by Oliver Optic
"It is very strange," thought the ducks. "What has happened to ourpond?"
But all they said was, "Quack, quack, quack!" as they walked on the dryearth where the water had been.
Before long the leader started back toward the farmyard.
So all the ducks fell in line and waddled back, one behind another. Theydrank from the tub of water at the pump, but they could not swim in itbecause it was too small, and so they could not keep their feathersclean and white.
Now this is why the Duck Pond was dry.
For weeks there had been no rain at Cloverfield Farm.
Every day the sun had shone brightly all day.
The ground was very dry. The grass was dead and brown. The cistern hadbecome empty. In the road the dust was several inches deep.
"The plums and peaches are falling from the trees," said Farmer Hill."If it doesn't rain soon, we won't have any fruit."
"My flowers are dying," said Mother.
They watched the sky every day, to see if there were any signs of rain.
"I see a little cloud," said Bobby every few days. "Perhaps it will rainto-day."
But the little cloud would float lazily across the sky and bring norain.
Every day the ducks would go in a procession down to the Duck Pond toswim. Every day they would find the Duck Pond dry and come back, onebehind another, and take a drink from the tub of water at the pump.
And so five weeks passed.
At last, one day, big clouds gathered in the sky.
Bobby saw them first and came running in to tell the news.
"It's going to rain," he shouted. "See the big, big clouds."
Mother and Sue went to the door and looked out.
"It's surely going to rain," they said.
"I'll help put the windows down," said Bobby. And he ran to do it.
The men stopped work and put the horses in the barn, so they would notget wet. The hens and chickens went under the shed. The cows in thepasture went under the big trees.
It was not long before the lightning flashed and the thunder crashedand the rain came down.
They all went to the Big South Window to watch the storm--Father,Mother, John, Sue, Bobby and Betty.
"I like to watch a storm," said Bobby.
"It is a good sight," said Father. "Now the corn and potatoes will growand the fruit will stay on the trees."
"My flowers will blossom again," said Mother, "and we'll have water inthe cistern."
"I hope it will make the grass green," said Sue.
"I hope it will fill the Duck Pond," said Bobby, "so I can sail my boatsand the ducks can have a swim."
As they stood there, suddenly Bobby called out, "Oh, see the ducks!"There they were in the rain, waddling around in the pools of water.
"Quack, quack, quack!" said the Big White Duck. "Isn't this grand?"
"Quack, quack, quack!" said the six other ducks, as they shook theirfeathers and waggled their tails.
After the rain had stopped and the pools had begun to dry up, Bobby sawthe Big White Duck start off toward the Duck Pond.
All the other ducks followed, one behind another.
Down to the Duck Pond they went and found it full of water.
So all the ducks a-swimming went and were content.
THE RESCUE]
XII
The day after the big rain, Bobby and Rover were down at the Duck Pond.
Bobby would throw a stick out into the middle of the pond and shout,"Get it, Rover."
Rover would jump into the water, swim out to the stick and bring it backin his mouth. Nine times Bobby threw the stick into the pond. Nine timesRover brought it back.
When they had done that long enough, Rover shook himself to get thewater out of his coat, and lay down on the bank to dry.
Bobby spied an old raft, lying at one edge of the pond, under the willowtree. "I'll play on the raft," he thought.
It was only a few days since Mother had said, "Never go on the raft,Bobby, unless Father or John is at the pond with you."
"Oh, pshaw!" thought Bobby. "There is no danger; I'll have a littlefun."
For some time he was content to keep near the shore, just pushing theraft around a little with a long pole. Then, growing bolder, he thought,"I'll go clear across the pond. Mother will never find it out."
So across the pond he started. Near the middle the water was deeper, sohe had to go to the edge of the raft and lean over to make his poletouch bottom.
A little farther, and a little farther, he leaned. The raft began to tipand the first thing Bobby knew, he went head first into the water.
Down he went, to the bottom of the pond.
When he came up, he was lucky enough to be near the raft, and he grabbedthe edge of it.
"Help! help!" he shouted. He tried to climb up on the raft but could notdo it.
No one heard him shout, except the ducks that were swimming not far off.They said, "Quack, quack, quack!" but they could not help him.
Rover, over on the bank, was dozing in the sun. The first time Bobbycalled, Rover wiggled his ears but went on dozing.
Bobby shouted again, "Help! help!"
Rover heard this time and stood up and looked out over the water.
He saw Bobby clinging to the raft. Into the water he jumped and swam asfast as he could.
When he came near, Bobby said, "Oh, Rover, can't you help me out?" Hetook hold of Rover's collar with his right hand but still clung to theraft with his left hand.
Rover tried to swim toward the shore but the raft was so heavy he couldnot go very fast. So Bobby let go of the raft and then Rover could pullhim along.
Bobby clung to Rover's collar until they reached shallow water.
"I'm glad you were near, Rover," he said, when they were on dry ground.
"Bobby clung to Rover's collar until they reached shallowwater"]
Bobby did not want to go to the house and tell Mother what had happened,but there was no other way.
