eating different food from what you get hereabouts."

"That's so," the Major admitted. "I've been living mostly on boiled
rice, with a baked potato now and then."

"Ah! Cooked food!" said Aunt Polly. "And if you had that sort of fare,
you must have been living with _men_."

The Major looked uneasy.

"I don't care to talk about my past," he murmured. "Just you give me
something to warm my stomach a bit. That's all I ask of you."

Well, Aunt Polly Woodchuck handed him some peppermint leaves.

"Chew these," she directed him. "And if you don't feel better to-morrow
I'll lose my guess."

Major Monkey put the leaves into his mouth and made a wry face.

"Haven't you a lump of sugar to make this dose taste better?" he asked
her.

"There!" Aunt Polly cried. "You've been fed by _men_! I knew it all
the time."

Major Monkey made no comment on her remark. And settling his cap
firmly on his head he said that he must be going.

So he and Mr. Crow went off.