Up, up the hill toiled Barney,
The long, steep, slipp'ry road;
The sleigh with those substantial girls
Was not an easy load.
At last with tugs and straining
He reached the very top,
And Barney to his great delight
Was here allowed to stop.
Here, too, he was unharnessed,
As if to have a rest;
What work the girls had planned for him
Old Barney never guessed.
"He'll follow," said his mistress,
"He loves to follow so.
He'll chase right on behind the sleigh,
As coasting down we go.
"Then when we're at the bottom—"
No more did Barney hear.
They'd let him follow as he liked,
Enough that this was clear.
A push—the sleigh went speeding
Adown the coasting place.
"Come, Barney! Good old fellow! Come!
Come on! You like to chase."
Then nothing loth, old Barney
Behind the coasters ran.
Thought he, "For girls and donkey too.
This is a jolly plan."
"They knew I'd like this scamper;
They're kind, I do declare.
Some children would have coasted down
And left me tied up there."
Full soon they reached the bottom,
The girls and Barney too;
And Barney learned to his dismay,
What now he had to do.