I can't stand it here. Bursting into tears, the boy raced off down the road in a cloud of dust.
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4 04 - Off For Meadow Brook 12:44
OFF FOR MEdowbrook.
who sat beside his older brother Bert in Mr. Bobbsy's automobile, looked on with wonder in his childish eyes as he saw the boy Mr. Mason had been shaking run down the road. "'What's the matter with him, Bert?' Freddy asked. "'Didn't he like to be shook?' "'I should say not,' exclaimed Bert, "'and I wouldn't myself. I don't think that man did right to shake him so.' "'It was too bad,' added Freddy. "'Say, Bert,' he went on eagerly, Maybe we could catch up to him in the automobile, and we could take him to Meadowbrook with us. Nobody would shake him there. No, I guess they wouldn't, said Bert slowly, thinking how kind his uncle and aunt were. Then let's go after him, begged Freddy. No, we couldn't do that, Freddy, Bert said with a smile at his little brother.
The boy maybe wouldn't want to come with us, and besides, Papa wouldn't let me run the auto, though I know which handles to turn, for I've watched him. Bert went on with a firm belief that he could run the big car almost as well as could Mr. Bobsie. "'Well, when Papa comes back, I'm going to ask him to go after that boy and bring him with us,' declared Freddy. "'I don't like to see boy shook.' "'I don't either,' murmured Bert. By this time Mr. Bobsie had come up to where Mr. Mason was standing. "'Oh, how do you do, Mr. Bobsie?' spoke the other lumberman. "'I didn't expect to see you for some days.' I did come a little ahead of time, went on the twins' father, but I'm going to take my family off to the country, so I thought I would come and see you, and finish up our business before going away.
I'm always glad to talk business, Mr. Mason said, but I thought your folks were out somewhere on a houseboat. We were, and just came back to-day, but the summer isn't over, and we're going to my brother's place at Meadowbrook Farm. But you seem to be having some trouble, he went on. nodding down the road in the direction the sobbing boy had run. Of course, it isn't any affair of mine, but—yes, trouble, lots of it, interrupted Mr. Mason bitterly. I have had a lot of trouble with that boy. That's too bad, spoke Mr. Bobbsey. He seems a bright sort of chap. He isn't your son, is he? No, I'm his guardian. He's my ward. His father was a friend of mine in business, and when he died he asked me to look after the boy.
His name is Frank Kennedy. "'Oh, yes, I heard about him,' said Mr. Bobbsey. "'Heard about him? I guess you didn't hear any good, then,' exclaimed the other lumberman, rather crossly. "'What do you mean?' "'Why, we came past your house a little while ago,' said Mr. Bobbsey, "'and your wife mentioned a Frank Kennedy, who used to take your two daughters out rowing. If he had been there to-day, the girls probably wouldn't have gone out alone and drifted away.' "'Drifted away? What do you mean?' cried Mr. Mason. Has anything happened? It's all right. My papa went out in a boat and got him, cried Freddy in his shrill, childish voice, for he heard what his father and Mr. Mason were saying. I don't understand, said the other lumber dealer seriously.
Was there an accident? Oh, it wasn't anything, Mr. Bobsey said. When I went past your house near the river, I saw the two girls adrift in a boat, not far from shore. They had floated out while playing. I went after them, and your wife, before she showed me the shortcut to your place, spoke about an adopted boy, Frank Kennedy, who used to play with the children. Oh, I'm much obliged to you, said Mr. Mason, after a pause. Yes, Frank did look after the girls some. That was he who just ran down the road, but he did better at home than he's doing in my office. What do you mean? asked Mr. Bobsey, wondering why it was that Mr. Mason, had so severely shaken the boy who had run away. "'Well, I mean that Frank just lost $20 for me,' proceeded the lumberman.
"'Twenty dollars? How was that?' asked Mr. Bobbsey. "'I left him in charge of my office while I was out on some other business,' went on the lumber dealer, and a strange man came in and bought $2 worth of expensive boards. Frank gave them to him, and the man took them away with him, as they were not very large or heavy to carry. "'Two dollars? I thought you said twenty,' exclaimed Mr. Bobsie. "'So I did. Wait until I tell you all. As I said, Frank sold this strange man two dollars' worth of boards. The man gave Frank a twenty-dollar bill, and Frank gave him back eighteen dollars in change.' "'Well, wasn't that right?' asked Mr. Bobsie, with a smile. "'Two dollars from twenty leave eighteen. Or it used to when I was in school.' That part is all right, Mr.
Mason said bitterly, but the fact is that the $20 bill Frank took from the strange man is no good. It is bad money, and no one but a child would take it. It's a bill that was gotten out by the Confederate States during the Civil War, and of course their money isn't any better than waste paper now. I don't see how Frank was fooled that way. I wouldn't have been if I had been in the office. Perhaps the boy never saw a Confederate bill before. suggested Mr. Bobsie. No matter, he should have known that it wasn't good United States money, declared Mr. Mason. By his carelessness to-day, he lost me $20, the $18 in my good money that he gave the man in change, and the $2 worth of boards. And all I have to show for it is that worthless piece of paper.
And Mr. Mason took from his pocket a crumpled bill. Mr. Bobsie looked at it carefully. Yes, that's one of the old Confederate States bills, all right, he said, and it isn't worth anything, except as a curiosity. It cost me $20, all right, said Mr. Mason, with a sour look on his face. I can't see how Frank was so foolish as to be taken in by it. Well, the poor boy knew no better, and probably he's sorry enough now, said Mr. Bobsey. I guess he's sorry enough, exclaimed Mr. Mason bitterly. I gave him a good shaking, as he is too big to whip. I shook him and scolded him. Well, almost any one not very familiar with money might have made that mistake, spoke Mr. Bobbsey. This Confederate bill looks very much like some of ours, and a person in a hurry might have been fooled by it.
Oh, nonsense, broke in Mr. Mason. There was no excuse for Frank being fooled as he was. I won't listen to any such talk. He lost me twenty dollars, and he'll have to make it up to me somehow. "'But how can he when he has run away?' asked Mr. Bobsie. And he felt very sorry for Frank, who was not much older than Bert. Mr. Bobsie knew how grieved he would be if something like that happened to his son. "'Yes, he pretended to run away,' said Mr. Mason, "'but he'll soon run back again.' "'How do you know Mr. Bobsie wanted to know? Did he ever run away before?' "'No, he never did,' admitted Mr. Mason. But he'll have to run back because he has nowhere to run to. He can't get anything to eat, he has no money, and he can't find a place to sleep.
Of course he'll come back. And when he does come back, Mr. Mason went on, I'll make him work doubly hard to pay back that $20. I can't afford to lose that much money. But it was an accident, a mistake that anyone might have made, said Mr. Bobsey again. Nonsense, cried the other lumberman. I'll make Frank Kennedy pay for his mistake. Perhaps the strange man did not mean to give him the Confederate bill, went on Bert's father. Some persons carry those old Southern bills as souvenirs, or pocket pieces, and this man might have paid his out by mistake. I know that once happened to me with a piece of money. He may come back and give you a good $20 bill. I am not so foolish as to hope anything like that will happen, said Mr.
Mason. No, I'm out twenty good hard-earned dollars. That's all there is to it. But I'll get it out of Frank Kennedy somehow. If he ever comes back, said Mr. Bobbsey, in a low voice. Oh, he'll come back. Never fear, responded the other lumber dealer. Mr. Bobbsey gently shook his head. He was not so sure of that. Frank, as he ran down the road crying, seemed to feel very badly indeed, and when he said he would never come back, it sounded as though he meant it. Poor little chap thought Mr. Bobbsey to himself. I am very sorry for him. I wonder where he will sleep tonight. And he could not help thinking how badly he would feel if he knew his own two dear boys had to be without a place to sleep or somewhere to get a meal.
Mr. Mason did not appear to worry about the plight of his ward, for whom he was guardian. The lumber dealers finished their business, and Mr. Mason again thanked Mr. Bobbsey, for what he had done for the two girls in the boat. "'I guess I'd better keep Frank at the house after this,' went on Mr. Mason. "'He's safer there than at the office, and wouldn't lose me so much money. But I'll get it out of him some way,' and he thrusts back into his pocket the bad $20 bill. Bert had understood most of the talk between his father and Mr. Mason, but little Freddy did not know much of what went on, except that Frank had run away. I wouldn't run away from my home, he said. I like it too much. Yes, but you haven't anyone at your home to shake you as hard as that man did, said Bert.
I don't blame Frank for running away. Poor boy, sighed Mr. Bobsey. Life is a hard matter for a little chap with no real home. In the automobile, the lumberman and his two boys went back to Lakeport, passing on their way the house where Mr. Mason lived. The two little girls waved their hands to Freddy and Bert as the boys rode past, but there was no sign of Frank Kennedy. The sadness of the scene the two bobbsey boys had witnessed was soon forgotten in the joys of getting ready to go to Meadowbrook. They spent that night in their city house, unpacking only such few things as they needed. When morning came, Flossie and Freddy were the first up. "'We're going to the country,' sang Flossie. Walking about in a long nightgown that trailed over the floor.
"'Going to Meadowbrook,' chanted Freddy. "'Where's Snoop? I'm going to take him.' "'And may we take Snap, too?' asked Bert, who had taught the former circus dog many new tricks. "'Yes, we'll take them both,' said Mrs. Bobsey. "'Now hurry, children, dear. We are going to leave soon after breakfast, and it is a long ride in the train, you know.' "'Are we going to ride in the merry-go-round car?' asked Flossie. She means a parlor car, with chairs that swing around, said Nan, with a laugh. Yes, we'll ride in a chair car, decided Mr. Bobsie. The Bobsie House was soon a very busy place. Felices that had been opened were packed again. Dinah got a quick breakfast. Mr. Bobsie had much telephoning to do about business matters, and Mrs.
Bobsie, well, she had to do what all mothers do on such occasions, look after everything. Nan and Bert helped as much as they could. Flossie and Freddy tried to help, but you know how it is with little children. The two smaller twins were very anxious that Snoop, the black cat, be taken with them in his little traveling crate. "'I'll get him and pack him up,' said Freddy. "'And I'll help,' offered Flossie. Soon all was in readiness for the start to the depot, where the bobbseys would take the train for Meadowbrook. Just as the automobile came up to the door to take the family, there arose a cry from the direction of the side porch, where Flossie and Freddy had gone with a cat-cage in which to put Snoop.
"'Oh, my!' exclaimed Mrs. Bobsey. "'I wonder what has happened now. I hope those twins are all right. "'I'll go see,' offered Dan, setting off on a run."
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5 05 - Snap's Escape 8:55
The Bobbsy Twins at Meadowbrook by Laura Lee Hope. Chapter Five Snaps Escape Nan found Flossie and Freddie standing one on either side of the wooden crate in which Snoop made his journeys. The twins each had hold of the black cat, who did not seem to be enjoying life very much just then. "'He goes in this way, I tell you!' shouted Freddy. "'No, he goes in the other way!' cried Flossie, and then they both tried, at the same time, to thrust poor Snoop into his cage. The cat cried out and scrambled to get away. "'What's the matter?' asked Nan. "'What does all this mean, Flossie and Freddy? Don't you know the automobile is waiting to take us to the station?' "'Well, I want to put Snoop into his cage,' insisted Freddy.
"'And so do I,' cried Flossie. "'But she, Flossie, wants to put him in tail end first,' went on the little excited boy. "'Course, because that's right,' went on the little girl. "'Freddy says he ought to go in head first,' she exclaimed. "'And you know, Nan, if you stand Snoop on his head, he'll get dizzy.'" Like I did, when I hung Dingle Dangle by my legs from the swing. And if he goes in tail first, he'll get all tangled up, retorted Freddy, who was almost crying by now. Oh, dear, exclaimed Nan. I guess I'll have to call Papa or Mama, and they have enough to look after as it is with the auto here and almost train time. I never saw such children. What am I to do? Let me put stupid tail first, cried Flossie.
No, he ought to go in his box head first, declared her brother, and neither one of them would let go of the black cat. Snoop looked sadly at Nan, as though he wished she would rescue him, and put him in the traveling box either end first, if only he might be left in peace and quietness. Oh, dear, Nan exclaimed again, I really don't know what to do. I guess we'll leave Snoop home altogether. Oh, no!
cried Flossie and Freddy. Here, what's all the trouble? asked Bert, running around to the side porch. Hurry up. The auto is waiting. It's these twins, said Nan, hopelessly. It's Flossie, accused Freddy. She wants Snoop to go in tail end first, and he'll get all tangled up, because he's got an awful long tail. And Freddy wants to put in him head first, and he'll get dizzy, save as I did in the swing, accused Flossie. Here, I'll settle this, cried Bert, like a manly little chap. Give me that cat. He took Snoop from Flossie and Freddy, who let go willingly enough. If Snoop could have talked, he would have said, "'Thank you, Bert!' I'm sure he would have. There, we'll put him in feet first, Bert went on, carefully lowering the black cat into the box that way.
A cat always likes to land feet first, he explained. Then he won't get tangled up in his tail, nor dizzy. Now Flossie and Freddy, hustle around front and get into the auto. "'I'll bring Snoop,' he continued, as he fastened down the lid of the traveling cage. "'That's right, feet first!' cried Freddy, a happy smile on his face. "'Of course. Why didn't we think of putting Snoop in that way?' asked Flossie, as she put her chubby hands in her brother's and ran with him around to the front porch. "'Oh, such children!' sighed Nan, as she followed Bert, who carried Snoop in his cage. The black cat curled up and went to sleep. He was used to traveling this way. "'My, what was the trouble?' asked Mrs.
Bobbsy. Nan and Bert explained, while Flossie and Freddy took their places in the gasoline machine. "'Are you all ready?' asked Mr. Bobbsy. "'How about you, Dina?' for the colored cook was being taken to the country to help look after the smaller twins. "'Oh, indeed, he eyes all right, Mrs. Bobbsy,' was Dina's answer. "'Here, Freddy, let old Dina carry dat cat-box,' for Bert had given Snoop in his cage to the small twin boy. No, I want to hold him, Freddy insisted, and he was allowed to have his way. Sam, Dina's husband, was to stay home to look after the bobbsey city house, and he waved a good-bye as the automobile started off. Where's the hat? asked Flossie, as they were rolling down the street.
He's coming, reported Nan, for the big dog is running alongside the car. There would have been room for him to ride in it, but he preferred racing along the street, and he would be at the depot waiting for the family when they arrived. The train will be here in about five minutes, said Mr. Bobbsy, after they had reached the depot and had purchased the tickets. Then, while Flossie and Freddy took turns looking in at Black Snoop through the slats of the box, Nan and Bert helped gather the valises into one pile. Mr. Bobbsy went to see about getting the trunks checked, and also about sending Snap in the baggage car, for the dog would have to ride that way to Meadowbrook. At last, with a toot of the whistle and a ringing of the bell, the engine drawing the train puffed into the station.
"'All aboard!' called the conductor. Many persons were getting on, while others were getting off. Mr. Bobsey gathered his little family down toward the parlor or chair car. "'Here you am, sir!' exclaimed the colored porter as he swung Flossie and Freddy out the steps and helped Mrs. Bobsey and Dina. Nan and Bert felt big enough not to need any help. "'Hullo! What's deech here?' cried the porter as he picked up the box containing Snoop. "'Am dish good to eat?' he asked, looking in at the black cat. "'When am it?' "'Oh, it's our Snoop,' cried Flossie. "'Don't hurt him!' "'Deed and I won't, little missy,' laughed the colored porter. "'I thought maybe it was a watermelon you all had in that box.' "'All aboard!' called the conductor again, and then, with the bobsies safely in their chair-car, the train puffed away again, going faster and faster.
"'The engine can hardly get its breath,' remarked Freddy, as he listened to the puffing of the locomotive. "'I guess it's going uphill,' said Bert, with a laugh. The ride to Meadowbrook would take nearly all day, and Mrs. Bobsey settled herself comfortably in the easy-chair to look out the window, after she had seen that Flossie and Freddy were all right. Nan and Bert looked after themselves, and Mr. Bobsey, having seen that his family was comfortable, began to read his paper. Dina took a chair in one corner where she could doze off. It always made her sleepy to ride in a train, she said. Nan and Bert looked out at the passing scenery, as did Flossie and Freddy, when they were not taking turns peeking in at Snoop.
As for the black cat himself, he had curled up into a little round ball and was fast asleep. He had become a traveler by this time, for once he had been to Cuba, when the circus lady took him, as I told you in one of the other books. "'I wonder how Snap is getting along in the baggage car,' said Bert to Nan after a bit. "'I think I'll go in and see.' "'Oh, will Papa let you?' inquired his sister. "'I don't know. I'll ask him.' Mr. Bobsey was a little doubtful about letting Bert pass from one car to another while the train was moving. "'But it's a vestibule train, Papa,' said the boy. "'It's like one big car. I can't fall off.' "'Well, I don't know,' said Mr. Bobsey slowly. "'I'll take him up front if he wants to see about the dog,' said a brakeman who had heard Bert's talk.
"'Oh, thank you,' said Mr. Bobsey. "'Be careful, Bert.' But, as it turns out, there was no danger at all. As Bert had said, the cars were joined together with vestibules. That made the train like one big railway coach. And as it was slowing up to a stop at a station, when Bert went forward to the baggage car, he had no trouble at all in walking along with the brakeman. Bert found Snap very glad, indeed, to see him, and as the train was then at a standstill, the boy took the chain off the dog's collar and let him run about the car a little, for he had to be kept chained fast while the cars were in motion. "'I guess you want to run about a bit, eh, Snap?' said Bert. "'Wow-woah!' barked the dog, and that was the best answer he could make.
The man in the baggage car had seen to it that Snap had plenty of water to drink, for the day was very hot. "'Better chain him up again, boy,' suggested the baggage man after a bit. "'We'll start pretty soon now.' Bert led Snap over to the side of the car, where the collar chain dangled. But just then, Snap, looking out of the door of the baggage car, saw a strange dog on the depot platform. Whether Snap knew this dog or thought he did, Bert could not tell. But an instant later, with a bark, Snap pulled away from Bert's grasp on his collar and leaped out of the open car door. At the same moment, the train started off. "'Snap! Snap!' cried Bert.
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6 06 - At Meadow Brook 13:48
Twins at Meadowbrook. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Subhash Chanda. SubhashSings.com The Bobbsy Twins at Meadowbrook by Laura Lee Hope. Chapter Six. At the Meadowbrook. The train was not going very fast when Snap leaped from the baggage car, but even if it had been moving at greater speed, it is not likely that Snap would have been hurt. As it was when the dog leaped from the open door, he did a somersault in the air, for he had learned to do that while in the circus, while he jumped from a high place. Snap! Snap! called Bert again. But Snap landed lightly on his feet and raced across the depot platform toward the dog he had seen.
Say that's a fine dog of yours, cried the baggage man admiringly to Bert. He must be a trick one. He is, answered Bert. But can I get him back again? Oh, I must get him. And he looked about for some way to do this. Don't jump out, whatever you do, warned the brake man who had brought Bert to the baggage car. The man stood in front of the open door, out of which trunks were taken. But Bert had no idea of doing what Snap had done. Besides, the train was moving quite rapidly now. Oh, how can I get my dog back? Bert wanted to know. You can telegraph back. From the next station we stop at, and have the agent there send him on wherever you are going, explained the baggage man. Oh, but we are going a long way, Bert said.
I am afraid Snap would be lost, traveling alone. Oh! What will Nan say? Nan was as fond of Snap as was Bert himself, though perhaps the smaller twins, Flossie and Freddy, cared more for Snoop, the black cat. But of course, they loved Snap very much. Poor Bert did not know what to do. Just then his father came running into the car. Did Snap get away? cried Mr. Bobsy. Your mother saw a dog on the station platform that looked like him. Went on the lumberman to Bert. Is Snap... He's gone, interrupted Bert. He jumped out of the car just now, and... We must stop the train, Mr. Bobsy explained. All right, I guess we can make up any time we lose, the brakeman said. He reached up and pulled the cord that ran overhead in the car.
