Reddy Bat laughed again. "I know it," he said, "and I live right here on your front lawn, in your own oak trees, and bring my family out for supper and exercise every evening."
"Where do you leave your children when you come out?"
"Leave the children!" said Reddy Bat in surprise. "Leave the precious children! Why, we wouldn't think of such a thing. Mrs. Reddy Bat always takes our children with her when we leave home. Why we would not have an easy moment all the time we were away if we left them at home!"
"I think you are very tender-hearted," said Buddy Jim. "Most folks say the Bats are ugly and not friendly." "Well," said Reddy Bat, "I know we are not very beautiful to look at, but I suppose we are very much like other people; we try to defend ourselves when we are molested. But if people treat us kindly, we treat them kindly."
"But, Reddy Bat," said Buddy Jim, "tell me what fun is there in the Country?"
"You'll see," laughed Reddy Bat, "living in the Country will make your eyes open wide so that you can see! And now Goodnight and Goodbye, Buddy Jim. It's time for me to go to work and for you to go to bed." And Reddy Bat unhooked the tip of his wing from the nail in the corner of the porch roof, and flew past Buddy with a laugh and a whizz and was gone!
Buddy Jim sat up and looked after him. He felt much happier! Just then Daddy called, "Bedtime, Son!"
"Dad," said the little boy, "I b'lieve I'm going to like living in the Country, after all!"
"Sure to, Son," said Daddy, and they gravely shook hands on it.