her. "So like his mother," said Aunt Laura
and Laurie wondered how he could be like his mother, for his mother was
ever so much taller then he, and ever so much more "grown up."

[Illustration: Flower ornament]

CHAPTER II.

After supper, Laurie slipped his small hand inside Uncle Sam's big one,
and they started out together to see the farm, the big collie dog "Shep"
running along beside them.

"I've never seen so many animals in all my life," he exclaimed, as they
came up to the great gate that shut in the barnyard, "except perhaps in
the Zoo."

"Shall we stop here for a moment?" said Uncle Sam, lifting Laurie up and
seating him on the gate-post, where he could see all over the yard at
once.

"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!"

[Illustration: Uncle Sam and Laurie]

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