Minerva laughed. “You know more about it than I do, it seems. Well, anyhow, they’d better be in where it’s safe and warm. Young turkeys are delicate. Besides, some crittur might catch them.”
This was not to be denied as Jessie informed the turkeys. “You’re much safer in the hen-house, you two silly things,” she said, “so you ought to be much obliged to us for getting you. I’m sure I shouldn’t want to stay out in the cold and dark all night and have wild beasts get after me. Minerva, that yellow house just this side the bridge must be taken, for there are people living in it. I saw a cat sitting on the porch and there was a little rocking-chair in the garden. Do you suppose it belonged to a little girl?”
“It might. I should say it was very likely to. Little boys don’t usually care for rocking-chairs.”
“I hope it is a nice little girl and that I shall get acquainted with her,” returned Jessie. “Effie Hinsdale is my nearest girl friend and neighbor and she lives across the railroad track. Mother says twice a day is as often as she likes to think of my crossing the track, but when Ezra is there I shouldn’t think she’d mind.”
“I should think she would mind,” said Minerva. “Don’t you see enough of the girls at school?”
“Ye-es,” said Jessie doubtfully, “I suppose I do, but it’s only at recess, you know, for I always hurry home. I was late to-day because 589 was behind time.”
“That’s the four o’clock, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but Ezra always calls her 589.”
“And that’s why you do. I suppose that’s a fairly good reason. There’s your father and Sam coming up the lane. I’ll put up the turkeys and you can open the gate for them.”
Jessie ran down the long avenue of trees which led up to the house, opened the gate and stood there while her father drove in.