THE STBIKE AT SHANE'S, 41 



do," said Towser. "I have tried not to do anything, 

 but I get so many kicks and blows that I have to pre- 

 tend to do something to keep them from beating me to 

 death. By 'them' I mean Mr. Shane and Tom, for 

 Mrs. Shane and Edith are as kind as they can be. I 

 haven't killed a mole this week, and they ate up all of 

 Mrs Shane's flowers. I was awfully sorry about that 

 for I haven't anything against Mrs. Shane. And then 

 when Edith told me to drive the hogs out of the garden 

 I wouldn't go, and she had to go and drive them out 

 herself. I licked her hand afterwards and tried to 

 make up with her, but she wouldn't, and said I was a 

 lazy dog. I'll make it all up to her when this strike is 

 over." 



"I just had to lay an egg every day," said the hen, 

 "but I made a nest away back under the barn where 

 they couldn't find it, and then went up in the hay-mow 

 and cackled. I know they haven't found any eggs for 

 they are all there, except what I gave the crow, and I 

 think he earned them, for I haven't seen a hawk for a 

 week." 



"The rats and mice are about to take the place, for 

 I haven't bothered them this week," said puss. ' ' When 

 I get hungry for a mouse, I go over to the next farm 

 to get it. Shane said I ought to be starved into catch- 

 ing mice. Humph ! there are mice to catch in other 

 places than here. I won't starve." 



"I have done my part," said the crow. "The hen 

 has been giving me eggs to eat, and I have spent my 

 spare time in carrying worms and dropping them on the 



