“That old Rhode Island Red! See what he’s done!” exclaimed Billy, throwing a stone at the rooster.
“Oh, Billy,” begged Mary Frances. “Poor old Feather Flop! Don’t scare him! Maybe he thought he was helping!”
“Helping?” laughed Billy. “Helping! If he tries to help that way when things come up, I’ll wring his neck!”
“Oh, you wouldn’t do that, Billy,” cried Mary Frances. “He’ll be good, I know.”
“Well,” said Billy, “you’re responsible for his behavior then—he’s your rooster. I’d like to clip his wings and cut his tail off right up next his ears—maybe.”
“He will be good, Billy, I feel sure,” answered Mary Frances. “But you are very kind to dig my garden up.”
“Well,” answered Billy with a very grown-up air, “I know what sort of an undertaking this is. How’re you going to lay the garden out?”
“Oh, I don’t know yet,” answered Mary Frances. “Won’t you help me plan it?”
“Yes, but it’s best to begin with pencil and paper; that’s the first thing Miss Gardener told us in our ‘Home Garden Course.’”