e afraid; but his attention was soon
attracted to some hens, a little farther along, which were standing on the
edge of the scaffolding over his head, and cackling with noise enough to
fill the whole barn.

[Illustration: The Bull Chained by the Nose.]

When they got to the other end of the barn, they found a door leading out
into a shed; and there was Farmer Cropwell, with one of his men and a
pretty large boy, getting out some ploughs.

"Good morning, Mr. Cropwell," said Rollo's father; "what! are you going to
ploughing?"

"Why, it is about time to overhaul the ploughs, and see that they are in
order. I think we shall have an early season."

"Yes, I find my garden is getting settled, and I came to talk with you a
little about some garden seeds."

The truth was, that Rollo's father was accustomed to come every spring,
and purchase his garden seeds at this farm; and so, after a few minutes,
they went into the house, taking Rollo with them, to get the seeds that
were wanted, out of the seed-room.

What they called the seed-room was a large closet in the house, with
shelves all around it; and Rollo waited there a little while, until the
seeds were selected, put up in papers, and given to his father.

When this was all done, and they were just coming out, the farmer said,
"Well, my little boy, you have been very still and patient. Should not you
like some seeds too? Have you got any garden?"

"No, sir," said Rollo; "but perhaps my father will give me some ground for
one."

"Well, I will give you a few seeds, at any rate." So he opened a little
drawer, and took out some seeds, and put them in a piece of paper, and
wrote something on the outside. Then he did so again and again, until he
had four little papers, which he handed to Rollo, and told him to plant
them in his garden.

Rollo thanked him, and took his seeds, and they returned home.

Work and Play.

On the way, Rollo thought it would be an excellent plan for him to have a
garden, and he told his father so.

"I think it would be an excellent plan myself," said his father. "But do
you intend to make work or play of it?"

"Why, I must make work of it, must not I, if I have a real garden?"

"No," said his father; "you may make play of it if you choose."

"How?" said Rollo.

"Why, you can take a hoe, and hoe about in the ground as long as it amuses
you to hoe; and then you can plant your seeds, and water and weed them
just as long as you find