Prince and Rover of Cloverfield Farm Part 5

"Are you going to drive to the train or walk?" asked mother. "I need some groceries before dinner and wish you would drive so you could bring them back."

"I will drive then," said father. "I meant to walk."

Mother wrote down a long list of groceries--flour, sugar, tea, raisins, mola.s.ses, rolled oats and spices.

"I will leave the list with Mr. Brown," said father, "so he will have them ready for me when I come back and I won't have to wait."

So father drove Prince to the village and tied him to the hitching post in front of Mr. Brown's store.

He gave the list to the grocer.

"Please have them ready when I come back on the eleven o'clock train,"

said he.

Then father went to his train.

The grocer put up the order. "I might as well put them in the buggy for him now," said he.

So he carried the groceries out and packed them under the seat.

Farmer Hill intended to come back on the eleven o'clock train; but his business took him longer than he expected, so he could not come until the next train at one o'clock.

Meanwhile Prince stood very still and patient for some time. Then he began to take a few steps forward once in a while, and then a few steps backward.

Prince liked to go. He did not like to stand still so long.

Every time he stepped back and forth, the knot in the halter loosened a little. After a while, about one o'clock, it became entirely untied.

When father got off the train, he was still thinking of his business in the city and was in a hurry to get home. So he never once thought about Prince, but struck off across lots and hurried home afoot.

"Where are Prince and the groceries?" asked mother, as father came into the house.

"Prince and the groceries?" said he, "Prince and the groceries? Sure enough, I did drive Prince down this morning. I entirely forgot him. He must be standing at the hitching post in front of the store. I'll go back and get him."

Before this time Prince was quite hungry. He was very tired standing still so long. He wished he could go home to his stall and eat his dinner.

Still Farmer Hill did not come for him.

The next time he stepped forward, there was no halter to stop him; so he kept on walking down the street.

The thought of home and his dinner made him want them very much.

So he began to trot.

Just as Farmer Hill was leaving the house to go after him, Prince turned into the yard.

"There is Prince now," said father. "He has come home alone."

"But I need the groceries," said mother. "I must have the sugar right away. One of us will have to drive back after them."

"Sure enough," said father, "I'll go because I am the one who forgot them."

He started to get into the buggy.

"Why, here are the groceries," said he. "Prince has brought them home."

[Ill.u.s.tration: WHY ROVER WENT _to_ CHURCH]

VIII

On Sundays at Cloverfield Farm Rover always stayed at home to guard the place while the family went to church.

Just once, a long time ago, he had followed clear to the church door, when Mr. Hill had sent him back home.

One Sunday in summer, father hitched the horses to the big carriage and drove up to the horse block where mother and the children were waiting for him.

"Did you lock all the doors?" asked father.

"Yes," said mother, "and all the windows too."

"Where is Rover?" asked father.

"He is under the apple tree," said John.

Then they got into the carriage and drove to church--father, John and Sue on the front seat; mother, Bobby and Baby Betty on the back seat.

Past two farm houses, under the Big Trees, past two more farm houses, down the little hill and through the village they went to the big stone church on the brow of the big hill.

After father had driven the horses and carriage under the shed at the rear of the church, all the family went into church and up the middle aisle to their pew near the front.

Meanwhile at the farm Rover was having a good nap under the apple tree.

Suddenly he was awakened by the sound of wheels on the gravel drive. Up he jumped and ran up the driveway to welcome the family home.

But what was his surprise to see a strange horse and carriage and strange people in the carriage!

"Strangers must not come into this yard when the folks are away,"

thought Rover. So he ran toward them, growling and barking.

"Bow-wow, bow-wow," barked Rover, "bow-wow-wow, gr-r-r-"

"h.e.l.lo, Rover," said a man's voice.

[Ill.u.s.tration: "'Strangers must not come into this yard when the folks are away'"]