"Near the best house was a group of three small boys."—[P. 50].
"'Oh! oh! look at that nice dog!' cried one whose name I found was Bob. 'I guess he is lost. I mean to have him for my dog.'
"'No, you shall not,' said Ned, the next in size. 'He shall be my dog.'
"'No, he shall be mine,' said Sam. 'I want him! I will have him!' and on that they all tore up the steps of the house, and burst in-to a room where their mam-ma was, with:
"'Ma, I want the dog!'
"'Ma, give me the dog!'
"'No, no, no, ma!—me! me! me!'
"'O dear! what a noise!' said their mam-ma. 'Do be still. If you want the dog, take him; but don't whine, or go on as if you all had the tooth-ache.'