LITTLE JOE’S RIDE.
“Good Billy! nice Billy!” said little Joe, as he patted the nose of the old black horse. “Say, Uncle John, can’t I ride him to water?”
“I am afraid you cannot hang on to him,” replied his uncle. “Did you ever ride a horse?”
“No, uncle; but I am sure I can,” answered Joe. “Please let me try. I’ll take hold of his mane with both hands, and hang on as hard as ever I can.”
“Well, you may try it. There is the trough, against that fence, the other side of the barn. Look out that old Billy does not give you a ducking.”
“Never fear for me,” cried Joe, riding away in great glee.
He was a little city boy, and had come out to the farm to make his uncle a visit. He thought it great fun to take a ride on horseback.
It did not take him long to find the trough, for old Billy knew the way right well. Then, how it happened, Joe never could tell: Billy put his head down quite suddenly, and right over it slid the little boy with a great splash, head first into the water.