in the brook. Now they were waiting for their father and mother to come
back. They had been waiting for a long time, for it was seven o'clock.
The last thing their mother had called out as she drove off behind the
two old farm horses was, "We'll be back by five o'clock, children."

What could have happened? "Eben," said Nancy, "we'd better eat our own
supper and get something ready for Father and Mother. I guess I'll try
to scramble some eggs."

"Go ahead," answered Eben. "But we're not the ones I'm worrying
about--nor Father and Mother either. It's those poor cows."

"Oh! the cows!" cried Nancy. "And the poor Little Sisters! They'll be
so hungry." Both children ran to the door. "Just listen to them," said
Eben. "They've been waiting in the barn for over an hour now. I
certainly wish Father would come." From the big red barn came the lowing
of the restless cattle. "I'm going to have another look at them," said
Eben. "Come along, Nancy."

The two children peered into the big dark barn. The unmistakable cow
smell came to them strong in the dark. Stretching down the whole length
was stall after stall, each holding an impatient cow. The children could
see the restless hind feet moving and stamping; they could see the
flicking of many tails; they could feel the cows pulling at the
stanchions. On the other side were the stalls of the Little Sisters.
They too were moving about wildly. Over above it all rose the deafening
sound of the plaintive lowings. By the door stood the gasolene engine.
It was attached to a pipe which ran the whole length of the great barn
above the cows' stalls. Eben's eyes followed this pipe until it was lost
in the dark.

"Moo-oo-oo," lowed the cow nearest at hand, so loud that both children
jumped. "Poor old Redface," said Nancy. "I wish we could help you."
"We're going to," said Eben in an excited voice, "See here, Nancy. We're
going to milk these cows!" "Why, Eben Brewster, we could never do it
alone!" Nancy's eyes went to the gasolene engine as she spoke. "We've
got to," said Eben. "That's all there is about it."

So the children began with trembling hands. They lighted two lanterns.
"I wish the cows would stop a minute," said Nancy. "I can't seem to
think with such a racket going on." Eben turned on the spark of the
engine. He had done it before, but it seemed different to do it when his
father wasn't standing near. Then he took the crank. "I hope she doesn't
kick tonight," he wished ferven