So Bobby, all wet and drippy, and Rover, all wet and drippy, went to thehouse together.
"Why Bobby Hill, what have you been doing?" asked Mother, when she sawhis wet, muddy clothes.
When he told her about getting on the raft she looked surprised. When hetold her what Rover did, she turned and patted Rover's neck and said,"Good dog, good dog!"
"Of course, you will have to go to bed while your clothes get dry," shesaid to Bobby.
"Can't I put on one of my clean suits?" he asked.
"No," said Mother. "When boys get on rafts and fall into the water,they always go to bed while their clothes dry."
So to bed Bobby went in the middle of the day.
Mother washed his clothes and hung them to dry in the shade of the appletree.
Sue tied a blue ribbon on Rover's collar, and Mother gave him a plate ofcold roast beef with potatoes and gravy.
BOBBY'S HORSEBACK RIDE]
XIII
Of all the horses on Cloverfield Farm, Prince was the one the childrenliked best.
Prince would take a lump of sugar from Bobby's hand and not bite him. Hewould let Bobby and Betty come near and not kick them.
Sometimes Bobby rode on Prince's back, very slowly, with Father walkingalong beside.
"When shall I be allowed to go trotting down the road all alone, likeJohn and Sue?" asked Bobby.
"Not until you are older," answered Father.
One day Bobby was down in the field where Hobson was working. When thedinner bell rang, Bobby said, "Let me ride Prince up to the barn."
"You might fall off," said Hobson. "I think I had better not let you."
"I can hang on," said Bobby. "Father lets me ride sometimes."
Hobson thought a moment. "All right; if you'll be careful, I'll let youride this time," he said.
He let Daisy go on ahead, and then lifted Bobby to Prince's back withthe big, clumsy work harness still on.
"Hold on tight and go slow," said he, as he gave Bobby the check rein.
Through th
e gap into the lane went Daisy, up the lane toward the barn.Prince and Bobby followed.
When Father let Bobby ride up to the barn, he always walked alongbeside. But after Hobson had started them off, he went across lots tothe barn.
So there was Bobby riding Prince all alone.
How big and grand he felt!
When they were part way up the lane, Daisy, who was in a hurry for herdinner, began to trot.
"Let us trot, too," said Bobby. "Get-up, Prince."
Prince was hungry and thirsty. So when Bobby said a second time,"Get-up, Prince," and pulled on the check rein, Prince began to trot.
Father was in the farmyard at the head of the lane, fixing the drill forthe wheat sowing.
"Bobby felt happy and grand. Prince felt happy andgrand"]
"I can ride as well as John or Sue," thought Bobby. "I'll show Father Ican."
Up and down, up and down, he bounded as Prince trotted along.
Prince was enjoying it too.
"I'll give Bobby a good ride," he thought. And he arched his neck andtrotted proudly up the lane.
Bobby felt happy and grand.
Prince felt happy and grand.
Now along the sides of the lane, there were thistle patches; and in oneplace near the head of the lane, there was a low stone pile withthistles growing up between the stones.
Bobby always kept away from thistle patches when he was barefoot.
They had gotten almost to the head of the lane, when Prince began totrot faster. Bobby bounded up and down higher than ever, his bare feethitting the horse's sides at every step.
And then, the first thing he knew, he began to slide off.
"Whoa! whoa!" he shouted.
He grabbed a piece of the harness and tried to hold on, but at everystep Prince took he slid farther.
"Whoa! whoa!" he shouted again.
Prince slowed up, but it was too late. He turned his head just in timeto see Bobby tumble to the ground. Then he stopped stock still.
Down on the stones and the thistles Bobby fell.
This was bad enough, but then he rolled against Prince's hind foot, alittle stunned by the fall.
Father saw Bobby fall and ran toward him, thinking as he ran, "Oh, whatif Prince steps on Bobby or kicks him?"
And Father ran faster than he had ever run before.
But there Prince stood and kept his foot as still as still could be,until Father came and pulled Bobby away. Then Prince started on to thebarn.
"Are you hurt?" asked Father.
"Not much," replied Bobby, as he rubbed his bruises.
Father helped him get the thistles out of his bare feet and legs. Therewere sixteen.
"That was a grand ride, though," said Bobby.
They went to the barn together and came up to Prince at thewatering-trough.
Father took Prince's face in his two hands and in his kindest voicesaid, "You are a wonderful horse, Prince. Thank you for being careful ofmy Bobby. You shall have some extra oats to-day."
When Sue was told about it, she found another blue ribbon and tied it onPrince's bridle.
THE BIG SOUTH WINDOW]
XIV
Mother's favorite place in all the house was by the big window in thesitting-room. It was on the south side of the house; so they called itthe Big South Window.
On bright days the sun shone through it and flooded the sitting-roomwith golden sunshine. From it Mother could see green fields near by andpurple hills in the distance and the blue sky over all.
"I love my Big South Window," she often said.
