and looking greatly
distressed.

There were the little chicks saying, "Peep, peep, peep," as they tried
to find something to eat in the grass.

Bobby took the basins into the house.

"Mother," he asked, "did you feed the chickens?"

"No," said she, "that is your chore, Bobby."

"But how came the basins empty?" asked he.

Mother could not answer. But at that very moment, the Big Rooster
crowed, "Cock-a-doodle-doo! I had a fine breakfast."

Mother stirred up another basin of meal while Bobby got some more wheat.
He took them quickly to the chickens and threw the food into the coop.

"Cluck, cluck, cluck!" Old Speckle called.

"Peep, peep, peep!" cried the little chicks, as they came running to
eat.

Bobby watched them until it was nearly gone.

"Now you feel better, don't you?" said he. "And I feel better, too," he
added.

Which was strange, wasn't it?

For Bobby had not yet had his dinner.

[Illustration: ROVER GOES TO THE STORE]

X

Rover was useful in many ways about the farm. Sometimes he even went to
the village store on errands.

One morning in Summer, Mrs. Hill needed some meat for dinner. She wrote
a note and put it in a certain basket. With it she put a purse and
covered them with a white cloth. Then she went to the door and called,
"Rover! Rover!"

Rover came bounding up the path.

"I want you to go to the store," said Mrs. Hill, giving him the basket.

Rover took the handle in his mouth, trotted down the path to the road
and turned toward the village. As he passed the Allen farmhouse, he saw
Sport, a little brown dog with whom he often played.

Sport came running out with a few friendly barks which meant, "Come on,
Rover, I am ready for a frolic."

Rover turned his head toward his little friend, but kept trotting right
on, with a look that plainly said, "I can't stop to play now. I'm on
important business."

When he came to Mr. Brown's store, there were some men standing on the
steps.

"Well, Rover," said one of the men, "what did you come for to-day?"

Rover looked at the man, but walked right on, pushed the screen door
open and went into the store.

"Good morning, Rover," said Mr. Brown. "What can I do for you?"

Rover put the basket on the floor and then looked up. Mr. Brown took out
the white cloth and found the note Mrs. Hill had put there.

"Two pounds of beefsteak. Very well," said he.

He weighed a piece and wrapped it with paper and put it in the basket.