Big Jack, and other true stories of horses

By Gabrielle E. Jackson

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Title: Big Jack, and other true stories of horses

Author: Gabrielle E. Jackson


        
Release date: March 21, 2026 [eBook #78260]

Language: English

Original publication: New York: J. F. Taylor & Company, 1903

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BIG JACK, AND OTHER TRUE STORIES OF HORSES ***




BIG JACK




[Illustration: “_Jack_”]




  BIG JACK
  _And_
  _Other_ True Stories _of_ Horses

  _By_
  GABRIELLE E. JACKSON

  _Author of_
  “LITTLE COMRADE,”
  “THE COLBURN PRIZE,”
  “LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE,” ETC.

  [Illustration]

  NEW YORK
  J. F. TAYLOR & COMPANY
  MCMIII




  COPYRIGHT, 1903, BY
  J. F. TAYLOR AND
  COMPANY, NEW YORK

  _Published September, 1903_




  _Acknowledgment
  is due to The Editors of St.
  Nicholas, Our Animal Friends, New York
  Herald, &c., for permission to
  reproduce these stories_

                           _Gabrielle E. Jackson_




CONTENTS


                                              PAGE

  BIG JACK,                                     11

  “BILLEE TAYLOR,”                              37

  CHARLIE & CO.,                                65

  GRAY LADY’S ONLY SON,                         83

  HOW NED TOODLES WENT TO COOKING SCHOOL,      131

  OLD NICK’S CHRISTMAS,                        141

  HOW NED TOODLES TOLD TIME,                   175




BIG JACK




“BIG JACK”


I wonder how many of the little people in New York City have ever
heard of “Big Jack”? Not many, I fancy; and yet Big Jack is quite an
important character, and holds a very responsible position, which he
fills with much dignity as well as credit to himself, and satisfaction
to his employers.

His headquarters are at Broadway and Twenty-second Street, where he can
usually be found at about ten o’clock in the morning, and from that
hour, off and on, until about 5 P. M. In the intervals his business
affairs call him to various parts of the city, but being extremely
methodical in his habits, he is usually at his office about lunch-time.

You may be somewhat surprised to learn that he is strictly a
vegetarian, confining his diet solely to cereals or fruit, with
occasionally a few lumps of sugar. He _should_ have been a Scotchman,
judging by his fondness for oats, but he was born, I am told, in our
own country.

Possibly his love for oats may account for his beautiful complexion,
which is snowy white, with just a suggestion of pink showing through
and telling of the warm, rich blood flowing underneath.

I first became acquainted with Jack about five years ago. Indeed, I
must confess that we _scraped_ acquaintance. It came about in this
manner. I was standing with my little daughter upon the corner of
Broadway and Twenty-second Street, waiting for an uptown car, when I
became aware that we were being very closely regarded by a pair of
unusually large and extremely beautiful brown eyes--eyes which were
very eloquent, and seemed to say much more plainly than words could
have done: “I am very favorably impressed with that little girl, and I
should like to know her. Will she speak to me, do you think?”

I called the little girl’s attention to the big eyes looking at her so
steadfastly, and, do you know, I believe she understood their language
even better than I did, and yet I flatter myself that I am a pretty
good interpreter of such glances. At any rate, she walked straight up
to their owner and said: “Why do you look at me that-a-way? I just
guess you _know_ I keep lumps of sugar in my pocket to give to great,
big lovely horses like you!”

Slowly a great white head with the most intelligent eyes I have ever
seen was lowered to a level with the little maid’s face, and two or
three queer, sidling steps taken to bring it closer to the outstretched
arms. The owner seemed to realize that those little arms never gave
any save the tenderest caresses, and he was very glad to feel one
circle around his huge, soft neck, while the other carried a small hand
to stroke a very silky muzzle, for Big Jack is a horse among horses.
And big, indeed, he is--a giant of his kind.

There is nothing small about Jack either in his makeup or his manners.
His head is massive, but magnificently formed, with thin, sensitive
nostrils, wide-awake eyes placed widely apart, small, alert ears which
point forward, or occasionally one is turned back as though to listen
round the corner for the sound of a familiar voice, or a kindly word
from his driver, who is justly proud of the big white creature.

And such a neck! I would not dare venture a guess as to the size of
collar Jack wears, for the great neck arches up to a crest that is
truly noble.

But his eyes tell more of his noble nature than all the rest of the
head together; they are so big, so soft, so brown, and so eloquent.
With them he talks to you, expressing by them love, kindness,
expectancy, joy, and--sometimes--make-believe anger, for Jack is rarely
angry in earnest.

But he resents the slightest approach to teasing by flashing his big
eyes at his tormentor, and after they have seen the sharp eyes turned
so keenly on them, not many have the hardihood to push matters too far.

Big Jack has hosts of friends, who always have a kind word for him, and
a day rarely passes without someone bringing him a dainty of some sort.

His driver carries him an apple every morning when he goes to the
stable to take him out for his day’s work, and Jack knows exactly the
hour to expect him, and the instant his footfall is heard, greets him
with a loud whinny.

After Jack has enjoyed his apple, his master lets him out of his stall,
and that is Jack’s opportunity for a frolic. He prances about like a
young colt until told to “go along and get his drink,” when he at once
marches off to the water-trough and proceeds to drink up a few gallons.
A good breakfast follows, and then he puts himself in position to be
harnessed, gets into his shafts, and is ready for business. He knows
exactly what is expected of him, and trots straight to the express
office at Twenty-second Street and Broadway.

Jack does not move rapidly; it is not compatible with his size and
dignity to do so, for he seems to realize his importance and to
understand how utterly impossible it would be for the company to
conduct the express business without his valuable assistance.

In front of his office Jack is king, and woe to any other horse who
tries to usurp his special post. He knows precisely how that wagon
should be backed in to the sidewalk to receive its daily load, and does
not rest until he has brought it to exactly the proper position.

Then he settles down for a nap, and no one would imagine that the
big white horse standing there with his head hanging down and eyes
partly closed had half an ounce of sense in his great head. But stand
aside for a few moments and watch him. Presently you see one ear
turned slowly backward for apparently no cause at all. But Jack knows
more than you do, and that ear is sharp, and has heard the patter of
familiar feet and the sound of a sweet little voice. He cannot see
behind him because, long ago, some stupid man, who thought he knew more
about horses’ needs and natures than He who created them, decreed that
they must wear a great patch of leather on each side of their heads
in order that they may not know what is happening behind them; and
_blinders_ they are indeed.

