Rover looked up into Bobby's face and seemed to say, "I don't care for it much myself." So they went back to the house. Rover lay down by the fire to dry off; but Bobby took his skates and went to the Duck Pond. When he got there, he found the ice on the Duck Pond covered with pools of water. "I'll wait till another day to skate," he thought. He was just starting back to the house, when there came to his ears the same sound he had heard the last two mornings, "Chirp, chirp, chirp." Bobby looked across the pond. There, on the ground under the willow tree, was a robin. [Illustration: "Hello, Robin Redbreast," called Bobby. "I'm glad you are back again"] "Hello, Robin Redbreast," called Bobby. "I'm glad you are back again. But you'll be very cold up here. It isn't Spring yet." "Chirp, chirp," said Robin. "Cheer-up, cheer-y." And he flew up to a branch of the willow tree. Bobby's eyes followed Robin into the willow tree. What were all those little gray things on the twigs around Robin? Bobby looked more closely. "Why I do believe--I do believe--can it be those are pussy willows?" he exclaimed. Around the pond to the tree he ran. Sure enough! Pussy willows they were. Bobby reached up and picked some of the twigs. Then he ran to the house as fast as he could run. "Oh, Mother," he exclaimed, "see the pussy willows! I believe Spring _is_ almost here." "Robin knew," said Mother. "Good!" said Bobby. Then he added, "But there won't be any more sleigh-rides, or sliding down hill, or skating." "Just wait and see what fun Summer will bring," Mother replied. [Illustration: BOBBY'S KITE] II The time of year had come when boys were flying kites. But around Cloverfield Farm no one had started yet. Perhaps the little white clouds, floating in the sky, beckoned to Bobby, "Send a kite up to us, little earth boy." Perhaps the wind, blowing in the tree tops, whispered, "Bring a kite and try me. Just see how far I will take it up for you." Anyway, Bobby suddenly stopped playing and looked up into the sky. Then he ran into the house. "I want to fly a kite," said he. "I will help you make one," said Grandfather, who was visiting there. Bobby hunted until he found the sticks and the string and the paper. Then they made a fine kite. Mother helped, too. She made the paste of flour and water, and found bright strips of cloth for the tail. Then she wrote his name on the cross-stick--Bobby Hill. Sister Sue went along to help him start it. Up, up, went the kite into the sky. "Ha, ha!" said Mr. Wind. "Here's some fun. I'll take that kite up to the clouds." "Good!" said the little white clouds. "Here comes a kite to visit us." [Illustration: "Up, up, went the kite into the sky"] It was not long before the cord was all unwound, and the kite looked like a speck against the sky. "It must touch the clouds," said Bobby.