im. "He's travelled twenty-five miles this morning."

"I'll give him some, right away."

"Jump in then, and drive him to the barn," said papa. "I see Mr. Taylor,
and I'll talk with him about entertaining your donkey. That was one more
than he agreed to board."

Bertie knew by his papa's mouth that he was joking, and, more happy than
I can tell you, he jumped into the funny carriage and began to pull at
the reins. But the donkey had begun to nibble the sweet, fresh grass and
did not like to move.

"Go along," shouted the boy, "go along," and then the animal pricked up
his ears, and trotted off to his new home in Mr. Taylor's great barn.

CHAPTER VI.

DRAGGING STONES.

The next morning the donkey was as good as new, farmer Taylor said, as
he taught Herbert how to harness him into his wagon. "Hold your reins up
taut, like this, my boy. Hurrah! I never did see a sight like that
before. Such a turn-out will astonish the natives."

Bertie drove up to the door and then called out,--

"Mamma, mamma, can't Winnie go too. I'll bring her home safe in time for
her nap."

"Not to-day, dear. Wait till you have learned a little how to manage."

When Bertie turned into the field, he saw that business had commenced in
earnest. There were two men, each with a pair of oxen and a flat piece
of wood attached to them by a heavy iron chain. The men were hawing and
geeing when he drove near; but they stopped short and stared when they
saw him.

"What kind of a critter do you call that now?" one man asked, after
squirting a whole mouthful of tobacco-juice from his mouth.

"It's a donkey, sir."

Bertie's mamma had taught him to be polite to every one.

Both the men came up to the creature, patted him, felt of his ears, and
one began to pull his mouth open.

"Please, sir, don't hurt him," urged Bertie, twitching the reins. But,
then, looking at the patient oxen, he said,--"Will you please tell me
why you don't have a cart instead of that flat board?"

"'Tisn't a board; it's a heavy piece of plank; and it's called a drag.
If you're over at the place presently, you'll see what it's for. Come,
Bright," he shouted, touching the ox nearest him. "Gee up."

The other man followed, though he often looked back, laughing to see the
donkey carriage and the little boy driver.

"There's a good bit of things in the world that we never see," he said
to his companion. "The Squire's son is a pert little chap, isn't he
now?"

"He'