" LITTLE JOE'S SURPRISES "

By: Lynne G.

Ben Cartwright was busy doing the monthly paper work at his desk and there were several items that he needed to mail that day, but he didn't have time to ride into Virginia City to the mail office, so he asked Adam, his oldest son if he wouldn't mind going into Virginia City to the mail office for him.  Adam said that he would be happy to do that.

" Pa, is it alright if I take Little Joe with me?  He should be ready to get up from his nap now.  I thought we could go over to the school and meet Hoss, then we could all ride home together," Adam said.  " That sounds like a good idea Adam.  Thank you," Ben said.

Adam went up to his little brother's room, and he found the child sitting on the edge of his bed yawning and rubbing his eyes.  " Hi little buddy, did you have a good nap?" asked Adam.  " I sure did Adam," the little boy answered as he smiled at his big brother. " How would you like to ride into Virginia City with me, and go to the mail office, and maybe we can get some candy too?" asked Adam.

Little Joe slid off his bed, and he squealed with delight as he jumped up and down.  " Oh yes.  I wanna ta go wiv ya Adam !" the excited little boy said.  Adam put Little Joe's boots on him, washed his face, and combed his hair.  " Now I want you to use the outhouse before we leave," Adam told the youngster.  " I will," Little Joe replied.

Little Joe ran down the stairs giggling as Adam was chasing him.  " Papa, me and Adam is goin' ta town now," Little Joe told Ben as he had the biggest grin on his face.  " You are, are you?  You be a good boy for Adam, and be sure to do what he tells you," Ben said.  " I's be a good boy Papa.  I wuv ya Papa," Little Joe told Ben as he hugged Ben.  "  Bye Pa, we'll see you later," Adam said as he picked up all the items Ben wanted mailed..

While Adam saddled he and Little Joe's horses, Little Joe ran to the outhouse just like Adam told him to do.  Once he had finished his business in there, he ran over to the barn where Adam was waiting.  " I's all done Adam," the child said.  Adam tucked the child's shirt into his jeans, and soon the oldest and youngest Cartwright were on their way to Virginia City. Little Joe was very happy that he and Adam were going into Virginia City, becasue he loved to go places with his big brother.

Their first stop in Virginia City was the mail office.  They also picked up their mail and a copy of the Territorial News for Ben.  Adam then took Little Joe over to Daisy's cafe for some ice cream.  The little boy loved to go to Daisy's, and Daisy loved to see Little Joe. 

" Hi Little Joe, Adam," greeted Daisy as she gave Little Joe a big hug and kiss.  " Hi Daisy," both Adam and Little Joe said.  " How is my little boyfriend today?" she asked.  " Imma just fine.  How is ya today, Daisy?" the child asked.  "I'm just great now you are here sweetie," Daisy said as she smiled at the little boy. 

" Daisy, we would like two dishes of ice cream please," Adama said.  " Coming right up," Daisy said as she went to get the ice cream.  First she brought two glasses of water for Adam and Little Joe.  Then she brought the ice cream.  " Fank ya Daisy," Little Joe said as he licked his lips when he looked at his ice cream with chocolate on top.  " Yummy, this is good," announced Little Joe as he ate his ice cream.  " It sure is little buddy," agreed Adam. 

After they finished their ice cream, Daisy brought Adam a wash cloth so he could wash the ice cream and chocolate off Little Joe's face.  Adam paid for their ice cream, and Daisy handed Little Joe a sack full of cookies.  " Here you go honey.  Here's some cookies for you," Daisy said as she hugged the little boy again.  " Oh fank ya Daisy.  I wuv cookies !" Little Joe said as he hugged Daisy again.  " You come back real soon now Little Joe," Daisy told him.  " I will," the child answered back.

Adam and Little Joe went over to the general store to get some candy for Hoss and Little Joe.  From the store they got their horses and rode over to the school to wait for Hoss.  " Adam, can I please go and swing?" asked Little Joe.  " You sure can little buddy," Adam said to his little brother.  Little Joe loved to play on the swings.  As Adam watched his little brother on the swings and giggling away, he decided that he would make a swing for Little Joe at home, but he wouldn't tell the little boy until it was finished.

