“Guess ’cause we didn’t have nobody else to love. Old Wheeler don’t care nothin’ for her now she is gettin’ old. He hardly ever takes any notice of her. She used to be the fastest horse on the Cape, and there aint one that’s got better blood in her veins. I bring her apples or somethin’ every day, and I was the first one Sonny, here, saw after he come into the world. Sonny an’ I are great cronies. I’m only waitin’ fer him to grow up, an’ then we’re goin’ to run away, aren’t we, old feller?” and he laid his arm over the colt’s neck. Sonny nestled close up to him, and Lady looked benignly upon them both. “Will you come to see me while I am here?” asked the child. “I’ll come when I can get off. Bet I’d ketch it now if they knew I was gallavintin’ like this. I’ll sneak over when I can. Here comes Si.” Out bustled Mrs. Parker, followed by her sister; both talking at once. Close behind them came “Si.” “My land er Goshen!” exclaimed Mrs. Parker, “did anyone ever hear tell of such doin’s? And that blessed lamb dragged up to my front door just as if she was a sack er flour. How do, Bob; seems as if this part of the world couldn’t get along without you, nohow; don’t it? Run ’long ’round to the back of the house to the buttry and eat your fill; you certain sure deserve it this time.” “Can’t now; got to get back with Lady or I’ll have Mr. Wheeler after me. Will the stuff keep? I’ll come along ’round to-morrow if it will.” “Yes, indeed, and if it don’t there’s plenty more that will,” and she nodded her head at him reassuringly. “All right, I’ll be on hand. Good-by, folks,” and, flopping down on his wagon, he called out, “Right about, Lady,” and the wise creature turned around and started back toward the station. They returned more quickly than they had come, for Lady jogged along, with the cart jerking and rattling behind her. They soon reached the pasture, and, after placing his charges safely within it, he put up the bars once more, and then clambered upon the topmost one. “Now come along and say ‘good-by,’ ’cause I’ve got ter git ’long back.” Lady came up to him and laid her big head across his shoulder, and the boy reached up and circled her soft, warm neck with his arm as he rested his face against her mane. Little Sonny looked at him a moment as though to say, “Do you want me, too?” “Yes, come along and say good-by, too,” said Bob. Sonny laid his head across Bob’s knee and looked up at him with his brown eyes full of love for the friend who never forgot him, but came to him day after day, in sunshine or shower, to bring the dainty of which he often deprived himself that his four-footed friends might not be disappointed.