"Why, Prudy," said Mr. Parlin, "what ails you this morning? You limp so
much that I believe you need crutches."

"I'm sick in my knee," replied Prudy, delighted to see that her lameness
was observed. "If _you_ had my knee, and it hurt, you'd know how it
feels!"

By this time they had reached a livery stable; and, to Susy's surprise,
her father stopped short, and said to a man who stood by the door, "Mr.
Hill, my daughter has come to look at her pony."

Prudy was in a great fright at sight of so many horses, and needed all
her auntie's attention; but Susy had no fear, and Mr. Parlin led her
along to a stall where stood a beautiful black pony, as gentle-looking
as a Newfoundland dog.

"How do you like him, Susy? Stroke his face, and talk to him."

"But, O, papa, you don't mean, you can't mean, he's my very own! A whole
pony all to myself!"

"See what you think of his saddle, miss," said Mr. Hill, laughing at
Susy's eagerness; and he led pony out, and threw over his back a
handsome side-saddle.

"Why, it seems as if I could just jump on without anybody touching me,"
cried Susy.

"Not afraid a bit?" said Mr. Hill, as Mr. Parlin seated Susy in the
saddle, and gave her the reins. "Ponies throw people, sometimes."

"O, but my papa would never give me a bad pony," answered Susy, with
perfect confidence.

Mr. Hill laughed again. He was a rough man; but he thought a child's
faith in a parent was a beautiful thing.

He did not know many passages of Scripture, but thought he had read
somewhere, "And if he ask bread, will he give him a stone?" No; fathers
are glad to give their "best gifts," and the little ones trust them.

"It's like sailing in a boat," cried Susy, riding back and forth about
the yard in great excitement; "why, it's just as easy as the swing in
the oilnut-tree at grandma Parlin's! O, papa, to think I should forget
to thank you!"

But perhaps Mr. Parlin regarded glowing cheeks and shining eyes as the
very best of thanks.

Prudy thought the pony a beautiful "baby horse;" wanted to ride, and
didn't want to; was afraid, and wasn't afraid, and, as her father said,
"had as many minds as some politicians who are said to 'stand on the
fence.'" By and by, after some coaxing, the timid little thing consented
to sit behind Susy, and cling round her waist, if her father would walk
beside her to make sure she didn't fall off. In this way they went
home.

"I like to sit so I can hug my sister, while she drive