There was a hissing of air, the locomotive whistle blew sharply, and the train came slowly to a stop. The brakeman had pulled an air whistle in the engine cab, and the engineer hearing it and knowing the train ought to stop, had turned off the steam. Mr. Bobsy then went to the door of the baggage car and leaning out, whistled in a way, Snap well knew. He could see the dog back on the depot platform wagging tails with another dog. Here, Snap! Snap! called Mr. Bobsy as the train slowly came to a stop. Here, Snap! Bert leaned out beside his father and also whistled and called. Then Snap knew he had done wrong to jump out and back he came, racing as hard as he could. I will open the end door of the car if you wish, so he can come up the steps offered the brakeman.
You don't need to. Thank you, replied Mr. Bobsy. I guess Snap can jump up here, though it is pretty high. By this time, a number of persons from the train had either gotten out or thrust their heads from the windows to learn the reason for the sudden stop. But when they saw the dog, they understood. Up, Snap, up, called Mr. Bobsy as the children's pet came leaping along beside the track. Snap gave one look at the high sill of the baggage car door, and then with a loud bark, he gave a great leap and landed right beside Bert. Say that dog's a fine jumper, cried several railroad men who had come up to see what the trouble was. Yes, he's a pretty good dog, nearly always, Mr. Bobbsy said, but he had trouble for us today.
Now, Snap, you will have to stay chained up the rest of the trip until we get to Meadowbrook. Snap would not like that. Bert knew, but nothing else could be done. The train soon started off again, and when Bert and his father went back to the parlor car, where the rest of the family were riding, they told all that had happened. Snoop is better than Snap, said Freddy as he listened to the story. Yes, indeed, agreed his sister, Flossie. Snoop wouldn't jump out of a train and make a lot of trouble. Well, he did run away once, declared Nan, who did not like to hear Snap talk about. Besides, Snap is fast in a box, and he couldn't get out if he wanted to, added Bert with a laugh. So the children talked about their pets now and then looking out of the windows at the scenery while Dina dozed off in a chair and Mr.
and Mrs. Bobsy spoke of different matters. Bert heard something of what his father and mother were saying, and once he heard mentioned the name of Frank Kennedy. That's the boy who ran away from Mr. Mason, the lumberman. Said Bird to himself. I wonder what became of him, and if we will ever see poor Frank again. And he little thought how soon and under what circumstances he was to meet the unfortunate lad again. One of the porters, wearing a white cap, jacket, and apron, walked through the chair-car about noon, calling out, First call for dinner in the dining-car. First call for dinner. Do they eat on trains? asked Flossie. Yes, at cute little tables, said Nan. Did we eat at them the last time we went to Meadowbrook?
Freddy wanted to know. No, you were too little then, said Mrs. Bobsie, and we brought our lunch with us. But this time we shall go to the dinner. Oh, what fun, cried Flossie. Mr. Bobsie led the way for his family into the dining coach. As Nanach said, there were cute little tables against the side of the car, and on each table was a little dish of ferns and other green plants making a pretty decoration. Dina would not come. She said she would rather eat some chicken sandwiches she had in her bag, and Mr. Bobsy let the dear old colored cook do as she pleased. The Bobsy twins found it so strange to eat in a car at a real table while rushing along that I think they did not eat as much as they would have done at home, but they enjoyed it just the same, though Freddy did splash some water from his finger bowl on the tablecloth.
Oh, oh, he exclaimed when he saw what he had done. He looked anxiously at his mother. That's all right, little man, said the colored waiter with a smile that showed all his white teeth. Got to put a clean cloth on anyhow. And what a doesn't matter. Freddy felt better then. The afternoon passed slowly enough. Mr. Bobbsy and Bert went to the baggage car once more to see about Snap. But they found he was alright having made friends with one of the men who looked after the travellers' trunks. Nan read a storybook which her mother bought from the train boy, and Flossie and Freddy did what Dina was doing. Took a little nap. The train was due to arrive at Meadowbrook about five o'clock, and Mr. Bobsey's brother, Uncle Daniel, was to meet the family at the station.
Ours is the next stop, said the twins' papa after a while. Get your things together now. Oh, I had a fine sleep, cried Freddy, stretching his chubby little arms. So did I, added Flossie. I wonder if Snoop slept any. I guess that's all he has been doing since we started. Mrs. Bobsie answered. He's all curled up into a black ball. Flossie and Freddy looked at their pet, and Snoop stretched and opened his mouth very wide, sticking out his red tongue. My, what a lot of teeth Snoop has, cried Flossie. Did we bring his toothbrush? asked Freddy. Cats don't have toothbrushes, said Flossie. Their tongue is their toothbrush, explained Mrs. Bobsie. Did you ever feel how rough a cat's tongue is? I never did, said Flossie.
I'm going to feel now, and she knelt down on the carpeted floor of the car and tried to get Snoop to put his red tongue out between the bars of the box. Oh, we haven't time for that now, said Mrs. Bobsie. Get ready to leave the train, Flossie. Bundles and wallaces were gotten together, and a little later, with a screeching of the brakes on the wheels, the train pulled slowly into the Meadowbrook station. I see Uncle Daniel, cried Nan, looking from a window. Yes, and there's Harry, cried Bert, as he spied his country cousin. Oh, how glad I am! Well, well, how are you all, laughed Uncle Daniel as he hugged and kissed the two sets of twins. My, but I'm glad to see you all, he cried. Welcome to Meadowbrook.
And we are glad to be here," said Mrs. Bobsy. How is Aunt Sarah? Just as fine as can be, said her husband. Now I have the same big wagon I had when you were here before. There's room for everybody in it, and all your baggage too. Where's Dina? You didn't leave her home, I hope? No, indeedy, I am here, exclaimed the fat, colored cook, who was carrying many bundles. Oh, we must get Snap out of the baggage car before the train carries him away, said Mr. Bobsy, and he hurried to do that while his brother, Uncle Daniel, helped the boys and girls and Mrs. Bobsy into the big wagon from the Bobsy farm. The wagon had seats running along the side and was very comfortable to ride in. Mr. Bobsy soon came back with Snap, who was bouncing about, barking and wagging his tail.
So glad was he to be among his friends again. Well, Are you all ready to start? asked Uncle Daniel, as I shall call him, to distinguish him from Mr. Bobbsy, who was a farmer's brother. Already, I think, answered Mrs. Bobbsy, and off they started for Meadowbrook Farm, the horses prancing through the village streets. We will have a lot of fun, said Harry to Bert, the two boys sitting next to each other. Maybe not as much fun as we had on your houseboat, Bert, but some anyhow. I am sure we shall, Bert said. I like a farm just as much as I do a houseboat, he added politely. Have you got any little calves, Uncle Daniel? asked Freddy. Yes, answered the farmer. And are there any little lambs? Flossie wanted to know.
Yes, but there is an old ram too, and you want to look out that he doesn't chase you and knock you down, Mr. Bobsey's brother went on. Oh, is the ram dangerous? asked Mrs. Bobsey quickly. Oh, no, her brother-in-law informed her. His horns are so curved that he can't use the sharp points, but he just does love to come up behind and butt you down. He did it to me the other day, but I keep the ram in a pasture by himself. The wagon rolled along the shady road under the green trees which made a grateful shade, for it was hot even though it was late in the afternoon. Oh, there is Tom Mason, cried Bert as he saw a country boy he had met when on a visit to Meadowbrook some time before. He waved his hand to Tom, who was in his front yard, his house not being far from Mr.
Bobsy's. And there is Mabel Herald, added Nan, as she saw a country girl she knew. My house, she has grown. Nan went on. She didn't used to be up to my shoulder, and now she's taller than I am. Oh, the country's a great place for growing, Uncle Daniel said with a chuckle. Mabel and Tom have been counting on your coming, said Harry. I told them we expected you. We will have some fine times together. I am sure of it, agreed Bert. Here we are, called Uncle Daniel a little later, as the horses turned up a driveway in front of the Bobsy country home. Lines of boxwood hedge grew along the graveled drive, and back of this hedge were beds of beautiful flowers, the perfume of which could be smelled this warm August day.
Oh, how lovely it is here! sighed Nan, turning around from having waved a welcome to Mabel Herold. Yes, I always like to come to Meadowbrook, said Mrs. Bobsy. Wah! called Uncle Daniel. The door of the house opened, and in it stood Aunt Sarah, and behind her, Martha, the smiling servant. Oh, how glad I am to see you, cried Aunt Sarah, as the children piled down from the wagon to hug and kiss her. Now get your things off, and we will have supper, she went on. I am hungry, announced Freddy. So am I, added Flossie. There was so much to look at in that eating car. I didn't eat half enough. Well, we have plenty here, my dear, said the aunt. We must let Snoop out. I guess he's hungry too, said Freddy, who never forgot the black cat.
Snapped the dog, had raced along beside the wagon, and was now cooling his thirst at the spring near the side door. The Bobsy visitors were out on the shady Porsche, having laid aside their travelling wraps. And Uncle Daniel was coming down from the barn, having put away the horses, when a man rushed up from the gravel drive, crying, Oh, Mr. Bobsy! Mr. Bobsy! He is out! He is loose! Who is out? Who is loose? The twins' uncle wanted to know. That old big ram, he is loose and he is coming this way, was the answer.
End of chapter number six. Recording by Subhash Chanda. SubhashSings.com
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7 07 - The Picnic 14:13
The Bobsie Twins at Meadowbrook by Laura Lee Hope. Chapter Seven. The Picnic. The man who had brought the news about the runaway ram stood on the gravel drive near the porch, breathing hard, for he had run very fast to give the warning. He caught his breath and then said again, "'The old ram is loose. He butted down the fence and got out. He's headed this way. What'll we do?' "'Children, into the house with you, quick!' cried Mrs. Bobsie. "'Oh, oh,' cried Flossie. "'Let me hide! Let me hide!' "'Poo! I'm not afraid of a ram,' declared Freddy. "'If I had my fire engine unpacked, I'd squirt water on him.' "'Better not try that, little fat fireman,' said his father with a laugh. "'Into the house with you, son.
Your mother will look after you.' Nan had already started from the porch, leading Flossie, who kept looking back over her shoulder. From behind the hedge came a cry that sounded like, Baa! Baa! Baa! Baa! There he comes, exclaimed Nan. Come on in, Bert and Harry, she begged the two boy cousins, who were peering eagerly down the road. I'm going to watch him catch him, said Bert. Better not let him see you, advised Harry, the country cousin. That old ram is a hard hitter. Is there really any danger? asked Mr. Bobsie of his farmer brother. Well, the old ram is pretty rough, I must say, answered Uncle Daniel, and most of the men on the farm are afraid of him. He's coming right this way, I tell you, exclaimed the hired man who had brought the news.
Why should he head this way? asked Mr. Bobsie. Come along and I'll tell you, his brother promised. You children had better go into the house, he advised. Yes, you too, Bert and Harry, he went on, as he saw his own son and Bert following him and Mr. Bobsie. No telling what notions old Upsetter will take. Is his name Upsetter? asked Bert. It is, replied his uncle. I call him that because he upsets so many things. He used to be a pet when he was little, he continued, and that's what makes him come to the house now, whenever he gets loose. My wife got in the habit of feeding him salt, which all sheep like very much. I guess he must remember that. But Aunt Sarah wouldn't dare salt him now. Go back into the house, boys, and we men folks will look after the ram.
The sounds were nearer now.
Oh, he's coming, cried Flossie, who stood with her nose pressed flat against a window near the porch. Had we better go in, asked Bert of Harry. We really had, answered his cousin. Uncle Daniel, Mr. Bobsey, and the hired man found some heavy sticks with which to scare the ram if he came too close. The big sheep was not yet in sight, though he could be heard bleeding. Up this way, directed Uncle Daniel. We can head him off and drive him into the barnyard, perhaps. Then I can shut him up until I have the fence mended that he knocked down. Why not get some salt for him, suggested Mr. Bobsie. If he gets some to eat, it may make him gentle, and then you could slip a rope around him and tie him up. That's a good idea, cried the farmer.
Sam, please go to the house and get some salt, he directed. Before the hired man returned, the ram had run into the driveway leading to the barn. Just as Uncle Daniel had said, the ram was headed for the house, which he must have remembered as a pleasant place ever since the days when he was a baby lamb. But now the ram was big and strong, and not very good-natured. He stood for a moment, looking at Uncle Daniel, Mr. Bobsey, and the hired man. Then, pawing the ground with his forefeet, and lowering and shaking his head with his big horns, the ram started forward again. "'Oh, he's going to butt Papa,' cried Flossie, who could see from the window what was going on. "'Papa will get out of the way, dear,' said Mrs.
Bobsie. "'Don't worry.' On came the ram, and then Uncle Daniel, taking the salt from the hired man, scattered some of it on the ground in front of the big sheep. That will stop him, I think, said the farmer. And indeed it did. Sheep and all cattle are very fond of licking up salt from the ground, and they will go a long way to find it. It keeps cattle healthy. The old ram, as soon as he smelled the salt, began licking it up with his tongue. He paid no more attention to the men standing in front of him. Though, if the salt had not been there, he probably would have run at them and knocked them down with his big curved horns. Now's our chance, whispered Mr. Bobsie, as if the ram could understand what was said.
Get a rope, and we can tie him up. I'll get one, offered the hired man. And when he came back with the clothesline, Uncle Daniel made a loop in one end, such as the cowboys on the western plains make when they lasso cattle.
And while the ram was busy licking up the salt, Uncle Daniel tossed the noose of the rope around the sheep's head, and in another second he and Mr. Bobsie pulled it tight. Oh, they've caught him, they've caught him, cried Nan, who stood near Flossie at the window. Come on out and look at him, said Bert. No, no, objected his mother, as the two boy cousins started from the room. Oh, I guess there's no danger now if they have a rope on him, said Aunt Sarah. I'll go long with you, offered Freddy, and I'd squirt water on that ram from my fire engine, if I had it unpacked. You stay right here with me, advised his mother, putting her arms around him. Bert and Harry went out to look at the captured ram.
The animal was not ugly now. Perhaps the salt made him good-natured. And he was soon led away and tied up in a stable until his pasture fence could be mended. My, what a lot of excitement, exclaimed Nan when it was all over. Nothing like this happened when we were on the houseboat. You forget the make-believe ghost, said Harry with a laugh, for he had helped solve that mystery. Oh, that's so, agreed Nan. That was exciting for a while. The Bobsie twins, as well as their father and mother, to say nothing of Dinah, were so tired from their long railroad journey that they went to bed early that night. The sun was shining brightly when they awakened next morning. Harry and Bert slept in the same room, and when the country boy arose from bed, he went to the window to look out.
"'Oh, dear, the sun's shining!' he exclaimed. "'Well, isn't that a good thing?' Bert wanted to know. Maybe, admitted Harry, but if it had been raining, we might have gone fishing. As it is, I shall have to work. What doing? Bert wanted to know. Help pick apples in the orchard. We are shipping them away this year, and they have to be picked and packed in barrels. I'll help you, offered Bert. And after breakfast, the two boys went out to the big orchard, where Uncle Daniel and some of his men already were busy. The apples were picked by men standing on long ladders that reached up into the trees. Each filled a canvas bag with apples. These bags hung around their necks, and when one was full, the man came down the ladder with it.
This was so the apples would not be bruised, for a bruised apple rots very quickly, and even one rotten apple in a barrel full will soon make many bad ones. "'Can we pick apples on a ladder?' asked Bert. "'No, that's a little too dangerous for small boys,' said Uncle Daniel. "'But you and Harry may pick those you can reach from the ground. Some of the tree limbs are very low, and you won't have any trouble. Take some of the bags to put the apples in. Don't bruise them.' Harry and Bert were soon busy, picking off as many apples as they could reach. When their bags were filled, they emptied them carefully in a wooden bin, and from that bin Uncle Daniel sorted the apples into barrels, which were headed up, ready to be taken to the city.
Nan had gone over to the home of Mabel Harold, the country girl, and Flossie and Freddie found many things to amuse them about the farm. Later on, they came out to the orchard and picked up apples from the ground. "'I'll help fill Bert's bag, and you can help Harry,' said Freddy to Flossie. "'No, little fat fireman,' said Harry, using the pet name his uncle called Freddy. "'The apples on the ground are called windfalls. The wind blows them down, and they get crushed and bruised by falling on the hard dirt or stones. It would not do to put them in with the good hand-picked apples.'" But what do you do with all those on the ground? asked Bert, for there were a great many of them. Send them to the cider mill or feed them to the pigs, said Harry.
The grunters and squeakers don't mind bruised apples. The children spent nearly all day in the shady orchard, until Uncle Daniel said Bert and Harry had done enough work for the time. Then let's get our poles and go fishing, suggested Harry. They did go, but got no bites. Harry said that morning was the best time to fish. When Flossie and Freddy became tired of picking apples up from the ground, they found an old swing and took turns in this, having lots of fun. Snoop and Snap enjoyed their life in the country. Snoop did not go far from the house. There was another cat there, and the two soon became great friends. Snap also found other dogs with whom he could romp and play in the long meadow grass.
Mrs. Bobsie and Aunt Sarah spent many hours talking over matters of interest to them, while Dinah and Martha, who was Aunt Sarah's cook, spent most of their time in the kitchen making good things to eat. Cause Dem Chillin's suddenly does eat a turrible lot. exclaimed Dinah, as she finished making several pies. Picking the apples kept Uncle Daniel and his men busy for a number of days. Harry had to help, for everyone on a farm has to work, and Bert always lent his cousin a hand. But there were times when they were allowed a play spell. Sometimes Tom Mason, another country boy, would come over, and when the work was done, the three boys would go off to have good times together. One or two days it rained, and then nothing could be done out of doors in the way of farm work.
During one of the rainy days, Bert and Harry went fishing. "'We'll be sure to get plenty of bites today,' Harry said, as they started off with their poles and lines, well protected from the weather by rubber boots and coats. "'I hope we catch a lot of fish,' said Bert. But they caught only two little sunfish, which Harry threw back into the creek, as they were too small to keep. "'I guess we'll have to wait for a sunny day,' sighed Harry, as they started home. "'I thought rain was good fishing weather, but it doesn't seem to be.' "'Never mind. We had a good time anyhow,' Bert answered. When the two boys reached the farmhouse, they found Flossie, Freddy, Nan, and Mabel Harold sitting in the dining room, all talking at once, it seemed.
"'And we'll take five baskets of lunch,' Freddy was saying. "'And my fire engine is unpacked now, so I can take that with us, and I'll squirt water on snakes and other things.' "'Oh, snakes!' cried Mabel. "'I hope we don't see any of the horrid things.' "'I'm not afraid,' boasted Freddy. "'Maybe there won't be any,' suggested Nan. "'Well, I'm going to take my doll anyhow,' said Flossie." "'What's this all about?' asked Bert. "'Are you going somewhere?' "'Picnic!' exclaimed Flossie. "'We're going to have a picnic.' "'I'm going,' added Freddy, as though he was afraid of being left. "'We all are,' added Nan. "'First I heard about it,' Harry said with a laugh. "'We planned it while you and Bert were off fishing,' spoke his mother.
"'The children are going to take their lunch to the woods in a day or two, as soon as the weather clears.' A few days later the sun came out from behind the clouds, the rain ceased falling, and with joyous shouts and laughter the Bobsey twins, cousin Harry, and some country boys and girls, who had been invited, went off on a woodland picnic.
