* * * * *
The next afternoon Mom and Dad and the girls got to see Chuck's whole
herd of horses. Maggie thought the foals were sweet, even though the
draft horse babies were as big as full grown riding horses.
Finally Chuck said, "Okay, Fred, let's see how you put on a horse
harness."
"All right," said Dad, "but don't laugh."
Dad picked up the armload of harness and threw it on the back of a
huge animal named Babe. He pushed and pulled all the straps for a few
minutes. Then he stopped and looked at Chuck.
Chuck laughed and slapped his leg. "You've got it on sideways," he
said.
Mom and the girls laughed too.
"You weren't supposed to laugh," said Dad with a grin.
"We couldn't help it," said Chuck. "Here let me show you how."
* * * * *
When the Johnsons got home, they were late with the milking. Dad said,
"Maggie, I'll help you get the cows. They might be silly with those
horses running with them." He picked up a bucket of oats and a bridle
and set off with Maggie on his heels.
The horses came right to Dad and started eating oats. He slipped the
bridle over Molly's ears, climbed on a rock, and jumped up on Molly.
"Can I ride, too?" asked Maggie.
"No, that would be too dangerous," said Dad. He clucked to Molly and
they started after the cows.
Humph, thought Maggie. I'm the one who wanted a pony.
The cows started toward the barn at a fast walk. Then they broke into
a trot, and the horses did too. The cows began to gallop, and the
horses kicked up their heels as they joined the excitement. That's
when Dad fell off.