Read Online Corn-Farm Boy by Lois Lenski - Free Book Online Page A

feet—and there was Peter. The girls took him in bed with them and his soft fur tickled their stomachs. They giggled.
    Upstairs Rita heard the giggling. She pinched Margy and asked, “Are you awake?”
    â€œYe-s,” said Margy in a sleepy voice, half-awake.
    â€œHear those kids laughing down there?” asked Rita. “I want to find out what’s going on.”
    Rita sneaked down the stairs and Margy followed.
    â€œIt’s Peter!” cried Rita. “He’s in bed with them.”
    The rabbit jumped out of the bed. Margy ran and caught him. With Peter in her arms, she ran up the stairs. Rita came behind her. The girls below made a fuss because their pet was taken away. Upstairs Margy and Rita took Peter in their bed, but he would not stay there. He hopped out into the hall. Just then they heard a door snap shut.
    They went to look, but could not find the rabbit anywhere. They even looked in the hall closet, but he wasn’t there. The girls downstairs did not have him either. Peter was gone.
    â€œI know where he is,” said Margy. “He’s in the boys’ room. Dick’s got him. Every pet I get, Dick always steals it.”
    Rita and Margy pounded on Dick’s door.
    â€œO. K., Doctor Dick!” they cried “We’ll get even with you.”
    Just then Mom came to the bottom of the stairs and called, “Breakfast is ready, everybody!”

CHAPTER V
    Picnic in the Grove
    â€œMom!” shouted Dick. “Here comes the grocery truck!”
    â€œHelp me get the eggs out, Dick,” said Mom.
    Dick and his mother brought several cases of fresh eggs up from the cellar and took them out by the house-yard gate. The grocery truck drove in. It came once a week and was driven by two young men, Arlo and Leo Kibler, from a neighboring town. Mom did most of her trading with them, because she could not drive a car and go to town regularly.
    â€œHi, fellas!” cried Dick.
    Arlo and Leo jumped down from the cab and opened up the three big doors on the side of the truck. The inside of the doors was lined with racks for groceries. On the roof of the truck were large square salt blocks for cattle, and an array of striped watermelons. Behind the cab was a refrigerated cabinet where perishables were carried.
    â€œBuy me candy! Buy me an orange! Buy me an apple!” cried Margy.
    â€œRun and get my vinegar jug, Dick,” said Mom.
    Mrs. Hoffman looked over the groceries and picked out what she needed—spices, dried beans, lemons, rice, flour and canned goods. Leo counted the eggs she wanted to trade and figured out the cash she owed to settle the balance. Dick held up the gallon vinegar jug at the spigot of the four-foot vinegar barrel in the rear, while Arlo siphoned it off.
    But Mom and Leo were looking over the watermelons. Leo picked out two large ones and guaranteed them ripe and sweet.
    â€œFor the picnic!” cried Dick. “Gee, you boys came just in time.”
    Dick carried the watermelons to the cellar, while Mom and Margy took the groceries in the house. The grocery truck drove off to other farms down the road.
    That night it was very hot and close, so no one slept much. As early as four-thirty in the morning the sun was shining brightly. Dad came to the foot of the stairs at five-thirty and called, “Dick! Raymond! Time to get up.” Dick shook himself awake and went out to help Raymond do the milking, while Dad did the morning chores. Popcorn ran up and down the stairs, barking loudly and waking everybody up.
    â€œOh, I’m so happy!” Margy went dancing around in her nightgown. “Today’s the day of the picnic!”
    â€œGo back upstairs and get dressed, Margy,” scolded Mom.
    It was the Fourth of July. Uncle Henry and Aunt Etta and their children had come the evening before. Betsy and Patsy were twins, thirteen, Earl was nine and Denny three. They were to stay two days and two nights because Uncle Henry