About thirty minutes later, school was out and when Little Joe spotted Hoss coming down the stairs, he shouted, " Hoss !".  He ran over to his big brother and said.  " Hi ya Hoss as he gave Hoss a big hug.  " Hi ya Punkin.  What's ya doin' here?" Hoss asked as he picked up his baby brother and hugged him.  " Me and Adam comed ta town ta mail stuff fer Papa, and we comed over here ta meet ya.  Guess what Hoss, I gots ta swing on them swings over there !" Little Joe told Hoss as he pointed towards the swings.  " You did?  Ya sure love ta swing, dun't ya baby?  I'm really happy that you and big brother come ta meet me," Hoss said as he smiled at Adam as he carried Little Joe over to where their horses were.  " Hi Adam," greeted Hoss.  " Hi Hoss.  How was school?" asked Adam.  " It was OK," Hoss replied.  Hoss put Little Joe on his pony, Ginger, and he saddled his horse and soon the Cartwright brothers were on thier home..

Ben was sitting on the porch with a cup of coffee when his sons rode into the yard.  " Papa, I gots ta swing on them swing at school !" shouted Little Joe.  " That's good.  Did ya have fun sweetheart?" asked Ben.  " I sure did Papa.  I wuv ta swing," the little boy said.  " You sure do.  Were you a good boy for Adam?" asked Ben as he hugged his little boy.  " Yup, I was a very good boy Papa, Little Joe proudly told Ben.  " Good boy," Ben said as he continued to hug his youngest son. 

" Hi Pa," greeted Hoss.  " Hi to you too Hoss.  How was school today son?" asked Ben.  " It was OK Pa," Hoss said.  " Hi Pa, Little Joe was a very good boy today.  Here's the mail and the newspaper.  Daisy gave Little Joe this sack of cookies, and I bought some candy for Hoss and Little Joe," Adam told Ben.  " Thank you Adam.  I really appreciate it," Ben told Adam. 

Ben let Hoss and Little Joe each have a cookie and one piece of candy as dinner was still a couple of hours away. 

Adam told Ben that he wanted to make a swing for Little Joe, and Ben thought that, that was a great idea.  " Pa, there's a perfect branch on the big pine tree near the well.  That branch is good and strong, so Hoss can swing too if he wants," Adam told Ben.  " That tree is perfect Adam.  Little Joe will be so surprised with his very own swing !" Ben said with a big smile on his face.

The next morning while Little Joe was having his breakfast, Adam made the swing.  Ben walked out to have a look at the swing, and he was very pleased at how it turned out.  " Adam, Little Joe is going to love his swing," Ben said as he smiled at Adam.  " Thanks Pa.  I can't wait to see the look on his face when he see's it," Adam proudly said as he too smiled when he looked at the swing.  Both Adam and Ben went back in the house to see if Little Joe had finished his breakfast.  The little boy was just drinking the last of his milk. 

" Hi ya Papa, Adam.  I just drunked my milk," said the little boy with a big milk moustache, and he had a big grin on his face.  " Hi to you too," both Adam and Ben said.  They couldn't help but laugh at the milk moustached little boy with the big bright green eyes and and big grin on his face.  Ben walked over to the table to clean his little son's face.  " There you go.  All nice and clean again," Ben said as he smiled at his little imp.  " Fank ya Papa," the child said as he continued to smile. 

Little Joe went to do his morning chores, and he worked very hard to make sure he did a good job.  Ben had always told his sons to do the best they could with everything they did.

