The Great Chasing Dog Race

The winter that Lina spent living with the little mouse Clarissa was very adventuresome for the people she left at Thimble Farm.  I've been telling you about sporting activities so I think today I will tell you about a great race that happened then. It was in early winter, while everyone still lived at old Thimble Farm.  The fairies were worried about the way a river, that had been a small stream, was backing up near the farm.  Tom had been thinking that he might have to move the farm the following spring.  The fairies had come to the farm to tell Tom he should move the farm, and all the extra refugees as well, as quickly as possible.  Many people had been coming to live with Tom because of fires and floods in the area that had ruined their own farms. While they were talking about the move, the little baby, Tamara, who had been born the day Croadine kidnapped Lina, came by riding in a small dog cart.  She was now old enough to sit up well and it had been safe when her brother Karl had been walking by her to balance her and keep the dog walking slowly.  But suddenly Heinz, the little dog, spotted a rabbit.  Something about the yellow-green tinge on that rabbit's fur drove him wild.  He started to chase the rabbit. It was an evilly enchanted rabbit, but he didn't know that.  Little Karl was chasing for all he was worth but he couldn't stop the dog and cart.  About twenty people were now living at the farm and they all started to chase that dog and cart for all they were worth.  But the way the cart was actually stopped was by one of the swallows.  That bird had not left for the South yet.  He darted in the face of the little dog until he started going in circles and people could reach the cart and Tamara.  The cart turned over and the baby fell out.  She didn't hit her head and didn't cry.  But later she had a lot of trouble walking and that accident may have been the cause of that. It was a hard day for everyone but people did learn they were all pretty fit and could run a good race when they had to.  Stay fit and I will buzz you later.  Delbert Bee.