No one ever goes
into his field except Billy. Big Ben seems to hate people. But what he
hates most is anything that is red."
The children peeped in at Big Ben, with nice safe-afraid shivers going
down their backs. Then Mary said, "Come let's go to the farmyard."
The farmyard was a very busy place. "I never saw so many pets in all my
life," said Betty. But Mary knew them all. She showed them Mrs. Speckle
with her family of little baby chicks that looked like fluffy, yellow
balls bobbing around her.
Next she pointed out Mrs. Black Hen with her larger children. Some of
these chickens were losing their feathers. How Mary did laugh when Peggy
cried, "See, those poor little chickens are peeling off!"
"Now," said Mary, "I will show you my trained chicken." First she went
into the house and came out with two ripe, red cherries still on the
stem. Then she called softly, "Come, come, Tom Thumb," and as she
finished calling she put the stem of the cherries between her lips.
Out from among the other chickens came a beautiful little white rooster.
He looked almost like a toy, he was so tiny. With a glad little crow
he flew straight up to Mary's shoulder, where he began to peck at the
cherries.
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