Although they were tired from their journey, the children had no idea of resting on that beautiful afternoon, so promptly after dinner the baggage was opened, and vacation clothes were put on. Bert, of course, was ready first; and soon he and Harry were running down the road to meet the other boys and perfect their plans for the picnic.
Nan began her pleasures by exploring the flower gardens with Uncle Daniel.
"I pride myself on those zinnias," the uncle told Nan, "just see those yellows, and those pinks. Some are as big as dahlias, aren't they?""They are just beautiful, uncle," Nan replied, in real admiration. "I havealways loved zinnias. And they last so long?""All summer.Then, what do you think of my sweet peas?"So they went from one flower bed to another, and Nan thought she had never before seen so many pretty plants together.
Flossie and Freddie were out in the barnyard with Aunt Sarah.
"Oh, auntie, what queer little chickens!" Flossie exclaimed, pointing to a lot of pigeons that were eagerly eating corn with the chickens.
"Those are Harry's homer pigeons," the aunt explained. "Some day we must go off to the woods and let the birds fly home with a letter to Dinah and Martha.""Oh, please do it now," Freddie urged, always in a hurry for things. "We couldn't to-day, dear," Aunt Sarah told him."Come, let me showyou ournew little calf."
"Let me ride her?" Freddie asked, as they reached the animal. "Calfs aren't for riding, they're for milk," Flossie spoke up.
"Yes, this one drinks plenty of milk," Aunt Sarah said, while Frisky, the calf, rubbed her head kindly against Aunt Sarah's skirts.
"Then let me take her for a walk," Freddie pleaded, much in love with the pretty creature.
"And they don't walk either," Flossie persisted. "They mostly run." "I could just hold the rope, couldn't I, Aunt Sarah?""If you keep away from the barnyard gate, and hold her very tight,"was theconsent given finally, much to Freddie's delight.
"Nice Frisky," he told the calf, petting her fondly. "Pretty calf, will you let Snoop play with you?" Frisky was sniffing suspiciously all the time, and Aunt Sarah had taken Flossie in the barn to see the chickens' nests.
"Come, Frisky, take a walk," suggested Freddie, and quite obediently the little cow walked along. But suddenly Frisky spied the open gate and the lovely green grass outside.
Without a moment's warning the calf threw her hind legs up in the air, then bolted straight for the gate, dragging Freddie along after her.
"Whoa, Frisky!whoa!" yelled Freddie, but the calf ran right along. "Hold tight, Freddie!" called Flossie, as she and Aunt Sarah appearedon thescene.
"Whoa, whoa!" yelled the little boy constantly, but he might as well have called "Get app," for Frisky was going so fast now that poor little Freddie's hands were all but bleeding from the rough rope.
"Look out, Freddie! Let go!" called Aunt I Sarah as she saw Frisky heading for the apple tree.
The next minute Frisky made a dash around the tree, once, then again, winding the rope as she went, and throwing Freddie out with force against the side of the terrace.
"Oh," Freddie moaned feebly.
"Are you dead?" cried Flossie, running up with tears in her eyes.
"Oh," moaned the boy again, turning over with much trouble as Aunt Sarah lifted him.
"Oh," he murmured once more, "oh - catch- Frisky!""Never mind her," Aunt Sarah said, anxiously."Are you hurt, dear!" "No - not - a bit.But look!There goes Frisky!Catch her!""Your poor little hands!" Flossie almost cried, kissing the red blisters. "See, they're cut!""Firemen have to slide on ropes!" Freddie spoke up, recovering himself, "and I'm going to be a fireman. I was one that time, because I tried to save somebody and didn't care if I got hurted!""You are a brave little boy," Aunt Sarah assured him. "You just sit herewith sister while I try to get that naughty Frisky before she spoils the garden."By this time the calf was almost lost to them, as she plunged in and out ofthe pretty hedges.Fortunately Bert and Harry just turned in the gate. "Runaway calf!Runaway calf!" called the boys. "Stop the runaway!" andinstantly a half-dozen other boys appeared, and all started in pursuit. But Frisky knew how to run, besides she had the advantage of a good start,and now she just dashed along as if the affair was the biggest jokeof herlife.
"The river! The river!" called the boys
