Bobby of Cloverfield Farm

by Oliver Optic

  Bobby tried to keep back the tears, but they would come; he was sodisappointed. Mr. Barlow thought a moment.

  "I'll tell you what I'll do," said he. "I had some big windows takenover to Mr. Martin's new house this morning. He is going to have twowindows just the size of yours. If they are not yet put in, I think Mr.Martin will let me take one for you and get him another next week."

  Bobby and the carpenter went over to Mr. Martin's house. They found thatone of the big panes had already been put in, and the man was just goingto start on the other.

  "Wait a minute," said Mr. Barlow. "We may not want that one put into-day."

  Then he said to Mr. Martin, "Will you let me put that big pane into Mr.Hill's window? I'll get another one for you on Monday."

  "Why not get Mr. Hill's on Monday?" asked Mr. Martin.

  "Well, you see, Bobby broke their big window and his mother is cominghome to-day," said the carpenter.

  "I see," said Mr. Martin. "Well, in that case, I'll help a little chapout."

  Mr. Barlow hitched up his horse and put the big pane of glass in thewagon. They reached the house with the big pane all safe.

  While Mr. Barlow put it in, Bobby stood watching him and looking at theclock every once in a while. When it was all done, he handed the fourdollars to Mr. Barlow.

  "And thank you ever so much for coming to-day," he said.

  "It won't take as much as that," said the carpenter. And he handed adollar back to Bobby.

  "What time did you say Mother was coming?" he asked.

  "On the four o'clock train," answered Bobby.

  "There is time to wash it if you will bring the things," said Mr.Barlow.

  Bobby washed the inside, while Mr. Barlow washed the outside.

  And there was the Big Window, whole and bright and shiny again.

  It was not long before Father and John came up to the house with Prince,to go to the train. Bobby and Sue and Betty all got into the carriage.Rover ran along beside it.

  On the way to the station, Bobby told Father all about the window.

  In a short time, the train came in sight down the track. In a fewmoments more, Bobby saw Mother coming from the train and ran to meether.

  And it was not long before she was home again, and they were allvisiting together in the sitting-room.

  As she sat in the big rocker near the window, Mother said, "I saw manybeautiful sights on my trip, but none that I like better than the viewfrom my beautiful, shiny, big window."

  And then wasn't Bobby Hill happy!

  ONE STORMY NIGHT]

  XV

  A few weeks after Mother came home, they were all gathered in thesitting-room after supper.

  Outside, the rain beat against the window panes and the wind made amournful sound among the evergreens.

  Inside, all was bright and cheery. In the coal stove a fire was burning.On the table a big lamp sent a bright light through the room.

  Baby Betty had been put to bed, but Bobby sat at the table, reading anew book.

  "It is almost bedtime for you," said Mother.

  "Can't we have a game of dominoes before I go?" asked Bobby.

  Mother looked at the clock. "Just one," she said.

  So they all gathered around the table in the center of the room--Father,Mother, John and Sue and Bobby.

  Father and Bobby were partners. They got two hundred points first and sowon the game.

  When the game was over, John went down cellar and brought up a pan ofapples. Bobby and Sue went to the attic and brought down a basin ofwalnuts. And as they were eating the walnuts and the apples, they had amerry time.

  "I am glad we have such a comfortable place on this stormy night," saidMother.

  "I always like our long Winter evenings," said Father.

  Bobby was cracking nuts. Suddenly he stopped and listened to the rain.

  "I hope the squirrels in the apple tree have plenty of nuts to-night,"said he.

  At half past eight, Bobby went upstairs to bed. Mother tucked him in andtold him a good-night story. It was about Daniel in the Lion's Den thatnight.

  When she came down, Father was reading his paper on one side of thetable. Across from him, John sat reading a book. Sue was softly playingon the piano.

  Mother stopped a moment in the doorway to enjoy the scene.

  "Winter time or Summer time, home is best," she thought.

  Then she took her place in the easy chair which John had drawn up forher near the lamp, and opened her book to read.

  Upstairs, Bobby lay awake for some time, listening to the wind and rain.

  Then he fell asleep and dreamed that he was in the hayfield playing withRover; and the sound he heard was not the storm but the hum of the mowercutting the clover.

  THE END