"Well, you seem to be all right," went on Grandma as, finally, sue managed to get up. "We are growing old together, Racky—you and I—growing old together! But you may last a few more years."
"I won't if you keep on sitting down on me as hard as you did just then!" said the chair to himself. "You have no idea how you hurt me! One leg is splintered, I'm sure!"
Grandma Harden took off her glasses and tucked them down in a snug place between the seat and back cushions of the chair. She did not have to wear her spectacles to see to take the layers of cake from the oven, for they were now baked. Only when she sewed, mended or read stories to the children did Grandma need her glasses. So now she left them in the old, traveling rocking chair.
Setting the hot cakes on the table, the old lady went to the front hall to ask her daughter-in-law where the chocolate was kept.
And while Grandma was out of the kitchen, Racky decided on something very bold and strange.
The door leading down into the laundry was open. Out of the kitchen window Racky could look and see Lizzie in the yard hanging out the clothes. And there was no sign of a blackbird coming along to nip at her nose.
So it happened that Racky was alone in the kitchen, and Gassy, the stove, was alone down in the laundry.
As I have told you, in another of these "Happy Home" books, entitled "The Adventures of the Galloping Gas Stove," Gassy had gone through some wonderful experiences. Having heard, somehow, that a new stove was to be put into the kitchen, in his place, Gassy decided to run away! And, what is more, he did, and with him ran Thump, the dog, who had been scolded because he came into the kitchen with muddy paws! As if that mattered!
Gassy and Thump had many strange adventures together before they came home with Rodney, Addie, Nat and Weezie, who had gone to search for the runaways. They all came home on the back of an elephant, as you may read in the book about Gassy's adventures.
Mr. Zink, the plumber, brought a new stove for the Harden kitchen, but as Gassy still was useful, he was put down in the laundry, where he made the best of it with the wringer and the tubs for company.