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8 08 - Lost in the Hay 14:21
The Bobsie Twins at Meadowbrook by Laura Lee Hope. Chapter Eight. Lost in the Hay. "'Oh, isn't it just lovely in the woods?' sighed Nan, as she sat down on a green mossy seat beneath a great oak tree. "'I could live here forever.' "'So could I,' exclaimed Mabel Harold. "'There is no place so lovely as the woods.' "'You—you wouldn't stay here all night, would you?' asked Freddy, as he set down the basket of sandwiches he had been carrying, and looked at a dark hole under some bushes. "'I wouldn't mind,' sighed Nan again. "'It is so lovely here.' "'I used to think I liked the seashore best,' said Mabel. "'But now I think the country is prettiest.' "'Well, I'm not going to stay here all night,' decided Freddy.
"'There—there's bugs and—and things.' "'I thought you weren't afraid of them,' spoke Nan with a smile. "'I—I meant in daytime. I'm not afraid then.' declared Freddy. But at night, why—why, I'd rather be home in bed. And I guess we all would, exclaimed Nan, hugging the little fat fellow. Oh, there goes a rabbit, cried Bert to Harry. Let's see if we can catch him. Come on, agreed the country boy. I'm with you, shouted Tom Mason. Oh, will they hurt the little bunny? asked Flossie, with quivering lips. For she dearly loved all animals. I guess there isn't much danger of them catching the rabbit, said Mr. Bobsie, sitting down beside his wife in a shady green spot. A bunny can hop very fast. And so it proved.
The three boys raced about through the woods until they were quite tired and very much heated up, but the rabbit got safely away. Ah, well, we didn't want him anyhow, said Harry. Fanning himself with his cap after the chase. No, agreed Bert. We just wanted to see if we could get him. My, it's warm, exclaimed Tom, looking at the basket in which the lemonade was packed in bottles. I'm very thirsty, he said. You must not drink when you are too warm, advised Mr. Bobsey. Wait until you cool off a bit. If you take cold water or icy lemonade into your stomach after you are all heated up from running, you may be made ill. Rest a while before you drink is good advice. So the boys waited, and a little later they were allowed to have some of the cool lemonade.
Are we going to eat our lunch here? asked Freddy. No, a little farther on in the woods, said his Aunt Sarah. So they walked on. Under the shady trees, with the green carpet of moss underfoot, until they came to a little glade, where the trees grew in a circle about a grassy space. It's just like a circus ring, exclaimed Freddy. Oh, couldn't we have a circus or a show while we're here at the farm? he asked. We'll see, half promised his mother. The tablecloth was spread out on the green grass, and the wooden plates set on it. Then the lunch baskets were opened, and the good things passed around. There were sandwiches of several kinds, and cake and cookies, as well as more lemonade. Isn't it nice to eat this way?
asked Mrs. Bobsie. When we have finished, there are no dishes to wash, just the wooden plates to throw away. Yes, m. declared Dinah with a chuckle. I specks this year would be a good way to do back home, but it would be kinder cold, eatin' out in de woods in de wintertime. I wouldn't want to live here in winter, said Freddy. There isn't any place to hang up your stocking Christmas, and no chimney for Santa Claus to come down, he added. And that would never do, laughed Mr. Bobsie. But we will enjoy these woods all we can. When the Woodland picnic lunch was finished, the party sat about on the grass, in the shade of the trees, and Mr. Bobsie told stories to the two small children. Flossie and Freddy enjoyed this very much.
Nan and Mabel went for a little walk in the woods, and Bert and Harry said they were going to try for some fish, as they had brought hooks and lines along, and could cut poles in the woods. This time they had very good luck. I have one, suddenly called Harry, pulling up his line. There was a flash as of silver in the air, and he hauled a fish up from the water, landing it flapping on the grass behind him. Oh, what a big one, cried Bert, running over to look. I wish I could get one now. Maybe you will, said Harry, trying to catch the flopping creature. Put on some fresh bait. But Harry caught another fish before Bert had even a good bite. By this time Mr. Bobsie had finished his story, and Flossie had taken out her doll to pretend to get it to sleep.
Freddy wandered over to where Bert and Harry were fishing. Oh, I have one! I have one! Bert suddenly shouted, and he, too, landed a good-sized fish. It was taken off the hook and strung on a willow twig, and then, fastened so it could not swim away, it was put back into the water to keep fresh until it was time to go home. Freddy was very much interested in the captive fish. He went down to the edge of the creek to watch them as they tried to swim away, but they could not, for the willow twigs held them. Suddenly, One of the fish gave a big jump in the shallow pool where Bert had put them. Oh! exclaimed Freddy, springing back. Then his foot slipped on a wet mossy stone, and the next moment the little fellow fell down into the water.
Bert! Harry! Come and get me! I'm in! he cried. Bert and Harry dropped their poles and came up on the run, but there was no danger. For the water was only a few inches deep, near shore, and Freddy was already on his feet when they reached him. Oh, oh, sobbed the little fellow. I'm all wet. Never mind, you have your old clothes on, said his brother, and I'll tell Mother it was an accident. It was a warm summer day, and a little wetting would not harm Freddy. He was taken back to a sunny place by Bert, and told to sit in the warm spot until he had dried out. Then the two larger boys went back to fish, but Freddy's accident must have scared all the fish away, for Bert and Harry caught no more. "'My, but you are a sight, Freddy,' exclaimed Mrs.
Bobsey, when she saw the wet and muddy little twin. "'But I suppose you could not help it.' "'No, Mama,' he answered. The fish made me fall in. It was almost time for the picnic party to start back home now. Dinah was packing up the knives, forks, and glasses and throwing away the wooden plates. As she knelt over to fold up the tablecloth, she felt something touch her back. And the next moment, something cold and wet touched her cheek. "'Go long with you now, Bert,' she exclaimed, not turning around. "'Don't you put any of them wet, slimy fish on me. Don't you do it.' Then something almost pushed Dinah over, and again she felt the wet object on the back of her neck. "'Stop it! Stop it!' cried the colored cook.
"'Don't you put any toad down my back, Bert?' "'I'm not doing anything,' Bert answered. And at the sound of his voice, Dinah looked up and saw him some distance off. At the same time, though, Bert and Harry burst into a laugh. Oh, look what Dinah thought was me, cried Bert. Dinah turned around, just as a loud moo sounded in her ear, making her jump. Good land of Massey, she cried. It's a cow. And surely enough, so it was. The cow had wandered out of the woods, and, coming up behind Dinah, had licked her neck with a big red tongue. Perhaps the cow thought Dinah was a lump of black salt. Go way! Go long outer here! Leaf me be, screamed Dinah, and catching up a handful of wooden plates, she threw them at the cow.
They rattled on the animal's horns, and then— With another, moo, the creature turned and crashed back through the bushes. And Dinah thought that was I, tickling her with a fishtail, said Bert, laughing. That's what I did, honey, the colored cook said with a laugh. I spected yo was up to some of yo all tricks. They all laughed at this, and amid much fun and jollity, the picnic things were packed up and the homeward walk begun. Oh, we have had such a good time, sighed Nan. I am sorry it is over. Oh, we'll have more good times, said Bert, as he and Harry walked along with the fish they had caught. Their chum, Tom Mason, had two smaller ones. There were days of work and play on the farm, and Harry had his share of tasks to perform.
Bert helped him all he could. One day, When the boys and girls had counted on going out rowing on a little lake not far from Meadowbrook, it rained. When they arose in the morning, ready for their fun, the big drops were splashing down. "'Oh, we can't go,' sighed Freddy. "'I don't like rain.' "'I thought all firemen liked water,' his father said with a laugh. "'This is too much water,' went on the little chap. "'We can't have any fun.'" Oh, yes, we can, said Harry. We can go out in the barn and play in the hay. The big barn is full of new hay now, and we can slide down the mow and play hide-and-go-seek in it. That will be great, exclaimed Bert. Come on. Snap, the dog, must have thought he was also invited, for he ran out barking with the children.
Umbrellas kept the rain off them until they reached the barn. And then began a good time. They went to the top of the big pile of fragrant hay in the mow, and slid down it to the barn floor, where a carpet of more hay made a soft place on which to fall. Snap slid with the rest, barking and wagging his tail every minute. Now let's play hide-and-go-seek, suggested Harry after a bit. I'll blind. And when I say, ready or not, I'm coming, I'm going to start to find you. The game began. Harry closed his eyes so he would not see where the others hid, and Nan, Bert, and the rest of them picked out spots in the hay and about the barn where they thought Harry could not see them. But Harry knew the old barn well, and he easily found Bert.
Then he spied Nan and Flossie hiding together. A little later he discovered where Tom Mason and Mabel Harold were. Now I've only to find Freddy, said the country cousin. But Freddy was not so easy to find. Harry looked all over, but could not locate him. There are so many holes in the barn, the country boy said, and Freddy is so small that I guess I'd better give him up. I'll let him come in free. Givey up! Givey up, he called. Come on in free, Freddy. But Freddy did not answer. They all kept quiet, but all they could hear was the patter of raindrops on the barn roof. Freddy! Freddy! Freddy! Where are you? cried Nan. Come on in free, added Harry. Come on, little fat fireman, went on Bert. Harry won't tag you, and you can hide again.
But Freddy's childish voice did not reply. The boys and girls looked anxiously at one another. Where's Freddy? asked Flossie, and her lips began to tremble as they did just before she started to cry. Oh, we'll find him, said Bert easily. Yes, he's probably hiding so far off he can't hear us, went on Harry. Maybe he's lost under the hay, suggested Tom. I read of a boy getting caught under a pile of hay once, and they didn't get him out for a long time. Oh, Freddy's lost! Freddy's lost! cried Flossie, bursting into tears.
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9 09 - The Five-Pin Show 10:14
Hush, Flossy! Don't cry, dear! begged Nan, putting her arms around her little sister. But-but I can't help it, stammered Flossie. Freddy's lost it. We'll find him, said Bert. He's somewhere inside the barn, that is sure. He would never go out in all this rain, for the big drops were now coming down thick and fast. Freddy isn't afraid of water. He's a fireman. Papa's little fat fireman. And I'm Papa's little fat fairy. And Freddy's lost it, and—oh, dear! sobbed Flossie, as she thought of her missing brother. Come on, let's start in altogether and find him, suggested Harry. He must be hid somewhere around here. Away down under the hay, suggested Tom Mason. Hush! Don't say that, spoke Bert, in a low tone.
You'll scare the girls. Maybe we'd better go tell Papa and Mama, said Nan. Let's try by ourselves first, suggested her brother. We'll find Freddy. Never fear. The children began a search of the barn, now almost filled with sweet-smelling hay. Up and down in the mow, they looked to find where Freddy might have hidden himself away. They called and shouted to him, but no answer came. I don't see why he doesn't reply to us, said Nan to Bert. He wouldn't keep quiet when we've told him he could come in free. Freddy is too fond of playing hide-and-go-seek to stay away unless he had to. I am afraid something has happened to him, Bert. What could happen to him? he asked. Oh, I don't know. But—and Nan hesitated and looked worried.
Where could Freddy have hidden himself away in the hay and stranger still? Why did he not answer the many calls made for him? For the children kept shouting as they searched. Bert had made up his mind, after looking about for some time, that perhaps, after all, he had better go into the house and tell his father what had happened. Just then Tom Mason slid down from a high part of the hay-mouth to a little hollowed-out place. As he landed, a crackling sound was heard, and then Tom cried, Oh, my! Now I have done it. Oh, dear, what a mess! Oh, oh! Have you found him? Is Freddy there? asked Flossie from where she stood in the middle of the barn floor. No, but I slid right into a hen's nest, and I've broken all the eggs.
cried Tom. Oh, me! Oh, my! He managed to get to his feet, and there he stood, his hands held out in front of him, for they were dripping with the whites and yawks of the broken eggs. Tom's claws were pretty well splashed up. What a sight I am, he murmured, and I've broken all the eggs. Never mind, you couldn't help it, said Harry kindly. The old hen oughtn't to have laid her eggs in there, and they wouldn't have been smashed. Hens like to steal away and lay their eggs in hay. Oh, but you do look so funny, cried Nan. Then she laughed in spite of her worry about Lost Freddy. He, he looks like a cake before it's baked, giggled Mabel. They all laughed heartily at Tom's sorry plight. Please lend me a handkerchief, somebody, he begged.
I can't reach in my pocket to get mine, and there's some egg running in my eye. "'I'll wipe it for you,' offered Bert, laughing so heartily that he could hardly stand up. "'Hark! What's that?' suddenly asked Nan. They all stopped laughing at once. From somewhere down in the hay near the smashed nest of eggs came a voice, asking, "'What's the matter? Isn't anybody going to find me?' "'It's Freddy!' cried Nan. "'Freddy!' shouted Bert. "'Where are you? Oh, Freddy is found. Freddy isn't lost any more!' exclaimed Crossy. Jumping up and down in delight, and then, from a little nest in the hay, crawled Freddy himself, rubbing his eyes and pulling a wisp from his torsled hair. "'Have you been there all the while?' asked Harry.
"'I guess so,' answered Freddy, as if he hardly knew himself. "'Well, then, why didn't you answer us?' asked Dan. "'We were so frightened about you, Freddy. Why didn't you answer when we called? I—I guess I was asleep,' he said. "'I didn't hear you until you all began to laugh. Then I woke up.' And that was what had happened. Freddy had found a good hiding place in the hole in the hay, and while waiting for Harry to come and look for him, the little chap had dozed off. It was so warm and cosy in the hay nest, and he had slept all through the search made for him, not hearing the calls. But when Tom rolled into the hen's nest, and the others laughed so heartily at him, that awakened the sleeving little fat fireman.
"'My! But you gave us a fright,' said Nan. But it's all right now, dear, and she helped Freddy pull the hay out of his hair. "'I guess we've had enough of this game,' suggested Harry. "'Let's do something else. I'm hungry,' announced Freddy. "'Can't we play an eating game?' "'I think so,' said Bert. "'Dina and Martha were starting to bake cookies before we came out to the barn. "'And they ought to be done now. Let's go in. Into the house.' Through the rain tramped the children, and soon eating cookies, they were telling about Freddy going to sleep in the hay, and Tom trying to make an omelette of himself in the hen's nest. "'Well, this suddenly was a nice day, even if it did rain,' said Nan, as they were ready to go to bed that night.
"'I wonder what we can do tomorrow.' "'I know,' answered Bert. "'Harry and I have a fine plan.' "'Oh, tell me what it is,' begged his sister. "'It's a secret,' he laughed as he went upstairs. After breakfast next morning, Nan, who did not get away early, looked for Harry and her brother. "'Where are the boys?' she asked her mother. "'Out in the barn was the answer. They took some big sheets of paper with them. They must be going to make kites,' Nan said. But when she saw what Bert and Harry were doing, she knew it was not a kite game they were planning. For in letters, made with a black stick on the sheets of paper, Nan read the words, Five-pence show. Come one, come all. Oh, what is it? she cried.
Please tell me, Bert. We are going to have a show, said Harry, and we are going to charge five-pence to come in. Oh, may I be in it? asked Nan. I'll do anything you want me to. Mayn't I be in it? Shall we let her? asked Bert, of his country cousin. Sure, said Harry kindly. We boys won't be enough. We'll have to have the girls. Where's it going to be? asked Nan. Here in the barn, her brother said. We're going to make a cage for Snap. He's going to be the lion. Can Snoop be one of the animals, too? she inquired. Yes, Snoop will be the black tiger, decided Harry. I only hope he keeps awake and growls now and then. That will make it seem real. Snoop sometimes growls when he gets a piece of meat, suggested Nan.
Then we'll give him meat in the show, decided Bert. He and Harry finished making the show bills, and then began to get ready for the performance with some old sheets they made, a curtain across one corner of the barn in front of the haymow. Nan helped with this, as she could use a needle, thread, and thimble better than could the boys. Then Tom Mason, Mabel Herold, and some other of the country boys and girls came over, and they were allowed to be in the show. Bert was to be a clown, and he put on an old suit, turned inside out, and whitened his face with starch, which he begged from Martha. Harry was to be the wild animal trainer and show off the black tiger, which was new, and the fierce lion in a cage, which lion was only snap a dog.
The show was not to take place until the next day. As Bert said, the performance needed time for practice. But some of the show bills were fastened up about the village streets, And many boys and girls said they would come if they could get the five pins. Finally, all was ready for the little play. Flossie was made dogkeeper and took up the admission pins. Freddy wanted to be a fireman in the show, so they let him do this. His mother made a little red coat for him, and he had his toy fire engine that pumped real water. But you mustn't squirt it on anyone in the audience, cautioned Bert. No, I'll just squirt it on the wild animals if they get bad, said the little fellow. Nan was to be a bareback rider, and Harry had made her a wooden steed from a sawhorse with rope for reins.
Nan perched herself up on the sawhorse and pretended she was galloping about the ring. A number of boys and girls came to the show, each one bringing the fivepence so that Flossie had many of them to stick on the cushion, which was her cash-box. Bert was very funny as a clown, and he turned somersaults in the hay. Once he landed on a hard place on the barn floor and cried, Ouch! Everyone laughed at that, and they laughed harder when Bert made a funny face as he rubbed his sore elbow. Harry exhibited Snoop and Snap as the wild animals, but Snoop rather spoiled the performance by not growling as a black tiger should. This tiger used to be very wild, ladies and gentlemen, said Harry, and no keeper dared go in the cage with him.
But he is a good tiger now, and loves his keeper. And Harry put his hand in, and stroked Snoop, who purred happily. Oh, I think this is a lovely show, exclaimed Nellie Johnson. I'm coming every day. A little later, near the box, which had been made into a cage for Snoop, there came a loud noise. Snoop mewed very hard and hissed, as he used to do when he saw a strange dog. At the same time, something went gobble-wobble-wobble. Then came a great crash. More cries from Snoop, and out into the middle of the barn floor, dashed the black cat with a big, long-legged, feathered creature clinging to poor Snoop's tail. Oh! Oh! Oh! cried Flossie. The wild animals are loose.
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10 10 - A Sham Battle 8:42
10. A Sham Battle For a few moments, there was wild confusion in that part of the barn where the show was going on. Nan gave one look at the strange mixture of the howling snoop and the gobbling bird in the center of the floor, and then, catching Flossie up in her arms, Nan made a spring for the haymow. Wait, wait, cried Flossie. I'm losing all the pins. I've dropped the pincushion. That was her cash box, the pins she had taken in as admission to the little play. "'We can't stop for it now,' cried Nan. "'We must get out of the way.' "'That cat has a fit!' cried Tom Mason. "'Oh, poor Snoop!' wailed Flossie. "'Grab him, somebody!' shouted Harry. "'No, let Snoop alone,' advised Bird. "'You might bite if you touched him now, though he wouldn't mean to.' "'But what is it that gave him the fit?' asked Mabel Herold.
"'Our old turkey gobbler,' answered Harry. "'The gobbler has caught Snoop by the tail. It's enough to give any cat a fit.' I should say so, cried Bert. Look out! They're coming over this way. Look out! The children scrambled to one side, for Snoop and the big turkey gobbler were sliding, rolling, and tumbling over the barn floor towards the board seats, where the show audience, but a little while before, were enjoying the performance. The girls had followed Nan and Flossie up to a lower part of the haymow and were out of the way, but the boys wanted to be nearer where they could see what was going on. The noise and the excitement had roused Snap, the dog, who had curled up in his cage and was sleeping after having been exhibited as a raging and roaring lion.
And now Snap was barking and growling, trying to understand what was going on. Perhaps he wanted to join in the fun, for it was fun for the turkey gobbler, if it was not for poor Snoop. Look out of the way! Clear the track. Toot, toot, came a sudden cry, and little Freddy came running towards the gobbler and cat, dragging after him his much-priced toy fire engine. Get out of the way, Freddy, ordered Bird. Snoop may scratch or bite you, or the gobbler might pick you. Get out of the way. I am a fireman, cried the fat little fellow. Firemans never get out of the way. Toot, toot, clear the track. Choo, choo, choo. And he puffed out his cheeks, making a noise like an engine. You must come here, insisted Bert, making a spring towards his little brother.
