[pg 12]“I can plant beans,” said Rollo.
Just then, Rollo, who was all this time riding on the horse, looked down from his high seat into a little bush by the side of the road, and saw there a little bunch that looked like a birdsnest; and he said, “O, father, please to take me down; I want to look at that birdsnest.”
His father knew that he would not hurt the birdsnest; so he took him off of the horse, and put him on the ground. Then he walked on with the horse, and Rollo turned back to see the nest. He climbed up upon a log that lay by the side of the bush, and then gently opened the branches and looked in. Four little, unfledged birds lifted up their heads, and opened their mouths wide. They heard the noise which Rollo made, and thought it was their mother come to feed them.
“Ah, you little dickeys,” said Rollo; “hungry, are you? I have not got any thing for you to eat.”
Rollo looked at them a little while, and then slowly got down and walked along up the lane, saying to himself, “They are not big enough to work, at any rate, but I am, I know, and I do not believe but that Elky is.”
Preparations.
When Rollo got back into the yard, he found his father just getting into the wagon to go away. Jonas stood by the horse, having just finished harnessing him.
“Father,” said Rollo, “I can work. You thought I could not work, but I can. I am going to work to-day while you are gone.”
“Are you?” said his father. “Very well; I should be glad to have you.”