Page:Little Elephant Visits the Farm (1951).pdf/28

 wade in the cool water. Sometimes he took off his overalls and lay down in the nice mud on the bottom. One day he was sitting there on the bank with his packages of peppermint chewing gum Uncle Oliver had given him. Little Elephant liked chewing gum. But Mother Elephant didn't often let him have it.

One by one he opened the sticks and put them in his mouth. Ten sticks made a good big wad. He chewed and chewed. With the tip of his trunk he pulled it out into a long loop. He put it back and pulled it out again.

He was having a fine time, when suddenly he heard a funny sound behind him. "Ssssss! Ssssss! Sssss!" He turned around and there stood a big grey bird, flapping her wings and hissing at him. She looked very fierce. Little Elephant was so scared he gave a great gulp and swallowed his gum—all ten sticks!

"Sssss! Sssss!" hissed the bird again, running toward him. Little Elephant jumped up and started for the house. But the cross old bird was still chasing him, pecking at his heels. "Ow-ow-ow!" bawled Little Elephant.

He burst into the kitchen and slammed the screen door. But the bird stood on the step, still flapping her wings and hissing.

"Why, Little Elephant, you aren't afraid of Sally,