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

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

wished everybody to look at them.

They

"Don't you wish you could ride horseback!" said Polly. All the children stopped playing to watch them out of sight.

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

gave

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"Are we hunters, father?" asked Peter. Oh, yes, Peter. You are egg You are egg hunters to-day. Hold on to John Gilpin, Polly. And, John, look out for your horse, won't you?"

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

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

"We will leave the horse here," said John. So he tied the mare to the fence. The sun was very hot. John was careful to tie her where the trees would give her shade.

She could nibble a little grass that was near her. She would be quite happy until the children came back.

JOHN GILPIN

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

"So it is, Polly. And Farmer Brown is my uncle. That is why I live with him every summer.

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

stay here all winter."

"It is nice," said Polly.

I wish I could

"The snow is

deep. We have a school, too.

did father call you 'John Gilpin'? he know your name?"

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But why

Doesn't

Oh, yes, he knows it. But that is a joke on me. When I first rode horseback,

I did not know much about horses.

"One day my horse wished to go home. She thought that it was time. I did not think so. But she turned around and went just the same. I could not stop her.

"John Gilpin could not stop his horse, either. He is a man in a poem. He lived in London. That is a big That is a big city across the

ocean. I will tell you the story. You will think it is funny.

"One day his wife and he planned to take their children to the country. They wished to have a dinner away from home.

Their carriage was so full that John Gilpin had to ride on horseback. He asked a friend for a horse.

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

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

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

"His horse went right past the house where his family was waiting for him. They saw him riding by.

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"Stop, stop, John Gilpin! house'

They all at once did cry,

Here's the

'The dinner waits, and we are tired;

Said Gilpin' So am I.'

She

"But he could not stop his horse. galloped on until she came to her master's home.

"Her master ran out to see what was the matter. He wiped the dirt from Gilpin's

face.

"He gave John another hat and wig. He asked John to stay to dinner. But John said he must ride back. He must have dinner with his wife and children.

"So turning to his horse he said, 'I am in haste to dine,

'Twas for your pleasure you came here, You shall go back for mine.'

"Just then a noise frightened that horse. Off she started as before. Only this time. she galloped toward London.