When the child had finished up with all of his chores, Adam and Ben told him to look over towards the well.  Little Joe looked over that way, gasped and shouted," A swing, a swing !" as he ran over to the swing.  He sat down on the swing, looked up at Adam and Ben who were smiling down at him, and a very excited little boy shouted, " I gots a swing.  I gots a swing !"" How do you like your swing, little buddy?  I made it for you," Adam said with a big smile on his face.  " Oh Adam, I's wuv it.  Fank you so very much !" he said giggling as he got off his swing and he ran up to Adam and gave him a big hug and kiss.  " I'm very happy you like it little brother, and it's strong enough even for Hoss to swing too," Adam said. 

" Adam, you and Papa can swing too," Little Joe told Ben and Adam.  " Thank you sweetheart, but Papa's too old to swing," Ben said.  " Oh no Papa.  You's not old, so ya can swing too," Little Joe told Ben with a very serious look on his sweet face.  " Thank you son," Ben said.  " Can I's please swing now?" asked the child.  " You sure can baby.  Have fun, and be careful," Ben said as he and Adam headed back to the house.  He really loves the swing Adam," Ben told Adam.  " I knew he would Pa.  Well I need to ride out and check the fences in the south pasture.  I'll be back by lunchtime," Adam said as he grabbed his hat and holster.

Little Joe loved his swing, as he swung the morning away.  He loved to see how high he could and that made him giggle.  As he was slowing down, he began to practice at leaping out of the swing as it was still moving.  Now that was really fun, but he didn't want Ben or Adam to know that he could do that.

As Ben was finishing up his book work, he could hear his youngest son giggling away.  Ben had to chuckle out loud because he knew that his little boy was having a good time on his new swing.  He was very proud of Adam for making the swing for his baby brother.

Ben walked outside to check on Little Joe, and what he saw just melted his heart.  He stood there watching his baby boy happily swinging and giggling with a big smile on his face.  " Hi ya Papa !  Imma havin' lots of fun.  I wuv my swing," squealed the big bright eyed child.  " I'm very happy you love your swing.  How would you like to go for a ride with me into Virginia City so I can mail the last of these letters, and maybe if you are a good boy, we can have lunch at Daisy's?" Ben asked as he smiled.  " Oh boy.  I wanna go wiv ya Papa, and I's be a good boy," Little Joe excitedly told Ben.

Ben and Little Joe went into the barn so Ben could saddle Dusty and Ginger.  Then he went back into the house to get the letters that needed mailing, his hat, Little Joe's hat and his holster.  Ben had already told Hop Sing that he and Little Joe would be having lunch in town.

The ride to Virginia City was very pleasant and amusing for Ben as he listened to his little son talking about his new swing, and many other things as well.  Ben wished that there was a way that Little Joe could always be like this, a happy go lucky five year old.

After Ben and Little Joe left the mail office, they headed over for a visit with Sheriff Roy Coffee.  As they walked into Roy's office, Little Joe said, " Hi Mr. Sheriff Coffee."  " Howdy Little Joe, Ben," Roy greeted them with a big grin on his face.  " Hi Roy," greeted Ben.  " Well Little Joe, what brings you into town this morning?" Roy asked.  " My pony gots me here.  Then me and Papa wented over ta the mail office ta mail stuff, and then we's gonna have lunch at Daisy's.  Ain't that sompfin'?  Oh ya knows what Adam maded fer me, a swing, and even Hoss can swing on it too.  Ya can swing on it too when ya come ta see us," Little Joe told Roy.  " My goodness Little Joe, you are very lucky to have yer own swing.  That was so nice of Adam to make it fer ya," Roy said as he was getting a big kick out of this little boy.  " Maybe Adam could make ya one too, if'n ya wants one," Little Joe told Roy.  " I will have ta think about that son," Roy said as he started to laugh.  Ben was also laughing at everything Little Joe had told Roy.

