126 THE LAND OF PLUCK

Tom rubbed his eyes and sat up straight. Mad he been
dreaming #

“T’m a fool!” he cried.

All the trees nodded, and their branches seemed to be
having ereat fun among themselves.

“A diy fool!” he insisted.

The leaves fairly tittered.

“Did n't old Katy, the apple-woman, call me a goose
only this morning?” he continued, growing very angry
with himself.

“Katy did,” assented a voice from among the bushes.

“Katy did n’t !” contradicted another.

“ Katy did!”

“ Katy did n't!”

Tom laughed bitterly.

“Ha! ha! Fight it out among yourselves, old fellows.
Timay have been asleep; but, anyhow, I’ve been a fool!”

“Ooo —!” echoed a solemn voice above him.

Tom looked up, and in the hollow of an old tree he
saw a ereat blinking owl.

“Hallo, old Gogele-eyes! You ’re having something to
say, too, are you?”

The owl shifted his position, and stared at Tom an
instant. Then, as if the sight of so ridiculous a fellow
was too much for him, he shut his eyes with a loud
“T whit!” that made Tom jump.

All these things set the poor boy to thinking in earnest.
The words of Setalit were ringing in his ears, “Jf J were
you, Id wonder less and work more.” Going back through
the wood across the brook, and over the lots, he pondered

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