“Oh, how fine!” exclaimed Laurie, “I feel just like a little bird that perches on a tree, and looks down on the cows underneath, and isn’t a bit afraid of their horns!”
Uncle Sam laughed, for he knew the cows would not hurt him, nevertheless he kept his arm around Laurie to be sure, for he was a little city boy, and city boys only see pictures of cows in books, and Uncle Sam thought Laurie might be a weeny bit afraid. Bossie, Bonnie Bee, Lilian and Daisy, the cows, were standing around waiting to be milked, switching their tails and moo-oo-ing now and then; some would wander over to the wide horse trough, over which the water spilled, and bend their heads until their mouths touched the water, when they would drink in great gulps, then turn away with dripping chins.
Just then there was the sound of hoofs, and old “Sue,” “Magic” and “Marvel” and the colt “Arbutus” raced up from the pasture, and into the barnyard.
Uncle Sam drew a handful of apples out of his capacious pockets, and the horses came whinneying and ate them out of his hand.
“I’m glad I’m up here,” laughed Laurie, but Uncle Sam latched the gate, and lifted him down, for there was ever so much more to be seen.
Over in the pig-sty the old mother sow and her family of pigs were pushing each other out of the way to see who could get the most supper, some of them being impolite enough to stand with their feet in the trough, but of course that is considered correct in pig society.
The little pigs were cunning, with their bright eyes and curly tails, and even the old sow was admirable, for she would grunt as though to say “Did you ever see so fine a family; I have taught them that the best things in this world must be hunted for, and to look out for themselves, yes! they have been brought up properly, I have a right to be proud.”
Laurie had never seen a real pump before, so they stopped and he had a drink of the cool well water. How refreshing it was! Next they peeped into the chicken house, deserted, except for a few old mother hens, sitting on their eggs, who, when they saw Laurie, set up such a fuss that he quickly came out again.
