White Satin The Pony Runs Away Once there was a white pony that lived on a farm.
His hair was so white and smooth that he was called White Satin.
Every day White Satin took Patty for a ride.
Sometimes Patty rode in the little red pony cart, and sometimes she rode on White Satin's back.
One day Patty's father came home with a big blue car and put it in the barn.
White Satin did not like cars.
He was always afraid they would run into him and hurt him.
He did not like to have the car standing near him in the barn.
He shook his head and snapped his big white teeth.
That day Patty went to town with her father in the new car.
White Satin was very angry.
They do not want me anymore, he said.
I shall run away.
So after supper, White Satin got out of the barn without making any noise.
No one heard him as he ran out to the road and went galloping away.
By and by, White Satin wanted a drink.
He saw a pond near the road and jumped into it with all four feet.
Many frogs lived in the pond.
When they heard the big splash and saw White Sutton, they began to make a great noise.
Better get out, said the grandfather frogs in their big, gruff voices.
Too deep, too deep. said the father frogs in their deep, deep voices.
Leap, leap, leap, said the little wee frogs in their little high voices.
White Satin tried to jump out, but he could not.
His four feet were stuck in the soft mud.
He tried and tried to get out, but the mud pulled him in deeper and deeper.
Never get out, never get out, said the grandfather frogs.
Going deeper, going deeper, said the father frogs.
Too late to leave, too late to leave, said the little young frogs.
White Satin began to think the frogs were right.
He was stuck fast in the mud.
He was so frightened that he cried out for help as loud as he could.
Farmer's dog heard white satin.
He heard the frogs stew and began to bark such a noise as they all made.
How white satin got out.
The farmer who owned the dog heard him barking.
I wonder what he's barking about, said the farmer.
I must go and see.
When the farmer came to the pond He saw White Satin stuck fast in the mud.
Why, this is Paddy Green's pony, he said.
How did he get in here?
I must have helped to get him out.
The farmer ran to the house and called Paddy's father over the phone.
Then he got some strong ropes and boards and took them to the pond.
Poor White Satin was going deeper and deeper into the mud at the bottom of the pond.
What a sad little pony he was.
All at once he heard a car coming.
Nearer and nearer it came.
Patty's father had come in the new car to help get the pony out of the pond.
The frogs called, Never get him out!
Never get him out!
Too late, too late.
Enter deep, enter deep.
The two men went to work.
They rolled big heavy logs into the pond and threw long boards across the logs so that they could walk on them.
Then they put a rope around the pony and tied it to the big blue car.
When everything was ready, Patty's father got into the car and started it.
The big blue car began to back very slowly and to pull hard on the rope.
Splash!
Splash!
White Satin's feet came out of the mud.
He stepped on the boards and the next minute he was safe on the ground.
Better go home, said the great big grandfather frogs.
And get to bed, said the big father frogs.
And go to sleep, said the tiny frogs.
White Satin was safe, but very tired.
As soon as he could walk, Patty's father tied him to the back of the car.
Then they went slowly all the way home.
When they got home, Mr. Green took the pony into the barn.
Then he cleaned the black mud from White Satin's coat and rubbed him until he was warm and dry.
In the morning, Patty came running into the barn to see White Satin.
She was all ready for a ride.
Oh, you dear little pony, she cried.
I am so glad you were not hurt.
Here is a nice apple for you.
Patty got on White Satin's back.
As they went past the blue car, White Satin did not shake his head or snap his teeth.
He stopped and rubbed his nose against the bright new car.
That was the pony's way of saying thank you.
