"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.
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.
"Whoa, Barney!" shouted Helen, When off he clashed, "Whoa, whoa!" And both the girls chased after him As fast as they could go.
But Barney sped the faster, With feet as swift and light, As if he had grown young again; Soon he was out of sight.
And as he scampered homeward, He thought with gleeful mind Of how he'd turned the joke on them, The girls he'd left behind.
Small capitals have been rendered in full capitals.
A number of minor spelling errors have been corrected without note.
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Runaway Donkey and Other Rhymes for Children, by Emilie Poulsson