“No,” said Rollo.
“I should think you would have a strawberry-bed. My father will give you some plants, and you can set them out this fall.”
“I don't know how to set them out,” said Rollo. “Could you come and show me?”
George said he would ask his father; and then, as his horse had done drinking, he turned round, and rode home again.
Mr. Cropwell said that he would give Rollo a plenty of strawberry-plants, and, as to George's helping him set them out, he said that they might exchange works. If Rollo would come and help George gather his meadow-russets, George might go and help him make his strawberry-bed. That evening, George went and told Rollo of this plan, and Rollo's father approved of [pg 136]it. So it was agreed that, the next day, he should go to help them gather the russets. They invited James to go too.
The Pet Lamb.
The next morning, James and Rollo went together to the farmer's. They found George at the gate waiting for them, with his dog Nappy. As the boys were walking along into the yard, George said that his dog Nappy was the best friend he had in the world, except his lamb.
“Your lamb!” said James; “have you got a lamb?”
“Yes, a most beautiful little lamb. When he was very little indeed, he was weak and sick, and father thought he would not live; and he told me I might have him if I wanted him. I made a bed for him in the corner of the kitchen.”