“Did Mungo Park travel in the woods?”
“Yes, in Africa. I think Mungo knows his name too,” said Mary Anna.
“Do you,” said Dwight. “Why?”
“Why, whenever I go to feed him,” said Mary Anna, “I call Mungo! Mungo! and drop my nuts and corn down through the wires into the hole. And now he begins to come down when he hears my voice, and the little rogue catches up a nut and runs off with it.”
“Does he?” said Caleb. “O, I wish you would let him out. I don't believe he would run away.”
“Not just yet,” said Mary Anna.
“But if you don't let him out pretty soon, I shall be gone,” said Caleb; “for I am going to Boston, you know, next week.”
“So you are,” said Mary Anna; “I forgot that.”
Caleb's father and mother were coming up from Boston that week, and they had written something about taking Caleb back with them, when they returned. Caleb was much pleased with this idea. He liked living in the country better than living in Boston; but still, he was very much pleased at the thought of seeing his father and mother, and his little sister, at home. He also liked riding, and was very glad of the opportunity to ride several days in the carryall, upon the front seat with his father. He expected that his father would let him have the whip and reins pretty often to drive.
“It is not certain, however,” continued Mary Anna, “that you will go to Boston this summer. Mother said that perhaps you would not go until the fall, and then perhaps she would go with you, and bring you back to stay here through the winter.”