lifted up his hoof, and before that lesson was over he only needed the
words and did not even need to be tapped on the leg. For two or three
days longer that was all the lesson he got, because it does not do to
try to teach animals too many tricks at once. It only confuses them,
but Billy, once started, was very quick to learn. Soon he could do as
many tricks as the best of them, and had his box right alongside his
friend Dandy's. Some of the tricks that he had learned were brand new
ones. They had never been seen in a show or anywhere else, and how
Billy did like the work! How he did like Bobby and all his animal
friends, and how he did like this peaceful happy place!
*CHAPTER XIII*
*A HAPPY REUNION*
One evening Bobby and his father were standing at the front gate talking
when a dusty, red-faced, little fat man came trudging along the road
with a white goat dragging at his heels. He was a queer looking figure
and he seemed to be very much worried as he came up to them.
"Mister," said he to Mr. Sanders, "could you told me where I should get
such a job yet?"
"I don't know of any place," said Mr. Sanders. "Where are you from?
What countryman are you?"
"I been a Switzer," said the man. "I got no money, no job, no anything,
only this one dumb-headed goat."
Mr. Sanders smiled as he looked from the man to the goat, both of them
woe-begone tramps.
"Rather queer," he said, "to be tramping around the country with a goat.
Where did you get it?"
"That should be all of my troubles, yet," said the man mournfully. "When
I start von Switzerland I have more as two hundred goats what I have
bought for a partnerships to a man for a goat farm back there about four
hours' walk. I have such a wrecks by my ship and I lose me all but this
one dumb-headed goat. Well, I have my ticket by the railroad to where
this man should have the goats. I promise him some goats, I got one
left, I come all the way von New York und take it to him and what you
think? He won't have any. Because I don't bring him the more as two
hundred goats what I promise, he won't take even this one dumb-head,"
and he scowled at the poor goat at his heels as if it had been the cause
of all of his woe.
"How much will you take for your goat?" suddenly broke in Bobby.
"Oh, Bobby boy, you don't want another goat?" objected his father.
"You've got the place overrun now."
"Oh but, father, I want a team," said Bobby. "I've been wishing for one
to put on the other side of Billy when I'm having them do stunts,
besides hitching them up to a cart that I am making. They will make a
fine team."
"Don't you think you could find better ways than that to spend your
money?" said Mr. Sanders.
"I don't think so," said Bobby. "If I can get it at the right price,
it's a good investment. How much will you take?" he asked, turning to
the man.
"I take me ten dollars," said the man.
"Too much," said Bobby. "It's more than I think the goat is worth and
more than I care to pay."
"How much then?" asked the man.
"Seven dollars," answered Bobby. "I don't want to dicker with you or I
would have offered you less. That is the most I can pay."
"Take the goat yes!" said the man. "It's a dumb-head, anyhow. I belief
me."
Bobby opened the gate joyfully and patted the goat on the neck. The
goat, tired and dusty, felt grateful for that touch just as Billy had
felt and when Bobby said "Come on," it followed gladly.
"I'll bring you the money right away," said Bobby. "Come on," he called
again to the goat, and ran back to the barn. Running into Billy's stall,
he said: "Billy, my boy, I've brought a new friend for you and I want
you to be good to this stranger." With that the strange goat came in
after him and Billy leaped up with a bleat of joy. The new goat was his
mother!
Bobby ran back to the house to get his money, leaving the two goats
together, and they had so much to tell each other at once that neither
one of them heard very much what the other was saying, until Billy
happened to pay attention to where his mother was explaining how she had
just been sold to Bobby.
[Illustration: Neither one of them heard very much what the other was
saying.]
"Wait a minute," said Billy, "did you say that man was out there now?"
"Yes," answered his mother. "Bobby just went to get him some money."
"Wait right here a minute," said Billy. "I owe him something for
throwing me overboard into the sea, and I always like to pay my debts."
Out of the barn he ran, through the gate, down the drive, and cleared
the road gate with a pretty jump. Then he wheeled to where the fat man,
the money in his pocket, was saying good-bye to Bobby and his father.
Billy had no time to say anything just then; he just ran with his head
down. The fat man turned and saw Billy coming and started to run toward
the village, going so fast that he fairly waddled sideways, but there
was no use for him to run. Like two freight cars bumping together,
Billy landed on fat Hans Zug just once.
"A thousand lightnings yet again!" yelled Hans.
Billy did not stop to answer him. He just trotted back, jumped over the
gate and hurried on to the barn to talk to his mother, about this
splendid, contented home that was to be theirs for a long time to come.
And we could not say good-bye to them in a happier place.
* * * * * * * *
*The*
*Billy Whiskers Series*
*By
Frances
Trego
Montgomery*
The antics of frolicsome Billy Whiskers, that adventuresome goat Mrs.
Montgomery writes about in these stories make all the boys and girls
chuckle--and every story that is issued about him is pronounced by them
"better than the last."
*TITLES IN SERIES*
1. Billy Whiskers
2. Billy Whiskers' Kids
3. Billy Whiskers, Junior
4. Billy Whiskers' Travels
5. Billy Whiskers at the Circus
6. Billy Whiskers at the Fair
7. Billy Whiskers' Friends
8. Billy Whiskers, Jr., and His Chums
9. Billy Whiskers' Grandchildren
10. Billy Whiskers' Vacation
11. Billy Whiskers Kidnaped
12. Billy Whiskers' Twins
13. Billy Whiskers In an Aeroplane
14. Billy Whiskers In Town
17. Billy Whiskers at the Exposition
18. Billy Whiskers Out West
19. Billy Whiskers in the South
20. Billy Whiskers In Camp
21. Billy Whiskers in France
22. Billy Whiskers' Adventures
23. Billy Whiskers in the Movies
24. Billy Whiskers Out for Fun
25. Billy Whiskers' Frolics
26. Billy Whiskers at Home
27. Billy Whiskers' Pranks
BOUND IN BOARDS
COVER IN COLORS
PROFUSE TEXT ILLUSTRATIONS
FULL-PAGE DRAWINGS IN COLORS
*THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY--AKRON, OHIO*
[Illustration: back cover]