The children clapped their hands so loudly, when Jem finished, that the horses pricked up their ears and started off on a brisk gallop. Presently, a gay sight met the eyes of the party.
Coming up the road to meet them, was a little cart, drawn by a solemn-looking Indian pony, whose head and harness were decked with small flags; the cart was filled to overflowing with merry-faced boys and girls, with flags and streamers fastened to their hats, and bearing a banner with the words “Welcome Home,” in large letters, upon its face.
Mr. Harwood reined in the impatient horses as the gay cavalcade came near, whilst Jem stood up and raised his hat. Then came such a hurrahing and clapping of hands, and flapping of streamers, in which the Haven children joined so heartily that Artie’s hands were blistered, and Jack’s voice hoarse as a young raven’s for hours after.
The good-natured elder brother had to get down from the wagon, and submit to be smothered with kisses, and then it was arranged that all the boys, except Harry, should ride together in the cart, and the little girls were lifted up into the beach wagon, where, at first, they felt a little shy, till May discovered a dolly’s head peeping from under Daisy’s wrap, and then the young mothers “found their tongues,” and very soon everybody was talking,—and nobody was listening,—and every little body thought every other little body “ever so nice.”
Presently, the pony-cart drew up to the wagon-side, and Jem called out—
“Mr. Havens, and Papa, is there any objection to our stopping a few moments at Sam Colt’s, the blacksmith’s? It seems these city children have never seen a horse shod, and I see Mike taking in Farmer Boyce’s gray.”
“Thank you for the thought, Jem,” called Papa; “and the little girls would enjoy it, too.”
Sam Colt Shoeing Farmer Boyce’s Gray. Page 186.