It means, I guess, that their feet are tender
because they walk so much and don't ride a horse the way cowboys do.
You see out here we folks hardly ever walk. If we've only got what
you might call a block to go we hop on a horse and ride. So we get
out of the way of walking.
"Now you Eastern folk walk a good bit--that is when you aren't
riding in street cars and in your automobiles, and I suppose that's
why the cowboys call you tender-feet. You don't mind, though, do you,
Teddy?"
"Nope," he said. "I like it. But I'm going to learn to ride a pony."
"So'm I!" exclaimed Janet.
"I wants a wide, too!" cried Trouble. "Can't I wide, Uncle Frank? We
hasn't got Nicknack, but maybe you got a goat," and he looked up at
his father's uncle.
"No, I haven't a goat," laughed Uncle Frank, "though there might be
some sheep on some of the ranches here. But I guess ponies will suit
you children better. When you Curlytops learn to ride you can take
Trouble up on the saddle with you and give him a ride. He's too small
to ride by himself yet."
"I should say he was, Uncle Frank!" cried Mrs. Martin. "Don't let
_him_ get on a horse!"
"I won't," promised Mr. Barton with a laugh. But Trouble said:
"I likes a pony! I wants a wide, Muz-zer!"
"You may ride with me when I learn," promised Janet.
"Dat nice," responded William.
Uncle Frank's wife, whom everyone called Aunt Millie, came out of
the ranch house and welcomed the Curlytops and the others.
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