More stories from childhood

I have mentioned before (see Stories from Childhood) that my younger son would often come with me when I walked the dog on Sunday afternoons. For some reason that I never discovered - or, if I did, have since forgotten - he would only accompany me when I went to Stanmer Woods. It was probably because there were usually puddles to splash through or leaves to kick through or other ways of getting generally mucky.

(For those who have no time to glance at the link posted above, I will explain briefly that I ended up telling the YS a story on many occasions, and these always had to be one of the series I made up about a young horse called Henry.)

Here is another of those Henry Horse stories, although this one, unfortunately, is not illustrated as was Henry Horse Plays Football. This one is called

Henry Horse Wins a Medal

'Come on, Henry,' his mother called up the stairs. 'It's high time you were down for breakfast.'

Henry rushed downstairs and stopped suddenly as he went into the kitchen.

'What are you doing, Mum?' he asked.

'Making sandwiches,' his mother replied. 'It's such a lovely day we thought we'd go for a picnic.'

There were hay sandwiches, carrot sandwiches and - Henry's favourite - crunchy apple sandwiches. When all the sandwiches had been put into the picnic basket, Henry's mother added a flask of tea for the grown-ups and a bottle of fizzy lemonade for Henry.

Once Henry had finished his breakfast they set off. Henry thought it took a very long time before his father decided they had found a good spot for their picnic, just beside a river. Henry hoped they would have their lunch then because all that walking had made him very hungry.

'Oh no,' said his mother. 'It's far too early for lunch. Besides, you've only just had breakfast. Run along and play for a while - but mind you don't fall in the water.'

Henry wandered off. He watched the water for a while, then found sticks to throw into the river, but there really wasn't much else to do and he was soon bored. He walked along the river bank and round behind some bushes. Perhaps there would be something interesting a bit further along.

Henry hadn't gone very far when he heard someone calling.

'Help! Help!' the voice cried.

Racing round the next bend, Henry found a girl on the river bank.

'Please help,' she called. 'My brother's fallen in the water and he can't swim.'

Without more ado, Henry jumped into the river. As he jumped, he wondered if he could swim, but luckily he had long legs and he could walk through the water. He reached out his neck and grabbed the boy's jumper in his teeth.

When Henry reached the bank with the boy, quite a crowd had gathered.

'Well done, Henry!' they called.

And the Mayor presented Henry with a special medal for being so brave.