I can't come back, fireman. Never come back, half screamed Freddy. I'm going to squirt water on the bad gobbler gobbler bird that's biting my snoop. And then, before anyone could stop him, Freddy unreeled the little rubber hose of his fire engine and pointed the nozzle at the struggling gobbler and the cat in the middle of the barn floor. I have told you, I think, that Freddy's engine held real water, and by winding up a spring, a little pump could be started, squirting a stream of water for some distance. "'Whoop! Here comes the water!' cried Freddy, as he started the pump working. Then... A stream shot out right towards the cat and turkey. It was the best plan that could have been tried for separating them.
With a howl and a yawl, Snoop pulled his claws loose from where they were tangled up in the turkey's feathers. With a final gobble, the turkey let go of Snoop's tail. The water spurted out in a spraying stream, Freddy's engine being a strong one for a toy. "'That's the way I do it!' cried Freddy. "'Just like Mr. Punch. That's the way I do it. Look, I made them stop.' Why, why, I believe you did, exclaimed Bert with a laugh. The gobbler ran out through the open barn door, his feathers wet and bedraggled. He must have thought he had been caught in a rainstorm, and poor Snoop was glad enough to crawl away in a dark corner to lick himself dry with his red tongue. Poor Snoop, said Freddy, as he stopped his engine from pumping any more water.
I'm sorry I got you wet, Snoop. But I couldn't help it. I only meant to sprinkle the gobbler. He patted Snoop, who began purring. Well, I guess that ends the show, said Bert, who looked funnier than ever now as a clown, for the white on his face was streaked in many ways with the water, some of which had sprayed on him. Yes, the best performance is over, announced Harry. Oh, but it was lovely, said Nan, as she slid down the hay with Flossie. I don't see how you boys ever got it up. Oh, you smart boys, laughed Harry. But I lost all the pins, wailed Flossie. Nan wouldn't let me stop to pick them up. I should say not. With that queer, wild animal busting in on us, exclaimed Mabel. Oh, but I was so frightened.
Pooh, I wasn't, bosted Freddy. I knew my fire engine would scare them. Well, it did all right, announced Bert. I guess we'd better let Snap out now, he said, for the dog was barking loudly and trying to break out of the packing box of which his cage was made. Snoop's cage was broken. where the black cat had forced his way out. His tail must have been hanging down through the bars, exclaimed Pert, and the gobbler came along and nipped it. That made Snoop mad, and he got out and clouted the turkey. I guess that was it, agreed Harry. Well, we had fun anyhow, if Snoop and the turkey did have a hard time. Snoop was soon dry again, and not much the worse for what had happened to him. The gobbler, except for the loss of a few feathers, was not hurt.
But after that, the turkey and cat kept well out of each other's way. Everyone voted the show a great success, and the children planned to have another one before they left Meadowbrook Farm. But the Bobsey twins did not know all that was in store for them before they went back to the city. One day, when they were all seated at dinner in a pleasant Bobsey farmhouse, Uncle Daniel posed with a piece of pie half raised on his fork and said, Huck, what's the matter? asked Aunt Sarah. Did you think you heard the old ram coming again? No, but it sounded like thunder, replied her husband, and if it's going to rain, I must hurry and get those tomatoes picked. I heard something, too, said Mr. Bobsey. So did I, spoke of Freddy.
Maybe it's the old black bull down in the pasture. No, there it goes again, said Uncle Daniel. It must be thunder. This sounded a dull, distant, booming noise that was repeated a several times. Uncle Daniel got up hastily from the table and went to the door. Not a cloud in the sky, he remarked, and yet that noise is growing louder. It was, indeed, as they could all hear. It's guns. That's what it is, declared Bert. It sounds like Fourth of July. That's what it does, agreed his cousin Harry. It's back of those hills. I'm going to see what it is. So I am, cried Bert. The boys had finished their dinners and now started off on a run in the direction of the booming sounds. "'Come along,' said Uncle Daniel to Mr.
Wobbsy. "'We may as well go also. I want to come,' cried Freddy. "'Not now,' said his brother. "'Wait until Papa comes back.' Mr. Wobbsy, with his brother and the two boys, soon reached the top of the hill. All the while the sound like thunder was growing louder. Then puffs of smoke could be seen rising in the air. What can it be? asked Bert. I can't imagine, answered Harry. They saw in another minute what it was. Down in a valley below them was a crowd of soldiers with cannon and guns firing at one another. The soldiers were divided into two parties. First one party would run forward, and then the other, both sides firing as fast as they could. It's a war, cried Bert. It's a battle. It's only a sham battle, said Mr.
Bobbsy. No one is being hurt, for they are using valent cartridges. It must be that the soldiers are practicing so as to know how to fight if a real war comes. It is only a sham battle. The cannons rot, the rifles rattle, and flashes of fire and pumps of smoke were on all sides. Oh, look at the horses, the cavalry, cried Harry, as a company of men mounted on horses galloped toward some of the soldiers, who turned their rifles on them. Then one man on a big black horse left the main body and came straight on towards Mr. Bobsey, Uncle Daniel, and the two boys. We'd better look out, cried Bert. Maybe he wants to capture us.
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11 11 - Moving Pictures 6:34
11. Moving Pictures. The man on the black horse continued to ride toward the two boys, Uncle Daniel and Mr. Bobsey. Behind him, more men on horses rushed forward, but they were going toward some soldiers on foot who were firing their rifles at the cavalry, as Harry called them, that being the name for horse soldiers. Oh, look, some of the men are falling off their horses, cried Bert. Maybe they're hurt, Harry said. No, I guess it's only making believe if this is a sham battle, went on Bert. By this time, the man on the black horse was near Mr. Bobsy. "'You had better stand farther back, if you don't mind,' he said. "'Why, are we in danger here?' asked Uncle Daniel. "'Well, not exactly danger, for we are using only black cartridges.
But you are too near the camera. You'll have your pictures taken, if you don't look out.' And he smiled while his horse pawed the ground, making the soldier's sword rattle against his spurs. "'Camera!' explained Mr. Bobsy. Is someone taking pictures of this sham battle? Yes, we are taking moving pictures, replied the soldier. The man with the camera is right over there, and he pointed to a little hill on top of which stood a man with what looked like a little box on three legs. The man was turning a crank. Moving pictures, repeated Uncle Daniel, looking in the direction indicated. That's what the sham battle is for, went on the soldier, who set astride the black horse. We are pretending to have a hard battle.
to make an exciting picture. Soon, the camera will be pointed over this way, and as it wouldn't look well to have you gentlemen and boys in the picture, I'll be obliged to you if you'll move back a little. Of course we will, agreed Mr. Woffsy, especially as it looks as though the soldiers were coming our way. Yes, part of the sham battle will soon take place here, the cavalrymen went on. Come on back, boys, cried Uncle Daniel. We can watch just as well behind those trees, and we won't be in the way, and have our pictures taken without knowing it. Yes, and we won't be in any danger of having some of the paper writing from a blank cartridge blown into our eyes," added Mr. Bobson. "'Say, that is great!' cried Harry.
"'I'm glad we came.' "'So am I,' said Bert. The boys looked on eagerly while the battle kept up. They saw the soldiers charge back and forth, The cannon shot out puffs of white smoke, but no cannon-balls, of course, for no one wanted to be hurt. Back and forth rushed the soldiers on horses and others on foot, firing with their rifles. Of course, they were not real soldiers, but were dressed in soldiers' uniforms to make the picture seem real. I suppose you have often seen in moving theatres pictures of a battle. It was well that Mr. Bobbsay and others had gotten out of the way, for shortly afterward the men rushed right across the spot. where Bert and Harry had been standing. If we were there, then we would have been walked on, said Bert.
Yes, and we would have had our pictures taken, too, said Harry, pointing to the man with the camera who had taken a new position. I wouldn't mind that, would you? asked Bert. No, I don't know as I would, replied the country cousin. It would be fun to see yourself in moving pictures, I think. Oh, look! that horse went down, and the soldier shot right over his head. A horse had stumbled and fallen, bringing down the rider with him. But whether this was an accident, or whether it was done on purpose to make the moving picture look cruel, the boys could not tell. The firing was now louder than ever. A number of cannons were being used, horses drawing them up with loud ramblings, while the men wheeled the guns into place, loaded and fired them.
On all sides, men were falling down, pretending to be shot, for those who took the moving pictures wanted them to seem as nearly like real war as possible. "'Oh, here they are!' suddenly exclaimed a voice back of Mr. Bobsy and others. Turning, Bert saw his mother with Aunt Sarah, Flossie, Freddy, and Nan. They had come up the hill to look down into the valley and see what all the excitement was about. "'Yes, here we are!' cried Mr. Bobsy. "'Isn't this great? It's a sham battle!' "'What for?' asked his wife, and she had to speak loudly to be heard about the rattle and bang of the guns. "'For moving pictures,' answered Mr. Bobsy, Pointing to the men with the cameras, for now three or four of them were at work, taking view of the fight from different places.
"'Mercy, what a racket!' exclaimed Aunt Sarah. "'Oh, I don't like it!' said Frosty, covering her ears with her chubby hands. "'Take me away, Mama. I'm afraid of the guns.' "'Who? There's nothing to be scared of!' exclaimed Freddy. "'I'm going to be a soldier when I grow up and shoot a gun.' "'You can't play with me if you do,' declared Frosty. When the bang of the cannon stopped for a moment, leaving the air quiet. "'I don't want to play with girls. I'm going to be a fighting soldier,' declared Freddy. "'Hi! Hark at the guns! Boom! Boom!' And he jumped up and down as the cannon thundered again. "'Oh, I don't like it. I want to go home and play with my doll,' half sobbed Flossie. "'I don't like fighting.' "'I don't either,' said Nan, though she was not afraid.
It was the noise for which she did not care. "'Hi! That was a fine one,' cried Freddy, as one of the largest cannon. fired a blank shot at a group of whole soldiers. "'Please take me home,' sobbed Flossie, and there were tears in her blue eyes now. "'Yes, we'll go home,' said Mrs. Bobbsy. "'You can play—you are a nurse, Flossie, and take care of your doll. We'll leave the battle to the boys and men.' "'I can stay, can't I?' asked Freddy, who was delighted at the lively scene down below, and he jumped about in delight as cannon after cannon went off. "'Yes, you may stay,' said his father. We'll look after him," he added to his wife. Freddy crowded up to where Bert and Harry were eagerly watching the sham battle, and stood between his brother and cousin.
Boom! Boom! he cried. I like this. But little Flossie covered her ears with her hands, and went on down the hill towards the farmhouse with her mother and aunt. Nan went with them also, as she said the firing made her head ache.
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12 12 - The Bobbseys Act 11:25
The Bobsy Twins, at Meadow Brook, by Laura Lee Hope, Chapter Twelve, The Bobsy's Act. Well, I guess the battle is over now, said Bert. After a while, the cannon has stopped firing. and the soldiers no longer shot at each other with their rifles. "'See, the men on horses have captured the other men,' spoke Harry, and he pointed to where the cavalry had surrounded a number of the foot soldiers, or infantry, as they are called, and were driving them over the fields toward some log cabins. "'They must have built those log houses on purposes for moving the picture play,' said Uncle Daniel, for they weren't here the other day, when I was over in this valley.'" Very likely they did, agreed Mr. Bobsey.
It takes a great deal of work to make a moving picture play nowadays, and often a company will build a whole house, only to set fire to it, or tear it down to make a good picture. If they set a house on fire, broke in Freddy, I could put it out with my fire engine, and I'd be in the movies then. Oh, you and your fire engine, laughed Bert, ruffling up his little brother's hair. You think you can do anything with it? Well, I stopped a turkey gobbler from eating up Snoop, Freddy cried, didn't I? So you did, exclaimed Harry. You and your fire engine are all right, Freddy. The soldiers who had fallen off their horses, or who had toppled over into the grass, to pretend they were shot in battle, now got up.
Coming to life, Burke called it. The battle scene was over, but the men were not done using the cameras, for they took them further down the valley toward the log cabins. The soldiers were now grouped around these buildings, and Bert and Harry could see several ladies, in brightly colored dresses, mingled with the soldiers in uniform. "'I wonder what they are doing now,' asked Bert. "'Oh, taking a more peaceful scene for the movies,' answered his father. "'They have had enough of war, I guess.' "'That would suit Flossie,' remarked Uncle Daniel with a laugh. The valley was now quiet, but over it hung a cloud of smoke from the cannon. The wind was, however, blowing the smoke away. "'Can we go up to the log cabins and watch them make more pictures, Father?' asked Bert.
"'Well, yes, I guess so, if you don't get in the way of the cameras.' "'Do you want to come?' asked Mr. Bobsy of Uncle Daniel. "'You don't often get a chance to see moving pictures out here, I guess.' "'Better come.' So Mr. Bobsy took Bert and Harry up to where the moving pictures were being made. The boys did not understand all that was being done, but they watched eagerly just the same. They saw men and soldiers talking to ladies, who were members of the moving-picture company. Then they saw soldiers, who pretended to have been hurt in the sham battle, being put on cots and bandaged up. This is a make-believe hospital, Mr. Bobsey explained to the boys. They want it to look as natural as possible, you see.
The boys watched while doctors went among the wounded, giving them medicine. All make-believe, of course. Then one of the ladies... Dressed as a nurse, came through the rows of cots, which were placed in the open air, under some trees. How do you like it? asked one of the moving picture men of Mr. Bobsey, coming over to where Bert's father was standing. The man had been turning the crank of one of the cameras, but just then he had nothing to do. It is very interesting, said Mr. Bobsey. We heard your firing and came over to look on. Are you going to be here long? Only a few days.
That cost too much money to make. The rest of the scenes will be more peaceful. That would suit my little girl, said Mr. Bobsy with a laugh. She didn't like the cannon and guns. Oh, you have a little girl? asked the moving picture man, who seemed to be one of those in charge of the actors and actresses. Yes, I have a little girl, Mr. Bobsy replied. And these two boys? asked the cameraman. No, only one of the boys is mine, and Bert's father and I have a son. The other is my nephew. Do you live around here? the man went on. Excuse my asking so many questions, he continued. My name is Weston, and I am in charge of making these moving pictures. We need some children to take small parts in one of the scenes, and as we have no little ones in our company, I was wondering whether we could get some country boys and girls to pose for us, or rather, act for us, for we want them to move, not just stand still.
And I thought, if you lived around here, he said to Mr. Bobsey, you might know where we could borrow a dozen children for an hour or so. I don't live here, Mr. Bobsy replied, but I am staying on my brother's farm. What sort of acting do you want the children to do for the moving pictures? Oh, something very simple, you see. One of the ladies in our company is supposed to be a schoolteacher before the war breaks out. We have taken the war scenes already. That sham battle you looked at was all we needed of that. The schoolteacher goes to the front as a nurse, but before she goes, we want a scene showing her in front of the school surrounded by her pupils. I see, said Mr. Bobsy. Now we have the schoolhouse," said Mr.
Weston. Or rather, there is an old schoolhouse down the road that will do very nicely to photograph. We have permission to use it, as this is vacation time. We also have the lady who will act as the teacher, and later as the Red Cross nurse. But we need children to act as school pupils. I thought perhaps you might know of some children who would like to act for movies, the man went on. It will take only a little time, and will not be at all unpleasant. They would just have to act naturally, as any schoolchildren would do. Well, I have four children of my own, said Mr. Bobsy, as he thought of his two sets of twins. And my brother has a boy. There are several children in the village. Perhaps it could be arranged to have their pictures taken.
I hope it can, exclaimed Mr. Weston. I'll talk to you about it in a few minutes. I must go see about the hospital scene now. He hurried away, while Bert and Harry looked at one another. Do you want to be in the movies? asked Mr. Bobsy. I don't mind. Spoke Harry, smiling. Neither do I, added Bert. Freddy would like it, too, but Flossie wouldn't come if they shot any guns. They wouldn't shoot guns where children were, said Mr. Bobsie. I'll see what your mother and Uncle Daniel and Aunt Sarah say. Later that day, the moving picture man explained just what he wanted, and as Miss Bobsie and Aunt Sarah had no objections, it was decided to let the Bobsie twins, as well as Harry, take part in the moving pictures.
Tom Mason Maribel Harold and some of the others of the country village were also to be in the scene. It was taken, or filmed, as the moving picture people say, the next morning. Down to the old schoolhouse on the country road went the children, laughing and talking. A little bit shy, some of them, but the actress, who was to pretend to be a schoolteacher, was so nice she soon made the little children feel at ease. Flossie and Freddy loved her from the first, and each instead upon walking along with her, Hand in hand. That will make a pretty picture, said the moving picture man. Just walk along the road, Miss Burns, he said to the actress, with Flossie on one side and Freddy on the other. I'll take your pictures as if you were going to school.
This was done. Flossie and Freddy soon forgot that they were really acting for the movies and were as natural as could be wished. I've got a fire engine, said Freddy. As he trudged along with the actress teacher. Have you indeed? She asked pleasantly. Don't look at the camera, she cautioned Flossie. Just pretend it isn't here. And I've got a doll, Flossie said, not to let Freddy get the best of her. And my fire engine pumps real water, Freddy went on, and I squirted it on our cat and the old turkey gobbler. Oh, but why did you do that? asked the actress. Wasn't that unkind? Oh no, exclaimed Freddy, his eyes big and round. The gobbler was... Pinching our cat's tail, and Snoop was scratching the turkey.
I had to squirt water on them to make him stop. "'Oh, I see,' exclaimed Miss Burns with a jolly laugh. "'Well, anyhow, my dog can open and shut her eyes,' said Flossie. "'So I don't care.' "'That's enough of that scene,' said Mr. Weston. "'Now, all you children, crowd up around the school steps, "'as if you were going in after the last bell had rung. "'Pretend you are going into school.' "'The village children were a little bashful at first.' But Bert, Nan, and Harry, taking the lead, showed them what to do. And after one trial, everything went off well. The children grouped themselves about the actress-teacher, who clasped her hands about the shoulders of as many as she could reach. It made a pretty scene in front of the old schoolhouse, with the green trees for a background.
The use of the school had been allowed at the moving-picture company for the day. Now play about, as if it were recess," directed Mr. Weston. After the first scene had been taken, be as natural as you can, and you grown folks please keep back out of the way, he asked, for Mr. Bobsy and a number of the fathers and mothers had come to see their children pose for the moving picture camera. By this time, the children had lost their bashfulness and were acting as naturally as though they were really at school. They played tag and other simple games while the camera clicked their images on the celluloid film. Ms. Burns, as the teacher, took part in some of the girls' games. Now I want a larger boy and girl to walk down the road together.
The boy carrying the girls' books, said Mr. Weston. You'll do, he went on to Nan, and you, to Harry. Soon the two cousins were squirreling along, having their pictures taken. I want to go with Nan, cried Freddy. I want my picture taken some more. Not now, dear, said Miss Burns, who was not in the scene with Nan and Harry. Wait a little. No, I want to go with Nan now, insisted Freddy, and he broke from the hand of the actress and rushed after his sister. Oh, he'll spoil the picture, cried Bert, solicitiously. Come back, Freddy. That's a good boy. But Freddy did not intend to come back. Nan, Nan, wait for me, begged Freddy. Nan did not know what to do. She had been told to walk down the road, pretending to talk to Harry, and to take half an apple, which he would hand her, in front view of the camera.
That's all right. Let the little fellow get into the picture, directed Mr. Weston. It'll make it all the prettier. So Freddy had his wish, to walk beside his sister, but he had not gone far before he saw, on the edge of the little brook, a bright red flower. I'm going to go get it, he cried. I can hold it in my hand. It will look nice in the picture. No, no, cried Nan. Stay with me, Freddy. Going to get the flower, he shouted, as he ran on ahead, and just as he reached the edge of the brook, his foot slipped. And down he went with a great splash into the water. Oh, Freddy's fallen in! Freddy's fallen in! cried Nan, rushing forward. I'll pull him out, cried the man, grinding away at the crank of the camera.
