ching harvest apples under
the trees.

"Purty little beast," he said, getting out of his wagon and leading his
horse up to the fence.

"Can you take her?" asked Jim again, anxiously.

"Course I kin," answered Mr. Leatherbee. He then tied his horse to the
fence and lifted his apparatus out of the wagon, and arranged it in the
orchard. The pony immediately kicked up her heels and trotted off to a
far-away corner. Mr. Wood came out of the house and talked to the
photographer, while Jim, after chasing around for some time trying to
catch the pony, went to the stable and put a quart of oats in a
measure. As soon as Baby spied that round, yellow box under Jim's arm,
she trotted up to him with a gentle neigh. He caught her by the fore-top
and led her to where Mr. Leatherbee was standing.

"Jest put her there," said he, pointing to a place under a big tree. Jim
led her to the place and held her while Mr. Leatherbee made all his
arrangements.

"Now we're ready," said he.

Baby looked pleased at this announcement, but waved her tail wildly.

Mr. Wood smiled.

"Tell Baby to keep perfectly quiet," said he to Jim, "and ask her to
lower her chin a little, cast a pleasant expression around her eyes, and
breathe gently."

[Illustration: "THE PONY STOOD QUIETLY EATING."]

Mr. Leatherbee laughed at this. So did Jim; for it was exactly what the
photographer always told him when he had his picture taken.

The pony thought this all very pleasant, but she wanted the oats, and,
consequently, was trying to thrust her nose through Jim's back in her
efforts to get at the measure.

The photographer looked despairing.

"Here, I'll fix it," said Mr. Wood, stepping up to the pony. "No, Jim,
stand back; Mr. Leatherbee, are you ready?"

"Yes," answered Mr. Leatherbee, with one hand on the velvet that covered
his camera.

Mr. Wood poured the oats on the ground and let go of the pony's head.
For a while Baby grabbed the oats up in great haste, but finally she
stood with her nose to the ground quietly eating. Mr. Leatherbee drew
away the velvet from the camera, and looked at his watch for some
breathless minutes. Then he slipped the velvet on again, and said:

"That's all right."

Jim drew a long sigh.

"Will it be good, do you think?" he asked, anxiously.

"Not a doubt of it," said Mr. Leatherbee, in such a cheerful tone that
Jim immediately made up his mind that the pony should have an extra
quart of oats all winter for her fi