Joe was entranced--an invaluable possession! A treasure, he felt, that the Lord must specially have sent him to catch things with.
He caught many things with it--willie-wagtails, laughing-jackasses, fowls, and mostly the dog.

Joe was a born naturalist--a perfect McCooey in his way, and a close observer of the habits and customs of animals and living things.

He observed that whenever Jacob Lipp came to our place he always, when going home, ran along the fence and touched the top of every post with his hand.

The Lipps had newly arrived from Germany, and their selection adjoined ours.

Jacob was their "eldest", about fourteen, and a fat, jabbering, jolly-faced youth he was.