The farmer went off into the fields to work. "Tom," said Fanny, the farmer's wife, "Jack says you had better put an iron hoop around the hogshead. If you don't, it is so dry it will fall all to pieces." "Very well," said Tom, the hired man, "I will put an iron hoop around the hogshead." Then Tom went to the barn to get Jerry, the horse. "It is very warm, Jerry," said Tom to the horse. "We haven't had much rain and it is very dry. Jack says that I must put an iron hoop around the hogshead or it will fall all to pieces." Tom let Jerry, the horse, out to pasture. Jerry found Kicker, the mule, down in the meadow eating sweet grass. "Good day, Kicker," said Jerry, the horse. "Good day, Jerry," said Kicker, the mule. "It is very warm." "Yes," said Jerry, "it is very warm and everything is very dry. The farmer told Tom, the hired man, to put an iron hoop around the hogshead. If he doesn't, it is so dry it will fall all to pieces." Kicker, the mule, went on eating sweet grass. Soon he saw Brayer, the donkey, looking over the barnyard fence. "Good day, Brayer," said Kicker, the mule. "Good day, Kicker," said Brayer, the donkey. “It is very warm.” "Yes," said Kicker, "it is very warm, and everything is very dry. The farmer told Tom, the hired man, to put an iron hoop around the hogshead. If he doesn't, it is so dry it will fall all to pieces." "Poor Hoggy-woggy!" cried Brayer, the donkey. And he ran off to tell Billy-goat out in the field. "Good day, Billy-goat," said Brayer, the donkey. "It's a warm day," said Billy-goat. "Yes," said Brayer, the donkey. "It is very warm and very dry. The farmer told Tom to put an iron hoop around Hoggy-woggy's head to keep it from falling to pieces." "Poor Hoggy-woggy!" cried Billy-goat, and he ran off to tell Nanny-goat. Billy-goat found Nanny-goat back of the barn eating anything she could find. "Good day, Nanny-goat," said Billy-goat. "Good day, Billy-goat," said Nanny-goat. "It is very warm." "Yes, it is very warm and very dry," said Billy-goat. |