No, you stay there and get the moving picture, said Mr. Weston. It will make a funny scene, and Freddy is in no danger. The water isn't deep. I'll get him out. That's the second time Freddy's fallen in, said Bert, as he ran towards the brook. Help me out! Help me out! sobbed Freddy, splashing about in the water.
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13 13 - The Circus 12:44
The Circus.
There you are, my little man. Not hurt a bit. Up again? Out again? Mr. Weston picked little Freddy out of the brook and set him on his feet. All right, aren't you? asked the moving picture man. Yes, I guess so, stammered the little fat fireman as he looked down at his dripping knickerbockers. But I'm terribly wet. I'm awful wet, ma-ma-ma, he stammered. "'Never mind, Freddy,' Mrs. Bobsey answered with a smile. "'You're dry.' "'I say,' called one of the men who had been turning the crank of the moving-picture camera, "'I say, Mr. Weston, I got the picture of the boy falling in the water on this film. I couldn't help it.' "'That's all right,' said the manager. "'It won't spoil the picture any. It will only make it look more natural.' "'And it's natural for Freddy to be wet,' said Bert, with a laugh.
"'He's always playing with that toy fire-engine of his and getting soaked.' "'But I didn't have the fire-engine this time, Bert,' said the chubby little chap. "'I—I fell in.' "'You poor little dear!' exclaimed the actress's school-teacher, putting her arms around him. "'It was all my fault, too!' "'No, it was mine,' said Freddy generously. "'I don't mind. I like being wet.' They all laughed at this. Mrs. Bobsey said Freddy wanted to be polite. A few more pictures were made of the village children, the Bobsey twins, with the exception of Freddy taking part. Freddy was hurried off by his mother to the farmhouse to be put into dry clothes. Then—' With thanks to those who had helped make the scenes, Mr.
Weston, Miss Burns, and the cameraman went back to the village hotel, where they were stopping. Wasn't it great, Bert? exclaimed Harry, as he and his cousin strolled over the fields. It certainly was, agreed Bert.
If we could only see the pictures when they are finished, suggested Mabel Herold. It must be queer to see yourself in the movies. "'I think so, too,' said Nan. "'I'm going to find out where this play will be shown, in some theatre, and maybe Mama will take us to it.' "'I hope she does,' Bert said. "'It would be fun to see Freddy falling in.' "'Poor little fellow,' murmured Nan. "'But he was real brave,' Mabel added." For several days, the Bobsey twins, their cousin, and their country friends, talked of the moving pictures in which they had had a part. He went again to the valley, where more scenes were being made, but none were as exciting as the sham battle. "'Aren't they going to shoot any more guns?' asked Freddy, his eyes big and shining with the hope of excitement.
"'I guess that's all over,' spoke Bert. "'And I'm glad of it,' Nan declared. "'So am I!' exclaimed Flossie, looking around as though she would hear a boom from a cannon. One day Bert and Harry went alone to the place where the moving-picture company had erected tents and log cabins in the valley. They found the men packing things up, taking down the tents, and knocking apart the wooden cabins. "'Are you all through?' Bert asked Mr. Weston. "'All through, my lad,' was the answer. "'We are going to another place soon, to get different moving-pictures. But we'll be here for a day or two yet.' At least some of the camera men will. They have to take pictures of a circus parade. "'Circus parade!' exclaimed Harry.
"'Is the circus coming here?' "'Well, not exactly here,' replied Mr. Weston. "'But it is coming to Rosedale. That's the next town. "'And I am going to have some moving pictures made of it.' "'The circus coming to Rosedale!' cried Bert, looking at Harry. "'The same thought came to both of them.' "'Let's go!' exclaimed Harry eagerly. "'If our folks will let us,' added Bert. "'Oh, I guess mine will,' spoke the country boy. "'Circuses don't come round here very often, and when they do, we generally go. I do hope they'll let you come, Bert.' "'It's going to be a large circus,' said Mr. Weston. "'They have a good collection of wild animals.' "'I don't believe they can beat—' Our combination of a wild cat, Snoop, and a crazy turkey gobbler, said Bert to Harry with a laugh when the two boys were on their way back to the farmhouse.
Passing along a country road, Bert saw something that caused him to cry out. Look! There it is, Harry! What? The circus! See it? And Bert pointed to a barn. Oh, you mean the circus posters went on Harry. where Bert had pointed to the bright-coloured pictures, advertising the performance. There were shown men jumping through paper hoops or hanging from dizzy heights on trapeze bars, ladies riding galloping horses, and all sorts of wild animals, from the long-necked giraffe to the hippopotamus, who appeared to have no neck at all, and from the big elephant to the little monkey. "'Oh, I do hope we can see it,' cried Bert, as he and his cousin stood before the gay pictures. "'I'm going to do my best to go,' declared Harry."
The two boys hurried home, talking on the way over the circus posters they had seen, and wondering if there really would be shown all the wild animals pictured on the side of the barn. Bert saw his father and mother sitting out in the side-yard under a shady tree, and, running up to them, he asked, "'Oh, can't we go? We want to so much!' "'Nan, you asked who?' he cried. Mr. and Mrs. Bobsey looked at him rather surprised. "'What's it all about?' asked Mr. Bobsey with a smile. "'And what am I to ask?' "'For a circus, wild animals, moving pictures, the parade, an elephant, lions, tigers, everything!' cried Bert, stopping because he ran out of breath. "'Ask for all that!' exclaimed Nan wonderingly.
"'No!' Bert means the circus is coming, explained Harry with a laugh. The moving-picture people are going to get views of the parade. The posters are up on the barns and fences. It's coming to Rosedale, the circuses, and—oh, do let us go, broke in Bert. Mr. and Mrs. Bobsey looked at one another, questioning me. Oh, wouldn't it be just grand, sighed Nan.
What is it? demanded Freddy, toddling up just then. "'Is there going to be a fire? Can I squirt it with my engine?' "'Always thinking of that little fat fireman,' laughed his father. "'No, it isn't a fire, Freddy.' "'It's the circus coming,' cried Bert. "'Can't you take us, father?' "'I'm afraid not, son,' he said. "'I have just had a letter calling me back to Lakeport on business.' "'Oh!' cried Nan and Bert in a chorus. "'Do we have to go back to the city, too?' asked Bert, after a pause. "'No. I'm going to let you and Mama stay here,' said Mr. Bobsey. "'But I have to go. I'll come back, of course, but not in time to take you to the circus, I'm afraid.' "'Mama can take us,' said Freddy. "'Hardly,' said Mrs.
Bobsey, with a smile. "'I want Papa along when I have four children to take to a circus.' "'My father will take us,' said Harry. He always goes to a circus when one comes around here. Oh, fine! cried Bert. Uncle Daniel will take us! Uncle Daniel will take us! And he caught Nan round the waist, and went dancing over the lawn with her.
Now may we go, Papa? asked Nan, when Bert let her go. Well, I guess so, answered Mr. Bobsey. Uncle Daniel can look after you as well as I could. "'If Uncle Daniel goes, it will be all right,' Mrs. Bobbsy said. "'And will you go too, Mama?' asked Bert, slipping up to her and giving her a kiss. "'Oh, yes. I suppose I'll have to help feed the elephant peanuts,' she laughed. "'Hurrah! Hurrah!' cried Bert, swinging his cap in the air. "'We're going to the circus! We're going to the circus!' The children were delighted with the pleasure in store for them. They talked of little else. And when they found that Tom Mason and Mabel Herold were also going to the show, they were more than delighted. "'Oh, what fun we'll have!' cried Nan.
"'I hope none of the wild animals get loose,' said Flossie, with a rather serious face. "'Nonsense! Of course they won't!' cried Bert. "'If they do, I'll squirt my fire engine on them!' cried Freddy. "'Lions and tigers are afraid of water!' "'But elephants aren't, are they, Mum?' asked Flossie. "'I saw a picture of an elephant squirting water through his nose trunk, just like your fire-engine, Freddy. Elephants aren't afraid of water.' "'Well, elephants won't hurt you anyhow,' spoke the little fat fellow. "'And if a lion or tiger gets loose, I'll play the hose on him, just as I did at the five-pin show.' Mr. Bobsey was obliged to go back to the city next day, but he said he would return to Meadowbrook.
as soon as he could. "'And if you see that poor boy, bring him back with you, and we'll take him to the circus with us,' said Freddy. "'What poor boy?' asked Mr. Bobsy. "'You know, the one who had no good money, and who ran away when we were out with you in the auto that time, and the two girls in the boat. Don't you remember?' asked Freddy, ending somewhat breathlessly, without this rather long sentence for him.
"'Oh, you mean Frank Kennedy. He worked for Mr. Mason,' said the lumber merchant. "'Yes, that's the boy,' went on Freddy. "'If you see him, tell him to run this way, and we'll take him to the circus with us.' "'Poor boy,' sighed Mrs. Bobsey. "'I wonder what has become of him.' "'I don't know,' answered her husband. "'I'll ask Mr. Mason if I see him. He said Frank was sure to come back.' It's a hard life for a boy to lead. Well, take care of yourselves, children, and I'll come back as soon as I can. Have a good time at the circus. We will, Papa, chorused the bobbsey twins. Uncle Daniel readily promised to take the whole family to the circus. Rosedale, where the show would be held, in the big tents, was not far from Meadowbrook.
Oh, just hitch up the team to the big wagon, said the farmer. Put plenty of soft straw in the bottom, and we'll go over in style. We'll take our lunch with us and have a good time. Is Dinah going? asked Flossie. Yes, I think we'll take her and Martha too, said Mrs. Bobbsie. But when Flossie went to tell the coloured cook the treat in store for her, Dinah cried.
Deed and I ain't going to no circus. I don't want to be had up by no raging lion who goeth about seeking what he made about, like it says it a good pork. There's enough wild animals right here at this here farm. Wild bulls, wild rams, and turkey goblers. Wild bulls, cats, by their tails. No, sir, honey lamb, I ain't going to no circus.
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14 14 - Freddie is Missing 13:50
The Bobsie Twins at Meadowbrook by Laura Lee Hope.
Chapter Fourteen. Freddy is Missing.
Flossie came back from her talk with Dinah, looking very disappointed. "'What is the matter, dear?' asked her mother, noting the sorrowful look on the little girl's face. "'Dinah isn't going to the circus,' said Flossie, almost ready to cry, for she was very fond of the faithful and loving colored woman. "'Oh, I guess she'll go with us,' said Mrs. Bobsie. "'Why doesn't she want to come?' She's afraid of the wild animals, answered Flossie. Pooh! I'm not afraid, boasted Freddy. You tell her, Flossie, that I'll take my fire engine along and scare them. Wait, I'll tell her myself. Out Freddy ran to the kitchen, where Dinah was helping Martha with the baking. Don't you be afraid, Dinah, he cried. I won't let any of the wild animals get you.
Bless your heart, honey lamb. exclaimed the colored cook with a laugh that made her shake like a bowl full of jelly. "'I—I'll scare em off with my fire engine,' Freddy went on. "'Will you, honey lamb? So you won't let old Black Dinah get herded, eh? Well, honey lamb, I'd give you all a hug, but my hands are all flour.' And Dinah held them up for Freddy to see. "'Never mind. You can hug me some other time.' You can hug me twice to make up for this," said Freddy. Now you'll come to the circus, won't you? Ah, I'll see, honey lamb, Dinah half promised. Later, Mrs. Bobsey told the colored cook there would be no danger, and when Dinah learned that Uncle Daniel was going, as well as one of his hired men, she made no more objections.
The day of the circus came, bright and sunny. Everyone was up early in the farmhouse, for Uncle Daniel said they wanted to be in time to see the morning parade. Then they would eat their dinner, which they would take with them, as though it were a picnic, and go to the show in the afternoon. Oh, I wish Papa were here, sighed Nan, as she and Bert left the breakfast table. Why, you're not afraid, are you? he asked. No, only I'd like him to see the show, she said. Nan was always thoughtful for her father. Yes, it would be nicer if he could come with us, agreed Bert, and then he forgot all about it, because he and Harry had a discussion as to whether an elephant or a hippopotamus could eat the most hay.
Work on the farm was almost forgotten that circus day. Uncle Daniel and the hired man did what had to be done, and then the horses were hitched to the big wagon. which was filled with straw. Mrs. Bobsie and Aunt Sarah were busy dressing Flossie and Freddie. Bert, Harry, and Nan could look out for themselves. Dinah and Martha were busy in the kitchen, putting up the lunch. "'Here comes Tom Mason,' called Bert to his cousin, as he saw the country boy, dressed in his best, coming up the walk. "'Oh, I do hope Mabel isn't late,' exclaimed Flossie. Mabel and Tom were to go to the circus with Uncle Daniel as the guests of the Bobsie twins. "'There she comes, down the road,' announced Harry, after greeting Tom.
"'Here comes Mabel.' The children gathered out on the lawn to wait for the older folks. Finally everything was in readiness. The wagon, drawn by the prancing horses, rattled up, and into it piled the children, sitting down in the soft, clean straw. "'Where's Dinah?' called Flossie. "'Here I is, honey-lam,' answered the colored cook, as she came out with a big basket of good things to eat. "'Oh, I'm going to sit next to Dinah,' cried Bert, with a laugh. "'I always did like you, didn't I, Dinah?' he demanded. "'Go long with you, honey,' she exclaimed. "'You all don't get none of the stuff in this year basket till lunchtime, no, sir.' "'No matter how lubbin yo is.' Off they started with laughter and shouts, Uncle Daniel and his hired man sitting on the front seat, taking turns driving the horses.
Freddy wanted to hold the reins, but his uncle said the animals were too frisky that morning for such little hands. "'When they come back they will be tired, and won't be so anxious to run away,' the farmer said. "'Then you may drive, Freddy.' All along the road were circus posters, and at each new one which they saw the children would shout and laugh in delight. They saw many other farm wagons going along, also filled with family parties, who, like themselves, were going to the circus. Hurrah for the big show! Bert or Nan would call out. Hurray! Hurray! the children in other wagons would answer back. Isn't it jolly? And indeed it was a jolly time for everyone. Even Dinah forgot her fear of the wild animals when, from a distance, she caught sight of the white circus tents with the gaily colored flags streaming from them.
Uncle Bobsey found a shed near the circus grounds where he could leave the horses and wagon, for he did not want to take the team into town, for fear of the sight of the circus animals and the music of the band and the steam piano or calliope might scare them and make them run away. "'We'll watch the parade,' Uncle Daniel said. "'Then we'll come back here, eat our lunch, and go to the show in the afternoon.' This plan was carried out, and a little later the children and the old folks were standing in line in the big crowd, waiting for the circus parade to come past. Every once in a while someone would step out into the middle of the street, and look up and down. Is it coming? Is it coming? Others in the crowd would ask.
Not yet, would be the answer. Oh, look! suddenly exclaimed Bert, pointing to the window of an office building near which they were standing. There's Mr. Weston taking moving pictures. Oh, so he is, cried Nan. And there, indeed, with his camera pointed out of the window, was their old friend. He saw the children and waved to them. "'Here it comes! Here it comes!' was the sudden cry, and from the distance came the sound of music. "'The parade has started! The parade has started!' was the cry that ran through the crowd. "'Oh, isn't this great?' cried Nan, clasping her chum Mabel by the arm. "'It's just lovely,' the country girl said, "'and so nice of your mother and uncle and aunt to ask me.' Oh, we were only too glad to have you, said Nan politely, but she meant it.
Freddy snuggled close up to Fat Dinah. Don't you be afraid, he said to the black cook. I—I won't let any wild animals get you. That's a good boy, Honey Lamb, she murmured, as she took hold of his hand. Louder played the music. The children in the crowd began dancing up and down. So excited were they. "'Here it comes! Here it comes!' they cried over and over again. Then swept past the horses, gay with plumes, and covered with blankets of gold and silver, of purple and red. On the backs of the horses rode men and women with scarlet cloaks, carrying spears tipped with glittering silver. Then came a herd of elephants, swinging themselves along, now and then sucking up dust from the street, and blowing it on their big backs to keep off the flies, men rode on top of the elephants' heads.
"'Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid, Dinah,' said Freddy over and over again. Ponies, camels, donkeys, more horses, more elephants, and other animals went past in the parade. Then came the gilded wagons, filled with gayly dressed men and women who nodded, smiled, and waved their hands at the crowds in the streets. Bert looked up at the window where Mr. Weston was perched with his camera and saw him taking moving pictures. "'Oh, look! There's a lion in a cage!' cried Freddy suddenly. Just then the big beast sent out a roar that seemed to shake the very ground, and he threw himself against the bars of his cage. Oh, he's going to get out! He's going to get out, came the cry, and the people rushed back away from the street.
No danger! No danger! shouted the circus men. Hold on to me, Dinah, cried Freddy. Hold on to me. I won't let him bite you. More cages of wild animals rumbled past, but most of the beasts slept peacefully. Only the lion seemed to want to get out. and far down the street his roar could be heard. "'He's a new lion,' said someone in the crowd. "'He isn't used to being shut up, and he is trying to get out.' "'Well, I hope he done stays shut up,' murmured Dinah." The parade came to an end at last, with the steam piano bringing up the rear of the procession. The man played puffy little tunes with a tooting chorus that made one want to dance. Now for lunch, and then to see the big show, said Uncle Daniel, as he led the way back to where the wagon had been left.
And what a jolly party it was, to sit in the straw and eat nice sandwiches, pies, cookies, and cakes Martha and Dinah had put into the baskets. There was lemonade, too, and if it was not pink, like the kind the circus men sold, it was much better and sweeter. But when are we going into the circus? Freddy wanted to know. Soon now, said Uncle Daniel. A little later they made their way to the big tents. First they went in the one where the wild animals, in cages, were drawn up in a circle inside. There were lions, tigers, bears, giraffes, rhinocerosi, hippopotami, and elephants, to say nothing of the cute monkeys. "'Are dem cages good and strong, mister?' asked Dinah of one of the circus attendants.
"'Oh, yes,' he answered, as he passed a carrot into one of the monkeys. "'Well, dat's good,' she said, "'cause I don't want none o' dem bears or lions to come after me when I's watchin' de circus performers.' "'I'll see that none of them get loose,' promised the circus man with a laugh at Dinah's fears." Then the Bobsie party went on in to the main tent. I wish I could tell you all they saw, but I have not the room in this book. There was a parade around the ring to start with, and then in came rushing the comical clowns, the men and women who rode on horses and who jumped from one trapeze to another. Jugglers they were, men with trained horses, trick ponies, trained dogs and trained elephants.
Some elephants played a ball game. Others turned somersaults. Clowns jumped over their backs and threw paper hoops. Look here, Nan would exclaim. No, see over there, Bert would cry. Oh, Mama, a man jumped from the top of the tent right into a big fish net, exclaimed Freddy. Look at the monkey riding on the dog's back, Flossie shouted. "'And see that man jump off a horse and jump on him again backwards,' called Tom Mason. "'Oh, but look at the cute ponies,' sighed Mabel Harold. There was so much to see and talk about that the children's eyes must have been tired and their necks aching before the circus was over. At last it came to an end with the exciting chariot races, and the crowd began to leave the big tent.
Now keep close together, children, warned Mrs. Bobsie. You must not get lost in this crowd. Yes, follow me, advised Uncle Daniel. How it happened they could not tell, but when they reached the outside of the tent and found a space where the crowd was not so thick, Freddy was missing. Where is Freddy? asked Nan, looking about for him. Freddy? exclaimed her mother. Isn't he here? But Freddy was not with them, and with anxious faces they looked at one another.
