, 1881-12-16

| ed, but | must take care of you Maggie,
and girls always get in the way. Oh!
say, there's the donkey yonder with his
head over the gate.
Away they went to Farmer Stubbins'
| donkey, Maggie running as fast as she
| could; it was indeed a rare opportunity
of making acquaintance with a real
live Neddy.
Tom told Maggie to hold the gun
powder parcel. Then he made a rough
bride out of the donkey's halter, mount
ed his bare back by climbing up the gate
and certainly kept his seat-for the
| simple reason that the donkey stood quite
! still.
! At last, when coaxing and humping
were in vain, Tom climb ID down again,
voting it silly animal; and Maggie,
| holding her own parcel, was pnt up in
stead. Now this donkey OF Farmer
| Stubbins was apt to take odd whims into
that patient looking head of his.
No sooner was the little girl on his
back than he turned away from the gate,
and to her great delight went off with
| her at a most leisurely walk.
"Oh! it's beautiful! Chuk, chuk, chuki
gee up! what a dear Neddy" shouted
Maggie with pride and glee. ''Why. it
is quite easy to ride without a saddle.
Any body could do it, and" The words
ended in a scream.
Over went the deceptive Neddy, legs
in air, rolling on the grass.
And Maggie was down on the grass
too, all pain, all fright, struggling out of
the way, and content to scramble any
how through the mud and wet of yester-
days rain.
'.The brute" roared Tom. running to
her. "Oh! Maggie, Maggie, are you
much hurt?"
"Not much-Tom dear-oh! take me
home? she sobbed, sitting on the grass;
and then she could only cry out loud,
with choking sobs.
Tom was in great trouble for her,
but he was in greater rage with the
donkey.
The big shaggy beast had got up again,
and after good shake all over seemed
harmlessly to forget the fit of mischief
and frolic.
'I'll give it to him! I'll make him gol
I'll break him ini" cried Tom, snatching
a knotty branch from under the hedge.
And somehow he sprang upon the dom
keys back in a trice, and so vengefully
''gave it. to Neddy with the stick, that
in half minute he found himself cling
ing to the donkey's neck, and going now
ut trot, and now ct a canter down the
field.
He Was riding barebacked steed now
at last, bat the difficulty was, not to keep
on. but to get off.
He clung to the name tenaciously; no
prospect OF stopping, no prospect Of es-
Gaping.
At the end of the field there was
shallow, Shiny pool, looking very unin-
viting. and now straight into the middle
of this walked the donkey to cool his OBJ
stinate legs.
There he came to stand-still, and
putting his long ears back viciously,
lifted his head on high, opened his
mouth, and sang, and snorted, and hee-
hawed, till the very air rang with the
braying.
Tom let go of the name, and sat
straight up with sense of relief.
HE must walk out of this some time, I"
he reflected, land the moment I'm over
dry ground. off I'll go with jump. The
yexatious brute-wouldn't like to lick
himr
the frollcsOme mood caught the dom
key again.
Up he went rearing straight, and
away out of the pool, plunging and
whisking his tail, and splash, splash,
went Tom at full length into the stagnant
water.
Half an hour later-were these the
children that had gone out, now return
ing home In such q sad plight?
A very wet boy, all muddy and Shiny,
sometimes trying to carry ,and sometimes
helping along on his arm lame girl,
with red, fearful face, and a draggled
cream and crimson dress all over soils
and stains.
In the pocket OF the boy was parcel
of wet gunpowder-of no use, and all the
money gone.
In the arms of the little sister was a
parcel containing her donkey, all in
smashed pieces-of no use again, and all
the money gone.
And before them at home there was
the letter from Uncle John, saying they
were to come down at once to Sussex,
and they might ride the pony as they
liked; for he meant to keep it there as
Maggie's own-a birthday present not
yet too late.
Now they could not go, for poor Mag
gie's foot was sprained, and she would be
laid up for fortnight; and as for that
disgraceful fellow, Tom, he should not
go, papa said, until Maggie was well.
And serve him right, tool
But after all, they knew that though
papa w2s angry, he would forgive and
get Maggie well and hurry them both off
to Uncle John 5 and the pony; and though
mamma was grieved, all would brighten
up with pity and kisses, as indeed all had
frightened already for Maggie, who was
being soothed in loving arms, while she