nice things to eat. Then Johnny Chuck's heart would swell until it
seemed to him that it would fairly burst with happiness.

Instead of wanting to drive Polly Chuck away from the Green Meadows,
as he had the old gray Chuck, Johnny began to worry for fear that
Polly Chuck might not stay on the Green Meadows. Whenever he thought
of that, his heart would sink way, way down, and he would hurry to
look for her and make sure that she was still there.

When he was beside her, he felt very big and strong and brave and
longed for a chance to show her how brave he was. She was such a timid
little thing herself that the least little thing frightened her, and
Johnny Chuck was glad that this was so, for it gave him a chance to
protect her.

When he wasn't with her, he spent his time looking for new patches of
sweet clover to take her to. At first she wouldn't go without a great
deal of coaxing, but after a while he didn't have to coax at all. She
seemed to delight to be with him as much as he did to be with her.

So Johnny Chuck grew happier and happier. He was happier than he had
ever been in all his life before. You see Johnny Chuck had found the
greatest thing in the world. Do you know what it is? It is called
love.




XII