Next morning, they drove to Grandmother’s home to visit her until they could go into the country to spend the summer.

When Father came home he was very much grieved to find his home so badly burned, but he felt very grateful to Jack for arousing the family, and he was very thankful to the brave firemen and good horses, for coming so quickly and doing their work so well.  He was distressed that he had not been at home, to save Mother from worry and care, but he was glad to hear that Johnnie Jones had been a help and comfort to her, and had behaved as a manly boy should.

* * * * *

Johnnie Jones and Fanny

Johnnie Jones enjoyed the country because he could be out of doors all the day long, and because there were so many interesting things to do.  This summer he liked it even better than ever before, for Little Brother was old enough to run about and play with him, in the soft grass under the trees.

Then there was Fanny.

Fanny was a small brown pony which lived in the country all the year round, and which had belonged to Johnnie Jones ever since he was a tiny boy only two years old.  The little pony and the little boy loved each other, and spent a great deal of their time together.  Each morning, directly after breakfast, Johnnie Jones and Little Brother would go down to the field where Fanny and the horses lived, taking with them an apple or some sugar.

“Here, Fanny!  Here, Fanny!” they would call.

As soon as she heard their voices, the little brown pony would come running to them and eat out of their hands, always being very careful not to nip their fingers.  Then she would poke her nose into Johnnie Jones’s pockets to see if there were anything hidden away, that was good to eat.  She was so sweet tempered and gentle that she would let the children do anything with her that pleased them, and often romped with Johnnie Jones like a big dog.

About nine o’clock, Sam, the hired man, would hitch Fanny to a small cart, and Johnnie Jones would take Mother, or Maggie, and Little Brother, for a drive.  Johnnie Jones could both drive and ride so very well that he was often allowed to go out with Fanny quite alone.

One morning, after he had taken the others home, he started to the village shop to buy some butter.  On the road he met a boy named Charley, who asked to go with him.

“All right!  Jump in,” Johnnie Jones told him, glad to have company.

“Let me drive?” Charley asked.  So Johnnie Jones changed places with him, and gave him the reins.

[Illustration:  The little brown pony would eat out of their hands]

Charley was older than Johnnie Jones and considered himself a much better driver, but he did not know and love horses in the same way that Johnnie Jones did, though he had always lived in the country.

“Watch me!” he said.  “I’ll show you how to make a pony run.”