“No, he only gave a jump and Jimmie fell out,” answered Ted. “Are you hurt, Jimmie?” he asked the other boy.
“Nope! Not a bit, Teddy! I’m used to tumbles like that. The grass is as soft as a haystack. But I guess I’ve had enough ride. I’ve got to go to the store for my mother. Good-bye!” and he ran off down the road. “Thanks!” he called back, over his shoulder, almost forgetting this part of it. “I had a dandy ride, and I wish I had some money to give you.”
“Oh, that’s all right,” answered Ted, putting Trouble up on the seat again.
And he and Jan walked on beside Nicknack, hoping someone with even a penny would hail them and ask for a ride.
When the wagon came to the house in which Mary Seaton lived, she was out in the front yard.
“Oh, Mary!” cried Jan, “don’t you want a ride?”
“Indeed I do!” answered the little girl. And out she ran and got in the seat.
“Does I hab to sing for her?” asked Trouble.
“What does he mean by singin’?” asked Mary.
“Like dis,” explained Trouble. “I likes you, Mary, so I sings.” And he started all over again at the first verse. Mary liked the song so much that she had Trouble sing it all the way through. By this time she had been given a ride quite a way down the road, and then as Ted turned the goat around Mary seemed to notice, for the first time, that Jan and Ted were walking.