“My name is Jimmie,” said the little boy duck quickly.

“Well, Jimmie, then,” went on the cow.  “You can see for yourself how it is, or, rather, you can’t see, for the water is in the way,” and then Jimmie noticed that one of the cow’s hoofs was down in a puddle of water, and no matter how hard she pulled she couldn’t get loose from that stone; no, sir, any more than you can tie a string to one of your teeth and get the tooth loose—­that is, not counting a tooth that needs pulling, of course.

“Well,” remarked Jimmie, after he had looked very carefully at the puddle where the cow’s foot was, “it’s too bad.”

“It certainly is,” agreed the cow.  “You see if the stone wasn’t under water I could see to loosen it with my horn, but as it is I can’t, and I’ve tried several times,” and she tried once more, just to show she was telling the truth.

“I’ve been here some time,” the cow went on, “and no one seems able to help me,” and she mooed some more, and the bell tinkled some more, and more of her tears fell splish-splash in the puddle of water, making it bigger than ever.

“I will help you!” cried Jimmie, suddenly.  “I am a duck, and I know all about water!”

So he jumped right in that puddle, and he commenced to splash with his wings and his yellow feet, and my goodness gracious sakes alive! if in about two quacks he didn’t have all the water splashed out of that hole where the poor cow’s foot was fast.

Then the cow could see to loosen the stone with her horn, and she could walk home.  And because Jimmie was so kind she gave him a pail of milk to take to the duck pen for Alice and Lulu.  Now to-morrow night the story will be about Alice and the puppy dogs, providing the automobile does not turn upside down and spill me out.

STORY XXVII

ALICE AND THE PUPPY DOGS

Alice Wibblewobble had been over to pay a visit to Sister Sallie, the little squirrel-sister of Johnnie and Billie Bushytail, and she had ever so much fun; and a good time, and such a nice supper! ending up with butternut ice cream, with maple sugar for dessert.  Well, before Alice knew it, night had come, and it was all dark.

“Oh! dear!” she cried, “I didn’t know it was so late.”

“Are you afraid to go home in the dark?” asked Mrs. Bushytail.

“No, not exactly,” answered Alice, “but you see it’s so dark I might tumble into a hole, or cut my foot again on a sharp stone.  I’m not exactly afraid of the dark, but—­”

“Oh!  I understand,” said Mamma Bushytail.  “But I hardly know what to do,” she went on.  “My husband is away this evening, or he would take you home, and Billie and Johnnie are over at Grandpa Lightfoot’s, and I’m so busy getting through my spring housecleaning, and sewing a new dress for Sister Sallie, that I don’t believe I could spare the time to go.”

“Oh!  I wouldn’t think of asking you,” spoke Alice quickly, but she looked out into the dark, and she didn’t feel very happy, even if she had just eaten a large plate of butternut ice cream.