Tony loved going to market with his mother. There was so much to see. There were stalls piled up with fruit, where Mother bought oranges for him, and others where she bought turnips and carrots and greens for dinner, Some sold sweets, and some sold clothes, and round every corner was a fresh surprise.

 One day he saw a man selling the funniest little animals. They had houses on their backs like snails, and such queer heads poking out. 

"Mother, what are they?" cried Tony. 

"Those are tortoises," seid Mother.

 Tony put out a finger to touch, but the tortoise pepped his head inside, 

“Where has he gone?" asked Tony.  

“Inside his house," said Mother, “He was afraid you would hurt him, but if you stroke him very gently, he will come out again.”

 | Tony stroked him softly, and soon two bright eyes peeped out. 

"Oh, Mother," cried Tony."I should like to have one. May I?" and Mother smiled and said "Yes." 

Tony carried his new pet home ever so carefully, and out into the garden. Mother fetched a fresh lettuce leaf, and when they had put it in front of the tortoise, they both knelt down and watched. Out came the funny head, and looked round about. Then snap! went the mouth, and there was a great bite out of the leaf. 

“Look, he's eating it!" cried Tony. “What fun! I shall give him lots of lettuce, and I shall call him Tim.

" So Tim he was, and every day Tony carried him fresh lettuce leaves, and watched him walking about the garden, till the days began to get cold, and there was no more lettuce. 

“What will Tim do now?" asked Tony. 

"Sleep all through the cold winter," said Mother. “Come and we will | make him a warm place to sleep.” 

So down at the bottom of the garden they built a wee house for Tim, First they put a brick at each side, and one at the back, On top of that they laid a board for a roof, Then they made a nest inside of warm, cosy hay, and tucked Tim in.

 "Now some earth all round," said Mother, “to keep out the cold winds." 

So Tony brought his spade and piled earth round the walks and over the roof, till there was only a tiny hole left for a door. 

"Good night, Tim”, he said. "Sleep well!" but Tim did not say anything. His head and his tail and his toes were tucked inside his shell and he had gone sound asleep in the hay.