The Big City was ten miles from Cloverfield Farm. Farmer Hill had to go
there often on business. Mrs. Hill had to go there to buy shoes and
clothing. Sometimes they drove, but if they were in a hurry they went
to the village a mile away and took the train.
"I must go to the city to-day to attend to some important business,"
said father one morning. "It will not take long, so I will go down on
the nine o'clock train and back on the eleven."
"Are you going to drive to the train or walk?" asked mother. "I need
some groceries before dinner and wish you would drive so you could
bring them back."
"I will drive then," said father. "I meant to walk."
Mother wrote down a long list of groceries--flour, sugar, tea, raisins,
molasses, rolled oats and spices.
"I will leave the list with Mr. Brown," said father, "so he will have
them ready for me when I come back and I won't have to wait."
So father drove Prince to the village and tied him to the hitching post
in front of Mr. Brown's store.
He gave the list to the grocer.
"Please have them ready when I come back on the eleven o'clock train,"
said he.
Then father went to his train.
The grocer put up the order. "I might as well put them in the buggy for
him now," said he.
So he carried the groceries out and packed them under the seat.
Farmer Hill intended to come back on the eleven o'clock train; but his
business took him longer than he expected, so he could not come until
the next train at one o'clock.
Meanwhile Prince stood very still and patient for some time. Then he
began to take a few steps forward once in a while, and then a few steps
backward.
Prince liked to go. He did not like to stand still so long.
Every time he stepped back and forth, the knot in the halter loosened a
little. After a while, about one o'clock, it became entirely untied.
When father got off the train, he was still thinking of his business in
the city and was in a hurry to get home. So he never once thought about
Prince, but struck off across lots and hurried home afoot.
"Where are Prince and the groceries?" asked mother, as father came into
the house.
"Prince and the groceries?" said he, "Prince and the groceries? Sure
enough, I did drive Prince down this morning. I entirely forgot him. He
must be standing at the hitching post in front of the store. I'll go
back and get him."
Before this time Prince was quite hungry. He was very tired standing
still so long. He wished he could go home to his stall and eat his
dinner.
Still Farmer Hill did not come for him.
The next time he stepped forward, there was no halter to stop him; so
he kept on walking down the street.
The thought of home and his dinner made him want them very much.
So he began to trot.
Just as Farmer Hill was leaving the house to go after him, Prince
turned into the yard.
"There is Prince now," said father. "He has come home alone."
"But I need the groceries," said mother. "I must have the sugar right
away. One of us will have to drive back after them."
"Sure enough," said father, "I'll go because I am the one who forgot
them."
He started to get into the buggy.
"Why, here are the groceries," said he. "Prince has brought them
home."
[Illustration: WHY ROVER WENT _to_ CHURCH]