Farmer Green, however, did not approve of that plan. When Johnnie
mentioned it to him he said "No!" in a most decided fashion. "That pony
would be sure to throw you," he told Johnnie.
"I could try standing on Ebenezer first," Johnnie suggested. "His back
is broader. And he certainly wouldn't object."
Somehow his father didn't care for that scheme either. "We don't want
any broken legs around here," he declared, "nor necks, either. Broken
necks are very slow to mend."
So Johnnie Green had to give up his plan, for the time being. He made up
his mind, however, that when he was grown up he would learn to ride
standing up--and turn somersaults in the air off a horse's back. But now
he knew that he must content himself with less risky sports.
Something happened one day that caused Johnnie to admit to himself the
wisdom of his father's advice. He was riding Twinkleheels along the
road, bareback, after a heavy rain. And the first thing that Johnnie
knew he was sitting almost on Twinkleheels' tail. Instead of splashing
through a big mud puddle, Twinkleheels had taken it into his head to
jump it.
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