“He must be very strong!” said Mrs. Partridge.
“Strong! I should say he is strong! Even Percy Hawk is afraid of him, and never goes near the little chickens when that big rooster is watching him!”
“Major Partridge is very athletic!” said Mrs. Partridge. “He exercises a great deal on his drum!”
“Here comes the Major now!” said Robert Robin.
“How do you do, sir!” said Major Partridge to Robert Robin.
“Good afternoon, Major!” said Robert Robin. “I have just been telling Mrs. Partridge about how strong the farmer’s big rooster was, and how he could dig with his feet!”
“Did you ever see me dig with my feet?” asked Major Partridge.
“I do not remember ever having seen you dig with your feet, Major Partridge, but the farmer’s big rooster kicked a worm clear through the fence!”
“Kicking a little worm is nothing! Once I kicked a stone from hither to yonder, and Billy Rabbit asked me to help him dig his next hole!” declared Major Partridge, as he stood very straight and put his chest out. “If you have a few moments to spare I will dig these leaves up for you!”
Then Major Partridge began kicking the leaves in all directions, and Robert Robin began catching the brown bugs, and Mrs. Partridge came from her nest, and found the ripe partridge berries which Major Partridge was uncovering, but when the Major happened to see the ripe red partridge berries he forgot all about kicking the leaves, and he and Mrs. Partridge ate all the berries and never invited Robert Robin to have a berry.