Anna on the Farm by Mary Downing Hahn, Diane de Groat Read Free Book Online Page A

and talks to everybody. He tells who got letters from far away, who had a death in the family, who had a marriage, who had a baptizing. He knows everything there is to know about all the folks in Beltsville."
    Anna wonders if girls are allowed to be mailmen. Think of all the postcards she could read. Why, she'd learn all about the world and everyone in it. It's the most perfect job she can think of.
    "I bet Mr. O'Reilly's told everybody in Beltsville you're here," Theodore adds.
    Anna smiles. If Theodore is right, she's famous, at least in Beltsville. She wants to hear more of Mr. O'Reilly's gossip, but Uncle George calls Theodore to hoe the tomato patch.
    Theodore makes a face Uncle George can't see. Anna knows he hates to hoe in the hot sun. "Tell me if the catalog comes," he tells Anna. Then he heads up the lane to meet Uncle George.
    Left alone, Anna climbs on the fence and leans over so she can see way down the road. In the city, the streets would be full of people coming and going. But here there's not a person in sight, not a car, not even a horse pulling a wagon. Birds sing, a rabbit runs across the road, butterflies drift from one clump of wildflowers to the next, cicadas rasp in the tall grass. The air smells sweet.
    Anna sits on the top rail of the fence, making a clover chain and whistling songs she learned in school, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Maryland, My Maryland," "Oh, Susanna." She's glad Mother can't hear her. According to Mother, it's unladylike to whistle. Sometimes Anna thinks everything that's fun is unladylike. Going barefoot, wearing overalls, swimming in your drawers, getting dirty, whistling, spitting. Boys don't know how lucky they are.
    At last, Anna sees someone coming, but it's not Mr. O'Reilly. It's a girl riding a horse. She's at least fifteen, much older than Anna, and very pretty. She wears jodhpurs and tall, shiny riding boots and a smart velvet jacket. Her long golden hair waves around her face and down over her shoulders. Her horse is slim legged and graceful. Its mane is braided, and so is its tail. Head up, it trots along, lifting its hooves high, as if it doesn't like the feel of the ground.
    To Anna's delight, the girl slows to a stop and smiles at her.
    "You must be Mrs. Armiger's niece Anna," the girl says. "All the way from Baltimore."
    "How did you know?" Anna asks. "Has Mr. O'Reilly been to your house already?"
    The girl laughs, showing the most perfect teeth Anna has ever seen. "My mother told me you were here. She and your aunt are friends."
    Leaning closer, the girl says, "My name's Nell Webster. I live on the farm next to your aunt and uncle. Do you like horses?"
    Anna nods. She loves horses. In fact, she's dying to pet Nell's horse, but Father has taught her never to touch the horses she sees in the city. They are work horses, he says. They aren't meant for petting.
    "His name is Silver Heels." Nell reaches into her pocket, pulls out a slice of apple, and hands it to Anna. "Feed him that and he'll love you forever."
    Silver Heels leans toward Anna. His warm breath tickles her hand as he gently takes the apple from her outstretched palm. Anna giggles. "Is it all right to pet him?" she asks.
    "Of course." Nell smiles at Anna. "Silver Heels is very spoiled. He expects to be petted."
    Anna gently strokes Silver Heels' long velvety face. He makes a whuffing sound and she feels his warm breath again. "He's the most beautiful horse I've ever seen," she whispers.
    "Would you like to go for a ride?" Nell asks.
    Anna is almost too amazed at her good luck to say yes. Before she can pinch herself to see if she's dreaming, she's perched on the horse, in front of Nell.
    Nell nudges Silver Heels and says, "Let's go, fellow."
    Anna sits tall and proud. She can see over the fields of corn, down the hill to the woods beyond. Far away Uncle George is working in the tomato patch. Theodore trudges along behind him. Anna feels sorry for him. She hopes Nell will take Theodore for a ride