“Oh, goody! You can stay with us and I’ll teach you how to cook,” exclaimed Joy.
Eagerly the young homesteaders accepted the invitation, but they insisted upon being allowed to help, and donning some of the girl’s aprons, they were soon daubed with flour and dough.
“Lorsey, what a sight!” laughed the old settler, coming in a short time later. “I’m going to sow some alfalfa and thought maybe you’d like to see how ’twas done.”
“Now, Dad, you know Ted wants to rest. You shouldn’t have asked them,” Joy protested.
“I’m doctor and they can’t go; besides, I am teaching them to cook so they won’t be obliged to live on canned stuff.”
“Wall, I kin put off planting the alfalfa until tomorrow. I’ve got enough to do in the garden,” and Mr. Jay went out.
When milking-time came, the boys insisted on going to the corral in which the cows were herded to be milked.
“May I try?” asked Phil.
Readily the permission was granted, but after a few futile efforts to extract even a drop of milk, the cow looked round as though to see what manner of thing was pulling at her bag. Her inspection was evidently unsatisfactory, for she gave a kick that put Phil on his back and sent the pail spinning.
“Try this cow, I’ve got her started,” directed Jasper, when the boy had picked himself and the pail up.