“Oh, that horrid old garden is such a care! I wish to goodness I had chosen stock-raising instead. Then I could have had the pleasure of watching the little things run about and show their gratitude when one feeds them. But lifeless old seeds and expressionless vegetables are such uninteresting things to work for!”
Mrs. James understood that something had gone awry, so she wisely remarked: “Oh, I don’t know! Janet seems to have as much trouble with her stock as anyone has with other work.”
“Well, she doesn’t have to dig holes and plant bean poles for her pigs to climb up on!”
Mrs. James barely kept from laughing outright at the funny excuse given. But she replied: “Janet had a dreadful time just now, trying to catch two of the little pigs that escaped and started to run down the road.”
“No,—really!” exclaimed Natalie, sitting up with great animation. “Where is she now?”
“Trying to repair the fence that they broke down. They are growing so big and strong that the rickety enclosure she made at first will never keep them in, now.”
“I just hope they get away and give her a chase all the way to the Corners!” cried Natalie.
“Why should you wish such hard luck for poor Janet?” asked Mrs. James, laughingly.
“Because she laughed at my bean poles and refused to help us dig them up again.”
“Dig them up again! Did you bury them?”