66 STORIES OF EARTH AND SKY 



ing them in the muddy walk, while every few 

 minutes a gust of wind brought it against the 

 window with a swish. 



" There isn't a bird or a butterfly or a flower or 

 anything to talk to. I wish Tommy hadn't gone 

 to town with father and mother yesterday. I 

 'most think I should enjoy playing 'den and 

 bear' with him under the dinner table," con- 

 tinued Anne, with a sigh, "for I've done all 

 the lessons that were marked." 



" It is dull, to be sure," replied Waddles, yawn- 

 ing and adroitly snapping up a big fly that buzzed 

 against the lower panes. " I wouldn't mind play- 

 ing 4 snatch bone ' with Lumberlegs if you will 

 whistle him up from the barns and give us a 

 bone." 



" Waddles, I'm surprised at you, when you 

 know that it is a muBtrft be for Lumberlegs 

 to come into the house in wet weather. Do 

 you remember the first time you brought him 

 in, when Aunt Prue was visiting here, how 

 he shook water all over her new cape? But 

 what sort of a game is 4 snatch bone ' ? I don't 

 think I've ever heard of it. Did you teach it 

 to Lumberlegs ? " 



" No, missy, he taught me, You see, as I lived 

 so many years alone with you I knew very little 



