It was a long walk for the girls, but an inspiring one on such a bright morning.

The songs of birds and the chatter of squirrels filled the woodland.

Fresh green heads of bosky ferns and wake-robin were pushing up through the old mats of last year's foliage.
"How jealous the rest of them will be of Sylph!" said Ellen, who had the sugar lumps.

"I believe I shall give each of them a lump, so that they won't be spiteful and kick her." As we neared the bars in the brush fence we saw several of the colts at the upper side of the clearing beyond the old barn.

At the first call from us, up went their pretty heads; there was a general whinny, and then they came racing to the bars to greet us.