But he did not stop up their _ears_, and Jack has that to be thankful
for.

That pretty ear has heard a voice it recognizes, and when it has told
its possessor that the owner of that voice is near enough to be seen,
slowly the great head is raised and turned the least little bit to the
right side, and the eyes, but a moment since so dull and sleepy,--so
oblivious of surrounding affairs,--begin to beam with a wonderful
softness.

Now comes dancing along a little girl about four years of age, with
brown curls waving and brown eyes sparkling. A little girl who
_never_ walks; she skips and she prances, she jumps and she dances,
as she holds her mother’s hand, and, I had better add, she chatters
incessantly.

No wonder Jack has heard her. She comes up from behind him very quietly
and says softly, “Good-morning, dear old Jack!”

Jack hitches a step or two closer to the sidewalk and waits; for
Jack is a sly old fellow, and he knows it would never do to turn too
quickly, and so spoil this pleasant little game of peek-a-boo.

“Who loves sugar, and how many lumps have I in my pocket for somebody?”

The word “sugar” has broken the charm, and Jack can no longer resist.
The big, soft head comes down to the little girl’s outstretched arms
and snuggles close up to her--so close that one passing by stops to
say, “Oh, that horse will surely hurt that child.”

But Big Jack and Wee Winkles understand each other too well, and the
great creature’s gentleness is a very beautiful lesson.

“Now, Jack,” she continues, “before we can have any sugar we must shake
hands.”

Hardly are the words uttered when up comes a monstrous right foot,
which two small hands grasp at the slender ankle; for to hold the hoof
itself would be somewhat like trying to hold half a ton.

“That’s a dear horse. Now, find the buttons on my coat,--a lump of
sugar for each button, you know.”

Very gently the soft muzzle travels up the front of the little coat,
and a sly nip is given to the top button. The reward is instantly
offered, and crunched with a relish. Before it has had time to slip
down the huge throat, Jack has found the second button, and won his
second lump. Four buttons in all, and four lumps of sugar.

A few more loving pats upon the dear old nose, the assurance that she
“loves him _dearly, dearly_,” and Wee Winkles prances away up Broadway
to Madison Square for her morning airing, while Jack watches her until
she is lost in the throng.

Nearly every day, during the winter months in town for almost two
years, Jack was visited, and no matter how long a time elapsed during
the summer, when his little friend was out of town, Jack never forgot
her, but upon her return showed his delight in every possible way.

But at length came a long separation, for the little girl moved far
away uptown, where she lived for two years, and then moved to the
country, and Big Jack was seen no longer. We often wondered whether
he missed his morning visitor and lumps of sugar, but concluded that
several other children, who knew and loved him, would doubtless
remember him. Not only children loved Jack, but grown people find
something very fascinating in the great creature, who is by turns
affectionate or mischievous, and seems to act toward his friends with
remarkable discrimination, showing to some all that is gentlest and
sweetest--and this usually to the little people--in his disposition,
and to others his mischief.

To see Jack dissemble is too funny for words to express. He will
pretend he does not know a friend is near him until that friend slips
his hand into his pocket for the apple or sugar which Jack knows all
the time is there. Then he will turn his head slowly, very slowly,
toward the individual, who may have been standing there for the past
two minutes,--time is of no value to Jack,--then a quiet, scarcely
perceptible change in the position of the ears, a surprised opening
of the eyes, as though to say: “Why, really, are _you_ there? I _am_
surprised! I had no idea that you were within half a mile. _So_ pleased
to see you!”

Then the sweet morsel is accepted in the most gracious manner
imaginable, as though his lordship were conferring a great favor by
condescending to accept the attention.

And now I must tell you something which seems almost too wonderful
to be true. After a lapse of five years we can tell a tale of
Jack’s intelligence which is truly extraordinary, and which proves
conclusively, if, indeed, the fact ever could be doubted, that our dumb
friend has a memory which some of his two-footed friends might envy.

Not long since his little friend, now grown a large girl of nine years,
went with her mother to the city to do some shopping, and, turning into
Twenty-second Street from Sixth Avenue, the first object which met her
eyes was Big Jack standing in front of one of the shops.

Although five years have passed over Jack’s head since we first met
him,--and that is quite a number as horses’ lives are counted,--they
have dealt very gently with him, and he is but little changed. Not
quite so sleek, perhaps, and not so kittenish, for Jack has worked hard
and steadily all these years, and work tells even upon the strongest
horses; but the same old Jack stood before us, and could not be
mistaken.

We were behind him, and his blinders prevented him from seeing us.

“Oh, mamma,” said his little friend, “do you think he will remember
me if I speak to him? How I wish we had some sugar for the dear old
fellow!”

I replied that we would step into a store close at hand and get a few
lumps, and then we would test Jack’s memory. We soon had our sugar,
and Wee Winkles--no longer “wee”--walked up from behind him as of
old, and said in the voice which Jack had not heard for nearly four
years, and which naturally must have changed considerably in that
interval: “Good-morning, dear old Jack!” To my great astonishment, the
recognition was instantaneous. Quick as a flash the great head was
turned; and not only that, but a soft whinny told of the dear old
fellow’s joy, as did also the quick snuggling down to the outstretched
arms.

No one could possibly doubt these demonstrations of delight; and when
they were followed by the voluntary upraising of the huge fore foot, as
of old, for the--what shall I say--foot-shake? his little friend’s joy
knew no bounds.

“Oh, mamma, mamma,” she cried, “did you _ever_ know anything so
wonderful?”

I replied that it was indeed very remarkable, and added, “Can it be
possible that he has remembered all the tricks? Ask him about the
s-u-g-a-r”--spelling the word lest the sound might recall the trick of
the buttons.

“Who loves sugar, and how many lumps have I in my pocket for somebody?”

But, alas! fashions have changed in four years, and some coats have
no buttons at all. In vain poor Jack felt about for the top button,
then a little lower for where No. 2 should have been found, then at the
other side for three and four, but no buttons were there; and Jack,
utterly disgusted, manifested it by shaking his head and stamping his
foot. His surprise was absurdly funny, and if he could have spoken I
believe he would have said with withering scorn: “Well, if _I_ were in
_your_ place I’d go straight home and _sew on my buttons_!”

Jack, however, got his four lumps despite the fashions, and was a very
happy horse.

