Vi. The Pony As Cowboy

Oh! the flurry and the bustle! Weeks of seashore joys Were in store for all the children. "Ready, girls and boys!"

But the children lingered, lingered At the stable door; "Good-by, Barney," "Good-by, Rollo," Saying yet once more.

"Don't forget us, Rollo, Barney, We'll come back again! And more fun we'll have together, Riding, driving then."

Then to Barney and to Rollo Soon there came a change. With the absence of the children Life seemed new and strange.

Barney Gray was sent to pasture With the lambs and sheep, There to run and roll in freedom, Kick and prance and leap.

Still more lonely then was Rollo, But he, too, found joy, For the care of him was given To the farmer's boy.

In the golden summer weather, Happy little Jack Drove the cows, from pasture daily, On the pony's back.

Down the road the cattle straggled;-- If they turned aside, Then would Jack with much halloaing Toward them quickly ride.

"There goes Brindle! At her, Rollo! Now for Lady Bess! There! Good pony! We can keep them In the road, I guess!"

And the pony, clever fellow, Learned so well the knack, That to drive the cows he scarcely Needed help from Jack.

Let a cow but turn a little From the road to stray, In an instant Rollo joined her, And, as if in play.

He would push the truant gently With his velvet nose, Till she yielded to his guiding, And the right way chose.

When the children from the seashore Back to Rollo came, As a cowboy had their pony Won some extra fame.