Down on the Farm

Midge sat on the front porch waiting for Jake and Booker-T to come to the house so they could go to the farm today.

“Old McDonald had a farm, sang Midge. “E I E I O”

“Who is McDonald?” asked Booker-T as he walked up to the porch and heard Midge singing.

“I don't know,” said Midge. “Some guy who has a farm.”

“There is a song about his farm” asked Booker-T. “Wow, he must be famous farmer.”

“Yes,” said Midge. “He has cows and pigs and ducks on his farm too.”

“Who?” asked Jake as he came into the yard and joined Booker-T and Midge.

“I don't know,” said Booker-T. “Some old man named McDonald.”

“Who is McDonald?” asked Jake.

“He has a farm with lot of animals,” said Midge.

“Maybe we can go see them,” suggested Jake.

“I think it is just a song,” said Midge. “I don't think he is real. But maybe he is, but I don't know where he lives.”

“Sing it Midge,” said Booker-T. “I want to know about the animals.”

“On his farm he had some cows,” sand Midge. “With a moo moo here and a moo moo there, Everywhere a moo moo. Old McDonald had a farm. E I E I O.”

“Do you want to go to the Anderson Farm Midge?” laughed Jake. “He has lot of moo moos.”

“I don't think he has any oink oinks,” said Midge.

“Oink oinks,” said Booker-T. “What is an oink oink?”

“They are little piggies,” said Midge.

“He has some baa baas,” laughed Jake. “Weren't there little piggies in the pet zoo the other day?”

“I forgot about them,” said Midge. “Lets go see them.”

“Do you know anymore little songs Midge?” asked Booker-T as they walked along the sidewalk.

“I know another one,” said Midge as she started to sing. “ The farmer in the dell, the farmer in the dell. Hi ho the diaryo the farmer in the dell.”

“What is a dell?” asked Booker-T.

“I don't know,” said Midge. “Just some place the farmer lives.”

“I thought they lived on farms,” said Booker-T sounding confused.

“What was he doing in the dell?” asked Jake.

“Maybe he was a dairy farmer,” said Midge. “I think that is what Anderson farm is too. He has lot of cows.”

“It might be,” said Jake. “Here we are,”

“I wonder where Billy and all his friends are?” asked Booker-T.

“Lets go check at the barn,” said Midge. “He said he stayed in a barn.”

They ran through the yard to the barn and poked their heads inside.

“Who are you looking for?” asked one of the cows as she walked to the barn door.

“Hi,” said Midge. “We came to see Billy and his friends.”

“We are his friends,” said the cow. “He and all the little ones aren't here today. They went to the next town so little kids can pet them.”

“Do you get to go with them sometimes?” asked Booker-T.

“Some times they will take Elsie with them, but not all of us get to go,” said the cow.

“Why does he only take Elsie?” asked Jake.

“Because the kids like her,” said the cow. “Her picture is on the milk cartons.”

“Elsie is famous?” asked Midge with a smile. “I wish I was famous.”

“You aren't famous?” asked the cow as her friends started to gather around.

“No,” sighed Midge. “I'm just a dog and my friend Jake is just a dog and Booker-T is just a cat.”

“Cats are cool,” said the cow. “I like cats.”

“Don't you like dogs?” asked Booker-T.

“I'm scared of dogs,” said the cow.

“Why?” asked Jake.

“They always come here and bark at us and then they try chasing us around the barn yard,” said the cow.

“We didn't bark at you and we didn't chase you around,” said Midge.

“You don't have to be scared of us,” said Jake. “We won't do that. What is your name?”

“They call me Betsy,” said the cow. “I'm Elsie's sister.”

“Do you like it on the farm?” asked Booker-T. “We never lived on a farm before.”

“For us cows, it is nice,” said Betsy. “We only work twice a day.”

“You have to work?” asked Midge.

“Oh yes,” said Betsy. “But it is not hard work. We stand and give milk to the farmer twice a day so they can sell it at the market.”

“Do the horses have to work too?” asked Jake.

“Sometimes,” said Betsy. “When they need to pull a wagon or the owner wants to go for a ride, the horses work.”

“And the bull,” said Booker-T. “What does he do?”

“He's lazy,” said Betsy. “He doesn't do anything all day but walk around the pasture eating and stomping his feet now and then and snorts a lot.”

“Ha ha,” laughed Jake. “we saw him do that when we were here before.”

“Oh,” said Betsy. “I remember you now. You are the ones he chased across the field. He sure scared you.”

“He was mean,” said Midge.

“Not really,” said Betsy. “He just likes to act mean but he really isn't. He is actually gentle as a kitten most of the time. Don't let him know that you know.”

“Okay,” laughed Jake.

“Do you know the farmer known as old McDonald?” asked Midge.

“No,” said Betsy. “Who is old McDonald? I only know Anderson who owns this farm and us.”

“McDonald has a farm too,” said Jake. “But we don't know where his farm is.”

“I think he is famous too,” said Booker-T. “Because there is a song about him and the moo moos and oink oinks that are on his farm.”

“I never heard of him,” said Betsy. “Maybe he lives in a different town.”

“Do you know the farmer who lives sin the dell somewhere?” asked Midge. “We never heard of him either.”

“I don't know what a dell is,” said Betsy. “I think Anderson is the only farm close to this little town.”

From behind the barn, they heard a lot of barking as two little dogs came running around the corner barking at the cows.

“That is those mean dogs,” said Betsy.

Jake ran toward the two and loudly barked back at them. “Stop!” said Jake.

“Why?” asked one of the dogs.

“These are our friends and it is mean of you to scare them with your barking,” said Jake. “Why don't you go home and leave these cows alone.”

“Why should we,” said the other dog. “Are you going to make us go?”

“You like being a bully?” asked Jake. “We don't like bullies. We will be your friends if you stop bullying these cows. They didn't do anything to you.”

“Why would you want to be our friend?” asked one of the dogs.

“We like everyone,” said Jake. “It's more fun being a friend to someone than it is being a bully. How about trying it one time and see if you like it.”

The two dogs looked at each other and then back at Jake.

“Come on and meet the other,” said Jake.

They followed Jake to where Midge and Booker-T stood waiting. He introduced the two dogs to them and to Betsy.

“They promised not to scare you anymore,” said Jake.

“Thank you so much,” said Betsy.