“No, sir!” said Johnny, “and my mother has to work a heap harder, you see.”
“And you work too?”
“Some,” said Johnny. “I sell papers and clean off the sidewalk when there is snow to clean off, and run errands for Mr. Bucket and do a few things. Well, I’ve got to go along,” he added, “I’ve got some things to do now. I was just trying this old sled over on the hill to see how she would go. I’ve got some work to do now”; and he trotted off, whistling and dragging his sled behind him.
As Tommy and his father turned into their grounds, his father asked, “Where did he say he lived?”
“Wait, I’ll show you,” said Tommy, proud of his knowledge. “Down there [pointing]. See that little house down in the bottom, away over beyond the cow-pasture?”
“How do you know he lives there?”
“Because I’ve been there. He’s got goats,” said Tommy, “and he let me drive them. I wish I had some goats. I wish Santa Claus would bring me two goats like Johnny’s.”
“Which would you rather have? Goats or a cow?” asked his father.
“Goats,” said Tommy, promptly.
“I wonder if Johnny would!” laughed his father.