First of all they had a run round the garden, peeped into the
greenhouse, and said "How do you do?" to the gardener. But they did not
stop long among the lovely spring flowers, for they were in such haste
to see the animals.

[Illustration: THE VISIT TO THE PONY.
_Page 13._]

Jack said, "We must pay our first visit to the pony;" so away they went
to the stable.

The pony was very sober and steady, and, I am sorry to add, rather lazy;
so the children did not get much fun out of him. He lifted up his head
and gave a little neigh to Jack, for he seemed to remember him; and then
he went on eating his hay in the most unconcerned manner.

They then went to see the large dog in the yard. Lion was very glad to
see them. He harked with delight, wagged his tail, rattled his chain; in
fact he seemed as if he would break away from it, in his eagerness to
meet the children.

"Lion is ever so much nicer than the pony," they said.

The fact was, the pony had not much work to do, and his chief thoughts
were about his hay and his corn and his nice warm stable. Now Lion,
although he was generally chained to his kennel, had to watch for
others. He was always listening to hear if any one came upon the
premises who had no business there; and he barked so loudly that tramps
and idle people thought it best to go away. He always welcomed the