It is perhaps rather difficult to believe this little tale, but it is
absolutely true from beginning to end, and has been written in order
to give the little people who reside in that section of New York an
opportunity to see and know big Jack, for I do assure you he is well
worth seeing and knowing.

There are, I dare say, a great many very clever and very beautiful
horses in our big city. Indeed, Wee Winkles and I know several
ourselves. “Billy Borden,” for instance, who knows his milk route so
well that his driver has only to say, “8 West Sixty-sixth, Billy,” or
“9 West Sixty-fifth, Billy,” to have him go at once to these addresses,
or any other with which he is familiar. Again, he will say: “No milk
here to-day, Billy,” and Billy jogs on.

Then there is “Dan Sorrel,” who draws the milk-wagon which takes the
milk to Central Park Dairy every morning. His driver often amuses the
children who gather about his pet by saying:

“Now, Dan, I believe you are a Democrat.”

“No!” shakes the head.

“What! a Republican?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” and a stamping of both front feet, while the tail is
slashed about like a banner to emphasize his sentiments.

Dan is great fun. Nor must we forget our old pet “Jingo” of the mounted
policemen’s horses; for he was truly wonderful, and I might go on
almost endlessly telling of his remarkable sagacity and cleverness.

Jingo and Wee Winkles were warm friends, for Winkles spent two winters
in a home very near the West Seventy-second Street entrance to the
Park, and each sunshiny day carried her lump of sugar to Jingo, who
would perform all sorts of tricks in order to win his reward. He would
waltz, go down upon his knees, shake hands, fetch a pocket-handkerchief
which she made believe she had dropped, whisper in his rider’s ear, and
do many things besides.

It is a never-ending source of surprise to me that so few people seem
to understand the wonderful intelligence of horses, or the marvelous
possibilities in developing that intelligence.

All my life I have either had horses of my own or been so fortunately
situated that I might make the acquaintance of those belonging to
others. I use the word “acquaintance” advisedly, for one _must_ become
acquainted, must be in sympathy with them, before they will show the
best side of their horse natures.

I have frequently stopped in the street beside a horse who looked as
though life had been a hard struggle for him, and whose every line
of face and attitude showed a stolid endurance of the inevitable, as
if fate had settled his lot beyond all power to change, and nothing
remained but to endure and wait until death put an end to it all. After
standing for a few moments unnoticed,--as though the poor creature were
thinking within itself, “She is only one more, like all the rest, and
will either pass on and take no notice of me, or say, ‘Get out of the
way, you brute,’”--I would say softly, but without moving, “Come here,
old fellow.”

At first there would not be the least response, save, perhaps, the
slight turn of an ear; but upon repeating it two or three times in
exactly the same tone, the head would turn slowly toward me, and a look
of surprise come into the tired eyes, as though a gentle word were a
thing before unknown.

At the third repetition I have rarely failed to have the poor old nose
stretched out toward me for a gentle stroke, and the neck thus brought
within reach of a kind pat.

Not infrequently have I had the owner of some such unfortunate say to
me, “Hi, there! Look out! That horse’ll bite ye!” and have replied,
“Oh, I think not; watch him a moment, and see if I am not right.”

I well recall one such instance, when I went up to intercede for a poor
beast that was being cruelly lashed because it could not draw a load
which was far beyond its strength.

I begged the driver to desist, which, I add to his credit, he did at
once, getting down off his cart, whip in hand. As he did so I went up
to the poor creature’s head, and was greeted with a series of snaps and
plunges, as though his tormentors had driven him nearly wild. “Don’t go
within tin feet av the baste!” exclaimed the man. “He’ll have the head
off yer.”

“I hardly think so,” I said, and kept straight on, speaking softly and
kindly to the trembling creature, while I reached out to take him by
the rein.

Up flew the head as if to avoid a blow, telling all too eloquently how
often the poor muzzle had smarted from one.

But dear Mother Nature is kind, and has endowed her dumb creatures with
wonderful discerning powers; so not many minutes had passed before the
poor tired head was nestled close to me, and soft strokes and gentle
words seemed to act as a sedative upon nerves which were utterly
unstrung.

The man stood by, open-mouthed. “Well, be all the powers!” said he;
“the likes av that niver did I see in all me born days. I thought the
baste would ate the very handle off me shovel!”

“He is better than you thought, is he not?”

“Faith, I believe ye’ve bewitched him,” he answered.

“Yes,” I said, “I have; but _you_ can bewitch him in the same way if
you will only try it. I wish you would.”

       *       *       *       *       *

All this is a long way from Big Jack, and we must not forget our chief
character in our sympathies for his less fortunate kindred.

But I want the little people who read this to realize how much that is
lovable and beautiful dear Mother Nature has put right in our daily
paths, if we will only raise our eyes to see and our voices to win it;
for surely it cannot fail to help us by developing all that is best and
loveliest in ourselves.




“BILLEE TAYLOR”




“BILLEE TAYLOR”


The rays of the afternoon sunshine came peeping across the high hedge
to fall aslant the closely cut lawn which sloped to the beautiful river
flowing so peacefully beyond. The hedge and the great trees cast long
shadows upon the soft green grass, making a marked contrast to the
brilliant patches of sunshine lying between.

Crickets hopped about, singing their monotonous little songs, and
insects floated in the sun’s warm rays, as though enjoying a golden
shower bath. Under one of the great trees and comfortably resting in
a big East India lawn chair, with its back drawn close to the hedge,
sat, or rather half reclined, a small person of about fifteen summers;
while upon the grass beside her lay an atom of a black and tan terrier.

The afternoon was very warm and still, and the drowsy, dreamy
atmosphere had evidently had its influence upon little maid and little
dog, for both had slipped away into dreamland.

Four strokes rang out from the distant town clock, the distance causing
the sound to be wonderfully mellowed, and, as though it were the
signal for a new actor to appear upon the scene, the branches of the
hedge just above the chair were pushed aside and a great head, with
wonderfully soft eyes, peered through at the sleepers. It was followed
by a long, gracefully arched sorrel neck, and “Billee” had introduced
himself.

So gently had the hedge been parted that it scarcely rustled, and the
young girl slept on undisturbed.

But the owner of the great head had his own ideas regarding the hours
which should be devoted to slumber, and four o’clock, on a beautiful
summer afternoon, was _not_ one of them; so he proceeded to rouse the
sleepers.

