Part 4 (1/2)

This happened several times, until one of them said, ”Perhaps it's the Brownie” Whether it was or not, it ood while; till one unfortunate day the two eldest began contending which should ride foremost and which hindmost on Jess's back, when ”Crick--crack!” went the whip in the air, frightening the pony so much that she kicked up her heels, tossed both the boys over her head, and scampered off, followed by a loud ”Ha, ha, ha!”

It certainly did not come from the two boys, who had fallen--quite safely, but rather unpleasantly--into a large nettle-bed; whence they crawled out, rubbing their ar too htened and a little cross, for Jess took a skittish fit, and refused to be caught and rew as ed to run indoors, and got no more rides for the whole day

Jess was from this incident supposed to be on the same friendly terms with Brownie as were the rest of the household Indeed, when she came, the children had taken care to lead her up to the coal-cellar door and introduce her properly--for they kneas very jealous of strangers, and often played them tricks But after that piece of civility he would be sure, they thought, to take her under his protection And sometimes, when the little Shetlander was restless and pricked up her ears, looking preternaturally wise under those shaggy brows of hers, the children used to say to one another, ”Perhaps she sees the Brownie”

Whether she did or not, Jess soood deal that others did not see, and was apparently a favorite with the Brownie, for she grew and thrived so ht of the children and of the whole fay, half-starved little beast that had arrived a feeeks before Her coat was so silky, her lience, that every body adan to adet upon her back; it will save e,” said he, one day And she actually carried hiround, it looked as if thethe pony, and not the pony the hed so immoderately, that he never tried it afterward

Nor Bill neither, though he had once thought he should like a ride, and got astride on Jess; but she quickly ducked her head down, and he tumbled over it Evidently she had her own tastes as to her riders, andones

Pretty Jess! when cantering round the paddock with the young folk she really was quite a picture And when at last she got a saddle--a new, beautiful saddle, with a poirls--how proud they all were, Jess included! That day they were allowed to take her into theher, as Bill could not be trusted--and every body, even the blacks her, said, what a beautiful pony she was!

After this, Gardener treated Jess a great deal better, and showed Bill how to groom her, and kept him close at it too, which Bill did not like at all He was a very lazy lad, and whenever he could shi+rk work he did it; and many a time when the children wanted Jess, either there was nobody to saddle her, or she had not been properly groomed, or Bill ay at his dinner, and they had to wait till he came back and could put her in order to be taken out for a ride like a genteel animal--which I am afraid neither pony nor children enjoyed half so much as the old ways before Bill ca excellent little horseest, only four years old, whom all the rest were very tender over, and as often held on Jess's back and given a ride out of her turn because she was a good little girl, and never cried for it And seldomer and seldomer was heard the mysterious sound of the whip in the air, which warned the

[Illustration: Jess quickly ducked her head down and Bill tumbled over it]

In fact, their only trouble was Bill, who never cas anted, and was ill-natured, lazy, and cross to the children, so that they disliked him very much

”I wish the Broould punish you,” said one of the boys; ”you'd behave better then”

”The Brownie!” cried Bill, conteht him, I'd kick him up in the air like this!”

And he kicked up his cap--his only cap, it hich, strange to relate, flew right up, ever so high, and lodged at the very top of a tree which overhung the stable, where it dangled for weeks and weeks, during which tio bareheaded

He was verythe children in all sorts of ways They would have told their reat randmother was very ill, and they did not like tothat would trouble her

So Bill staid on, and nobody found out what a bad, ill-natured, lazy boy he was

But one day thewhen she should be able to coain She was very sad, and so were the children, for they loved their grand round the front-door for ever so long

The servants even cried too--all but Bill

”It's an ill wind that blows nobody good,” said he ”What a jolly ti Those troublesome children sha'n't have Jess to ride; I'll keep her in the stable, and then she won't get dirty, and I shall have no trouble in cleaning her Hurrah!

what fun!”

He put his hands in his pockets, and sat whistling the best part of the afternoon

The children had been so unhappy, that for that day they quite forgot Jess; but nextfor a ride

”You can't get one The stable-door's locked and I've lost the key” (He had it in his pocket all the tiet her dinner?” cried a thoughtful little girl

”Oh, how hungry she will be!”