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15 15 - Found Again 7:00
FOUND AGAIN. Where can he be? asked Bert. I saw him but a moment ago, said Aunt Sarah. "'And he just had a hold of my hand,' cried Dinah. "'Oh, my honey-lamb, am done up by deraging line what goes about seeking who he can devour, oh, Landy!' "'Quiet, Dinah, please,' said Uncle Daniel, for Dinah had called out so loudly that many in the crowd turned to look at her. "'But I wants Freddy, my honey-lamb,' the loving-coloured woman went on. "'I wants him, and he's lasted.' "'We'll find him.'" said Uncle Daniel. Now, whom was he with when we came out of the tent? He had hold of my hand, said Bert, but he pulled away and said he wanted to walk with Dinah. The lubbin' honey lamb, crooned Dinah. Did he come with you, Dinah?
went on Uncle Daniel, trying to find out exactly who had seen Freddy last. Yes, sir, he done com'd with me for a little while in de crowd, and den he slid away. He just seemed to melt away like. explained the cook. Which way did he go? Uncle Daniel wanted to know. Which way? I don't know, Dinah answered. Oh, perhaps he went back to the animal tent, suggested Mrs. Bobsey. She was not really frightened as yet. Often before, Freddy had been lost, but he had generally been found within a few minutes. But he had never before been lost at a circus. This time he seemed to have melted away in a big crowd. Let's go back to the animal tent. suggested Uncle Daniel. Freddy was so taken with feeding the elephants peanuts that he may have gone back to do that.
We'll look. Oh, if only dem ugly lions or tigers haven't got him, sighed Dinah. The wild animals couldn't get him, cause they're shut up in cages, aren't they? asked Flossie. Yes, dear, Nan said to her, not wanting her little sister to be frightened. No wild animals could get Freddy. We'll soon find him. declared Bert. We'll help you look, said Tom Mason. Come on, Harry. The three boys started to push their way back through the crowd towards the animal tent. Now don't you three get lost, said Uncle Daniel. We won't, answered Bert, but we're going to find Freddy. Oh, where can the darling be? gasped Aunt Sarah, looking around at the crowd all about her. What is it? What's the matter? asked several ladies.
"'A little boy is lost! My nephew!' Aunt Sarah explained. "'Oh, isn't that too bad!' cried the sympathetic ladies. "'We hope you find him!' Back into the animal tent the Bobsies and their relatives and friends pushed their way. It was not easy to work back through the crowd that was anxious to get away now that the afternoon performance of the circus was over. "'He must be in there,' said Uncle Daniel. "'We'll find him.'" Carefully he looked through the crowd of persons who were still in the animal tent. A number had remained with their children, to get another look at the elephants, lions, and tigers. Men were feeding some of the animals, now that there was a little quiet spell, and this was interesting to the youngsters.
"'He doesn't seem to be here,' said Aunt Sarah, as she peered through her spectacles. "'Oh, he must be,' exclaimed Mrs. Bobsey. "'He can't have gone on ahead of us, and if he turned back he would have to come into this tent.' "'Oh, isn't it too bad?' exclaimed Nan, looking at her brother Bert as though he could help. But Bert, Harry and Tom, though they had quickly made a round of the circle of animal cages, had come back to say that they found no trace of Freddy. "'I know what to do, Mama,' spoke up Flossie. "'What, dear?' asked her mother, hardly knowing what she was saying. "'We ought to get a policeman,' went on Flossie. "'Policemans can find losted people. One found me once.' That isn't a bad idea, spoke Uncle Daniel.
I think perhaps I had better speak to some of the town constables who are on duty here. Suppose we look in the main tent, said Tom Mason. Freddie may have wandered back there to try and turn a somersault on one of the trapezes. Yes, it wouldn't do any harm to take a look, agreed Uncle Daniel. We'll go in the big tent. Into that large canvas house they went. Men were busy putting away some of the articles used for the animal tricks, and the balls, hoops, knives, and the things the Japanese jugglers had used. Oh, where can he be? murmured Mrs. Bobsey. Something the matter, ma'am? asked the ringmaster, in his tall, shiny hat, as he cracked his long whip. Is someone lost? Yes, my little boy Freddy, and we are so worried about him.
Well, don't worry, said the ringmaster kindly. "'Boys and girls, too, are lost every day at our circus performances, but they are always found all right. Don't worry. I'll have some of the men hunt for him. And you folks come with me. It's just possible he has been found and taken to the lost tent.' "'The lost tent?' exclaimed Uncle Daniel. "'Have you lost a tent, too?' "'No, but we have a sort of headquarters tent or office, where all the lost children are taken as soon as the circus men find them.'" A woman in the tent takes care of the little ones until their folks come for them. Your boy may be there waiting for you. To the lost tent went the bobsies. They found two or three youngsters there, crying for their fathers or mothers, but Freddy was not among them.
Oh, he isn't here! And tears were in her eyes now. I wish his father were here, she went on. He would know what to do. Now don't you worry, ma'am, said the ringmaster again. We'll surely find him for you. He may have gone in one of the sideshows to see the fat lady or the strongman. I'll have those places searched for you. The ringmaster did send some of his men to look in the sideshow tents, but they came back to say that no one like Freddy had been seen. By this time Mrs. Bobbsy and Aunt Sarah were almost frantic with fright. Nan was crying, and even Bert, brave as he was, looked worried. A number of persons who had come to the circus offered to help look for Freddy, but, though they searched all over, the little fat fellow could not be found.
"'Oh, dear, what shall we do?' cried Mrs. Bobsy. "'That ugly old lion,' began Dinah, when Nan gave a scream. "'Oh! What is it, child?' asked Aunt Sarah. "'Look! There's Freddy!' cried Nan. "'There he comes!' And she pointed to her little brother, being led toward them by a boy about Bert's age."
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16 16 - Frank's Story 10:17
Frank's Story. They all gazed in the direction in which Nan pointed. The crowd of visitors to the circus was thinning out now, and down toward the edge of a little creek could be seen the missing Freddy walking along, his hand thrust trustingly into that of the strange boy. "'Why, why,' began Bert. "'That fellow, that boy, he—' and then he stopped. Bert was not exactly sure of what he was going to say. "'Oh, Freddy,' cried Miss Bobsie, running forward, "'where have you been?' Such a start you've given us. Where were you? But Freddy himself did not seem anxious to rush into his mother's arms as she was to clasp him. She plodded along with the strange boy, looking quite content, as if he wondered what all the fuss was about.
"'Dear Dee, honey lamb, am,' exclaimed Black. "'Dina,' a grin spreading over her face. "'The old lion didn't catch him after all.' "'Dare smile, honey lamb.' "'Freddy! Freddy!' cried Flossie, who had been resting in Uncle Daniel's arms. "'Did a lion eat you, Freddy? Did he?' "'A lion eat him?' "'Of course not,' laughed Bert, and Bert was doing some hard thinking as he stared at the strange boy who had Freddy by the hand. "'I thought we should find him,' said Uncle Daniel. "'I knew he couldn't be lost with all these circus people around, I say.' called Mr. Bobsey's brother to one of the men who had been helping him hunt for the missing boy. Just tell them that we found him. Will you please? Freddy's found.
Yes, sir. I'll tell him, said the man. I'm glad he's all right. I'll tell him. But where were you, Freddy? asked his mother, who by this time had him safely in her arms. Oh, where were you? I found him down by the edge of the creek, watching him water the elephants, explained the strange boy, who Miss Bobsey thought Had a good, kind face. You see, we wanted the elephants every afternoon when the show was over, the boy went on, and it was down there I found him. Oh, I can't thank you enough for bringing him back to us, said Miss Babsey. You were so good. I didn't know just where he belonged, the strange boy explained, but he told me his name and where he lived, and, of course, I knew I could send word to his folks, though I didn't see, at first, how he got here all the way from Lakeport.
Oh, we are visiting at his uncle's farm in Meadowbrook, explained Miss Bobbsy. So he said, went on the boy. I was bringing him to the lost tent when he spied you and said you were his folks. And I saw him water the elephants, cried Freddy, struggling to get loose from his mother's arms. The elephant sucked the water up into his nose, Ma, and then he squirted it down his throat, just like my fire engine squirts water. Only, of course, an elephant squirts a lot more water than my engine. But I'm going to get a bigger one that squirts as much as an elephant. That's what I'm going to do. And I saw one elephant, Ma. He went right out into the water and laid down in it. What do you think of that? The elephants often do that, ma'am, explained the strange boy.
They like to get a bath now and then, but we don't often have time to give it to them. You speak as though you belong to the circus, said Uncle Daniel. I do, answered the boy. That is, I'm with one of the side shows, and I help around when there's nothing else to do. Well, it was very kind of you to bring back my little boy," went on Miss Bobsey. Freddy was busy telling Flossie all of the wonderful things he had seen. Oh, I didn't do anything, ma'am, the boy said. I sort of knew this little fellow. You knew him? questioned Uncle Daniel. Well, that is, I'd seen him before. But I can't understand how Freddy became lost, said Miss Bobsey, while Uncle Daniel was wondering where the strange boy had seen Freddy before.
How did you get lost, Freddy? his mother asked him. Lost? I wasn't lost. He exclaimed. I knew where I was all the time. I was with the elephants. It was you who got lost, Mama. You, Nan, and Flossie, and Bert? Well, we called you lost, laughed Uncle Daniel. But you are right, now, thanks to this boy. Do you live around here? He asked. I don't seem to remember you, though I know most of the folks in this section. But if you have seen Freddy before, you must live around here. Oh, no, sir, was the answer. "'I'm with the circus, but I used to live—' "'I know you now,' interrupted Bert. "'You're Frank Kennedy, and I was with my father, calling on Mr. Mason when I saw you. "'Freddy was with me then.
"'Don't you remember, Freddy?' asked Bert. "'This was the boy we saw—the boy we saw getting a—' and Bert stopped. He did not want to say shaking, for it was when Frank Kennedy was being severely shaken by Mr. Mason, on account of the bad $20 bill, that the strange boy had last seen the bobbsey lads. And on that occasion, Frank had run away. "'Oh, now I know you,' cried Freddy, laughing. "'Yes, I am the boy you saw getting a-shaking, for something that wasn't my fault,' exclaimed Frank, and his voice was hard and bitter. "'I made up my mind I wouldn't stand for Mr. Mason's cruel treatment any longer, so I ran away. "'I did see you two boys that time I got a-shaking,' Frank admitted. "'You were in an automobile then,' he went on, and Mr.
Bobsey was with you. He looked around as though in search of the twins' father. Mr. Bobsey had to go back to Lakeport on business, explained Miss Bobsey. We came over from Meadowbrook to the circus here today, and I remember Mr. Bobsey speaking of you. So you ran away? Yes, I ran away. I couldn't stand it in that lumber office any longer the way Mr. Mason treated me. It wasn't fair, and I'm never going back again, either. I don't like him, and he doesn't like me. I'll never let him be my guardian again. Poor boy, murmured Miss Bobsey. He must have had a hard time. Did you come with this circus as soon as you ran away? No, I had a pretty bad spell for so long. When I ran away, I had only the clothes I wore and only a little money.
It was my own, he said quickly, lest they think he might have taken it from Mr. Mason's number office. But one look at Frank's face showed that he was honest. What did you do? asked Uncle Daniel. Well, I walked as far as I could the first night, Frank said, going on with his story. Then I crawled in a barn to sleep. "'Didn't you have anything to eat?' asked Nan softly. She felt very sorry for the boy. "'Well, I had a couple of crackers I had saved for my lunch that day,' he explained. "'Then near the barn was the cow, and I milked her. That and the crackers was all I had for supper. But I slept good in the hay.' "'I had a good sleep in some hay,' exclaimed Freddy, as he remembered the time they had played hide-and-go-seek in the barn.
"'It makes a good bed when you're tired,' said Frank. "'What did you have for breakfast?' asked Flossie. I'd like an orange and oatmeal for mine." Well, I didn't have anything like that for mine," explained Frank with a smile. I didn't have much of anything the first morning. I tramped on, and finally I found a place where I could chop some wood, and a lady gave me some bread and milk. It tasted very good. How'd you get with the circus? asked Burke. That part interested him more than how Frank got something to eat. Well, I just happened to come to the town where the circus was giving a show. explained Frank. I was around when the men were watering the horses and other animals, and I helped cover water.
Then one of the men asked me if I didn't want work, and I said I did. I was hungry then, too, and I could smell the things cooking in the circus kitchen tent. So I went to work for this show, and I've been here ever since. It's better than working in a lumber office when you get shook up every now and then, he added with a smile. And do you still help water the elephants? asked Uncle Daniel. Oh, no. I helped take the tickets at one of the side shows, explained Frank, the one where the fat lady and snakes are. I like it, though sometimes I held water animals when I have nothing else to do. The circus people are good to me. I've earned enough money to get some clothes, and I'm never hungry anymore.
I was pretty ragged when I came to the circus, for I had been tramping around sleeping in barns, or wherever I could. Wouldn't it have been better to have gone back to Mr. Mason, your guardian? asked Miss Bobsey. For she had heard her husband tell of the time he, Bert, and Freddy had seen the boy shaken before he ran away. Oh, gnome, Frank exclaimed. I'm never going back to that lumber office. Mr. Mason accused me of losing twenty dollars for him. Well, perhaps I did, but it wasn't my fault that the man gave me bad money that looked like good. I'm never going back. Well, I don't know as I blame you, said Uncle Daniel softly, but a circus is no place for a young boy. It's a hard life. Are you going to stay with this show?
asked Miss Bobsey. Until I can get something better to do, answered Frank. I know it isn't a good business, but I'll stay here until I can save some money, and then I'll look for something better. But I'll have to stay here for a while. Maybe you could give him work on the farm, suggested Aunt Sarah to her husband in a whisper. I don't like him to be with a circus. And he was so good to Freddy that we ought to do something for him. He's too young to work on a farm, replied Uncle Daniel, and he might be in a worse place than this circus. But we must be starting back home. It's getting late. Freddy was hugged and kissed by his sisters, mothers, and aunt, and Miss Bobsey insisted on making Frank a little present of money for his kindness to Freddy.
Freddy did not want to take it, but finally he did. I'll buy some new shoes with it, he said. I shall tell my husband how good you were to find Freddy. said Miss Bobsey, and I am sure he will want to do something for you. I wish you would write me once in a while. We should like to keep track of you. I will, promised the boy, as he put down the Bobsey address. I expect to be with the circus all summer, he said, as Freddy and the other children bade him good-bye.
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17 17 - A Wild Animal Scare 10:46
The Bobsy Twins at Meadowbrook by Laura Lee Hope. Chapter 17. A Wild Animal Scare.
Back to the shed where they had left the horses went the Bobsy party. The children talking on the way of the wonderful things they had seen in the circus, while the older folks spoke of Freddy being lost, and found again, by Frank Kennedy. "'But I wasn't lost,' the little chap insisted. "'I knew where I was all the time. Besides, the elephants were with me, and so was Frank, the boy who was shook'd. I saw him shook'd, and so did Bert, didn't you?' And Freddy looked at his older brother. "'Well, we won't talk about that part of it,' said his mother with a smile. It isn't nice to think about, and I am glad Frank is in a place now where he will be kindly treated. Though perhaps Mr. Mason did not mean to be cruel, he was probably very sorry at losing so much money.
"'I like Frank,' said Freddy. "'He let me take hold of one of the elephant's tooths.' "'Oh, Freddy!' exclaimed Dinah. "'It's a wonder he didn't catch and bite you, honey-lamb!' "'Oh, I didn't take hold of one of his tooths away back in his mouth,' explained Freddy. "'It was the long toothpick tooth that stuck out under his nose.' "'He means the elephant's tusk,' explained Bert with a laugh. "'Oh, Freddy, I hope you weren't in any danger,' his mother cried. "'Oh, what an escape he had,' sighed Aunt Sarah. "'Suppose an elephant had eaten him?' "'Poo! Elephants don't eat anything but hay,' said Freddy. Who of course did not mean to be impolite speaking to his aunt that way. Frank told me so, he went on, and I saw them eat hay.
They eat a awful lot, and one of them took all my peanuts. Well, I'll buy you some more, said Uncle Daniel with a laugh. You deserve it after the trouble you have had. Getting lost in all that. I—I wasn't losted, declared Freddy again. I knew— "'Oh, look at the balloons!' cried Flossie, as she saw a man outside the circus grounds, selling the red, green, and yellow gas bags. "'I want one, Mama!' cried the little girl. "'And so do I!' added Freddy, forgetting what he was going to say about not being lost. "'I want a balloon!' They each had one, and then the children and older folks took their places in the wagon and soon were on their way to Meadowbrook Farm again, talking over the wonderful good time they had had.
"'I'm coming to the circus to-morrow,' answered Freddy, as though going to circuses was all there was to do in the world. "'The circus won't be there,' said Bert. "'Won't be there? Where will it go?' asked Freddy, wonderingly. "'It will travel to the next town,' Bert went on. "'A circus stays in a town only one day, unless it's a very big place. This show will be far away by this time to-morrow.' "'And will Frank be away, too?' asked Flossie. "'I liked Frank, cause he found Freddy.' "'Yes, Frank will be away too, poor boy,' said Mrs. Bobbsy. "'That is, if he stays with the circus.' "'I wish Richard could do something for him,' she went on to Uncle Daniel and Aunt Sarah. "'I feel sure that boy ought to be back in his guardian's home.' "'But he said Mrs.
Mason was cruel to him,' declared Aunt Sarah." "'Perhaps he wouldn't be any more,' remarked Mrs. Bobbsy, wondering how anyone could be really cruel to children. She loved her twins very much." "'Well, I's glad my honey lamb am safe,' murmured Dinah, as she cuddled Freddy up in her big arms. "'Oh, oh, Dinah!' cried the little fellow, with a laugh. "'You squeeze me like an elephant's trunk!' "'That's cause I loves you, honey lamb,' went on the dear old colored woman." Back to Meadowbrook in the cool of the evening came the Bobsies and their friends. Tom and Mabel declared they had never had such a good time, and as for Freddy and Flossie, they were too busy playing with their toy balloons to say much.
But you may be sure they had enjoyed themselves, and Freddy forgot all about being lost. On their way home, the Bobsies had met Mr. Weston with his moving-picture camera. He said he had made several fine views of the circus. "'What about our pictures?' asked Nan. "'The ones you took of us children near the school.' "'They will soon be finished,' said Mr. Weston, "'and when they are ready to be shown, I shall send your father word so he may bring you, and let you look at yourselves on the white screen in our moving-picture theatre. Won't you like that?' "'That will be great!' cried Bert. "'I never saw myself in moving-pictures.' "'Nor I,' said Nan.
Back in the pleasant farmhouse that evening, all the happenings of the day were gone over again, until Mrs. Bobsey, noticing that Flossie and Freddy were nodding their heads and blinking their eyes real often, said, "'Come now, little tots, time you were in bed. To-morrow is another day.' "'I'm going to take my balloon to bed with me,' said Freddy. "'So am I!' exclaimed Flossie, who wanted to do as many things as did her brother. "'Oh, I wouldn't,' their mother said. "'Leave the balloons here until morning.' "'And then we'll have a balloon race,' proposed Bert. "'What's a balloon race?' Freddy wanted to know. "'No more talk tonight, little fat fireman,' said his mother. "'Off to bed you go.' And he and Flossie were packed off, the other children coming soon after.
Freddy and Flossie were up bright and early next morning, out playing with their balloons before breakfast. They tied long threads to them and let them float above the trees. "'When will we have the balloon race?' asked Freddy. "'Whenever you like,' Bert answered. "'Only to have a race you have to let your balloons sail off without any string fast to it, and you will not get it back.' At first Freddy would not hear of that, but finally he and Flossie became tired of the toy circus balloons and came to Bert to beg him to make a race for them. Bert cut the strings off both balloons, Freddy's was red, and Flossie's blue. Now we'll let go of both balloons at the same time, Bert explained, and the balloon that goes up highest will win the race.
Now watch, everyone. They all watched as Bert let go of the toys, one from either hand. Up, up, up went the red and blue balloons. Oh, mine's going faster, cried Freddy. No, mine is, exclaimed Flossie. And for a time, first the red balloon would be ahead, and then the blue one. But finally they both were at exactly the same height, and in that way they sailed onward and upward until they were only little specks in the blue sky, so no one could tell which one was ahead in the race. It was while the children were out in the yard in front of the Meadowbrook farmhouse, watching the disappearing balloons, that Bert heard a stranger's voice calling. was the question, and turning, Nan, Bert, and the others saw a man in a carriage on the road just outside the fence.
