The Bobbsey Twins in the Country | Page 5

the
circumstances would be to make friends.
"Cat?" exclaimed the good-looking colored man. "Scat! Well, I declare!
What you think of that?"
Freddie felt as if he were going to die, he was so scared, and Flossie's
tears ran down her cheeks.
"Will he eat him?" Freddie blubbered, thinking of some queer stories
he had heard like that. Mr. Bobbsey, too, was a little alarmed and
hurried to reach Snoop.
The porter stooped to catch the offending kitten, while Snoop walked

right up to him, sniffed his uniform, and stepped upon the out-
stretched black hand.
"Well, you is a nice little kitten," the porter admitted, fondling Snoop in
spite of orders.
"Oh, please, Mr. Porter, give me my cat!" cried Freddie, breaking away
from all restraint and reaching Snoop.
"Yours, is it? Well, I don't blame you, boy, for bringing dat cat along.
An' say," and the porter leaned down to the frightened Freddie, "it's
against orders, but I'd jest like to take dis yer kitten back in de kitchen
and treat him, for he's--he's a star!" and he fondled Snoop closer.
"But I didn't know it was wrong, and I'll put him right back in the box,"
Freddie whimpered, not quite understanding the porter's intention.
"Well, say, son!" the porter exclaimed as Mr. Bobbsey came up. "What
do you say if you papa let you come back in de kitchen wid me? Den
you can jest see how I treat de kitty-cat!"
So Freddie started off after the porter, who proudly carried Snoop,
while Mr. Bobbsey brought up the rear. Everybody along the aisle
wanted to pet Snoop, who, from being a little stowaway was now the
hero of the occasion. More than once Freddie stumbled against the side
of the big seats as the cars swung along like a reckless automobile, but
each time his father caught him by the blouse and set him on his feet
again, until at last, after passing through the big dining car, the kitchen
was reached.
"What you got dar? Somethin' fer soup?" laughed the good-natured
cook, who was really fond of cats and wouldn't harm one for the world.
Soon the situation was explained, and as the porters and others gathered
around in admiration, Snoop drank soup like a gentleman, and then
took two courses, one of fish and one of meat, in splendid traveler
fashion.

"Dat's de way to drink soup on a fast train," laughed the porter. "You
makes sure of it dat way, and saves your clothes. Ha! ha! ha!" he
laughed, remembering how many men have to have their good clothes
cleaned of soup after a dinner on a fast train. Reluctantly the men gave
Snoop back to Freddie, who, this time, to make sure of no further
adventures, put the popular black kitten in his box in spite of protests
from the admiring passengers.
"You have missed so much of the beautiful scenery," Nan told Freddie
and her father when they joined the party again. "Just see those
mountains over there," and then they sat at the broad windows gazing
for a long time at the grand scenery as it seemed to rush by.
CHAPTER IV
A LONG RIDE
The train was speeding along with that regular motion that puts many
travelers to sleep, when Freddie curled himself on the sofa and went to
sleep.
"Poor little chap!" Mr. Bobbsey remarked. "He is tired out, and he was
so worried about Snoop!"
"I'm glad we were able to get this sofa, so many other people like a rest
and there are only four sofas on each car," Mrs. Bobbsey explained to
Dinah, who was now tucking Freddie in as if he were at home in his
own cozy bed. The air cushion was blown up, and put under the yellow
head and a shawl was carefully placed over him.
Flossie's pretty dimpled face was pressed close to the window pane,
admiring the big world that seemed to be running away from the train,
and Bert found the observation end of the train very interesting.
"What a beautiful grove of white birch trees!" Nan exclaimed, as the
train swung into a ravine. "And see the soft ferns clinging about them.
Mother, the ferns around the birch tree make me think of the fine lace
about your throat!"

"Why, daughter, you seem to be quite poetical!" and the mother smiled,
for indeed Nan had a very promising mind.
"What time will we get there, papa?" Bert asked, returning from the
vestibule.
"In time for dinner Aunt Sarah said, that is if they keep dinner for us
until one o'clock," answered the parent, as he consulted his watch.
"It seems as if we had been on the train all night," Flossie remarked.
"Well, we started early, dear," the mother assured the