Page:Story of the robins.djvu/175

Rh enjoyed an entertainment so much: and the pleasure was considerably brightened by the happy countenances of the whole family.

The farmer, who was a jocose man, said a number of droll things, which diverted his little visitors very much; and soon after dinner he begged leave to depart, as he was sheep-shearing, but said he thought the young gentlefolks might be diverted with the sight, so invited them to pay a visit in the field, and left Joe and Neddy to conduct Frederick to it. The young farmers were rather shy at first, being afraid that their guests would laugh at their country talk; but when they observed how politely they behaved to their sisters, they entered into conversation, and told Frederick a hundred particulars about animals, with which he was before unacquainted; and he in return related all he knew about his redbreasts and other pensioners. They then showed him a pretty cat with kittens, and also their favourite, Daphne, with two young puppies: the latter were kept in a kennel, and the cat in a stable, where they were well supplied with food.

As Frederick knew that his sister was remarkably fond of cats, he stepped back to call her to look at them, which, with her mamma's permission, she was greatly pleased to do, and longed to have the kittens