"I will hold four daisies," said Peggy, "and each of you may take one. The girl who gets the daisy with the longest stem may run ahead. If you leave the longest one in my hand, I will go."
"Yes," said Mary, "and the other children may drive Brown Betty and her brood back to the farmyard."
So they drew the daisies and little Dot had the one with the longest stem. Away she ran as fast as her short legs could carry her.
"Oh, Mrs. White," she cried, as she reached the farmhouse, "we found Brown Betty in the woods, but her eggs have all turned into little turkeys."
While Mrs. White was laughing over Dot's way of telling the news, the other children came up with Brown Betty and her brood.
"Dear, dear," said Mrs. White, "as the eggs have turned into turkeys I will let the money I promised turn into a picnic. Let me see, to-day is Tuesday. Will you be ready to go on Thursday?"
"Indeed we will!" cried the children. "Thank you so much."
On Wednesday morning Mary woke up very, very early.
Then Mary woke Betty and Peggy and little Dot.
They all dressed as quickly as they could and hurried out of doors. The sun was just rising and the sky was a beautiful red and gold. The dew sparkled on the grass, and in the tree tops the birds were just beginning to chirp and call.