So Norma blithely pushed the mower easily over the lawn with the blades passing over the tops of the grass instead of through them. Suddenly the machine ran against a fragment of broken bottle that was hidden in the grass. Norma was moving quickly at the time, but the unexpected obstruction stopped the mower with such force that the handle-bar struck her at the waist line doubling her half across the wooden bar and making her grunt loudly.
She let go her hold on the handle and held herself with both hands while she groaned: “Oh! I’m cut in two instead of the grass.”
Her friends laughed heartily at her remark but Norma had not said it as a joke and now she took offence at their mirth. To pacify the angry scout, Janet called out: “That settles the mower’s residence at Green Hill Farm! Away it goes and we buy a new one of Si Tompkins.” Everyone agreed to this and Frances was authorized to get a new machine the next time she went to Four Corners.
The troop of girls, having settled the momentous question of a lawn mower, now followed Ames to the barn yard to see the goslings they had heard Janet describe as being the cutest things she had ever seen.
“I brought you two dozen, Janet, as that is just about what a gander and the geese you wanted would cost,” explained Ames, as he began lifting the fluffy little things from the crate and placing them in the coop.
“My goodness, Mr. Ames! I don’t know what I shall do with twenty-four geese when they grow up. Just think of all the corn they will eat before Thanksgiving,” exclaimed Janet.
Sam had followed the girls when Ames drove to the barn yard, and he now said soothingly: “Neber mind dat, Miss Janet. Dey dies awful easy when dey is little. Chicken hawks love goslin’s, and so do black snakes. Cats are plentful in the country, too, and dey kills more chicks and goslin’s—my! Besides, lots will die of disease, so you won’t have to spend much money on corn by fall.”
“I don’t see any nourishment in that, after my money has been spent for the goslings!” snapped Janet, peevishly.
The girls laughed, and Natalie said: “But think of the good you will be doing the hawks and snakes and cats, by feeding them with goslings.”
“Janet, don’t let Sam or anyone else frighten you,” said Ames, as he patted Janet on the back. “You ain’t lost no chicks that way yet, have you?”