piece of carrot from Aunt Polly's store of roots and herbs.

"I must have a look at the Muley Cow this very morning," Aunt Polly told
her caller. "Won't you come with me?"

Mrs. Woodchuck said that nothing would please her more. So she ordered
Billy to scamper home.

"You'll have to wait till I put on my best poke," Aunt Polly said. "If
the Muley Cow has a new one I don't want to call on her in my second
best."

So Mrs. Woodchuck waited. And at last they set off together to find the
Muley Cow. They hadn't gone far before old Mr. Crow flapped down on a
hummock near them.

"If you're looking for the Muley Cow," he squawked, "you'll find her
down near the lane. And she's wearing her new poke, too."

They thanked him. And as soon as they had passed on Mrs. Woodchuck
remarked what a busybody he was.

"Always poking his bill into other people's affairs!" Aunt Polly
sniffed.

Still, his advice saved them a good many steps. For they found the Muley
Cow just where Mr. Crow had said they would.

But she wasn't wearing a poke bonnet at all. They noticed that as soon
as they caught sight of her.

"Perhaps it has fallen off her head and she doesn't know it," Aunt Polly
suggested.

"I'll ask her," said Mrs. Woodchuck. And she hurried up to the Muley
Cow.

"Where's your poke?" she cried. "You haven't lost it--have you?" As she
spoke she noticed a peculiar something about the Muley Cow's neck. It
was a sort of huge wooden collar, with a long stake that stuck out in
front of her.

The Muley Cow acted very grumpy.

"Don't be impertinent!" she snapped.

"Excuse us, please!" Aunt Polly Woodchuck said to the Muley Cow. "We
heard you were wearing a poke; and we wanted to see it. You know, I
always wear a poke in summer. In fact, I put on my best one before
leaving home."

The Muley Cow stared at her in a puzzled fashion. And at last the truth
dawned upon her.

"You've made a mistake," she said. "You've misunderstood. It's not a
poke bonnet that I have. It's a _poke_--this thing around my neck."

[Illustration: The Muley Cow Explains What a POKE is.

(_Page 49_)]

Well, Aunt Polly and Mrs. Woodchuck didn't know what to say. And they
felt so uncomfortable that they turned away and started off.

"Wait a moment!" the Muley Cow called to them. "How did you hear about
this poke?"

"Old Mr. Crow told me," Mrs. Woodchuck replied.

"I thought so," said the Muley Cow. "And I'd like to have a talk with
him."

X