“When I grow up I’m going to cut trees down,” declared Ted.
“I’d rather plant them and see them grow,” said Janet.
“Well, if they didn’t cut trees down we wouldn’t have any houses to live in,” Teddy remarked.
“I s’pose so,” agreed his sister. “But it’s kind of sad to see a big tree that took years and years to grow chopped down in a few minutes.”
In the days that followed the Curlytops had wonderfully good times in the woods. They watched the men chop down trees, they saw the big logs floated down the lake or river to the mill, or else saw them skidded along through the forest to be sawed up into planks.
The sawmill itself was a place of great delight, and the children spent more time there than anywhere else. But they were told to be very careful, and were not allowed to go close to the giant saw unless their father or mother or one of the men went with them.
One day, when Trouble was not feeling very well—though his illness was only a childish complaint that would soon pass—Ted and Janet started for the woods together.
“Where are you going?” their mother asked them as they started off.
“Oh, no place special,” answered Ted. “I thought maybe I could catch a crow.”
“Catch a crow? What for?” she asked.