"It is drying off very fast," said Uncle Robert. "Let us walk out and see how the garden stood its drenching." "Put on your rubbers, Susie," called Mrs. Leonard from the house. As they crossed the yard they passed a pan in the bottom of which the water stood an inch or more deep. "That shows how much rain fell," said Uncle Robert, pointing to the pan. "Do you mean if it had stayed on the ground where it fell it would have been that deep all over?" asked Susie. "Would that have been very much?" "I think it would," was the smiling reply. "You might try to find out how much fell on the garden alone if it was an inch deep all over." Susie shook her head. "I don't know how," she said. "Uncle," said Frank, "in the weather reports they always tell how much rain falls, even if it is only a small part of an inch. How can they tell when it is so little?" "They have what is called a rain gauge, by which a very small amount of rainfall can be measured. By the way, we might have a rain-gauge of our own. It would be easy to make one with the help of a tinsmith. Is there a tinsmith in the village?" "Yes," answered Frank, "but I don't believe he has much to do." "So much the better for us," laughed Uncle Robert. "Susie, while these other people are busy tomorrow, shall we drive to the village and see if we can get the tinsmith to help us make a rain-gauge? I have a little book somewhere that tells just how it should be done." Susie was delighted at the thought of such a day with Uncle Robert, and the boys were so interested in the prospect of having a rain-gauge of their own that they could hardly wait for to-morrow to come. CHAPTER XI. THE VILLAGE. The next morning Frank harnessed Nell for Uncle Robert and Susie to drive into the village to see the tinsmith. It was a delightful ride through the woods and the fields washed clean by the rain. The birds were singing gayly. The air was fresh and clear. Long shadows lay along the road. The tinsmith was sitting by his open door, tilted back in an old wooden chair. As Nell stopped, he brought his chair down on its four legs and said: "Good morning." Uncle Robert lifted Susie out of the wagon and hitched Nell to a post. The tinsmith rose to his feet, smiling to Susie, who said: "This is my Uncle Robert, Mr. Mills. We've come to have a rain-gauge made." "Good morning," said Uncle Robert, turning to Mr. Mills, who looked as if he thought rain gauges were not exactly in his line. "Can you spare us a little time this morning? Susie must have her rain-gauge before the next shower." "Come right in," said Mr. Mills, "and tell me what your rain-gauge looks like. I never heard of such a thing." With Uncle Robert's careful direction he soon understood what they wanted. They saw him well started in the work, and then Uncle Robert said: "Come, Susie, let's go to the post office.--How long before the rain-gauge will be finished?" he asked of Mr. Mills. "Shall we have time to get dinner?"