That box thing is Demi 's turtle-tank , only he has n't begun to get 'em yet . Last year he had sixty-two , whackers some of 'em . He stamped one of 'em with his name and the year , and let it go ; and he says maybe he will find it ever so long after and know it . He read about a turtle being found that had a mark on it that showed it must be hundreds of years old . Demi 's such a funny chap . '' `` What is in this box ? '' asked Nat , stopping before a large deep one , half-full of earth . `` Oh , that 's Jack Ford 's worm-shop . He digs heaps of 'em and keeps 'em here , and when we want any to go afishing with , we buy some of him . It saves lots of trouble , only he charged too much for 'em . Why , last time we traded I had to pay two cents a dozen , and then got little ones . Jack 's mean sometimes , and I told him I 'd dig for myself if he did n't lower his prices . Now , I own two hens , those gray ones with top knots , first-rate ones they are too , and I sell Mrs. Bhaer the eggs , but I never ask her more than twenty-five cents a dozen , never ! I 'd be ashamed to do it , '' cried Tommy , with a glance of scorn at the worm-shop . `` Who owns the dogs ? '' asked Nat , much interested in these commercial transactions , and feeling that T. Bangs was a man whom it would be a privilege and a pleasure to patronize . `` The big dog is Emil 's . His name is Christopher Columbus . Mrs. Bhaer named him because she likes to say Christopher Columbus , and no one minds it if she means the dog , '' answered Tommy , in the tone of a show-man displaying his menagerie . `` The white pup is Rob 's , and the yellow one is Teddy 's .
A man was going to drown them in our pond , and Pa XXXXX would n't let him .
Bangs Bhaer Demi Emil Ford Nat cents half-full turtle-tank worm-shop