Grand-Daddy Whiskers, M.D. | Page 7

I am proud," she exclaimed as she tossed her
pink sun hat upon her desk. "I shall soon teach you some pretty songs,
but this morning Fidelia Cricket has promised to fiddle for us."
Fidelia tripped smilingly up to the desk and stood beside Miss Dot
while she fiddled a cheery little tune.
Then Dot gave them all some paper and pencils and taught them to

write A, B, C. Even Dickie Grasshopper bent over his work, scowling
eagerly as he tried to make the pretty letters.
To be sure, little Squealer would squeal every time little Wee pinched
him, which was quite often, for Wee loved to hear him squeal.
And Bunny Rabbit had to keep trotting out to his lunch basket to nibble
the nice yellow carrot that Mother Rabbit had put in for Bunny and
Bobsey's lunch.
"They are only babies after all," excused Dot. "They haven't learned
school ways and rules."
"Now we will do something else," said Dot by-and-by. "Put away your
pencils and I will teach you some numbers. Listen. One and one are
two. Everybody say it."
The noisy chorus was almost deafening as they all shouted, "One and
one are two!"
"If I should give Hopsy Toad one piece of candy and Dickie
Grasshopper should give him one piece, how many would he have?"
asked Dot.
Buster waved both paws.
"Well, Buster, how many?"
"Not any; he'd eat 'em up," said Buster.
"But if he did not eat them?" laughed Dot.
Webbie Spider raised his paw.
"You may tell us, Webbie."
"One and one are two pieces of candy," answered Webbie.
[Illustration: Webbie Spider raised his paw.]

"Right. You are a smart scholar, Webbie."
"Then please, Miss Dot, don't give the candies to Hopsy--give 'em to
me."
"Now here is a harder problem," went on Dot. "If Bunny Rabbit had
two red apples, and I took one away from him, how many red apples
would he have?"
"You couldn't do it, Miss Dot!" cried Bunny. "I wouldn't give it to you,
so you better not try."
Wiggle Squeaky hopped up excitedly.
"Bunny was saucy. Why don't you get the willow stick, Dot?" he cried.
Bunny turned around and wrinkled his funny pink nose and stuck out
his tongue at Wiggle. All the kiddies shouted and laughed.
"Hush! hush!" said Dot sternly. "You must learn not to laugh in school.
Wiggle must not meddle. And Bunny--if I had my looking-glass here,
so he could see how he looked, I know he wouldn't make such a silly
face again. Bunny did not mean to be saucy. He just said what he
thought was the truth.
"Now," continued Dot with a smile, "if I had two apples and Bobsey
Rabbit took one away from me, how many apples would I have?"
Molly Grasshopper stood up quickly.
"Not any apple, Miss Squeaky!" she cried, "'cause Bunny would grab
the other one."
"Now once more; how many are one and one?"
"One and one are two!" they recited in a shrill chorus.
"Right. You all remember very nicely," praised Dot.

So the lessons went merrily on all that long summer day.
"I shall need you to help me, Silvy," said Dot after school when the
cousins were strolling together among the wild blossoms. "I have a big
class and they are such lively youngsters that it will take some time to
tame them. But it is real fun."
"I'll love to come if Doctor Grand-daddy doesn't find any patients for
me to nurse," agreed Silver Ears. "Let's ask Limpy-toes to take us over
to Gray Rock Bungalow in the automobile tonight. Mammy and Aunt
Squeaky will wish to hear about your school."
"I must ask Pa Squeaky to fetch his fiddle and teach the kiddies some
new music. Mrs. Cricket wants Sammie and Fidelia to have lessons on
their fiddles."
Dot entertained the whole family that evening with her school stories.
They laughed heartily over Bunny and Bobsey.
"They must be real baby clowns!" chuckled Uncle Squeaky. "Never
mind, Dot, keep at 'em until they all learn their A, B, C's and remember
to keep your willow walloping stick handy."
CHAPTER V
A WOODS FIRE
"Mercy on us, Hezekiah! It seems as if I could smell smoke!" cried
Aunt Squeaky one hot summer afternoon.
"Now, Belindy, please don't begin sniffing for smoke," grinned Uncle
Squeaky. "I haven't heard you mention smoke for quite a spell."
"I can smell smoke, Pa," said Wink.
"So can I," agreed Wiggle.
"Bless my stars, I guess you can!" exclaimed Uncle Squeaky as he went

to the door. "Is the whole village afire?" Off he started without even
snatching up his cap. The smoke rolled up in great, choking clouds.
"Oh, dearie me!" moaned Granny, "the woods are all afire. We shall all
be burned. Why