“Hoo-hoo; hoo-hoo-hoo,” came the soft, unspellable sound a horse makes
when he greets you. But it only resulted in rousing the little terrier,
who raised his head lazily and regarded the intruder with a rather
surprised air.

But the horse had no notion of failing in his undertaking, and at once
proceeded to adopt more energetic measures. Stretching his long neck
still further through the opening in the hedge, he reached toward the
sleeper, and taking very gentle hold of a stray lock of hair which fell
across the back of the chair, gave it a slight pull with his soft,
velvety lips, and then, as though terrified at the liberty he had
taken, plunged back with a loud snort.

The pull, the snort, and the wild barking of the enraged little terrier
produced such an instantaneous effect that he should have been highly
gratified, for the girl bounded out of her chair and stood staring at
the hedge in astonishment. But that looked innocent enough, and she
would have turned elsewhere to learn the cause of her fright had she
not caught sight of a shining pair of eyes which looked at her through
the opening in the branches.

She darted forward with a laugh, and parting the branches, she said:

“You scamp! What do you mean by playing me such a trick? I’ve tried to
coax you to come close to me time and time again when I’ve been wide
awake, but you choose to take me at a disadvantage while I am in the
land of Nod,” and she wagged her finger at him admonishingly.

Down went his head and up went his heels and tail; for a few minutes it
was difficult to tell which end of him touched the ground; and no boy
ever gave more pronounced demonstrations of wild delight at the success
of some prank than he gave of his, as, with a final and most abandoned
kick-up, he went careering over the big field. Marion, for such was the
girl’s name, made no attempt to coax him to come back; well knowing
that he must have his fling before settling down to more serious
matters, and enjoying the spectacle most thoroughly; for the horse was
a beauty and never showed to greater advantage than when enjoying his
freedom in the pasture.

The superb head, with its splendid eyes, delicate, pointed ears and
sensitive nostrils, was held high in the air; the gracefully arched
neck, with its silky, flowing mane and full throbbing veins; the
dainty hoofs and slender limbs which supported the lithe, active body,
appearing scarcely to touch the grass, and the long tail waving behind
like a triumphal banner, all were superbly beautiful.

But, masculine member of society as he was, he was somewhat of a
coquette, and soon tried new fascinations. Stopping suddenly in the
midst of his wild career, he walked over to the hedge with his head
lowered as demurely as a young miss. When within about ten feet of it
he stopped, threw up his head, and gave a loud neigh.

“Now you _know_ you are only doing that for effect,” said Marion, “and
I believe you just know how beautiful you look with the sun shining on
your silky, sorrel coat as you stand there trying to make me believe
you’re afraid, when you know perfectly well you’re not one bit. Come
here, this minute; for _this_ time I’m determined to touch you if I
have to crawl through the hedge to do it,” and in another moment the
girl stood in the field.

One dainty hoof pawed the ground and the head went up and down as
though answering “yes,” but he did not advance a step.

“Are you coming?”

“Hoo-hoo; hoo-hoo-hoo!”

“Now does that mean ‘yes’ or ‘no’?”

Down went the head again.

“It means ‘yes,’ does it? Well, come on, then,” and she held out her
hand coaxingly. Without a sign of warning he gave a bound which landed
him beside her so suddenly that it was a marvel she did not make some
demonstration of fear. But she did not, and the horse, who had a
novel way of doing things, instantly made up his mind that this young
lady was not easily frightened; consequently he decided to behave
himself, and with a soft little whinny he put his silky head into her
outstretched arms and stood as quiet as a lamb.

Marion’s joy was unbounded, for, time and again during the summer she
had tried to make friends with the beautiful animal, only to find
herself baffled at each attempt; and now he stood beside her and let
her fondle and caress him as unreservedly as she would have caressed
the little terrier, who stood beside her regarding the whole proceeding
with a questioning look.

“What do you think of him, Jingles?” she asked, and the terrier gave a
little bark, which set jingling the tiny silver bells upon the collar,
which had given him his name.

Marion stood there caressing the horse for some time, enjoying his
pranks and indulging in subdued rapture over his affectionate little
demonstrations, for, once won over, he seemed determined to make amends
for former shortcomings and licked her hand, nibbled at her ruffles,
laid his head across her shoulder and showed in every possible way that
he had taken her for his friend; when suddenly he raised his head and
laid back his ears.

“What is it, old fellow? What has disturbed you?” she asked, well
knowing that she was not the cause of the half-frightened, half-angry
look which had come into his eyes.

Whatever it was he evidently regarded it with distinct disfavor, for
his whole attitude changed and one would hardly have recognized in him
the same animal which a moment before had so captivated Marion.

Up went the head and a still more frightened look crept into his eyes
as a tall, heavily-built man, with a stupid face and features which
spoke only of coarseness and brutality, came into view.

“Hi! do yer want ter be killed?” he shouted in a harsh voice. “Yer’d
better keep away from that brute if yer don’t. He’s a perfect devil.”

In an instant all the indignation and resentment in the young girl’s
nature was aroused by this unjust accusation, for her love for horses
was so intense that she seemed to hold almost magical power over them,
and her friends used often to say that they believed she possessed some
secret means of communicating to them her own thoughts and reading
theirs.

However that might be, certain it was that they all loved her, from her
own beautiful little pony to the greatest forlornity that ever bore
harness, and her word rarely failed to win a response of some sort.

Ever since her father had rented their pretty summer home in May, she
had watched the beautiful young animal driven by the owner of the
adjoining property, and, during the horse’s occasional days of freedom
in the pasture separated from her home by a high hedge, had striven to
coax him to her. But with her keen intuitions she made up her mind that
the animal was not kindly treated, and consequently lacked confidence
in human beings.

“But I shall yet win him over; see if I don’t,” she had said to her
father as she sat at breakfast that very morning, “and I’ll find out
the cause of his distrust as well; or my name is not Marion.”

“I won’t try to dispute that, sweetheart, since I gave you the name
myself,” replied her father as he rose from the table and came for his
good-by kiss before leaving for town, “so I dare say I shall soon have
our four-footed neighbor’s biography.”

“You needn’t tease me,” she said, with a wag of her pretty head, “I’m
going to _do_ it.”

So now she stood confronting the owner of the unpleasant voice and more
unpleasant personality, and her own voice quivered with indignation as
she answered:

“Do you see anything very fiendish in him just at present? Perhaps you
might find the angelic side of his nature, just as I have, if you would
take pains to try.”

