Adventures of the runaway rocking chair

by Howard Roger Garis

"All right," spoke the rocking chair, "then I'll have to run away alone. But don't tell anybody which way I went, Thump."

"No, I won't tell," promised the dog and then, all of a sudden, he grew much excited and whispered: "Quick, Racky, rock away as fast as you can! I see a policeman passing along the street between my house and your house. Maybe he is coming after you! Rock away! I'll chase my tail here in the weeds and bark loud, and the policeman will look at me and he won't see you. That will give you a chance to rock away and hide! Quick! Go on!"

"QUICK, RACKY, ROCK AWAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN!"

"Thanks! I will!" said the chair. So away he rocked through the stiff weeds and bushes, off toward the forest and the lake.

Now Policeman Paddock, though he had been seen by Thump passing along the street, had no notion of coming after the rocking chair. He did not even know Racky was running away. But Thump thought he did, and the dog began making a great fuss so the officer would look at him and not try to stop Racky.

And, surely enough, hearing the noise in the weeds, Policeman Paddock came rushing in, as I have told you, but all he saw was a dog. By this time Racky had rocked far enough away to be out of sight.

"I'm glad they didn't catch me!" murmured the chair to himself as he traveled on over the vacant lots. "If it hadn't been for Thump, though, my adventures would be at an end before they had fairly begun.

"But now I am off to see the world! No more fat old ladies, however nice they are, can sit on me, making me creak and groan. I am going to do as I please!"