They used to hide in the big wheelbarrow, where her dinner was put, when the grass was poor, and jump up and frighten her when she came to eat it, and they didn't mind a bit when she snorted at them—they rather enjoyed it.
But one day Jerry, the old horse, who lived in the paddock with Jane, spoke to them very gravely about it.
Now James and John had a great respect for Jerry; they thought he was quite the wisest person they had ever met, and when he explained to them how very rude it was to sit in Jane's dinner place, they promised not to do it again.
One day the farmer's daughter came to Fir Tree Farm, and when she went away she took James with her.
John was very sad at first, and Miss Brighteyes felt dreadfully sorry for him; even Joseph tried to be nice to him, but it was Jerry who comforted him best, and gave him good advice.
Then he set to work to be useful, and behaved himself so well that the farmer used to send him to bring the horses in from the fields.
Nora Pitt-Taylor.