The reading room
Polly Pigtails #18
"Josie and the Dream Pony," by Roberta Saffron, follows Josie Farrell, a young copy girl at a city newspaper who dreams of owning a Shetland pony. After months of planning and financial struggle, she acquires Molasses, a supposedly gentle pony to keep in her back yard. However, Molasses proves to be lazy, gluttonous, and difficult to manage, eating excessively and refusing to cooperate. When Josie's father discovers the pony's true nature and poor condition, he threatens to send it to an Old Pony's Home, forcing Josie to work harder at her job to earn money for Molasses' upkeep. The story continues as Josie's constant worry about the troublesome pony begins to affect her work and personal life, leading to complications at her newspaper office and among her club members.