garden-gate and sold radishes and roses to the people that passed by
along the road.

But still they didn't seem to make enough money to pay all the
bills--and still the Doctor wouldn't worry. When the parrot came to
him and told him that the fishmonger wouldn't give them any more fish,
he said,

"Never mind. So long as the hens lay eggs and the cow gives milk we
can have omelettes and junket. And there are plenty of vegetables left
in the garden. The Winter is still a long way off. Don't fuss. That
was the trouble with Sarah--she would fuss. I wonder how Sarah's
getting on--an excellent woman--in some ways--Well, well!"

But the snow came earlier than usual that year; and although the old
lame horse hauled in plenty of wood from the forest outside the town,
so they could have a big fire in the kitchen, most of the vegetables in
the garden were gone, and the rest were covered with snow; and many of
the animals were really hungry.

THE FOURTH CHAPTER

A MESSAGE FROM AFRICA

THAT Winter was a very cold one. And one night in December, when they
were all sitting round the warm fire in the kitchen, and the Doctor was
reading aloud to them out of books he had written himself in
animal-language, the owl, Too-Too, suddenly said, "Sh! What's that
noise outside?"

They all listened; and presently they heard the sound of some one
running. Then the door flew open and the monkey, Chee-Chee, ran in,
badly out of breath.

"Doctor!" he cried, "I've just had a message from a cousin of mine in
Africa. There is a terrible sickness among the monkeys out there. They
are all catching it--and they are dying in hundreds. They have heard
of you, and beg you to come to Africa to stop the sickness."

"Who brought the message?" asked the Doctor, taking off his spectacles
and laying down his book.

"A swallow," said Chee-Chee. "She is outside on the rain-butt."

"Bring her in by the fire," said the Doctor. "She must be perished with
the cold. The swallows flew South six weeks ago!"

So the swallow was brought in, all huddled and shivering; and although
she was a little afraid at first, she soon got warmed up and sat on the
edge of the mantelpiece and began to talk.

When she had finished the Doctor said,

"I would gladly go to Africa--especially in this bitter weather. But
I'm afraid we haven't money enough to buy the tickets. Get me the
money-box, Chee-Chee."

So the monkey climbed up and got it off the top