The Bobbsey Twins in the Country | Page 4

sat on a long shiny bench.
"Say, chile," she began, "you hear dat music ober dar? Well, a big fat
lady jest jumped up and down on dat machine and it starts up and plays
Swanee Ribber."
"That's a weighing machine," Nan said with a laugh. "You just put a
penny in it and it tells you how much you weigh besides playing a
tune."
"Lan' o' massy! does it? Wonder has I time to try it?"
"Yes, come on," called Bert. "Father said we have plenty of time," and
at the word Dinah set out to get weighed. She looked a little scared, as
if it might "go off" first, but when she heard the soft strain of an old
melody coming out she almost wanted to dance.
"Now, ain't dat fine!" she exclaimed. "Wouldn't dat be splendid in de
kitchen to weigh de flour, Freddie ?"
But even the interesting sights in the railroad station had to be given up
now, for the porter swung open a big gate and called: "All aboard for
Meadow Brook!" and the Bobbseys hurried off.
CHAPTER III
SNOOP ON THE TRAIN
"I'm glad Dinah looks nice," Flossie whispered to her mother, when she
saw how beautiful the parlor car was. "And isn't Freddie good?" the
little girl remarked anxiously, as if fearing her brother might forget his
best manners in such a grand place.

Freddie and Bert sat near their father on the big soft revolving chairs in
the Pullman car, while Nan and Flossie occupied the sofa at the end
near their mother. Dinah sat up straight and dignified, and, as Flossie
said, really looked nice, in her very clean white waist and her soft black
skirt. On her carefully parted hair she wore a neat little black turban.
Bert always laughed at the number of "parts" Dinah made in her kinky
hair, and declared that she ought to be a civil engineer, she could draw
such splendid maps even on the back of her head.
The grandeur of the parlor car almost overcame Freddie, but he clung
to Snoop in the pasteboard box and positively refused to let the kitten
go into the baggage car. Dinah's lunch basket was so neatly done up the
porter carried it very carefully to her seat when she entered the train,
although lunch baskets are not often taken in as "Pullman car baggage."
"I'm going to let Snoop out!" whispered Freddie suddenly, and before
anyone had a chance to stop him, the little black kitten jumped out of
the box, and perched himself on the window sill to look out at the fine
scenery.
"Oh!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey, "the porter will put him off the train!"
and she tried to catch the now happy little Snoop.
"No, he won't," Mr. Bobbsey assured her. "I will watch out for that."
"Here, Snoop," coaxed Nan, also alarmed. "Come, Snoop!"
But the kitten had been captive long enough to appreciate his liberty
now, and so refused to be coaxed. Flossie came down between the
velvet chairs very cautiously, but as soon as Snoop saw her arm stretch
out for him, he just walked over the back of the highest seat and down
into the lap of a sleeping lady!
"Oh, mercy me!" screamed the lady, as she awoke with Snoop's tail
whisking over her face. "Goodness, gracious! what is that?" and before
she had fully recovered from the shock she actually jumped up on the
chair, like the funny pictures of a woman and a mouse.

The people around could not help laughing, but Freddie and the other
Bobbseys were frightened.
"Oh, will they kill Snoop now?" Freddie almost cried. "Dinah, please
help me get him!"
By this time the much scared lady had found out it was only a little
kitten, and feeling very foolish she sat down and coaxed Snoop into her
lap again. Mr. Bobbsey hurried to apologize.
"We'll have to put him back in the box," Mr. Bobbsey declared, but that
was easier said than done, for no sooner would one of the Bobbseys
approach the cat than Snoop would walk himself off. And not on the
floor either, but up and down the velvet chairs, and in and out under the
passengers' arms. Strange to say, not one of the people minded it, but
all petted Snoop until, as Bert said, "He owned the car."
"Dat cat am de worst!" Dinah exclaimed. "'Pears like it was so stuck up
an' fine dar ain't no place in dis 'yere Pullin' car good 'nough fer him."
"Oh, the porter! the porter!" Bert cried. "He'll surely throw Snoop out
of the window."
"Snoop! Snoop!" the whole family called in chorus, but Snoop saw the
porter himself and made up his mind the right thing to do under