Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-28
CHAPTER v
Tho First Ride


TACK and Janet whooped like two
- little Indians. What boy or girl
wouldn't whoop If they peekcd into a
dark shed and found there two Shet-
land ponies to be their very own?
Have you found the surprise?"
laughed Jacks father.
"Oh! Oh! Oh! cried Jack and
Janet. That was all they could say.
Jacks father led the two Shetland
ponies from the stable, and when Jack
and Janet saw them in the bright day
light they were still more delighted
The ponies were as sleek, pretty and
clean looking as circus ponies. They
were as like as two peas, the only
difference between them being that one
had star on its forehead and the
other had none.
This is Janet's pony" said Janet's
father, leading TO her the pony with q
star or. is forehead. Its name is
oh! OH" was all Janet could
answer as she pctted the pony.
And here Is Trixie. who is to be
Jacks pony said Jacks father,
handing Jack the halter of the other
pony.
Can we ride thcmy' asked Jack
eagerly.
ITO be sure answered his father.
That is why we got them FOR you.
There are no street ears up here in the
woods and you Will have TO ride on
the ponies when you go to the village
70 school"
And you had better take your frs;
| riding lesson right now said Janet S
| father, bringing two saddles from the
stable. These saddles were strapped or
the ponies, and then Jack and Jnnct
rode about while their fathers led tht
ponies by the brides.
1t didn't take Jack and Janet lont
to learn to ride. Indeed, tne ponic,
were no gentle it wasn't bit hard t,
sit on their backs and guide them.
! You may ride oil you wish, blu
don't go ever into the big woods alone.
said Jacks father. You might ge
lost
Jack and Jane promised not to g,
into the big wood alone. They rod,
around the yard and up and down tn,
lane until they thought they were yer,
good riders, then they asked IL the!
might go to the village.
Yes, but don't go into the woods,
was their answer.
They set off gayly Sor the village. anC
didn't have bit OF trouble gcttini
there. The lane led TO trail and tn
trail ran right into the little town.
The Yillage vas 50 small they soor
saw al the sights and turned back fol
home. They were almost 70 the lane
leading TO their new homes when {
rabbit scurr;ed across the trail ant
dartcd up side path.
"I~t. see where that rabbit goet
Tr!xic up the path. Jack had forgottel
oil about his promise not - 90 into til,
woods.
janet, also, wa2 eager TO zee wher
the rabbit was hopping TO. Like Jack
she forgot for Il minute the promise no
to 60 into the woods. She turned Tops,
after Trixic.
MIR. Rabbit heard the ponies coming
md looked back. Perhaps he though
Il hunter was after him. When he say
it was only little boy and little cir
| on ponyback, ne dida't durt away a
he would have done had It been
hunter. He just hopped along ahca
Of the ponies. Every now and then h
branchcd of into Il new side path, an
finally he left the paths entirely. II
stopped OF Il hill, wrigglcd his nos
at Jack and Janet, bobbed his etubb
tail AS II making fun Of them, the
popped out OF sight.
Jacl. and Janet looked around. bu
they couldn't find him.
. ~ guess we had better be startin
Cor home" said Jack. But when the
came to start for home they didn
know which way to 80. The woods Il
around them we're just alike. Ther
I yas no path. They couldn't tell mort
, from south. nor east from vest. The
we're lost in the woods.
i (HoT Jack and Janet arc found HI
. who finds them will be told tomorrow