"'A circus?' repeated Bert. "'Yes, I heard there was one showing around here,' the man went on. "'And I'd like to find it.' "'There was a circus over at Rosedale yesterday,' spoke Bert. "'But it has travelled on by this time. If you inquired there you could find out where it went.' "'I'll do that,' the man said. "'I'm much obliged to you.' And he was about to drive on when Bert asked, "'Aren't you Mr. Mason, who has a lumberyard near my father's?' "'Whoa!' called the man to the horse. "'Yes, I'm Mr. Mason,' he went on, "'and I have a lumberyard, but I don't seem to know you.' "'I'm Bert Bobsey,' the lad said, "'and my father—' "'Oh, yes, to be sure, of course I know you,' the man exclaimed. "'Why, you were the boy in the automobile the day my ward, Frank Kennedy, ran away from me.'" "'Yes, I was there,' said Bert.
"'Well, it's about Frank that I came on here,' said Mr. Mason. "'I have been tracing him. I heard he joined a circus when he ran away from me, and I want to find him and take him back. I came on here by train and hired this horse and carriage to drive about the country. But now, when I'm almost up to the circus, you tell me it is moved. That's too bad, and I'm not sure when I find it that Frank will be with it.' "'I think he will be, Mr. Mason,' said Bert quietly. "'What's that?' cried Mr. Mason. "'You think Frank will be with the circus? What makes you think so?' "'Because we saw him with it yesterday,' said Nan, taking part in the talk. "'And he said he was going to travel with it.' "'Yes, that's right,' agreed Bert.
He thought it only fair to give information about Frank, since Mrs. Bobsey had said she thought it would be best for the runaway boy to go back to his guardian. "'Hm!' exclaimed Mr. Mason. "'If Frank is with the circus, I'll soon get him. I'll drive over to Rosedale and inquire where the show went from there. I can easily trace it. Much obliged to you for your information,' he called over his shoulder as he drove off. He did not stop to inquire how Frank was, nor how he had fared since running away. Perhaps Mr. Mason did not think of this." "'Oh, I hope he—I hope he doesn't shake Frank when he finds him,' said Nan, as the lumberman drove on. "'I don't believe he will,' remarked Bert. "'I fancy Frank will make his guardian promise to treat him better if he goes back to the lumber office.' Nan and Bert went in the house to tell their mother of meeting the man who was looking for Frank.
She said they had done right to tell what they knew. "'Poor boy,' she sighed. "'He hasn't had a very happy life. But perhaps this will be all for the good, and he may be better treated now.' That afternoon, as Harry and the Bobsey children, with Tom Mason and Mabel Harreld, were going down the road to pick some blackberries, they met a farmer boy driving an empty hay wagon. This boy knew Bert, Harry, and Tom. "'Hello,' he called to them. "'Did you hear the news about the circus?' "'What news?' asked Bert, wondering if the boy meant that Mr. Mason had reached the show and taken away Frank. "'News about the wild animals escaping from the circus,' went on the boy on the hay wagon. "'Wild animals escaping!' exclaimed Nan, with a frightened look over her shoulder, while Flossie came over closer to her sister.
"'That's it,' said the boy. When the show was moving out of Rosedale last night, some tigers and lions got loose and ran off in the woods. They looked for them but couldn't find them. Some of the farmers around here are out now with guns.' "'Oh, Nan!' exclaimed Flossie. "'Let's go back home.
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18 18 - What Freddie Saw 8:46
Then Harry, who knew him well, asked, "'Say, Jim Bates, are you joking, or did you really hear about some wild animals escaping from the circus?' "'Indeed I'm not joking,' cried Jim. "'I did hear it. Bill Snowden told me. You know, he lives over on the road that runs from Rosedale to Blaisdell, and the circus went there. It went right past his house in the night, and he looked out of his window and saw the camels and elephants and wild animal cages. I saw the elephants, too, exclaimed Freddy. I took hold of one's big toothpick tooth. Elephants eat hay. Were they eating any hay when that boy saw them? I wish elephants would go past our house. Quiet, Freddy, dear, please, said Nan. We want to hear about the wild animals.
Did they really get loose, she asked, and she looked over her shoulder, as did Flossie and Mabel Hurled. Well, that's what Bill Snowden said, replied Jim Bates. Of course I didn't see him run away myself. But I am all ready for him, if I meet any bears or lions or tigers, he added. Ready for him? How do you mean that, asked Bert? I've got a big club and some stones, answered Jim. And he took up from the seat beside him a stout stick and showed where he had made a little pile of stones in the wagon. They wouldn't hurt a lion, said Freddy. Lions or tigers aren't afraid of sticks or stones. I'm going to get my fire engine. It's course water and wild animals is afraid of water. Yes, we've heard that story before," said Bert, with a laugh.
"'But don't you go out hunting for wild animals with that toy engine of yours, Freddy,' his older brother advised. "'No, indeed,' added Nan. "'Oh, I think we ought to go home, Bert.' "'I'm going home,' said the boy on the wagon. "'And if I meet any animals on the way, I'm going to throw stones at em.' "'Whoo! They won't be afraid of stones,' declared Freddy. "'Yes, they will, too,' declared Jim Bates. I read in a book that a bear's nose is very soft and tender. If you hit him on it, he'll howl and run away. I heard that, too," said Harry. I hope it's true. Well, if a bear's nose is tender, a lion's or a tiger's must be tender also, went on Jim. And if I meet any wild animals, I'm going to hit him on the nose.
That's a good idea, Bert said with a laugh. But how can you be sure you'll hit him on the nose? Oh, I can be sure, replied Jim. But I'm a pretty good shot throwing stones, and I've got plenty, so if I miss the first time I'll hit him on the nose later. There isn't any wild animal going to get me. No, sir. And he looked at the stones and his stout glove. I should think, said Mabel Hurled, that if you had a good team of horses you could drive fast and get away from any wild animals you might meet. Well, I could do that, too, replied the boy on the hay wagon. And if I throw all my stones and don't hit a lion or a bear on the nose, I'll whip up and get away. Well, I'm going to get away now, decided Nan.
Come on, Flossie and Mabel. We won't go bearing today. Bears like blackberries. So I've read, and no one can tell but that there might be one in the berry patch where we are going. Oh, I don't think so, exclaimed Bert. Maybe there isn't any truth in that story after all, about the wild animals escaping. That other boy didn't see him get away. Did he? asked Bert of Jim. No, he didn't exactly see him, admitted the boy on the hay wagon, but he heard the circus men talking in the night about how the lion and the bear and the tiger got out of their cages. Oh, come on home, Nan, come on home, begged Flossie. This is worse than the shooting and the moving pictures. Let's go home. Nan was very willing to go, and so was Mabel.
Freddy, too, after thinking it over, decided that he had better go back with the girls. and get his toy fire-engine ready for any possible danger. What do you say, Bert? Shall we go back? inquired Harry. Well, I don't know, slowly replied the older Voxy lad. I don't really believe in the least that any wild animals are loose. But if the girls aren't going burying, there's no use in us going. I guess that's right, agreed Tom, no use going on alone. And though none of the older boys would admit it, I think they, too, were rather glad to turn back after having heard the story of the escape of the wild circus animals. "'Well, I'm all ready for em if I meet any,' declared Jim as he drove on, having told the news.
On the way back, Bert and the others met several farmers who knew Harry or Tom, and each of these men said they had also heard the story of the escape of a lion, tiger, and bear. "'And if they are loose, some of us may miss some cattle or sheep,' declared Mr. Eames, who lived not far from Uncle Daniel. I think we farmers have to get up a hunting party. I'd like to come, Broken Freddy. I've got a fire engine, and Wild Animals is afraid. That will do, dear, said Nan, gently putting her finger across his lips. Little boys can't go hunting wild animals. By the time the Bobsee twins and their friends had almost reached Meadowbrook on their way back, They had met several persons, men or boys, who spoke of having heard of the escape of the circus animals.
When the children came out the gravel walk of the farmhouse, Mrs. Bobsey, seeing them from the side porch, where she was sitting, stringing beans for supper, called out, "'Well, you are back early.' "'Did you get many berries?' "'We didn't get any, mother,' said Nan. "'We—' "'It's wild animals,' burst out Freddy, unable to keep quiet any longer. "'A lion, a tiger, and a bear. They got away from the circus, and they—they—' What's all this? interrupted Aunt Sarah, coming out with her sewing in her hands. Then, by turns, with many interruptions from Freddy, the story was told. Dinah listened with wide-opened eyes, and if she could have turned pale, I think she would have done so, but of course she could not, for she was the color of a chocolate cake, and had to stay that way.
Oh, I don't believe a word of it, exclaimed Uncle Daniel, when he heard the tale. Every time a circus comes to town, there is a story of wild animals escaping, but I've never seen any yet. I don't believe it at all. But the children did, and later, when Uncle Daniel came back from a visit to the village store that evening, he had to admit that several persons had spoken to him about the wild beasts being loose. "'Hadn't you better see if your shotgun is loaded?' his wife asked him. "'Well, I will, if it will make you feel any easier,' he agreed. But there's no danger of any of them coming near here, even if they have escaped, which I don't believe. The children were rather frightened that night, and would not go far from the porch to play in the moonlight, which they usually did before going to bed.
Of course, Bert and Harry were not as frightened as were Flossie and Freddy, but they looked nervously over their shoulders at the dark places under the bushes as they passed them. Freddy, true to his promise, got out his toy fire engine and filled the tank with water. winding up the spring that worked the pump and sent out the stream from the little rubber hose. "'Now I'm ready for a lion or a tiger or a bear,' he said. "'Well, don't dream of them,' said his mother. "'Now it's time for bed.' Whether the talk of the circus animals had made Freddy nervous, or whether he did dream of them, he could not clearly tell afterward. All he knew was that he did not sleep well, and, some time after going to bed, he awakened with a start.
There was no light in his room. But the moon shone in. He could look across to where Flossie was asleep in her crib. Then Freddy heard a noise. It came from outside and sounded like, Woof! Uh-oh, whispered Freddy to himself. That's him. That's one of the wild animals. It's a bear. That's how bears go. Woof! Oh! It's come, and what shall I do? He sat up in bed, listening. He heard the noise again. Woof! Woof! Then Freddy decided he must be brave. Without waking Flossie, the little fellow slid from bed and crossed the window. The bear, if such it was, could not be in his room. He was sure of that, for the place was made bright by the moonlight that streamed in the window. Over to this window Freddy went.
He looked out, and as he did so, he saw something shaggy and black walk under the lilac bush in front of the house. There he is, whispered Freddy to himself. Then, in his shrill childish voice, he called loud, Ma'am, I've heard Nan gets come the bear. He's out in front, under the bush. Oh, oh, oh.
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19 19 - In Swimming 8:16
For the little bobsie boy had a strong, ringing voice. His mother was suddenly awakened from her sleep in the next room. Aunt Sarah and Uncle Daniel heard him in their apartment. Nan, Bert, and Harry also heard him. Oh, Freddy, cried Flossie, who slept in the same room with her little brother. What is it? What is it, Freddy? And she sat up in her crib. It's a bear, out in front, under a bush. The circus bear, answered Freddy. I didn't see the lion or tiger. But they must be out there, too, unless the bear ate them up. "'Oh! Oh!' cried Flossie. "'Oh, dear!' Mamma! Nan! Bert!' cried Nan. "'Come! Oh, come here, Dinah!' "'I's a-comin!' cried the colored cook, as she heard Freddy's wild cry. "'What am de matter, honey-lam?' Others were asking this question now.
"'What's it all about?' called Bert. "'A bear,' answered Freddy. "'Lions and tigers,' added Flossie, half sobbing. Gracious, Freddy's been dreaming or else he's talking in his sleep, said Bert to Harry, who was also awake by the shouts of the little boy. By this time, Mrs. Bobsey was up and had put on a dressing-gown and slippers. She hurried out into the hall to meet Aunt Sarah. Oh, something dreadful must have happened, said Freddy's mother. But when she went in his room, she found him and Flossie safe, with the little boy standing in the moonlight near the open window. What is it, little man? asked Aunt Sarah. Hush, not so loud, cautioned Flossie. It's bears and lions and tigers. Freddy saw them.
She was not so frightened now. I did not see them, cried Freddy. I only saw a bear. Oh, yes, the bear ate the lion and tiger, went on Flossie. And if Snap or Snoop would only eat the bear now, it would be all right. What does it all mean, asked Mrs. Bobsie. Did you really see something, Freddy, or were you dreaming? I did see something, Mama, and it went woof, woof. Freddy explained. Then it went and hid under the lilac bush. I'll show you, and, taking his mother's hand, he led her to the window, out of which he pointed. Now Nan, Bert, and Harry came into the small twins' room. What is it? they asked. By turns, Flossie and Freddy told their story, Freddy doing the woof-woof part very earnestly, until Flossie begged him to stop.
As he skewed her, Dinah, too, came waddling into the room. Bringing a candle which dripped grease on her bare feet. The grease was hot, and as Dinah felt it, she gave a yell which was almost as startling as was Freddy's. "'Oh, what is it?' cried Mrs. Bobsey. "'Candle-greased and splashed on my toe and burnt me,' Dinah explained, as she stood on one foot and held the other on top of it to ease the pain. "'There it is, there it is!' suddenly cried Freddy. "'There's the bear!' And he leaned so far out of the window that Bert had to catch his little brother by his nightgown to save him from a possible fall. Mrs. Bobsey and Aunt Sarah looked out and saw a big black object come into the moonlight. Oh, it is a bear, declared Mrs.
Bobsey. It does look like some strange beast, agreed Aunt Sarah. I wish Mr. Bobsey was here, said the lumber merchant's wife. Uncle Daniel will fix him, declared Freddy. Uncle Daniel's got a gun. Mamma. Can't I take my fire engine and squirt water on that bear? No, indeed, answered Mrs. Bobsey. Get back to bed right away. Dan, you'd better see what it is, said Aunt Sarah, as her husband, half dressed, was hurt out in the hall. There is some animal under the lilac bush. I'll soon have him out of that, said the farmer. He had his gun with him, and while the children watched from the window, they saw him step out of the kitchen door. Oh, he's going to shoot. cried Freddy in a shrill whisper as he watched his uncle.
"'I don't want to hear him,' murmured Flossie as she got into her crib and pulled the bedclothes over her ears. But Bert, Nan, and the others watched. Then, just as Uncle Dan raised the gun to shoot at something black which he saw beneath the lilac bush, an animal rushed out and gave a howl. Hardly had that died away than there sounded a loud, "'Bow! Wow! Wow!' This was repeated several times. Oh, it's only a dog, cried Bert. Is it Snap? Freddy wanted to know. No, it's a big black stray dog, answered Bert. No wonder Freddy thought it was a bear, said Mrs. Bobsey. Now it's all over. Go back to bed and sleep in peace. And it was only a dog that had caused all the excitement. The animal ran out into the moonlight, stood a moment looking at Uncle Daniel with the gun, and then gave more barks.
It was as if he said he did not like to be chased away in that fashion. "'Well, it's a good thing I didn't shoot him,' said Uncle Dan, as he came back into the house. "'Whose dog was it?' asked his wife. "'Snook's big black one.' He was hunting for a bone, I guess, and he must have sniffed and snuffed when the dirt got up his nose. "'Babble, Freddy. It was only a dog.' "'Only a dog?' murmured Freddy. "'I thought it was a bear.' Well, I'm glad it wasn't, or a tiger or lion either, said Flossie, as she curled up in her cot. Soon the house was quiet again, and everyone went to sleep. In the morning, Freddy and Flossie went out to look at the place under the lilac bush where the dog had been seen.
They found a hole where he had been digging up a bone he had hidden there, and a little later that day, the dog himself came over to make friends with Snap. He let Freddy pat him. "'He isn't half as big as he looked in the night,' said the little fellow. "'No, daylight often makes many things seem smaller, even troubles.' "'That look very big at night,' said Mrs. Bobsey, with a smile. "'But maybe we'll see some wild animals that got away from the circus. Hopefully,' said Freddy at dinner. "'No, you won't,' exclaimed his uncle with a laugh. "'Why not?' asked Bert. "'Because none got away,' was the answer.' I met one of the circus men in the village this morning. He stayed behind to settle up some bills, and he said not a single animal got away.
It was all a false alarm. No truth in it. Well, I'm glad of it, declared Mrs. Bobsey, and I think everyone felt better on hearing that news. Mr. Bobsey came back to Medderbrook the next day and heard all about the wild animal scare, and also about Freddy being lost at the circus, and Frank Kennedy finding him. And Mr. Mason is looking for Frank at the circus, wherever the show is now, said Bert. Yes, so I heard, remarked Mr. Bobsey. Well, I hope he treats the poor boy kindly, if he takes him back. It was a hot, quiet summer afternoon, a few days later, that Bert and Harry, with Tom Mason, sat under the trees in front of the farmhouse. Mrs. Bobsey and Aunt Sarah had gone calling. Lossie and Freddie were asleep in the house.
And Nan had gone over to see Mabel Hurled. What can we do, asked Bert, stretching his arms. I don't want to do much except keep cool, spoke Harry. That's what I say, exclaimed Tom, and I know a good way to get that way, too. What way? asked Bert, closing his eyes. Cool. Let's go swimming. It's just right for that. All right, agreed Harry. Fine, cried Bert. Let's do it. A little later, they were on their way to the old swimming hole. Near the willow-tree that grew on the edge of the brook or little river.
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20 20 - Frank Comes Back 9:30
The Bobsy Twins at Meadowbrook by Laura Lee Hope.
Chapter 20. Frank comes back. Watch me dive in. I can swim underwater. Let's see who can swim across to the other side of the big hole. Bert Bobsie, his cousin Harry, Tom Mason, and some other boys were standing on the bank of the Little Brook, or River as it was sometimes called, all ready for a cool bath that hot summer day. The water of the old swimming hole as we called it, was not deep enough to be dangerous, and Mrs. Bobbsy was not afraid to have Bert go there without his father. Bert's father had taught him to swim. "'All ready now,' asked Harry, as the boys stood in line on the edge of the little pool, waiting for the dive. "'All ready,' answered Bert. "'Then go!' cried the farm boy. Into the water they splashed, head first, disappearing under the waves.
Up they bounced again like corks, and then they began swimming for the other side. "'A race! A race!' cried Bert, shaking his head to get the water out of his eyes and nose. He had held his mouth tightly shut when diving so no water had been able to get between his lips. "'I'll race you!' exclaimed Tom Mason, and soon the boys were swimming as hard as they could toward the other bank. Some of them could not swim very well, but they paddled or swam dog fashion. "'Tom's going to win!' cried one of the boys, who could not swim fast. He was now standing up in the water, looking at the three boys in the lead. No, I think Bert will get to the other side first," said another boy, who stood on the bank not yet having dived in.
"'You're all wrong. Harry will beat,' exclaimed the third boy. And so I proved. Harry soon passed Bert and Tom, and reached the farther bank first. Then Tom came next, while poor Bert was last. Too bad you couldn't win, said Harry kindly. Oh, you two are better swimmers than I am, said Bert. I don't mind being beaten that way. I guess I need more practice. That's it, his cousin said. I've had more chances to swim than you do. Of course I ought to be better. You can beat me. I swim as much as you do, said Tom, who had lived in the country all his life. and near the little river. "'I used to beat Harry every time,' said Tom to Bert. "'But now he goes ahead of me. "'Oh, maybe you'll beat him next time,' remarked Bert with a laugh.
