For speedily they hitched him
Into the sleigh, and then
"Aha! old Barney," shouted they,
"Now drag us up again."
In meekness puzzled Barney
Submitted to their will.
Perhaps this time the girls would drive
Right on beyond the hill.
With pulling, tugging, straining,
Once more he reached the top,
But scarcely long enough to breathe
Was he allowed to stop.
The girls with nimble fingers
Unhitched him from the sleigh;
"Come, Barney! Follow us again,"
He heard his mistress say.
Well, following was pleasant,
So, when they made a start,
He scampered after, gay and free,
With mischief in his heart.
Yet when they reached the bottom,
So staid he looked and meek,
That naught seemed farther from his mind
Than joke or prank or freak.
"Oh, this is fun!" said Helen,
"I'll always coast this way;
I hate to trudge back up the hill,
And drag the sled or sleigh."
"Yes, that's the worst of coasting,
That tedious uphill climb;
But Barney saves us all that tug,
Let's coast a long, long time."
They meant to harness Barney,
And start at once uphill;
But Barney thought the time had come
His own plan to fulfil.
So, just before his mistress
The flying rein could seize,
Old Barney gave a sudden leap,
Escaping her with ease.