THEY HAD A GOOD SWIM 40 HAD A SORE MOUTH FROM JERKING ON THE LINES 77 FEEDING THE LAMBS 84 EVERY BROWN PIG RAN OFF 110 "I AM THE WHITE KITTEN" 130 THE GRAY GOOSE TRIED TO GO THROUGH 156 COLLIE AND THE BELL-WETHER 170 THE BIG GOBBLER CAME PUFFING TOWARD HER. _Frontispiece_ 194 THE PEACOCK WAS STANDING ON THE FENCE, 208 THE RED CALF AND THE WHITE CALF 243 THE STORY THAT THE SWALLOW DIDN'T TELL "Listen!" said the Nigh Ox, "don't you hear some friends coming?" The Off Ox raised his head from the grass and stopped to brush away a Fly, for you never could hurry either of the brothers. "I don't hear any footfalls," said he. "You should listen for wings, not feet," said the Nigh Ox, "and for voices, too." Even as he spoke there floated down from the clear air overhead a soft "tittle-ittle-ittle-ee," as though some bird were laughing for happiness. There was not a cloud in the sky, and the meadow was covered with thousands and thousands of green grass blades, each so small and tender, and yet together making a most beautiful carpet for the feet of the farmyard people, and offering them sweet and juicy food after their winter fare of hay and grain. Truly it was a day to make one laugh aloud for joy. The alder tassels fluttered and danced in the spring breeze, while the smallest and shyest of the willow pussies crept from their little brown houses on the branches to grow in the sunshine. [Illustration: THE SWALLOWS ARE COMING.] "Tittle-ittle-ittle-ee! Tittle-ittle-ittle-ee!" And this time it was louder and clearer than before. "The Swallows!" cried the Oxen to each other. Then they straightened their strong necks and bellowed to the Horses, who were drawing the plow in the field beyond, "The Swallows are coming!" As soon as the Horses reached the end of the furrow and could rest a minute, they tossed their heads and whinnied with delight. Then they looked around at the farmer, and wished that he knew enough of the farmyard language to understand what they wanted to tell him. They knew he would be glad to hear of their friends' return, for had they not seen him pick up a young Swallow one day and put him in a safer place? "Tittle-ittle-ittle-ee!" and there was a sudden darkening of the sky above their heads, a whirr of many wings, a chattering and laughing of soft voices, and the Swallows had come. Perched on the ridge-pole of the big barn, they rested and visited and heard all the news.