Kitabı oku: «The Story of Doctor Dolittle / История Доктора Дулиттла. Уровень 1», sayfa 7

So they decided that Chee-Chee, was to do the cooking; the dog was to clean the floors; the duck was to dust and make the beds; the owl, Too-Too, wasto keep the accounts⁸, and the pig was to do the gardening. They made Polynesia, the parrot, housekeeper and laundress, because she was the oldest.

Of course at first they all found their new jobs very hard to do. But they soon got used to it. It was even fun to watch Jip, the dog, sweeping his tail over the floor with a rag onto it for a broom. After a little they got to do the work so well that house was always perfectly clean and tidy.

In this way things went along all right for a while; but without money they found it very hard.

Then the animals started selling vegetables and flowers to the people in town. But still they didn’t seem to make enough money to pay all the bills. And still the Doctor wouldn’t worry.

When the parrot came to him and told him that the fish-seller wouldn’t give them any more fish, he said,

“Never mind. So long as the hens lay eggs and the cow gives milk, we’ll be fine. And there are plenty of vegetables left in the garden. The Winter is still a long way off. Don’t fuss. That was the trouble with Sarah—she always fussed. I wonder how Sarah’s getting on—an excellent woman—in some ways—Well, well!”

But the snow came earlier than usual that year. And although they had enough woods from the forest outside the town to have a big fire in the kitchen, most of the vegetables in the garden were gone. And many of the animals were really hungry.

The Fourth Chapter
A Message from Africa

That Winter was a very cold one. And one night in December, they were all sitting around the warm fire in the kitchen. The Doctor was reading aloud to them his own book written by him in animal-language, the owl, Too-Too, suddenly said,

“Sh! What’s that noise outside?”

They all listened; and presently they heard the sound of someone running. Then the door flew open and the monkey, Chee-Chee, ran in, badlyout of breath⁹.

“Doctor!” he cried, “I just had a message from a cousin of mine in Africa. There is a terrible sickness among the monkeys out there. They are all catching it—and they are dying in hundreds. They heard of you, and beg you to come to Africa to stop the sickness.”

The doctor took off his glasses and lay down his book.

“Who brought the message?” he asked.

“A swallow,” said Chee-Chee. “She is outside.”

“Bring her in by the fire,” said the Doctor. “She must be dying from cold. The swallows flew South six weeks ago!”

So the swallow, all shivering, was brought in. Although she was a little afraid at first, she soon got warmed up and sat on the edge of the fireplace and began to talk.

When she finished the Doctor said,