" Roy, would you like to join us for lunch?" asked Ben.  " I'd like that Ben.  Thank you fer askin' me.  Hey Little Joe, I have some 'wanted' posters for you to take home, and I think you need this here deputy's badge too," Roy said as he pinned the badge on Little Joe's shirt.  " Papa, I's a deputy now.  Fank you Mr. Coffee.  Anytime ya needs me, just come ta gets me, and I's help ya gets them bad mens," Little Joe said.  " I'll remember that Little Joe.  I know that you will be a very good deputy," Roy said.  " I's will be a very good deputy, I's promise," the child said.  Roy handed Little Joe the 'wanted' posters.  " Imma gonna gets me them bad mens," a very serious Little Joe told Roy.

On their way to Daisy's, Ben put the 'wanted' posters in his saddle bags.  Daisy was very happy to see Little Joe.  The little boy told her all about his new swing, and that she could out to the Ponderosa and swing anytime she wanted.  He also told her that he was a deputy now, and that he would help protect the town from bad men.

Litle Joe was a very good boy and he ate all of his lunch.  After a quick trip to the general store, Ben and Little Joe headed home.

By the time they got back home, Little Joe was almost asleep in his saddle.  Ben got off Dusty, tied both Dusty and Ginger to the hitching post, then he gently picked up his little son and carried him into the house and straight to his room.  By the time they entered the child's room, the little boy was sound to sleep.  Ben laid him down, took off his boots, hat, and deputy badge, and he covered up the child.  Then he gave the child a kiss.

" Hi Pa.  Looks like he's worn out," Adam said as he poured another cup of coffee.  " Yes, he was almost asleep in the saddle.  When that boy goes to sleep, he's dead to the world," Ben said as Hop Sing brought him a cup of coffee.  " Thanks Hop Sing," Ben said as he sat down in his chair.  " You welcome Mr. Ben," Hop Sing said as he headed back to the kitchen.

" How were the fences in the south pasture Adam?" asked Ben as he sipped his coffee that tasted wonderful.  " They're just fine Pa," Adam said.  " That's good," Ben said, as he got up to get the 'wanted' posters out of his saddle bags, and he laid them on the coffee table and he sat down again.  " Wanted posters, huh?  Hoss and Little Joe sure love them," Adam said as he started to look at the posters.  " Yes, they sure do.  Roy made Little Joe his special deputy today.  You should have seen the look on his face Adam," Ben said as he smiled.  " Oh, I can just imagine how excited he was," Adam told Ben as he chuckled.

" Adam, I want to show you this ad in the Territorial News that you brought home yesterday," Ben said as he handed the paper to Adam and told him it was on page six.  Adam turned to page six and he read the ad.  " This sounds very interesting.  I'd like to check it out.  How about you Pa.  Should we go to Carson City and have a look? Adam asked.  " Yes, I have been thinking about it, and I know Little Joe would really love to have one," Ben told Adam.  " He sure would Pa," agreed Adam.

Early that next morning Ben and Adam rode off to Carson City, to the new store that had their ad in the newspaper.

When Ben and Adam rode into Carson City, they got off their horses in front of  The Rocking Horse Company and they went inside the shop.  They couldn't believe their eyes at all the beautiful looking rocking horses in all different sizes. 

" Good morning gentlemen.  Welcome to The Rocking Horse Company.  My name is Wilber Nelson," Wilber said.  " Good morning Mr. Nelson.  You have beautiful rocking horses here," Ben said.  "Thank you.  My brother, Jim and I make all the horses, the leather reins, and the leather saddles too.  We've been making rocking horses for twenty years now.  We use to be in Boston, but we decided to to move out west.  We've been here for about a month now, and we opened the shop about two weeks ago, oh, and please call me Will," the man told Ben and Adam.  " My name is Ben Cartwright, and this is my oldest son, Adam," Ben told Wilber.  " Nice to meet you both," Will said.  " Please call me Ben."  " Ben it is," said Will smiling.

" Is there any special kind of rocking horse you would like?" asked Will.  " I was thinking of one that is the size of a real pony," Ben told Will.  " We have several in that size Ben, in fact, Jim is about ready to paint one later today.  Would you like to have a look at it?" asked Will.  " Yes, we would.  Thank you," Ben said.