She sat there to do the sewing and mending. She sat there to read andsometimes just to enjoy the view--orchard and woods, green fields andthe big elm tree, purple hills and blue sky.
One day in Autumn, a letter came to Mother from her sister. "Please comeand make me a visit," the letter said.
"I do not see how I can go," said Mother. "There are so many things tobe done here."
"Oh, yes, you must go," said Father. "You have not had a vacation in along time. We'll get Aunt Martha to come and keep house."
"I'll look after the chickens and the ducks," said Bobby. "And I'll keepthe wood box full for Aunt Martha."
So one day in October Mother said good-by and went away on her longjourney. She was to be gone three weeks.
From the very first, Bobby missed her greatly. Most of all he missed herat evening, when she was not there to tell him a good-night story. Butfor the first week he stood it very well, his extra chores helping topass the time away.
After that it seemed such a long time since he _had_ seen her, and sucha very long time until he _would_ see her, that he could scarcely wait.
Every morning he counted the days until she would come home. When thesecond week had passed, he could say, "Only seven more days until Mothercomes home."
That day, after he had fed the chickens and ducks and filled the woodbox, he went into the sitting-room and sat in Mother's rocker andlooked out through her favorite window.
Then he noticed how dirty it was.
"That will never do," thought Bobby. "Her window must be as bright andshiny as if she were here to look at it."
Bobby washed the big window on the inside and then he went outside. Bystanding on the kitchen stool and getting Aunt Martha to push down theupper sash, he could reach the top.
So with feeding the chickens and the ducks, and romping with Rover, andlooking after Betty, and watching the men at work, and playing with hisblocks and trains, and reading a book which Mother sent him, anotherweek passed.
At last came the morning when it was only a few hours before she wouldcome.
Bobby could hardly eat any breakfast for the joy of it.
All the forenoon, he and Sue were sweeping and dusting and putting thehouse in order.
Sue picked some pansies from Mother's pansy bed and put them in a dishon the dining table.
Bobby went to the fence corners and picked some beautiful redbitter-sweet for the sitting-room. Last of all, they washed the BigWindow.
After dinner, to pass the time away, Bobby took his ball and began tobounce it on the side of the house.
"I'll see whether I can catch it a hundred times," thought he.
Ninety-seven times he caught it. "I'll soon have a hundred," he said."Won't that be fine to tell Mother?"
He screwed up his mouth and threw the ball again. But instead of hittingthe boards it hit the Big South Window.
Crash went the glass, in dozens of pieces, to the ground.
"Oh! oh!" moaned Bobby, as he stood looking at the ruined window.
"Why did I do it? Why _did_ I do it?"
Sue heard the crash and came to see what had happened.
"It is too bad," said she.
"I must get another glass put in before Mother comes home," he said.
"There is not time," said Sue. "And probably there is not so large apane without going to the city. But we can pick up the pieces and makeit look as tidy as possible."
So they picked up the pieces, and Bobby carried them off to the barrelwhere they kept broken glass and dishes.
When Bobby had put the broken pieces of glass in the barrel, he wentinto the sitting-room. How ugly the Big Window looked now, with the big,jagged hole in it and the glass cracked in all directions. He felt thechill November air coming in through the broken pane.
"It will never do," thought he. "I must get a new pane put in rightaway."
He went to his bank, which was standing on the clock-shelf. In it hefound four dollars, which he had been saving for a long time to buy anew Express Wagon.
"I hope it will be enough," he said.
There was only one man in the village who kept window glass--Mr. Barlow,the carpenter. As fast as he could run, Bobby ran to the village, and ashe ran, he kept thinking, "Will he be at home? Will he have a bigglass?"
When Bobby reached Mr. Barlow's shop, as soon as he could get hisbreath, he said, "Oh, Mr. Barlow, have you a big window pane? I'vebroken our Big
South Window."
"Broken your Big South Window, have you? Well, that is too bad. I thinkI haven't one now, and to-morrow is Sunday; but I'll get you one onMonday when I go to the city."
"Oh, but it must be put in to-day," said Bobby. "I have the money to payyou. Would four dollars be enough?"
"I think that would be enough," said Mr. Barlow. "But I will have tonail boards over it to-night and get a big pane Monday."
"But I do so want it put in to-day," said Bobby. "Mother is coming homeon the four o'clock train."
"So your mother's coming home, is she?" He saw the anxious look onBobby's face.
"I will see what I can find," he said.
Mr. Barlow's shop was piled full of all sorts of things for buildinghouses. Besides his work bench and tool chests, there were piles oflumber, bundles of shingles, odd window sashes and, in one corner, somewindow panes. He went to this corner and looked over the panes.
"No," he said, "there is nothing big enough."
Bobby began to look here and there. Back of a pile of lumber, he foundtwo window panes.
"Here, Mr. Barlow," he called. "Here are some big ones."
"Well! well! I had forgotten them," said Mr. Barlow. He came back thereand measured them. "Almost big enough," he said, "but not quite. Iremember just the size of your big window. These lack three inches.
"I'm afraid you will have to wait, sonny," he added.