Father said even the rocks grew larger year by year.
The trees were getting bigger, the birds were busy, and the creek was in a dreadful hurry to reach the river.

It was like that poetry piece that says: "When a playful brook, you gambolled," (Mostly that gambolled word is said about lambs) "And the sunshine o'er you smiled, On your banks did children loiter, Looking for the spring flowers wild ?" The creek was more in earnest and working harder at pushing steadily ahead without ever stopping than anything else; and like the poetry piece again, it really did "seem to smile upon us as it quickly passed us by." I had to quit playing, and go to work some time; it made me sorry to think how behind I was, because I had not started two years before, when I should.

But that couldn't be helped now.

All there was left was to go this time, for sure.

I got up heavily and slowly as an old person, and then slipped out and ran down the path to the meadow, because I could hear Leon whistle as he came to bring the cows.
By fast running I could start them home for him: Rose, Brindle, Bess, and Pidy, Sukey and Muley; they had eaten all day, but they still snatched bites as they went toward the gate.