Tatlow The Sailor - Part Three by J.M.Okano

     The cow's name was Sponsible and was bought by the usual method.  The buyer looked the cow over then slapped hands with the farmer and paid the money.
     The three entertainers worked for the rest of the day then rode Sponsible to a long row of windmills which so many Dutch children know and love called Kinderdyck (Children's dyke).  They ate their supper there while Sponsible gobbled up the sweet green grass.  The wandering minstrel was a Dutch-Canadian and read a copy of the newspaper from America, The Herald Tribune, both before the meal and after the meal.  (He didn't read it during the meal because that wouldn't be polite.)  It is polite to converse during the meal.  They conversed about the weather and how many nautical miles it is around the coast to France.  That was their next destination.
     The minstrel's name was Hans and he fed them fruit salad for afters.  It was made of blueberries, pineapple, strawberries, cantaloupe, and cherries.  Tatlow produced some Marmelade Cake which was made from a recipe masterminded by his mother (the mother who made him out of a rag) and consisted of a marmelade topping with various other ingredients such as chocolate, marzipan, and a hint of brussel sprouts (for those who really like brussel sprouts and like to have it with everything).  The recipe was a family secret and the cake would last forever (but usually didn't because it was eaten as it was so good).
     A miller was throwing out some lumber he didn't need.  He left it at the side of the canal with a sign which said, "Free.  Please help yourself."  Tatlow went over and inspected the lumber and, finding it to be good, asked the miller if he could buy some rope and a rag off of him to build a raft.  No sooner was this said than the miller produced the aforementioned items and let him pay for them with cake.

TO BE CONTINUED