The two rocking-horses with the seat between them, where a child might sit and ride, went to a nursery where three children played: a little girl who was not quite five years old, a little boy who was just three, and a baby-child.
The rocking-horses belonged to the little boy, but he let the others ride, and all of them liked it so well that Mother made a song to sing to each one of them while the little white horses galloped away.
When the little boy rode, she sang:
“Two white horses side by side, Where, oh, where shall a brother-boy ride? Oh, ho, and oh, ho! Oh, hey and oh, hey! Galloping off to the woods away; To look for a funny wee bunny there, A roly-poly possum and a baby bear. There, oh, there shall a brother-boy ride With two white horses side by side.”
When the song ended, the ride ended, too, and then it was the little girl’s turn to gallop away while Mother sang:
“Two white horses side by side, Where, oh, where shall a lady-girl ride? Oh, hey! and oh, hey! Away and away, Off to the city she’ll ride to-day. To buy for her dollie a little new hat, A collar for doggie and a bow for the cat. There, oh, there shall a lady-girl ride With two white horses side by side.”
The little white horses went very fast when Brother and Sister rode, but when Baby’s turn came, they rocked evenly along with Mother’s hand to guide them while she sang:
“Two white horses side by side, Where, oh, where shall a babykin ride? Oh, hey and oh, hey! and oh, ho! ho! ho! Straight to his grandmother’s farm he’ll go. To hear the little grey pigeons coo, The piggy-wig squeal, and the bossy-cow moo. There, oh, there shall a babykin ride, With two white horses side by side.”
And what do you think? The children liked Baby’s song best of all! Sometimes Mother had to sing it for every one of them while the little white horses galloped away.