All this time, although quivering with apprehension, the horse had
stood perfectly still with the girl’s arm resting protectingly across
his withers.

“Is he _your_ horse?” she continued, for the man had stopped
stock-still to regard the great animal’s intrepid little defender with
amazement.

“Naw! he aint that; and I don’t want him neither. He belongs to the
boss up yander. But I’ve got to take care of him, and if he don’t look
out I’ll kill him some day, if he don’t get a lick at me first. Here,
come on out o’ that, the boss wants ye,” and he made a grab at the
horse’s forelock.

Up flew the nervous creature’s head as though to avoid a blow, to
which, undoubtedly, he was only too well accustomed, and in so doing he
hit the hard bridge of his nose against the man’s chin, causing him to
bite his tongue. With a furious oath he drew back his huge fist and
dealt the horse a cruel blow upon his soft muzzle.

With the pathetic cry a wounded horse gives, the poor creature fell
almost upon his haunches, and then, with a superb bound, leaped clear
and clean over the man’s head.

It had all happened in a few seconds, but those few seconds had been
sufficient to arouse within the girl’s soul all the fury of righteous
anger, and with a wild cry of, “Oh, how _dare_ you do such a cruel
thing! How _dare_ you, when you know he did not mean to hurt you!” she
caught hold of the man by both his arms and shook him till his teeth
fairly chattered. Then, pushing him from her, she cried: “Now go! You
are not fit to have the care of a wild bull, let alone such a splendid
creature as that, and you shall never, never touch him again if I can
prevent it.”

Never probably in all his life had this great, strong man encountered
such a little fury as now confronted him with flashing eyes and
crimson cheeks. The girl’s whole nature rose in wrath against such
injustice, and for the time being she was beside herself, and all
thoughts of “Mrs. Grundy” flew to the four winds.

Too astonished to speak, he stood like a wooden image staring straight
at her, then, as she stamped her pretty little foot and pointed toward
the gate, he turned and slunk off toward the distant stables; for once,
at least, dealt with as he deserved, although it had fallen to the lot
of a girl of fifteen to administer justice.

“Oh, Jingles,” she cried, now almost in tears, “wasn’t it awful! Come
quick and we will look after the dear fellow,” and she ran swiftly to
the far end of the field in which the frightened horse had taken refuge.

There he stood with his poor head hanging dejectedly down, and the
blood dripping from the cut nostril. Marion approached him very
quietly, fearing that his recent cruel treatment might have undone
all she had striven so patiently to gain, but the intelligent animal
had learned more than one lesson that day, and the girl had won his
confidence forever.

Taking the poor, smarting muzzle in her soft, white hands, she examined
it closely and found the cut to be a bad one. “If I only had some
water,” she said to herself, “I could bathe it. I know, I’ll lead him
to that spring down at the edge of the field,” and untying the pretty
Roman sash from her waist, she placed it very gently around the horse’s
neck, and, saying in her sweet voice, “Come along, dear,” she led him
quietly beside her.

Her dainty linen handkerchief served to bathe the injured nose, and
when the bleeding was stanched she turned toward the gate, intending to
lead her patient home, little realizing what a pretty picture she made
as she came across the fields with the afternoon sunlight falling upon
her beautiful brown hair and pretty white gown, with one hand leading
the handsome sorrel horse by his gay silken leader, while the other was
laid caressingly across his neck.

To the gentleman standing concealed behind a clump of evergreens just
beyond the gate it seemed the prettiest sight he had ever looked upon,
and a pleasing ending to the harrowing one to which he had been an
unseen witness.

Slipping from his hiding-place as the girl approached, he advanced with
outstretched hand, saying: “Little neighbor, I have more than one thing
for which to thank you this afternoon, but the greatest is for your
heroic defense of my horse. Don’t try to tell me anything about it,”
as Marion gave a slight start and opened her lips to speak,--“I saw
the whole occurrence from beginning to end, and now I know why one of
my most valuable animals has thus far in his career been pronounced
vicious.”

“Oh, he isn’t! I _know_ he isn’t,” exclaimed his champion.

“So do I,--_now_, but I have been a long time learning it, and, but for
you, I should probably never have done so; since that man, upon whom
you wreaked your vengeance,” and here a rather amused smile curved the
corners of Mr. Ryder’s lips, “was cunning enough to conceal his true
disposition when in my presence.”

Marion colored slightly, and said: “I know it was a dreadful thing to
do, and I don’t know what papa will say when I tell him about it, but I
was so angry that I just _couldn’t_ keep still.”

“It is fortunate for Billy that you did not, or his future might have
been a miserable one; might it not, old fellow?” he answered as he
reached out to take the horse’s leader. But Billy’s faith in mankind
had been sorely shaken, and he started aside. “Tut, tut!” said Mr.
Ryder, “this is a bad business, and I think I shall have to impose
upon your friendship for Billy by asking you to lead him to the stable
for me, since he seems so fearful of ill-treatment. What is your name,
little maid? We have been neighbors six weeks, but I am so rarely home
that I am almost a stranger here.”

“Marion Taylor,” was the reply. “Come, Billy,” she added, “I didn’t
know your name before, but we got acquainted, didn’t we, dear?” and
she laid her flushed face against the warm, silky neck. “Have you more
horses?” she asked as they walked along together.

“Yes, a large number, for I raise them. Billy, here, is one of my
handsomest, and, but for his unfortunate disposition, he would be the
most valuable. I understand him better now, I think.”

“Oh, I hope so! He is so beautiful, and I am sure he would love me
dearly if I could see him every day. May I?”

“You certainly may, and tell your father that Mr. Ryder will give
himself the pleasure of calling upon him this evening,” he said, as he
shook hands with her and said good-by at the stable door.

Marion, with Jingles at her heels, ran swiftly home across the field,
while Mr. Ryder went in quest of the delinquent Sam, with whom he had
an interview--brief, but very much to the point. A few hours later
he was seated on Mr. Taylor’s delightful piazza enjoying with him an
after-dinner cigar as they talked, for they soon discovered that theirs
was really an old acquaintance rather than a new one, since both had
been students at the same university years before.

When Mr. Ryder said good-night at eleven o’clock, Billy had become
Mr. Taylor’s property, for the latter had long been in search of a
well-trained saddle-horse for Marion, and was glad to find such a
desirable one.

