  One sunny winter morning The air was crisp and still, And snow on snow lay drifted deep On every road and hill. In cosy stable comfort Stood Barney, groomed and fed: But wistful thoughts of out-of-doors Were in his long-eared head. "To be a beast of leisure Is elegant, no doubt," Thought Barney, "but it's very dull." Just then he heard a shout, A battering and banging,— Then doors were opened wide, And madcap Helen and her chum Rushed noisily inside. "Where's Barney? Where's the harness? And where's the Barney sleigh? See, Minna, here's our donkey dear, We'll have some fun to-day." The donkey soon was harnessed, And loud their laughter rang, As up into the outgrown sleigh The jolly comrades sprang. The sleigh-bells jingled gayly, And many a compliment Did Barney get as o'er the snow At steady pace he went. "How very good and docile," Said Minna, "Barney is! I never thought he'd settle down, "He does seem tame," said Helen, "It's very strange to think That he's too old for playing jokes." (Here Barney gave a wink.) The sleigh-bells jingled gayly "But what a day for coasting! And isn't this a climb? Just think how we'll spin down the hill— We'll have the gayest time." Up, up the hill toiled Barney, The long, steep, slipp'ry road; The sleigh with those substantial girls Was not an easy load. At last with tugs and straining He reached the very top, And Barney to his great delight Was here allowed to stop. Here, too, he was unharnessed, As if to have a rest; What work the girls had planned for him Old Barney never guessed. "He'll follow," said his mistress, "He loves to follow so. He'll chase right on behind the sleigh, As coasting down we go. "Then when we're at the bottom—" No more did Barney hear. They'd let him follow as he liked, Enough that this was clear. A push—the sleigh went speeding Adown the coasting place. "Come, Barney! Good old fellow! Come! Then nothing loth, old Barney Behind the coasters ran. Thought he, "For girls and donkey too. This is a jolly plan." Come, Barney! Good old fellow! Come! "They knew I'd like this scamper; They're kind, I do declare. Some children would have coasted down And left me tied up there." Full soon they reached the bottom, The girls and Barney too; And Barney learned to his dismay, What now he had to do. For speedily they hitched him Into the sleigh, and then "Aha! old Barney," shouted they, "Now drag us up again." In meekness puzzled Barney Submitted to their will. Perhaps this time the girls would drive Right on beyond the hill. With pulling, tugging, straining, Once more he reached the top, But scarcely long enough to breathe Was he allowed to stop. The girls with nimble fingers Unhitched him from the sleigh; "Come, Barney! Follow us again," He heard his mistress say. Well, following was pleasant, So, when they made a start, He scampered after, gay and free, Yet when they reached the bottom, So staid he looked and meek, That naught seemed farther from his mind Than joke or prank or freak. "Oh, this is fun!" said Helen, "I'll always coast this way; I hate to trudge back up the hill, And drag the sled or sleigh." "Yes, that's the worst of coasting, That tedious uphill climb; But Barney saves us all that tug, Let's coast a long, long time." They meant to harness Barney, And start at once uphill; But Barney thought the time had come His own plan to fulfil. So, just before his mistress The flying rein could seize, Old Barney gave a sudden leap, Escaping her with ease. "Whoa, Barney!" shouted Helen, When off he clashed, "Whoa, whoa!" And both the girls chased after him As fast as they could go. But Barney sped the faster, With feet as swift and light, As if he had grown young again; Soon he was out of sight. And as he scampered homeward, He thought with gleeful mind Of how he'd turned the joke on them, The End |
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