XVI 



COUSINS OF OATS 



OONS have the reputation of being as 

 mischievous as monkeys, as well as play- 

 ful as kittens. Billy Coon did all in his 

 ])o\ver to keep up the reputation of his 

 family, as well as to make life interest- 

 l ing to the children at the farm, often 

 succeeding only too well, and was 

 threatened with banishment by Rod, Dr. 

 Hunter, and Mammy Bun in turn. 

 Billy was supposed to live at the 

 stable, except on Saturdays, when lie was brought to 

 camp, " to make it seem more like outdoors," as Dodo 

 said. The children watched eagerly to see if he would 

 go to the hay loft and curl up for the winter sleep, 

 after the custom of his family. But no, Billy did not 

 propose to waste his time in this way, and indeed Avliy 

 should he? Was he not comfortable and well fed? 

 He had no need to tighten his belt and go to l)ed to 

 keep warm. To be sure, he did sleep nearly all day 

 curled up in the hay rack over Comet's stall, waking 

 up before dark each night to devise fresh mischief. 



The feed and oats were kept in bins above the stable, 

 connected by a long, wooden shoot with the stalls be- 

 low. One night Billy pulled open the little slot over 



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