I do not know why I went to the barn, but somehow there was nothing in the house that I wanted. When a man wants to be by himself there is no place like a good, quiet barn for thought. So I went into the barn, about three feet prior to Kosciusko. Noticing the stairway, I ascended it in an aimless kind of way, about four steps at a time. What happened when we got into the haymow I do not now recall, only that Kosciusko and I frolicked around there in the hay for some time. Occasionally I would be on the top, and then he would have all the delegates, until finally I got hold of a pitchfork, and freedom shrieked when Kosciusko fell. I wrapped myself up in an old horse-net and went into the house. Some of my clothes were afterwards found in the hay, and the doctor pried a part of my person out of Kosciusko’s jaws, but not enough to do me any good. I have owned, in all, eleven dogs, and they all died violent deaths, and went out of the world totally unprepared to die. _Bill Nye._ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ _KNEE-DEEP IN JUNE._ [Illustration: Knee-Deep in June._ “LAY OUT THERE AND TRY TO SEE JES’ HOW LAZY YOU KIN BE!”] I. TELL you what I like the best— ’Long about knee-deep in June, ’Bout the time strawberries melts On the vines—some afternoon Like to jes’ git out and rest, And not work at nothin’ else! II. Orchard’s where I’d ruther be— Needn’t fence it in fer me! Jes’ the whole sky overhead, And the whole airth underneath— Sorto’ so’s a man kin breathe Like he ort, and kindo’ has Elbow-room to keerlessly Sprawl out len’thways on the grass, Where the shadders thick and soft As the kivvers on the bed Mother fixes in the loft Allus, when they’s company! III.