After the little race, the boys swam about as they pleased, now jumping in or diving head first from the bank near the deeper part of the pool. Sometimes swimming under water, and then jumping out to lie in the warm sand or on the green grass. "'Oh, this is great fun,' exclaimed Bert, as he sat on the edge of the bank. Swinging his bare feet to and fro, I'm glad we came. "'Look out!' suddenly called Tom, but he spoke too late. Just then Harry slipped quietly. up behind Bert and pushed him into the water. "'Whoop!' yelled Bert as he splashed in. He went under, but soon came up again, and swimming to shore crawled out. "'You wait until I get a hold of you,' he cried, laughing to Harry. "'I'll toss you in.
Just wait!' "'You've got to get me first,' replied Harry, keeping out of Bert's way. Bert raced after Harry, but he did not catch him. However, Bert waited his chance, and a little later, when he saw Harry sitting on the edge of the hole, talking to one of the other boys, Bert stole softly up behind his cousin and pushed him into the water. "'Wow!' cried Harry, as he splashed in. "'Now we're even,' Bert said with a laugh. After the boys played some more games in the water, swimming about, ducking one another, and having lots of fun. "'Well, I guess it's about time we start for home,' said Harry. After a bit, he noticed the sun like a ball of fire, sinking in the rest of the western sky. "'I'll have to go after the cows soon.' "'I'll go with you,' offered Bert.
As the boys came out of the water and began to dress, they were almost ready to start back home, when Bert noticed a boy walking along the path that extended on one side of the river. At first, Bert did not pay much attention to the boy. After giving him one glance, but as the strange lad came near, Bert looked at him more closely. "'I wonder where I've seen that boy before.' he said aloud. What boy? Over there, replied Bert, pointing. Harry gave one look and exclaimed, Why don't you remember? That's the boy who found Freddy when he was lost at the circus. Oh, so it is, exclaimed Bert. But what is he doing here? Why isn't he with the show? I don't know, answered Harry. who was trying to untangle a hard knot in his shoe-lace.
Better ask him. I will if he comes near enough, decided Bert. As he finished dressing, then he ruffled up his hair so it would dry more quickly. By this time, they had on their clothes, and the other boy had noticed the lads who had just finished swimming. He gave them one look and then turned hurriedly away. as if he did not want to see him. "'Hold on a minute,' Frank called Bert. The boy stopped as he heard his name mentioned. "'Who wants me?' he asked. "'I do. Bert Bobsie,' was the answer. "'You know me. You found my little brother Freddy when he was lost at the circus. Don't you remember?' "'Oh, yes,' was the answer. The boy walked slowly forward. As he came nearer, Bert could see that he looked tired and hungry.
"'What's the matter?' Harry asked. "'Why aren't you with the circus any more?' "'Did you lose your place?' "'Well, not exactly,' replied Frank. "'But the sideshow I worked for busted up. "'I mean, it failed, and I was out of a place. "'There was nothing else for me to do in the circus, "'so I had to leave it.' I haven't had any work now, and I don't know what to do. That's too bad, said Bert kindly. But what are you going to do? I don't know, and Frank's voice was sad.
Are you going back to the lumber office? asked Harry, for he had heard his cousin tell how Frank had run from his guardian, Mr. Mason, who punished the boy for taking a Confederate $20 bill. That was worthless. "'No, I'll never go back there,' exclaimed Frank, with flashing eyes. Mr. Mason was looking for you the day after the circus showed in. "'Rosedale,' said Bert. "'Did he see you?' "'No, he didn't. And I don't want to see him,' Frank said. "'After I lost my place in the side show, where I took in tickets, at the tent entrance, I started to I would just go to the tramp and look for work, but I haven't found any yet, so I thought I'd come back to Meadowbrook. I heard there were some farms around here, and I thought maybe I could get work on one of them.
If I can't, I don't know what to do. And it sounded as if Frank was trying to keep from crying.
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21 21 - Bad Money 12:03
The Bobsey Twins at Meadowbrook by Laura Lee Hope. Chapter Twenty-One. Bad Money. Bert, Harry, and their chums hardly knew what to do. They felt sorry for Frank and wanted to help him, but they did not know just how to go about it. Do you know how to work on a farm? asked Harry. Well, no, not exactly, replied Frank, but I know something about the lumber business, and I guess I could chop wood. They have to do that on farms, don't they? he asked, and he was smiling a little now. Oh, yes, wood has to be chopped, said Harry. Entirely too much of it, I think. It makes my back ache. Say, why can't we ask him to come back with us, whispered Bert to Harry, as Frank picked up a stone and tossed it into the water.
I guess we could, said Harry slowly. Then I'm going to do it, went on Bert. I say, he spoke to Frank, wouldn't you like to come back to my uncle's house, get something to eat? Maybe we could give you work. I know Harry and I have plenty to do. I would like to come very much, replied Frank, a brighter look coming over his face. I'll do all the work I can, too, he added quickly. Come along, then, invited Harry, and as Bert and Frank walked along together, Harry told his chums how he first met Frank at the circus, the time Freddy was lost. He also explained to the boys what Bert had told him about Frank running away. Leaving their chums with whom they had gone swimming, Bert and Harry led Frank down toward the pleasant farmhouse.
Freddy was out in front, playing with his toy engine as usual. As soon as the little Bopsy twins saw the circus lad, he exclaimed, Oh, there's my boy, my elephant boy, that found me when everybody was lost but me. Oh, I'm glad to see you, he cried, and he ran to Frank, who caught Freddy up in his arms and kissed him. Nan and Flossie came down off the porch. To see what all the excitement was about. Oh, it's the circus boy, Flossie cried. Did you bring any trained monkeys or elephants with you, she asked. No, not this time, I'm sorry to say, replied Frank. They wouldn't let me take any of the animals with me when I came. Well, did you bring any peanuts, asked Freddy. Peanuts are good, even if you haven't any elephants to eat them.
No peanuts either, went on Frank. Poor lad. He looked so hungry that if he had had any peanuts, he probably would have eaten them himself. Well, did you bring any balloons? Flossie wanted to know. Well, yes, I have some toy balloons, said Frank, and he pulled some pieces of rubber from his pocket. These are circus balloons before they are blown up, explained Frank. You can use a hollow goose quill to blow them full of air and then tie a string or thread around the bottom so the air won't come out. They won't go up like circus balloons, though, said Frank. Why not, Freddy wanted to know. Because they have only air in them instead of gas, Frank explained. Gas is lighter than air, and that makes it lift the balloon.
But you can have some fun with these. And he gave two each to Flossie and Freddy. One of the circus men gave them to me, he went on. The children were soon playing with the balloons. By this time, Mrs. Bobsie had come out of the house, and when she saw Frank, she remembered him at once. Oh, it is so very good to see you again, she exclaimed, and she looked sorry when he told her he had lost his place with the circus. Well, perhaps it is all for the best, said Mr. Bobsie, when he heard the news. A circus is not the nicest place in the world for a growing boy, though many good men and women are in circuses. I think I'd like to work on a farm for a change, said Frank. Well, you won't find farm work very easy, spoke Uncle Daniel, as he came out to listen to the runaway's story.
And I think you had better go back to your guardian, he added. He has been looking for you. So, Bert said, remarked Frank, but I'll never go back to that lumber office to be treated as I was before. Mr. Mason really wasn't fair to me. Perhaps he meant to be, said Mr. Bobsy. Well, didn't he punish me for something that wasn't my fault? Taking that bad twenty-dollar bill, asked Frank. He did punish you, yes, admitted Mr. Bobsy, and I am not saying he did right in that. But you were in his charge by the courts, and he has authority to look after you, the same as a father would look after his children. "'I think it is best that you go back to him,' went on Uncle Daniel. "'I never will,' exclaimed Frank.
"'Would you if I saw Mr. Mason and got him to promise to treat you more kindly and overlook the loss of the twenty dollars?' asked the farmer. "'Well, I might,' replied Frank slowly. "'That's better,' exclaimed Uncle Daniel. "'I like a young lad to have a real home,' he went on, "'and not to be traveling about with a circus.'" No matter how good a show it is, what happened to the sideshow you were with? He asked Frank. Oh, our biggest snake died, said the boy, and the fat lady was taken sick and got so thin she wasn't a curiosity anymore. So the show busted up, as the circus people called it. Well, maybe it's just as well, said Mrs. Bobsie. I never did like snakes anyhow, and it can't be healthful to be as fat as that lady was.
I hope she gets better, and is thin enough to be comfortable. And now we must look after you, Frank. You will stay with us for a few days, until Mr. Bobsie and Uncle Daniel can arrange about your going back to your guardian." Yes," said Mr. Bobsie. Now that you have promised, Frank, I shall write to Mr. Mason, telling him you are here. He is probably searching for you, wondering what was happening to you since you lost your place with the circus. You are very kind to me, murmured the homeless boy. Yes, and I think Mr. Mason will be kind to you, too. After we have had a talk with him, said Mr. Bobsy. Now, Frank, make yourself at home here and have a good time. Frank certainly needed a good time if anyone did, for he had not had much fun thus far in life.
Aunt Sarah took Frank to the dining room, and soon Dinah had served a meal that would make any hungry boy feel very much at home. Frank said. He sure have got some appetite, explained Dinah, as she looked in through a crack in the kitchen door and watched Frank eat. Well, I guess anyone would have an appetite if he had to live on hay and oats, said Martha. Hay and oats, cried Dinah. Did he have to eat and oats? He must have, Martha replied. That's about all they have in circuses. Poor boy, sighed Dinah. He's going to bake him a whole chocolate cake for his own self. That's what I'm going to do. And she did, too, though Frank shared his treat with the others a day or so later when it was given to him.
Meanwhile, Frank was taken in almost as one of the family by the Bobsies and their relatives and friends. Freddy never wanted to be away from his circus boy, as he called Frank, and Flossie, too, was quite in love with the Wanderer. It makes me homesick. For Mrs. Mason's two little girls, said Frank to Mrs. Bobsy as he came in one day from having taken Freddy and Flossie for a walk. Well, it's a good sign to be homesick," said Mrs. Bobsey. It shows you like your home, in spite of some of the bad times there. You will soon be back again. Mr. Mason had been written to, and told that his ward was at Meadowbrook, and would go back with him if he called, but no answer. Had yet been received. I suppose he's trying to find you by following the circus, said Mr.
Bobsy to Frank. A few days after this, Bert, Harry, and Frank were on their way to the village store to get some groceries for Aunt Sarah. As they came near the place, in front of which was a large porch, a man was seen peering through the corner of the building. At the sight of him, Frank started and pulled Bert by the sleeve. What's the matter? asked Harry's cousin. That man, whispered Frank. See him? That's the one who gave me the bad money. The Confederate twenty-dollar bill. What can he be doing here? Oh, if I could only get Mr. Mason's money back from that man. Let's wait and see what he's doing, suggested Harry. The man had not yet seen them. The boys could watch him as he seemed to be hiding back of the corner of the country store.
He's up to some trick, I'm sure, said Bert. A few seconds later, Mr. Mack, the owner of the store, came out and walked down the village street. Hardly had he started off, then the strange man quickly went into the store. He's going to take the money, exclaimed Bert. There's no one in the store now. He waited for Mr. Mack to come out so he could go in and get the money. No, I don't think that, spoke Harry. George Smith, a boy I know. Works for Mr. Mack, and attends to the store when Mr. Mack goes out. George must be in the store now. Well, that man is up to some trick, I'm sure, exclaimed Frank. How can we find out what it is? We can go in the store through the back door, said Harry. Come on, we'll do it, and sneak in quietly.
Then we can see what's going on. Quietly, the three boys went in the store through the rear entrance. No one up front could see them because of the piles of boxes and barrels in front of the counters. Well, what can I do for you today? The three heard George Smith ask the stranger. I want two pounds of the best butter, was the man's answer. And I suppose you can change a twenty-dollar bill, can't you? Oh, yes, said George. We've got that much change. You were sure of that, asked the man, glancing around the store nervously. Yes, sir. We always keep plenty of change on hand. Very well. Then go and weigh out the butter and be sure and give me a good weight. We always give full weight, sir, answered George.
Bert and the others could hear, but could not see George as he weighed out the butter. Then Frank whispered, I want to get near enough so I can see what kind of a twenty dollar bill that man gives this boy. Maybe it will be no good, just as he fooled me. Come over here, whispered Harry. You can look through this crack between two boxes. It's right near the cash drawer, and you can see the bill when George makes change for it. Frank crept up to make an observation, and as the store boy took the bill from the man and began making change, Frank could not hold back any longer. He saw that the bill was the same kind that had fooled him. It was Confederate money and utterly worthless. "'Don't give that man any change,' cried Frank.
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22 22 - Happy Days 9:46
HAPPY DAYS. Bert and Harry were so surprised at Frank's sudden call that for a few seconds they did not know what to do or say. George Smith, the boy in the store, was also startled. He stood with the bad $20 bill in his hand, wondering where the warning voice had come from, and then Frank showed how quick he could be. "'Hurry up,' you whispered to Bert and Harry. "'One of you slip around and lock the front door, and the other one lock the back.' Then we'll have this man trapped, and maybe I can make him pay back the money he got from me. Quick! I'll go to the front door, exclaimed Harry. And I'll lock the back one, said Bert. The man, who had heard Frank's call from behind the pile of boxes, must have known something had gone wrong with his plan to cheat.
Never mind about the butter, he said quickly. I guess I won't buy any after all. Just give me back my $20 bill, and I'll get along. Oh, no, you won't, exclaimed Harry, as he slipped around some barrels. Quickly running to the front door, the country boy locked it and stood in front of it. Hurry, give me my money back, I tell you, cried the man to George, who stood near the cash drawer, not knowing what to do. Don't you give it to him, advised Frank, stepping out. Lock the back door, Bert, he called. I have, cried the older bobbsey boy. The man started to run behind the counter to find a way out, but he was too late. Bert had locked the door and taken out the key. "'Let me out of here,' cried the stranger.
"'Let me out.' Bert and Harry were somewhat frightened, but Frank was brave. "'You don't get out of here until you pay back the $20 you cheated out of Mr. Mason,' he said. "'I don't know anything about any Mr. Mason,' the stranger said. "'I want my $20 bill back. I won't need any butter to-day.' "'Don't give him that money,' cried Frank to George. "'It's bad.' And if you give it to him, he'll try to cheat someone else with it. "'I'll fix you,' cried the man. But at that instant there was a rattling sound at the front door, and Harry, looking through the glass panels, saw Mr. Mack, the store owner, and two or three other men outside. "'What's the matter? What has happened? Why am I locked out of my own store?' cried Mr.
Mack, rattling the knob. "'There's a cheat in here,' cried Harry, unlocking the door. "'There he is,' he went on, as Mr. Mack rushed in. "'The man tried to pass a bad $20 bill on your boy,' went on Harry. "'He did, eh?' cried Mr. Mack. "'Well, I'll see about that.' "'You let me go,' exclaimed the strange man. "'I haven't done anything. I wanted some butter, but I changed my mind. There isn't anything wrong in that. Give me my $20 bill, and I'll go.' Oh, no, you'll not. Not until you explain, said Mr. Mack, and he caught the man by the arm. Then the man tried to break away. Here, help me hold him, Mr. Mack called to some of his friends who had come in with him. We'll see what this is all about.
Who can explain, he asked, looking at Bert, Harry, and Frank in turn. He can, said Bert, pointing to the former circus boy. At this, the stranger took a good look at Frank, and he seemed much worried. "'I see you know me,' said Frank with a smile. The man muttered something to himself. In a few words Frank told how he had been cheated by the old $20 Confederate bill the man had passed on him some time ago in the lumber office. "'And when I saw that man today, for the first time since hiding around your store,' went on Frank to Mr. Mack, I thought perhaps he was up to some of his old tricks. He went in as soon as you went out, and I saw him give your clerk the same kind of bad bill he gave me, only I gave him eighteen good dollars in change.
But I didn't, said George Smith, with a grateful look at Frank. I was warned in time. I tell you, it is all a mistake, said the man. You had better let me go. The only place you will go is to prison, cried Mr. Mack. Take him away, Constable Sprigg. He said to one of the men who had come into the store with him, Take him away. So the man who had cheated Frank, and who had nearly cheated Mr. Mack, was locked up in jail. It was found that he had many Confederate bills with him. That money was once good in the southern states during war times, but now it is of no value, and will not buy even a stick of candy. Of course, grown persons could not be fooled by the Confederate bills. But boys who had never seen any of that money might be easily deceived.
And it was on boys that the man played his tricks, giving them bad $20 bills for some small purchase and getting good money in change. He just waited until Mr. Mack went out of his store, explained Frank, and he knew only a boy was left in charge. That's how he tricked me, waiting until Mr. Mason was out of the office. "'Well, you did me a good service,' said Mr. Mack, "'and if ever you are in need of work, I'll give you a place in my store to help George when I am out.' "'I guess Frank is going back in the lumber business,' said Bert. "'The next day, Mr. Mason came in answer to the letter he had received about Frank.' He brought with him the bad $20 bill the man had cheated Frank with, and a little later the dishonest man was taken away by a policeman and put in a place where he would have to work hard as a punishment for cheating honest persons.
The bobbseys never saw him again. Everyone said Frank was very smart to catch the cheat, as he had done. Mr. Mason received back his $20, for the man had some good money in his pockets when arrested. "'And now are you ready to come back with me, Frank?' asked Mr. Mason, when everything had come out right. "'I—I guess so,' was the rather slow answer. "'My girls are anxious to see you again,' the lumber merchant went on. "'They have missed you very much. And I want to say I am sorry I was so cross and severe with you,' he added. "'I was provoked that you should be cheated, but I realize now that it was not your fault.' That man made it his business to fool boys with his bad bills. Will you come back, Frank?
I promise to treat you better from now on. Yes, he will go back, said Uncle Daniel, but he hasn't had much fun this summer. Suppose you leave him here at Meadowbrook for a while. I think it will do Frank good. All right, agreed Mr. Mason, but my wife and the girls are anxious to have him home. But let him stay for a time. And so happy days began for Frank Kennedy, and the happy days continued for the Bobsey twins and their friends and relatives. The long summer days on the farm were filled with good times. One morning, Freddy and Flossie went out in the kitchen, where Dinah and Martha were busy making sandwiches and wrapping cakes in wax paper. "'Are we going to have company?' asked Flossie. "'We's going to have another picnic,' exclaimed Dinah.
"'A big one!' Oh, goody, cried Freddy, and I'm going to take my fire-engine to the woods and squirt water on snakes. Well, don't pump any fire-engine what on old Dinah, honey lamb, begged the fat cook. Oh, a picnic. What fun, cried Nan, when she heard about it. And such good times as the bobbseys had when they went to the cool green woods with well-filled lunch-baskets. Mr. Mack, the storekeeper, was so grateful to Frank for having saved the $20 for him that he sent a large bag of cakes and oranges for the woodland dinner. Frank went with the others, and a number of country boys and girls were invited, They played games and sat about in the long grass under shady trees to eat the good things Dinah and Martha had cooked.
Freddy played with his fire engine to his heart's content, and though he managed to get pretty wet himself, no one else suffered much. And a few days before Frank was to go back to his guardian, Mr. Bobsey gave the children another treat. They were taken to a nice moving picture show at Rosedale, where the circus had been. After some funny reels had been shown, there was flashed on the screen a schoolhouse with the children clustering about the teacher. "'Oh, it's us, it's us,' whispered Nan. "'Those are our pictures.' "'So they are,' agreed Bert. "'And they were.' Views of the sham battle the children had witnessed were thrown on the screen, and then came a scene showing Freddy. No sooner had he noticed himself in the pictures than he cried out loud, Oh, that's me!
Now watch me fall in the brook! And he did, amid the laughter of the audience. I wish I had space to tell you of all the other things the bobbseys did, at Meadowbrook, but this book is as full as it will hold. So I will just say that when the time came, Frank went back to Mr. Mason's home, and a little later, the Bobsies, taking Snoop and Snap, went back to Lakeport, there to spend some weeks at home, until it was time to go on another vacation. And so, having enjoyed the company of the twins, we will say good-bye to them.