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The Animals' Friend Supplement. 
full of affection and intelligence. Her little owners rode Dolly 
up and down the lanes, but despite their desperate efforts, none 
of her attendants on foot could keep pace with her smart trot. 
Not a blow or harsh word had ever been meted out to this 
little dainty donkey, and truly her appearance and manners 
justified the training she had received. 
One day Doreen heard she was to spend the summer holidays 
at the seaside. Her mother felt disappointed at the way in which 
the child took the news. 
“ You will be able to play on the sands all day, darling, and 
paddle to your heart’s content,” she said, as she drew her little 
daughter towards her, and looked questioningly into the bright 
blue eyes. 
“Yes, mother, it will be very nice,” replied Doreen, 
demurely. 
Puzzled by such lack of interest Mrs. Thorsby asked : 
“ Do you not want to go, my pet ? ” 
“ Oh yes, mother dear,” replied Doreen, gently stroking the 
kind face that bent over her, as they chatted in the drawing¬ 
room. “ Oh yes, I want to go, but . . . what a lot of fun I shall 
lose in the lanes with Dolly ! You know we ride her in turn ; 
and while one is in the saddle, we others search for the best 
clover and grass that we can find. Whoever gets the nicest, 
mounts next. Dolly herself is judge, and enjoys the game as 
much as we do. She sniffs at each bunch in turn, as we hold 
them in a row, to pick out the one that contains most of any 
particular dainty. Her eyes shine with mischief, as she stops 
at a handful, while we shout and scream thinking she has chosen 
it, but no ! at the last moment she jerks up her head, and eats 
up quite another after all. Oh, it is good fun ! ” 
“Well,” assured Mrs. Thorsby, “there are plenty of 
donkeys where you are going, darling, and you may ride one 
every day.” 
So there were. But what a chasm of poverty, neglect, and 
harsh usage lay between charming little Dolly and her 
unhappy brethren ! 
With all due bustle and excitement, accompanied by the 
boisterous farewells of the cousins, the journey to Waveborough 
was safely accomplished. Next morning Bob Saunders had a 
new customer. With her brown hair tossed into rough curls 
by the sea breeze, Doreen raced down to the “ stand.” There 
a great disappointment confronted the child. She scanned the 
