Dickie and Daisy sat on the grass reading. They had been gardening, and
were rather hot.
“Let's go to the pond,” said Dickie. “Nurse isn't here to say 'don't.'”
“Let's,” agreed Daisy. She always agreed with Dickie.
“We'll get father's rod and line, and catch some fish,” said Dickie. So
when no one was looking they got the things and ran to the water.
“You have the rod,” said Dickie, “and I'll have the hook. Don't make a
noise or the fish won't come.” They sat quite quiet till there came a
big tug at Daisy's rod, so big that it dragged her to the edge of the
pond.
[Illustration]
“Oh, Dickie,” she cried, “help me! I b'lieve I've caught a whale!”
But before Dickie could catch hold of her, in she went. The water ran
into her eyes and mouth, and washed her curls quite straight.
Dickie was dreadfully frightened. He made a grab at her, and she made a
grab at him. By the time she was safely on land both were nearly as wet
as the other. Father's rod had disappeared.
“I think we'd better go home,” sobbed Daisy.
[Illustration]
Mother didn't wait to ask questions. She hurried them into nice warm
nighties, and popped them into bed. Dickie was soon all right, but Daisy
caught a cold. When Dickie got up he put on his spectacles and brought
out his watch. He put his fingers on the little thumper in her wrist.
“You must stay in bed” he said, “and take Lemon Squash. Lemon is good
for coughs, so you won't get one, and Squash will squash all the other
poorliness out of you.”
When Father heard he was very cross. He said, “If you go near the pond
again I shall buy _another kind of rod_, and use it too.”
[Illustration]
But they had had enough of water, and didn't enjoy their Saturday tub
for a long time.
[Illustration]
Follow my Leader.
[Illustration]
“Come, follow me
The whole pack;
Right, left; right, left;
Quack! Quack!
If you make
Such a clack,
You'll not hear me say
Quack! Quack!
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
How many are there
At my back?
Nineteen, eh?
Quack! Quack!
Come, follow me,
No fun you'll lack;
Mind what I say,
Quack! Quack!”
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Bunny and Chick,
_or
Sulky Sammy_.
“Sulky Sammy,”—that's what they called me. I live in a stable, in a big
farmyard, and everybody used to say I was the most disagreeable little
puppy dog they knew!
One morning I was having a drink of water when two other little pups
came along.
“Will you come and have a game?” they said.
But I had a fit of the sulks on, and didn't want to play with anyone, so
I frowned, and said nothing. Close by Chick was having breakfast with
her sisters, and I heard her say, “There's Sulky Sammy—disagreeable
again!”
[Illustration]
I don't like Chick. Mother often says to me, “Oh, Sammy! How I wish you
were as sweet and gentle as Chick!” And Master Mousie tells his friends
Mrs. Puss, and her three little kittens, long stories of Chick's
goodness, and my naughtiness and sulks.
One day I chased Chick out of the farmyard, and left her all alone in a
big field.
[Illustration]
I hoped she would never come back any more, but Mr. Tortoise found her,
and asked Bunny and his brother to take her home. That nasty Bunny told
everybody what I had done. So Mr. Turkey chased _me_ out of the
farmyard. In a field I met such a funny man. Two birds sat on his arms,
and one said, “Everyone would be quite fond of Sammy if he only left off
being disagreeable!” I trotted home, and began to try at once. Nobody
ever calls me “Sulky Sammy” now.