Uncle Ben looked down with a comical expression upon the eager little fellow, with his bright young face and his sparkling blue eyes.
"Perhaps they do," he said.
"Oh, now, Uncle Ben!" cried Harry and Willie in chorus. "You're only funning now. Who ever heard of cows building houses?"
"I didn't say cows," replied Uncle Ben.
"But there can't be any animal that builds houses and barns, and raises crops," persisted Harry.
"Indeed there is, then," rejoined his uncle. "And milks cows, too, and has armies and workmen, as Willie says; and builds roads and bridges, and digs tunnels, and carries umbrellas. I don't know any that bakes pies, but I could name more than one that lives on candy."
"Now I know that Uncle Ben is funning," cried Willie, gleefully; "for he has got those wrinkles about his eyes, and he never has them except when he's funning."
"What kind of animals are they, I would like to know?" asked Harry, who was determined to put his learned uncle to the test. "I never came across any of their houses, I know."
"Indeed you have, then. I have seen you, more than once, shut their front doors for them, without asking leave or license."
Uncle Ben, as he spoke, had leaned over to the ground. He now rose, with a little black travelling speck on his finger.