h, our
grocer, after school. He's strong, Tommy is. He gained two pounds in the
country. Maybe you could hire him to run errands for you, Daddy, and pay
him money."

"He really is a very good boy," said Miss Carter. "If you could give him
any work it would be a charity."

"I'll see about it when we get home," said Mr. Bobbsey.

"And you say the grandmother does sewing?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey. "I must
look her up, and perhaps I can give her work. We won't forget the
Todds."

"But can I help Tommy buy a ship and go to look on the desert island for
his father?" Freddie demanded.

"I'll see about it," promised Mr. Bobbsey, with a smile.

The train rumbled on. Some passengers got off, and others came on board.
The fresh air children got drinks of water until there was none left in
the tank. Some of them crawled under the seats, and one little fat girl
got stuck, and a brakeman had to come in and raise the seat so she
could get out. Others raced up and down the aisles until the two ladies
in charge of them did not know what to do. Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey helped
as much as they could.

"The children don't mean to be troublesome," said Miss Carter, "but they
don't very often have a chance to have real fun like this, and they make
the most of it. Thank goodness we'll soon be home."

A little later the brakeman called:

"Lakeport! Lakeport!"

"Oh, here we are!" cried the Bobbsey twins.

"Come!" shouted Flossie.

"Hurry!" urged Freddie.

"Don't forget Snoop, Dinah," said Nan.

"I'll hurry up to the baggage car and get Snap," said Bert, for the dog
had to ride there.

"Can I help you carry any bundles?" asked Tommy Todd of Mrs. Bobbsey. "I
get out here, too."

"Oh, yes, so you do. Well, you might carry that basket if it isn't too
heavy for you. But please be careful of it for it has flowers in it."

"Yes'm, I'll be careful," and Tommy slipped the handle of the basket
over his arm.

The Bobbseys got out, as did some of the fresh air children, and other
passengers. Fat Dinah carried the basket in which lay Snoop, the black
cat. She had awakened now, and was stretching out her claws.

"I guess Snoop will be glad to get out," said Flossie, putting her fat
little finger in the basket to rub her pet. Snoop purred her thanks.

The baggageman loosed Snap's chain, and let him jump out of the baggage
car to Bert, who led him down the platform. There was another dog in the
car, and his master came for him, following Bert.