Will took Ben and Adam out to the large workshop where they were introduced to Jim.  " Here is the rocking horse Ben," Will told Ben and Adam.  Ben and Adam carefully looked at the beautifully made and very sturdy rocking horse that was taller than a real pony.

" I really like this one.  What do you think Adam?" asked Ben.  " I totally agree Pa.  Little Joe will love it," Adam said as he continued to look at the rocking horse.  " Is this horse spoken for yet?" asked Ben.  " No, it isn't," Will said.  " We'd love to buy it.  Is it possible to pick out the colors we would like to have it painted?" asked Ben.  " We can paint it any color you want Ben," Jim said. 

" My five year old son loves black and white pinto's, so could it be painted black and white?" Ben asked.  " Yes, black and white it will be.  Now, what color of mane , forelocks and tail would you like?" asked Jim.  Ben looked at Adam, and they both said white with just a little black in the tail, if that's possible?" Ben asked.  " That will look wonderful Ben, and it isn't a problem at all.  Do you need the horse now, or would you like it in a few days?" asked Will.  " How about in a few days.  That way we can bring our buckboard to take it home," Ben suggested.  " That will be perfect Ben.  That way the paint will have a good long time to get totally dry.  Oh, and we do use real horse hair for manes, forelocks and tails.  Would you like to have a look at them?  That way you can pick out the ones you want," Jim said.  " That would be great.  Yes, we'd love to see them," Ben said.

Ben and Adam followed Jim into the room where the horse hair was, along with the saddles and bridles, and reins.  We have been gathering horse hair for a long time.  We have ads out asking people for horse hair when they cut the hair from their horses tails.  We pay them for the hair, and then we wash the hairs so they are clean," Jim told the Cartwrights.

" Pa, look at this white hair and it does have a little bit of black in it too.  I think it will be perfect for the rocking horse," Adam excitedly told Ben.  Ben looked and felt the hair, and he said," You are right Adam.  This will look great on the rocking horse."  " That's a wonderful choice, and it will look wonderful on the rocking horse," Jim said as he totally agreed with Ben and Adam.

" Can we look at the saddles and bridles please Jim?" asked Ben.  " Sure Ben, right over here," Jim said as he lead the Cartwrights over to that area of the workshop.  " You make these too?" asked Ben.  " Yes, Will makes most of them and Wills' son also helps make them too," Jim proudly said. 

As Ben and Adam looked at the saddles and bridles, they were very impressed at the workmanship.  " These are all beautifully made Jim," both Ben and Adam told Jim.  " Thank you.  We learned how to make them from our father and grandfather.  We are the third generation of the family to carry on the business.  We take pride in all the work that we do," Jim said.

Ben and Adam finally decided on the saddle and bridle for the rocking horse.  It was hard to pick out the ones they wanted, since all the saddles and bridles are so beautiful.  Jim took the saddle and bridle and set them aside, and he told Ben and Adam that the saddle bags were free.  He put the saddle bags with the saddle and bridle.  Then the Cartwrights picked out the reins for the bridle.  Jim told them that the rocking horse could hold an adult easily.  They are guaranteed to hold up to 350 pounds," Jim proudly told them.  That really impressed the Cartwrights.

Ben and Adam thanked Jim for all his help, and said that they would be back in five days.  Jim thanked Ben and Adam for their business.  Ben and Adam went back in the main shop where Will had just sold two smaller rocking horses.

" Did you find everything you needed Ben?" asked Will.  " Yes, we did.  Thank you.  Your shop, your horses, and everything about your shop is incredible.  You and Jim should feel so proud at all the beautiful work that you do.  This has got to be the finest shop I've ever seen Will," Ben said.  " Thank you Ben.  That really means a lot to us," Will proudly told Ben and Adam. 

" We plan to tell everyone in Virginia City about your wonderful shop and and all the beautiful rocking horses," Adam told Will.  " We would really appreciate that Adam.  Thank you," said Will.

