This is a story about Prince when he was naughty. It was one time when Farmer Hill let him out into the pasture for a day and Prince would not come back at night.

It began when Farmer Hill said one Sunday morning in spring, "I will turn Prince and Daisy into the pasture to-day and let the other horses take us to church."

All winter long Prince had been in his stall in the barn, except once in a while when he had been driven to the village or the city.

He had been standing in the dark stall so long that when Farmer Hill turned him loose in the pasture, he felt very strange.

At first he just stood near the bars and nibbled the short fresh grass. Then he slowly walked around to the clump of trees in the middle of the lot and ate some more grass; then he went to the far corner and took a drink of cool water from the little brook.

The sun was shining brightly, the birds were singing in the trees. Prince liked the bright sunlight, he liked the gentle breeze, he liked the fresh grass.

"I shall stay here always," thought Prince. "I should like to run and kick up my heels."

So he kicked up his heels and ran to the other end of the field.

After a while he went galloping back again.

All day Prince and Daisy were out in the pasture, sometimes eating grass, sometimes resting under the trees, sometimes running and prancing around.

Toward night, when it was time for them to go back into the stable, Farmer Hill came to the bars and whistled.

They both heard him whistle.

Daisy came running toward him, and he opened the stable door and put her in.

But Prince did not come.

Instead, he turned and ran to the other end of the field.

"I shall not go into the stable tonight," thought Prince. "I shall stay here always."

"He acts as frisky as a young colt," said father. "I shall have to put a halter on and lead him."

So he took the halter from its peg near the stable door, and walked toward Prince.

Farmer Hill had almost reached Prince, who had been standing quite still, when suddenly Prince kicked up his heels, gave his mane a toss and was off like the wind.

"Whoa, Prince," said Farmer Hill.

Prince did not stop until he reached the other end of the field near the barn.

Farmer Hill came back toward him, and once more Prince stood still until he was almost there and then bounded off.

"It is like a game of tag," said Bobby, who had been watching by the bars. "You never can catch him, father."

"I will fool him," said father. "I shall catch him then."

"How will you do it?" asked Bobby.

"Just watch, Bobby, and you will see," said father.

Father got a measure of oats from the granary and walked toward Prince, holding it out to him.

When Prince saw the measure of oats, he wanted some to eat.

After a while he started to walk up to the measure. Then he stopped.

"I will not go near him," thought Prince. "I will stay out in the pasture."

But the more he thought about the oats, the more he wanted them. After a while a bright idea came to him.

"I will go and take one bite," thought Prince, "and then I will run away quickly."

So he walked slowly up to Farmer Hill.

Farmer Hill let him put his head into the measure.

Prince took one bite. That tasted so good that he took another and another until the oats were all eaten. While he was eating, Farmer Hill slipped the halter around his neck.

Then he tried to get away, but the halter held him tight.

"I have you now," said Farmer Hill. "You must come into the stable."

As father led him to the stable, Bobby said, "Prince was naughty that time, wasn't he, father?"

"Yes," said father, "he led me a merry chase, but I cannot blame him much. Who would not rather be outdoors on a day like this than in the finest stable, or house either?"

"I think Prince was sensible," said Bobby.