“Marion will cure any peculiarities of disposition he may possess,” he
said; “the child loves horses better than she loves people, I believe;
at all events, she understands them better and they her.”

“You missed a good deal by not seeing her this afternoon,” replied Mr.
Ryder. “By Jove! she gave it to Sam in good, round, set terms. I don’t
believe the fellow has recovered yet,” and he laughed as he recalled
the little girl’s righteous wrath.

As Marion stood upon the piazza next morning she was surprised to see
Billy led in at the gate.

“Why, papa,” she called to her father, who sat in the dining room
behind her, “they are bringing Billy in here; what does it mean?”

“It means, little daughter,” said her father, as he joined her,
“that Mr. Ryder and I have decided that you are to be Billy’s future
mistress, since you have evidently won his confidence and love. You
need a saddle-horse, and he is perfectly trained. Add this pet to your
many others, for I dare say your heart is large enough to hold even
Billy.”

A note addressed to Miss Marion Taylor was handed to her by the groom,
and contained the following message: “For Billy’s champion, with whom
I hope he may dwell long and serve faithfully, and henceforth be
known, not as Billy Ryder, but as ‘Billee Taylor.’” From that moment
“Billee’s” life was revolutionized, and he was as happy as his days
were long.

Marion tended him herself until the poor nose was quite healed.
Billee’s gratitude was boundless, and he showed it in every possible
way. Could he have done so he would have followed his beloved young
mistress straight into the house, and very often, indeed, he did follow
her on to the piazza.

Her pony was rather small for the saddle, so Billee was always used for
riding; and many a delightful canter they had; the beautiful animal
fully realizing how precious was the burden he carried, and swinging
along as smoothly as a rocking-chair.

Long after the sore nose was entirely well Billee remembered the cruel
blow, and when Marion said, “Poor Billee, where did he get hurt?”
the comical fellow would lift up his head and raise his upper lip to
show the scar, which he still carried upon it and his nostril. In a
wonderfully short time his nervousness, and what had seemed to be a
sort of resentment toward mankind in general, entirely vanished, and he
became the sweetest-tempered animal one could wish for, and as full of
pranks and mischief as a kitten.

Marion could always control him with a word, and even in the midst of
one of his wildest pranks, her voice was sufficient to bring him back
to his senses.

He and Toddles, the pony, became fast friends, and it was a common
thing for the neighbors to see Marion seated upon the lawn with
Billee, Toddles, Jingles, and the two kittens, Blink and Wink, lying
or standing beside her. No matter where she went, whether it was for
a stroll by the river, a walk to the post office, or a drive behind
little Toddles, if Billee caught sight of her he was determined to
follow her, and, if prevented by his groom from so doing, would neigh
to her as long as she was in sight.

While prowling about his stable yard one afternoon he somehow managed
to pick up a nail and, as though he were sure that his beloved
mistress would help him, he whinnied and whinnied until his groom came
to learn the cause. Seeing the horse limp, the man tried to take up his
foot to examine it, but Billee preferred selecting his own surgeon, and
although he could scarcely hobble, he pushed past his groom, who let
him go, and limped to the front of the house, where he felt certain of
finding his mistress. She was seated in her favorite chair near the
hedge, and with a glad neigh he hobbled up to her and held up the lame
foot.

“Why, Billee dear! what is the matter?” she cried, and, jumping up,
she took the poor foot into her hands. Billee poked his nose down and
made a queer grunting sort of sound, as though trying to tell her his
trouble.

“Yes, dear, I see what it is; we will soon have it out,” she said, and
Thomas was summoned and the nail removed.

“Now come with me, Billee, and we will fix it all comfortable,” and
she led him back to his stall.

She soon had the feverish foot standing in a tub of oil meal, and,
bidding him “be a good horse and not take his foot out of the tub till
she gave him leave,” she left him. A dozen times a day during the four
or five that followed, she went out to pour cold water on the ankle and
see that the foot was properly cared for, and each time she appeared
Billee’s joy was boundless, and he would hold up his foot to have it
dressed.

Such constant care could not fail to effect a prompt cure, and in a
week’s time Billee was as frisky as ever. But he never forgot his lame
foot, and ever after, when he felt particularly in need of sympathy,
would put on a make-believe limp, and if Marion said “Poor Billee
Taylor, he has _such_ a lame foot,” the rogue would hold it up, put his
nose down to it, and give voice to a low snicker, as though trying to
tell the story all over again.

Billee’s life was like the good prince’s in the fairy tales: “He lived
long and happily, and died at a ripe old age.”




CHARLIE & CO.




CHARLIE & CO.


Charlie was distinctly a local character. I doubt if he could claim any
special distinction even in his own town, and yet among his few friends
he held an enviable place, for they loved and trusted him, and neither
the love nor the trust was misplaced.

It is more than five years ago since we first met Charlie & Co., and
even then neither of the partners was young nor handsome. But they
commanded our attention.

It was in the summer of 1894 that I was sitting upon the piazza of
a friend’s home in the pretty suburban town of Elton. It was about
four o’clock, and as I sat drinking in the beauty of the sunshine and
the shadow as they flickered upon the soft green lawn, I heard the
measured pat-pat of a horse’s footfall. Alive to the slightest sound,
either regular or irregular, in the footfall of the animal I love
best of all my four-footed friends, I instantly recognized in this
one an unfamiliar sound, as though the animal making it had a mode of
navigation peculiar to itself.

As I glanced up the sound suddenly ceased, and I saw standing at the
foot of the driveway a bay horse harnessed to a milk-wagon. It would
have been difficult for me to tell what there was in the animal to
distinguish him from a dozen others which might have stopped at the
door, but there was an indefinable _something_, and I watched him,
feeling instinctively that something interesting would develop. Nor
did my instinct mislead me. The driver of the horse, an elderly man,
whose kindly face and scrupulous neatness were in perfect harmony with
the contented look worn by the animal he drove, and with its glossy,
shining coat, which testified to the care given to it, stepped from his
wagon and then turned to take from it a wire stand filled with jars of
rich, creamy milk, and started with them toward the kitchen at the rear
of the house.

As his driver left him the horse turned back one ear, but further
than that gave no evidence that he was at all interested in the man’s
movements. But directly the sound of his footfalls had ceased to be
heard, the pretty bay head, with the softest of velvety white noses and
big brown eyes, was turned quite around in order to have a good look
into the wagon--for, happily, the headstall had no blinders. Evidently
all was as it should be, and with a nod of his head, as though saying
“yes,” the animal started off.

