Pip, Pop, and Pepper were three little roly-poly pups. One morning Bruno,
their mother, left them fast asleep in her snug, warm kennel and went for
a walk.
Presently little Maggie came tripping along all ready for fun and
mischief, and when she reached the kennel she stooped down and peeped
inside.
“Oh, you darlings!” she cried when she saw the puppies. “Come along with
me and we’ll have some fun!”
She dragged poor Pip, Pop, and Pepper out of the kennel and put them in
her apron. The puppies didn’t like it at all. They blinked their sleepy
eyes and gave little frightened squeaks, and wondered wherever in the
world they could be going.
“Now, I think you shall walk,” said Maggie. And she sat down, and the
puppies rolled out of her apron on to the ground.
They picked themselves up, so glad to be free, and before Maggie could
stop them off they ran, each a different way!
“Come back, come back!” she cried, and raced after Pip.
But Pip didn’t mean to be caught again just yet! He scampered in amongst
some bushes, and dodged Maggie in and out for a long, long time, until at
last he was so tired that he allowed her to pick him up.
“And now, where are the other two?” said Maggie. Oh, where indeed!
Pop ran into a chicken coop. And when Mrs. Hen came up with her fluffy
babes she found a funny little furry creature fast asleep in her house.
She was very angry. She clucked, and flapped her wings, and was just
beginning to peck poor Pop when Maggie ran up and pulled him out.
Then Maggie heard a terrible noise. And looking round she saw poor Pepper
surrounded by Puss and her three little kits with their backs up, hissing
and miaouing with all their might.
“Bow-wow-wow-wow!” Off flew Puss and her kits, and scrambled up a tree.
The next moment Bruno came bounding up, and oh, wasn’t Maggie glad to
give Pip, Pop, and Pepper back into their mother’s charge!