English
Therewasonething,especially,thatsurprisedTommyFox.AndIthinkitsurprisedthedogSpotevenmore.TommyandSpotbecamefriends.
Atfirst,wheneverSpotcamenear,Tommywouldrunintohishole,asfarashischainwouldallowhim.
Butafteratimehebegantopeepoutathisvisitor.
AndfinallyhegrewsoboldthatwhenSpotcametoseehimhestayedaboveground,thoughtobesurehesatclosetothedoorofhishouse,sothathecouldwhiskoutofsightifSpotshouldcometoonearhim.
SinceSpotoftencametolookatJohnnieGreen’snewpet,hebegantolikeTommy.
Andinsteadofgrowling,hewouldwaghistail,andtrytobefriendly.
Andthefirstthingtheyknew,theywereplayingtogether,androllingandtumblingabout,pretendingtobiteeachother.
Now,SpotwasmuchbiggerthanTommyFox,andstronger.
AndsometimeswhentheyplayedtogetherhewouldgetsoroughthatTommywouldrundownintohisundergroundhouseandhide.
Butheneverlosthistemper,becauseheknewthatSpotdidnotmeantohurthim.
AndTommywasalwaysreadytocomeoutagainandplaysomemore.
JohnnieGreenwasveryproudofhisnewpet.
AndonedaywhenhewasgoingtodrivetothevillagehetookTommyFoxwithhim.
HetiedTommy’schaintothewagonandTommysatupontheseatbesidehisyoungmaster.Hehadafineride.
Itfrightenedhimatfirst,toseesomanypeople,foritwasmarket-day,whenthefarmersformilesaroundcametothevillagetoselltheirbutterandeggsandvegetables.
Therewasagreatnumberofdogs,too,runningaboutthevillagestreets.
Tommywasgladthathewashighupontheseatofthewagon,besideJohnnieGreen,forheknewthathewasperfectlysafethere.
HesawsomanystrangesightsthatafterthatfirstdaywheneverhesawJohnniestartingoffforthevillagehewasneversatisfiedunlesshewenttoo.
Onthewhole,TommyFoxdidnothaveabadtime,beingJohnnieGreen’spet.
AndalthoughFarmerGreenoftencomplainedthatJohnniewouldratherplaywithhisyoungfoxthandrivethecows,orfeedthechickens,orfetchwaterfromthepump,stillFarmerGreenhimselfratherenjoyedwatchingTommyFox.
ButatlastsomethinghappenedthatmadeFarmerGreenveryangry.Onemorninghediscoveredthatafinehenhaddisappearedduringthenight.Andthefollowingnightanotherhenvanished.
FarmerGreenwaspuzzled.OldSpothadbeenlooseallthetime,andhehadneverbarkedonce.ThatwaswhatmadeFarmerGreensuspicious.
FarmerGreenwentoutintohisdoor-yard,whereTommyFoxwasbaskinginthesunshine.
TommylookedupatFarmerGreenveryinnocently.
Youwouldhavethoughthehadneverdoneanythingwronginallhislife.
FarmerGreenbegantoexaminethegroundaboutTommy’shouse.Hedidn’tfindanythingunusual.
ButwhenhekneltdownandpeeredintotheholeTommyFoxhaddugforhimself,whatshouldheseebutseveralhen-feathers!
ThatwasenoughforFarmerGreen.Heknewthenwherehisfathenshadgone.Buthewaspuzzled.TherewasTommy,chainedfasttothestake.Howcouldheeverhavevisitedthehen-house?
FarmerGreenpickedupTommy’schain.Andtohissurprisehefoundthattheendofitwasn’tfastenedtothestakeatall!Ithadworkedloose,somehow.
AndTommyhadbeenfreetowanderaboutasmuchashepleased.
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