150 FARM SPIES 



"That is who I be, sonny," he answered, and his 

 look betrayed his curiosity as to who that boy 

 might be. 



The boy spoke again : " That is a lovely big dog 

 you have, Mr. Whitney. I like dogs and he is about 

 the finest fellow I ever saw." 



The frankness with which this was said pleased 

 the old man, and he became interested in his young 

 visitor. "Yes," the old man explained, "he is all 

 you say ; I raised him myself ; he was born in that 

 old kennel you see over there under that tree. His 

 mother came from South Carolina and was as fine 

 a dog as you or anybody else ever saw. What may 

 be your name, sonny? " 



"My name is Frank Sellars and my father and I 

 are visiting Fred Collins. Mr. Collins is my uncle," 

 said Frank, wondering in the meantime what the old 

 gentleman meant by saying that the dog came from 

 South Carolina, the State in which he was now 

 living. 



"So you be visitin' your uncle Fred Collins. 

 Well, Fred is a mighty fine man and a good neighbor. 

 Have a seat, sonny. Git that box leanin' thar 

 against the tree and bring it over here and set down." 



When Frank went for the box he could but admire 

 the tall and stately elm against which the box leaned. 

 When he came back he said, "What a beautiful elm 

 that is, Mr. Whitney. There are none prettier on 



