as he sat there and sent streams of milk
tinkling down upon the bottom of the tin pail, what a fine scheme it
would be to build a hoop big enough for the Muley Cow to jump through.
It ought to be easy to teach her. For everybody knew that she was a
famous jumper. She made more trouble, jumping the fence, than all the
rest of Farmer Green's herd.

Johnnie Green got to thinking so intently about the matter that he began
to dawdle. And if there was one thing that the Muley Cow didn't like it
was to have to stand still while a slow milker puttered at his work. So
she suddenly gave her tail a switch and brought the end of it across
Johnnie Green's cheek.

It was a stinging smack. And Johnnie Green cried, "Ouch!"

After that he stopped his day-dreaming until milking was over. And then
he went back to the woodshed and gazed at the four paper hoops leaning
against the woodpile.

X

THE TIGER

In the same pasture with Snowball was a black lamb. He was the black
lamb that Farmer Green once gave to Johnnie for a pet. But he ran away
up the lane the very first time Johnnie tried to hold him in his arms.

After that the black lamb had always stayed with the flock. He was a
wild, unruly fellow, bigger and older than Snowball. And he was quite
outspoken--and not always careful of his language.

This black lamb chanced to be near Snowball when Johnnie Green came into
the pasture on a certain fine morning. And when Johnnie began calling
to Snowball the black lamb said, "Why don't you run the other way?
That's what I always do when boys call me."

Snowball made no answer. He stood and looked at Johnnie Green, who was
walking towards him with outstretched hand.

"Come on!" cried the black lamb. "I'll run with you."

"No!" said Snowball. "Johnnie may have something good for me to eat.
Some salt, maybe!"

"Huh!" said the black lamb. "Don't be stupid! What if he has brought you
a little salt? He'll want you to jump through that hoop again for him,
the way he did yesterday." Snowball had told the black lamb about the
strange proceeding of the afternoon before.

"Well--" Snowball murmured, as he hesitated, not knowing whether to
obey the black lamb or Johnnie Green.

"Well! Are you coming with me?" the black lamb demanded. "_I'm_ not
going to stay here where that boy can grab me. _I_ don't intend to spend
my time jumping through any old hoop. _I'm_ not quite so silly as to do
that."

"I believe I'll let Johnnie cat