ooed 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.

"Couldn't you stay all night, my dear?" asked Sister Sallie's mother.

"No, I'm afraid my mamma would worry," replied Alice.

"Perhaps Jimmie will come for you pretty soon," suggested Sister Sallie,
and then she hummed that little verse about going hippity-hop to the
barber shop to buy a lolly-pop lally. You remember it, I dare say.

"Maybe he will," agreed Alice, so she and Sister Sallie played another
game, but it got