My first impulse was to call out “whoa,” but something in the wise,
self-contained air of the creature compelled me to await developments.

Curving well outward, that the wheels of the wagon need not come in
contact with the curbstone, the horse started down the street, crossing
immediately to the right side in order to obey the rule of the highway
which says, “Keep to the right.” Passing four or five houses, he
stopped at one, and, bringing his wagon close to the curb, turned and
looked around. A moment later his driver reappeared and followed his
business partner across the street. Again the milk jars were taken from
the wagon, and again the horse started on, this time to the second
house. It was funny enough to watch him; he was as familiar with the
route, and the time necessary for each delivery, as his master, and
evidently felt as much responsibility.

Turning to my friend, who just then joined me upon the piazza, I asked:

“Who is the milkman whose horse seems as familiar with the milk route
as he himself does?”

“Oh, it is Mr. Harris, and he is as kind as he looks. His horse Charlie
is amusing, is he not? Yes, he knows the customers as well as Mr.
Harris does, and we always speak of them as ‘Charlie & Co.’ I doubt if
Mr. Harris could get on without his silent partner.”

“Does the horse always act as he has to-day?”

“Invariably. He is as punctual and methodical as his master is neat
and kind-hearted. They have served me with milk for many years, and I
should not be able to keep house without them, I believe.”

“I shall not forget them,” I replied, “and if I ever make Elton my
home, I shall certainly give my order to ‘Charlie & Co.’”

A few months later we removed to Elton, and I lost no time in
requesting Charlie & Co. to include our home in their daily rounds.
It was at that period that I became well acquainted with Charlie and
learned to appreciate his wonderful intelligence, and the clever ways
which so endeared him to his master.

Twice daily did Charlie appear at my door, and it was not long before
it became his favorite stopping-place, for at it he rarely failed to
receive an apple, a biscuit, and at last, when he had acquired a taste
for it, a lump of sugar. But this was distinctly a cultivated taste,
and his efforts to learn to like the dainty were funny beyond words to
express. My little daughter was the first to cultivate Charlie’s taste
for sweets, and rarely a day passed that she did not watch for his
coming and have ready the dainty.

Charlie had a peculiar gait, which was probably the result of having
been used under the saddle in his younger days. It was neither a pace,
nor yet a trot, but a sort of cross between the two, and when he
desired to hasten it he broke into a distinct canter. Directly he left
the nearest neighbor’s at whose house he was forced to stop before
reaching his little friend’s home, Charlie, in the words of dear Lewis
Carroll, would come “gallumping”--no other word will express it--for
his dainty. The dear old head would be put close down to the arms
waiting to caress him, and after a bit of affectionate demonstration
on both sides, the proffered lump of sugar would be taken, toyed with
a moment by the velvety lips, bitten in two, and held while Charlie
seemed thinking the matter over, meantime looking at his little friend
and shaking his head wisely.

“Eat it, Charlie; it’s delicious,” the little one would say. But
Charlie had his own ideas on the subject, and was not to be hurried. It
was not until he had thoroughly tested this new article of diet, turned
it over upon his tongue, crunched it with his nippers, that he finally
decided it was really intended to go the way of oats and hay.

“Ye jest _spoil_ ’im, missie,” his master would say. “I can’t get ’im
to stop ’alf a minute at the other ’ouses, ’e’s that crazy to get on to
you and ’is sugar. Come on now, you old good-for-nothing, and get along
to the other customers who’ll be wantin’ their milk!” And his master
would climb into the wagon and slash at him with a whip whose length of
lash was a mockery.

One of Charlie’s besetting sins was his determination to get a bite
of grass whenever the opportunity offered. As a rule his check-rein,
put on him for that very reason, prevented him from reaching the grass
which grew beside the average curbstone, but just opposite our home was
a terrace a foot or more high, and this was Charlie’s Mecca.

When there came a day which was too stormy for his little friend to
meet him, the terrace at the opposite side of the street came into
service. But don’t for a moment fancy that he ever started for it so
long as he heard his master’s footfalls--ah, no! he was far too wise
for that. But once Mr. Harris was safely disposed of in his customer’s
kitchen, then Charlie would calmly start for the terrace, which the
length of his check-rein just permitted him to reach, and for about
three minutes enjoy unalloyed bliss. The instant he heard his master’s
returning steps he was at once overwhelmed with business cares, and
started off for his next customer’s house as hard as he could go.

I would that it lay in my power to convey to you some slight idea of
Charlie’s “cuteness”--for only that Yankee word will express it. The
intelligent eyes told how well he understood every word his master
spoke to him, and their softness told his affection for that master
who cared for him so faithfully.

In summer and winter, through sunshine and through storm, did Charlie
bring us milk, and I wish I could tell those who read this simple
little history that he still does so; but dear old Charlie, who so
loved and was beloved by his master, gave his life to save that master
from a frightful death.

In the spring of ’98 we removed to another house, and Charlie had few
customers in the new street and had never stopped at that particular
house. In order to test his memory our little daughter resolved to go
out to the curbstone the first evening we spent in the new home, and,
without saying a word, stand there and wait for Charlie to recognize
her as he came along. A little before four o’clock she saw him
trot-pacing toward her, and was instantly recognized by him and greeted
with a soft “hoo-hoo-hoo,” as though he considered it undignified
to whinny aloud while in harness. From that time Charlie needed no
guiding, and after partaking of his sugar, went upon his way to a
neighbor’s two doors beyond.

We two were his only customers in that street, and during the summer
Mrs. Thompson’s house was closed for several weeks. At first Charlie
was determined to go on to the closed house, and not until he had
received most peremptory orders to “stand still, now, and wait till I
come back; don’t you know those folks aren’t there now?” and had been
summarily turned around and headed in the opposite direction did he
grasp the situation; but once it was settled in the horse-mind, all
was plain sailing for both horse and driver, and directly the jars of
milk had vanished around the corner of our house, Charlie would turn
his wagon carefully around and stand perfectly still to await his
master’s return; for the next customer’s house was many blocks away,
and Charlie had no notion of making Mr. Harris walk to it. We often
wondered how he reasoned it all out, but he certainly did, and never by
any chance missed a customer or gave his master an uncomfortably long
walk.

