28 IN THE BARN YARD

Once there was a big barn yard.

White Cow and Piggy Wig lived in it.

Red Hen and Gray Pony lived there, too.

Piggy Wig said, “Woof, woof!

What a good day to eat and sleep! ”

Red Hen said, “Cluck, cluck!

What a good day to go to the garden! ”

White Cow said, “Moo, moo!

What a good day to eat hay! ”

Gray Pony said, “Good morning!

What a good day to give rides! ”

Piggy Wig said, “Woof, woof!

I want to eat and sleep.

I don't want to give rides.”

Red Hen said, “Cluck, cluck!

I want to go to the garden.

I don't want to give rides.”

White Cow said, “Moo, moo!

I want to go to the meadow.

I want to eat hay there.

I don't want to give rides.”

Gray Pony said, “I want to run.

I want to give master a ride.”

The master came to the barn yard.

He said, “Piggy Wig, eat your dinner.

You may eat and sleep all day.

Red Hen, go to the garden.

You will find something to eat there.

White Cow, go to the meadow.

You will find hay there.

Gray Pony, come to me.

We will go to see a sick girl.

She lives far, far away.”

The master jumped upon Gray Pony.

Away they went galloping, galloping, galloping.

By and by they came to the home of the sick girl.

The master went into the house.

Soon he came back to Gray Pony.

He said, “We helped the sick girl.

She can go out to play, soon.

You are a good pony.”

How happy Gray Pony was!

The master jumped upon Gray Pony.

He said, “Now we will go home.”

Away they went galloping back to the barn yard.

Red Hen said, “Cluck, cluck, Gray Pony!

I ate corn in the garden.”

White Cow said, “Moo, moo!

What a good day I have had!

I ate hay in the meadow.”

Piggy Wig said, “Woof, woof!

What a good sleep I have had!

I had a good dinner, too.”

Gray Pony said, “How happy I am!

I have had a good day, too.

I helped the little girl.”

(Frances W. Danielson)

Word list

pony: an animal similar to a horse, but smaller

galloping: running

You Practice

A) Answer the following questions.

1) Which animal thought it was a good day to give rides?

2) Where did the master go on Gray Pony?

3) What did the doctor probably take with him when he left?

4) Why was Gray Pony happy at the end of the day?

5) If you had a pony, where would you ride? Why?

B) What's the word? Using the clues, write the correct words from the story.

1) a place where animals can find hay: m _ _ _ _ _

2) someone who is not well: s _ _ _

3) moving quickly: g _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

4) an animal that says “moo, moo”: c _ _

5) what Red Hen ate: c _ _ _

C) True or False? Read the following sentences carefully. Write true or false for each one.

1) _____ Piggy Wig wanted to give rides.

2) _____ White Cow wanted to go to the garden.

3) _____ Gray Pony wanted to run.

4) _____ Piggy Wig helped the sick girl.

5) _____ The sick girl played with Gray Pony.