"Oh, papa! will you please buy me a
donkey?" said little Ella Clark to her
father, as she ran to meet him. "Well,"
said her father, "if you will promise to be
a very good girl, and give your sister May
a share of the rides, I will get one in the
city and send it home." So, in a few days
the donkey came, with a new bridle and
saddle. The next thing to do was to give
him a name; so, after trying a great many
they agreed to call him "Jack." The next
day Ella and May were up early and went
to the barn, where they found Henry, and
asked him to saddle "Jack." Henry brushed
down "Jack's" thick coat of hair, and made
him look quite trim, and he then placed Ella
on "Jack's" back, and walked him up and
down, holding on to Ella, and in a short
time she could ride alone, and felt as proud
as a queen when her father saw her sitting
up on "Jack's" back. She then gave May
a ride, and at last got so bold as to take
"Jack" down the lane alone, and had a
splendid time riding up and down.
[Illustration]