The Bobbsey Twins at Home | Page 8

captain.
"What's all this?" asked Mr. Bobbsey in surprise. "Who is this Tommy
Todd?"
"He's one of the fresh air boys," answered Freddie. "There he is in the
seat ahead of Flossie."
"He is one of our nicest boys," put in Miss Carter, the fresh air lady. "I
was so glad we could send him out to the farm. He lives with his
grandmother on the outskirts of the city near the dumps, and, though
the home is a very poor one, Mrs. Todd keeps it very neat. She sews for
a living."
"Tommy's father was lost at sea, and Tommy and I are going to rescue
him from a desert island," cried Freddie eagerly. "How much money
have I in my bank, Daddy?"
"Was his father really shipwrecked?" asked Mr. Bobbsey of Miss
Carter.
"I believe he was, yes. Before then Tommy and his grandmother lived
well. We help them all we can, but there are so many poor."
"Tommy can run errands," put in Freddie. "He works for Mr. Fitch, our
grocer, after school. He's strong, Tommy is. He gained two pounds in
the country. Maybe you could hire him to run errands for you, Daddy,
and pay him money."
"He really is a very good boy," said Miss Carter. "If you could give him
any work it would be a charity."
"I'll see about it when we get home," said Mr. Bobbsey.
"And you say the grandmother does sewing?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey. "I
must look her up, and perhaps I can give her work. We won't forget the
Todds."
"But can I help Tommy buy a ship and go to look on the desert island

for his father?" Freddie demanded.
"I'll see about it," promised Mr. Bobbsey, with a smile.
The train rumbled on. Some passengers got off, and others came on
board. The fresh air children got drinks of water until there was none
left in the tank. Some of them crawled under the seats, and one little fat
girl got stuck, and a brakeman had to come in and raise the seat so she
could get out. Others raced up and down the aisles until the two ladies
in charge of them did not know what to do. Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey
helped as much as they could.
"The children don't mean to be troublesome," said Miss Carter, "but
they don't very often have a chance to have real fun like this, and they
make the most of it. Thank goodness we'll soon be home."
A little later the brakeman called:
"Lakeport! Lakeport!"
"Oh, here we are!" cried the Bobbsey twins.
"Come!" shouted Flossie.
"Hurry!" urged Freddie.
"Don't forget Snoop, Dinah," said Nan.
"I'll hurry up to the baggage car and get Snap," said Bert, for the dog
had to ride there.
"Can I help you carry any bundles?" asked Tommy Todd of Mrs.
Bobbsey. "I get out here, too."
"Oh, yes, so you do. Well, you might carry that basket if it isn't too
heavy for you. But please be careful of it for it has flowers in it."
"Yes'm, I'll be careful," and Tommy slipped the handle of the basket
over his arm.

The Bobbseys got out, as did some of the fresh air children, and other
passengers. Fat Dinah carried the basket in which lay Snoop, the black
cat. She had awakened now, and was stretching out her claws.
"I guess Snoop will be glad to get out," said Flossie, putting her fat
little finger in the basket to rub her pet. Snoop purred her thanks.
The baggageman loosed Snap's chain, and let him jump out of the
baggage car to Bert, who led him down the platform. There was
another dog in the car, and his master came for him, following Bert.
And then something happened.
The other dog, who it appeared had been growling at Snap all the while
the two were in the car, now made a rush to get at him. Perhaps he only
wanted to make friends, but it looked as though he wanted to bite. Snap
did not like this so he barked at the other dog. Then the other dog
became frightened and ran away, pulling loose from his master.
Straight toward Dinah, who was carrying Snoop in the basket, ran the
other dog. His master called him to come back but he would not. Then
Snap, seeing his enemy run, naturally ran after him, pulling the chain
out of Bert's hand.
"Go 'way! Go 'way!" cried Dinah. But the strange dog ran right into her,
upsetting her. Down she fell. The basket slipped from her arm, and the
cover flew off, letting out Snoop. The black cat, seeing a strange dog,
ran down the platform as fast as she could. So with Snap chasing the
other