" How much do we owe you Will?" asked Ben.  Will got out his price book and added up the total.  " How does $50. sound, oh and did Jim tell you that you get free saddle bags also?" asked Will.  " Yes he did, and the price is just fine," Ben told Will as he smiled and he handed Will the money.  " Thank you Ben.  Now, when would you like to come and pick up the rocking horse?" asked Will.  " How about next Tuesday?" Ben said.  " Next Tuesday it is then," Will said as he smiled at the Cartwrights.

" Thank you for making your purchase Ben," Will said.  " Thank you for having such a wonderful shop Will.  We'll see you next Tuesday," Ben said as he and Adam shook hands with Will.  " Great, see you both on Tuesday.  Good bye," Will said.  " Good bye," both Ben and Adam said, as they left the shop.

Pa, I can't wait to see the look on Little Joe's face when he see's his rocking horse," Adam said as looked forward to next Tuesday.  " Me either.  We'll probably never get him off that horse, once he sees his rocking horse," Ben said as he laughed.  " I think you will be so right about that Pa," Adam said agreeing with Ben on that statement as he laughed too.

As Ben and Adam rode into the yard, they saw Little Joe swinging.  " Hi ya Papa, Adam !" the child shouted at them.  " Hi your self," they both said.

Little Joe jumped off his swing and he ran over to Ben and Adam.  " Papa, I's was a good boy fer Hop Sing.  I ated all my lunch and took my nap too," Little Joe proudly said.  Ben picked up his giggling little boy and gave him a big hug and kiss.  " Did ya have a nice time in Carson City?" asked Little Joe.  " Yes we did son.  The business went well, but we have to go back next week to finish up our business," Ben said as he winked at Adam.  " Oh, I promise ta be a good boy fer Hop Sing that day," the little boy said.  " That's good to know son.  I'm very proud of you for being such a good boy lately," Ben told the child as he continued to hug the boy.  " Ya are Papa?  I try really hard ta be a good boy ya know," Little Joe said. 

When Hoss got home from school school, he saw his little brother happily swinging.  " Hey Punkin, still like yer swing?" Hoss asked as he smiled at his little brother.  " Hi ya Hoss.  I wuv my swing.  Ya wanna swing Hoss?" asked the little boy as he jumped off the swing and ran over to his big brother.  Hoss picked him up, hugged him and put him on Chubb, then led his horse into the barn with his little brother in the saddle.

He lifted Little Joe off the horse so he could unsaddle him, rub him down, then feed him.  Little Joe helped the best he could.  " Do ya wanna swing Hoss?" asked the boy again.  " I can't Punkin, got homework ta do, but thank you fer asking," Hoss said as he got down on his knees' and told his little brother to climb on his back for a piggyback ride to the house.  When Hoss stood up with Little Joe on his back, the little boy started to giggle loudly.

Hoss trotted towards the house, opened the front door, stepped into the house and closed the door.  Then he trotted around the room.  " Giddy up Hossey," Little Joe shouted as he was giggling. 

" Hi ya Pa, Adam," greeted Hoss.  Both Ben and Adam laughed when they saw Hoss and Little Joe.  " Hi Hoss, or should we say, Hossey?" laughed Ben.  Hoss just grinned at them as he trotted around the room.  " Whoa Hossey.  I wanna gets down so I can swing again," Little Joe told Hoss.  Hoss stopped and stood still as Ben lifted his little imp off of Hossey Hoss.  " Thanks Pa," said Hoss.  Ben just nodded.  " How was your day?" asked Adam.  " OK," said Hoss.

Ben made sure Little Joe wasn't in the house, so he and Adam could tell Hoss about the rocking horse.  Hoss listened to everything he was told about the rocking horse and the shop.

" Pa, Little Joe is going to be so excited.  Makes me wish I was still a little kid," Hoss said with a big grin on his face.  " Hoss, you know your little brother will let you ride his rocking horse," Ben said.  " Ya I know, and can't you just see the look he'd get on his face then too?" Hoss said as he started to laugh.

The End of part one.

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