ON HORSEBACK

The very next day John came. Peter nd Polly were out in the road watching or him. He was not walking. He was ding horseback. He had Farmer Brown's d bay mare.

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hn.

Hello, Polly! Hello, Peter!" called "I'm going to see the turtle's eggs. re you going with me? If you are, jump

Oh, John," said Polly, "may we ride on ur horse, too?"

You surely may. I asked your father en I came past the store. se to the fence. You climb

get on.

I'll ride up

You climb up the fence

Polly, you sit behind and hold fast to

Potor sit here in front of me

I will

They stopped at grandmother's house. he must see them riding horseback.

In the bridge some children were playing. Peter and Polly called to them.

wished everybody to look at them.

"Don't you wish

pack?" said Polly.

They

could ride horseyou All the children stopped

out of sight

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John let his horse drink at the watering rough. Polly said, "How much she drinks, ohn! I can feel her sides all swell up." At the store, Mr. Howe came out. 'Well, ohn Gilpin," he said, "are you off?" He ave John some bananas. "I have heard at hunters are always hungry."

"Are we hunters, father?" asked Peter.

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Oh, yes, Peter. You are egg You are egg hunters -day. Hold on to John Gilpin, Polly. nd, John, look out for your horse, won't u?"

"I will be careful," said the big boy. "I -n't play John Gilpin this time. You y trust me, Mr. Howe. We will walk horse all the way."

And off they went down the road. Soon y came to a path. This path led to the

er.

We will leave the horse here," said n. So he tied the mare to the fence. - sun was very hot. John was careful

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1

JOHN GILPIN

"John," said Polly, "is your name Gil? I thought it was Brown."

'So it is, Polly. And Farmer Brown is uncle. That is why I live with him ery summer.

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In the winter I go back to the city. I ve to be in school then.

y here all winter."

I wish I could

'It is nice," said Polly. "The snow is

ep. We have a school, too.

I father call you 'John Gilpin'? know your name?"

But why

Doesn't

Oh, yes, he knows it. he knows it. But that is a ke on me. When I first rode horseback, id not know much about horses.

"One day my horse wished to go home. e thought that it was time. I did not nk so. But she turned around and

nt just the same. I could not stop her. John Gilpin could not stop his horse, He is a man in a poem. He lived

her.

cean. I will tell you the story. You will hink it is funny.

"One day his wife and he planned to ake their children to the country. They ished to have a dinner away from home. "Their carriage was so full that John ilpin had to ride on horseback. He asked friend for a horse.

"He was late in getting started. He pt a store and had to wait on some stomers. His wife and children went without him.

ong

When at last he did get started, his rse began to go very fast. He could not p her any more than I could stop my horse.

He did not ride his horse very well. bumped up and down on her back. He his hat. He lost his wig. He must e looked funny.

His horse went right past the house ere his family was waiting for him. ey saw him riding by.

top, stop, John Gilpin!

house'

Here's the