
A mischievous chorus of talking horses, ponies, and stable companions sets the stage for this delightfully odd collection of love‑inflected sketches. From a horse debating the fairness of sharing an apple to a polo pony waxing lyrical about secret gossip, the stories turn everyday barnyard chatter into witty reflections on desire, jealousy and the little deceptions that keep us all guessing.
The narrator, recalling youthful experiments in imagination with a close friend, weaves together both fresh and older creations, each brimming with clever dialogue and gentle satire. Whether the characters are plotting a romantic surprise or simply ribbing one another over a stolen treat, the tone remains light, charming, and ever‑observant of the human foibles mirrored in animal banter.
These tales invite listeners to linger over the humor of courtship seen through a farmyard lens, offering a playful escape that feels both nostalgic and surprisingly contemporary.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (216K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1896, copyright 1898.
Credits
Richard Tonsing, Charlene Taylor, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2023-09-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1865–1902
Best known for lively historical novels and careful scholarship, this late-19th-century American writer moved easily between fiction, history, and drama. His work often drew on the early American past, blending research with a storyteller’s eye.
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