"Do you?" laughed her brother. He threw her up so suddenly that she found herself in a position rather more becoming to boys than girls. The children shouted while she hastily shifted sidewise on the saddle, and Chester put her foot in the stirrup-strap. "I want to ride, too!" cried Georgie, clinging to his brother's legs. "Well, we'll see if the pony will carry double. Hold him tight by the bridle, Sam." Sam liked no better fun. He held the horse while Chester put up George behind Lizzie. The animal curled back his ears, but did not seem to mind it much. George was so delighted with his position, that Willie, who had abdicated his seat voluntarily, now began to cry with envy. "Do you want to ride now?" said Chester. "Hold fast to Georgie, then." He put him up, and the child laughed gleefully before his tears were dry. James looked as if he would like to ride, too, but was too manly to speak of it. "Hold tight, Willie!" said he. "I will!" cried the urchin, hugging Georgie with all his might. "O! you hurt!" roared Georgie. "There's a pop-gun in my jacket pocket, and you squeeze it right into my side." Chester reached up, and removed the pop-gun, much to Georgie's relief. "Now lead on to the barn, Sam," said he,--"slowly. Don't let the young ones get hurt, when you take them off." "Let me drive," cried Lizzie. Sam looked up for Chester's approval, and abandoned the reins to the young lady. The horse moved on towards the barn, good-naturedly, as if he was used to such nonsense. Chester could not help laughing to see Willie hug Georgie with all his might; his brown cheeks pressed close against his brother's jacket, and his little bare feet sticking out almost straight on each side, his legs being very short, and the animal's back very broad. While the young man stood there laughing, some one clasped him from behind, and kissed his cheek. "Sarah! my dearest sister!" cried Chester, folding her in his arms; "I am glad to see you! How beautiful you grow!" "You can well afford to say that," replied Sarah, gazing with undisguised admiration at his handsome face, and curling black whiskers. "O! I should hardly have known you!" Chester laughed, well pleased with the praise implied, and, clasping her waist, was dancing with her towards the house, when the screams of little Willie attracted their attention. Looking round, they saw the boy Sam, who had a rare genius for mischief, tickling the bottom of Willie's foot with a twig. The latter could not help himself; kicking was impracticable, considering his position, and to disengage a hand from George's waist would have endangered his neck by a fall. The little fellow was completely at the mercy of Sam, who walked by the horse, plying the twig, and laughing with infinite good-nature. "Sam! you rascal!" cried Chester; "let that boy alone." "I'm only keeping the flies off his foot," replied Sam, candidly.