Charlie’s place in this world was indeed a humble one, but the example
he set might be followed with advantage by many a human being. At two
o’clock each afternoon Charlie would watch his master as he milked his
herd of sleek cows. He knew just how their turns came and exactly how
long it would take to milk “Jinny” and “Bossy” and “Buttercup” and
“Daffy,” and so on down the herd of ten or a dozen; and while they were
milked Charlie poked about the barnyard. He appreciated a joke, and
was never happier than when his master was the object of it. He would
frequently come up softly behind Mr. Harris, who was very hard of
hearing, and thrust his warm nose over his master’s shoulder as he sat
upon a milking stool, and when Mr. Harris, giving a start which nearly
proved fatal to the contents of the shining pail, turned about to shake
his fist at the horse and cry “Get along out of the way, you scamp!”
Charlie would seem as delighted over the prank as a child.

One day Charlie was unusually winsome, and, as Mr. Harris prepared to
take his place in the wagon, he stopped to stroke the soft neck and say:

“Eh, Charlie, you’re a great plague, but it would be ’ard getting
another like you,”--little dreaming how soon he would have to supply
the faithful Charlie’s place. They started off for a customer whose
house stood just a little beyond the railroad track. There were no
gates at that crossing, and Mr. Harris was too hard of hearing to
realize his danger from the approaching express train, already
thundering around the curve above. But Charlie was not deaf, and he did
his best to hold back from the track; but his master, impatient at his
delay, which he could not understand, called sharply to him to go on.
Obedient to the last, Charlie went, but he could not seem to make up
his mind to bring the wagon behind him upon the track. Planting himself
firmly between the rails, he stood fast and met his doom. An instant
later the great iron monster came crashing upon him, tearing him out
of the wagon, whose shafts snapped like pipe-stems, and hurling the
poor creature a hundred feet beyond. When the train was brought to a
standstill, and the frightened passengers and engineer hurried to the
scene of disaster, all that was left of poor, faithful Charlie was a
lifeless form lying upon the grass beside the track. But even in death
he had testified to his affection and faithfulness, for had he not
stood firm to receive the death blow rather than lead his master into
danger? Is it to be wondered that tears filled that master’s eyes when
he bent over the lifeless form of his faithful horse?

And so Charlie, kind, gentle, faithful, Charlie, came into and passed
out of our lives. Faithful and true, he proved to us that even a dumb
creature may teach beautiful lessons that we all will do well to
remember.




GRAY LADY’S ONLY SON




GRAY LADY’S ONLY SON


PART I

A NOVEL TRANSPORTATION COMPANY

It was a warm September afternoon “down to the cape,” as the local
phrase runs. The drowsy little hamlet consisted, first, of a small
wooden railway station, not unlike an immense drygoods box in which
some frugal-minded Yankee had cut holes to serve for a door and two
windows, and then in a moment of reckless extravagance had painted a
dull red; next, a church, which appeared to have been dropped there by
mistake; and last, of a few farmhouses, which had no doubt been there
since the days of Governor Bradford. Over the door of the station was
the sign “Post Office,” and, consequently, one had reason to believe
that “Uncle Sam” had some claim upon this sleepy little settlement.
Not a store was to be seen; not a sign of business anywhere. Even the
railroad station was deserted; for no train would come up from Province
Town until six o’clock, and the one going “down cape” stopped only
on signal. So the station agent, who was also postmaster, was absent
in a distant field, busily stacking corn. The sun beat down upon the
sandy road from which the hot air arose in quivering waves. Across from
the station lay a large field surrounded by a “post-rail” fence, and
standing by the bars, with her head hanging lazily over the topmost
one, was an old gray mare with her colt beside her. She seemed half
asleep, for her eyes were closed and occasionally her head would nod
exactly like that of a drowsy old woman, and bring her throat bumping
against the rail. That served to rouse her for a moment, but she would
presently slip off again into dreamland, perhaps to relive the days
when she had been able to skim over the ground with the best of her
kind; for “Gray Lady” came of famous stock, and the colt at her side
gave fair promise of inheriting his mother’s good qualities. Just now,
however, he seemed principally made up of legs and a scraggy mane; but
the eyes below the “bristle” were wonderfully soft, and looked out
between the bars with the half-mischievous, half-pleading look one
often sees in a child. The delicate little muzzle was as soft as a
moleskin. The tiny lips nibbled at the lichens on the rail, and, not
finding these particularly satisfying, began to fuss about the mother’s
warm neck, creeping gradually upward until they reached her head, where
they found a tempting plaything, and she was rudely roused from her
reveries by having her ear sharply pinched.

With a squeal she jerked her head out of reach, and the colt, as if
highly elated with his prank, went careering over the field, his long
legs executing some very extraordinary feats; for he was only six
months old.

As he pranced off a shrill whistle was heard, and a moment later a boy,
about twelve years of age, came down the dusty road, dragging behind
him a nondescript sort of vehicle evidently of home manufacture, since
it consisted of a plank fastened upon the wheels of a baby carriage.

The boy was barefooted; his clothes had seen long service; likewise his
hat, for a rent in the crown afforded so free a circulation of air that
there was no danger of his ever becoming bald for lack of it. Evidently
he was no stranger, for the instant Gray Lady heard his whistle she
raised her head, the sleepy look giving place to a very alert one,
as she began to whinny softly. When he came within sight of her he
shouted: “Hi! old Lady, be you a-lookin’ for me? Reckon I’m on time,
though; train haint gone down yit, an’ yer can’t never expect me afore
that, yer know.”

As he talked he lifted a small basket of apples from the wagon. Lady
snorted and whinnied, and, the sound reaching her fly-away son, he
stopped short in his wild career. Without turning, he glanced over his
shoulder and gave a funny little imitation of his mother’s greeting.

“You come along back here. I aint a-gonter come tramplin’ clear off
there after you, and don’t you think it,” called the boy. “Sonny” gave
an independent little toss of his head as though to say: “I’m not
_forced_ to come, but I will, since it is you,” and then started across
the field; his funny, long legs flying about in the most aimless manner.

“Now old Lady, I’ll give you your spread first, ’cause you was on hand
ter say ‘howdy,’ you know”; and, taking up his basket, he began to feed
one apple at a time to his four-footed friend. This was too much for
Sonny, who had got scent of the fruit and was determined to have his
share.

The dainty muzzle was thrust over the boy’s shoulder as he stood
feeding Lady; then it was poked into his hands and rubbed against his
coat, and, as a last resort, when all these hints proved futile, a very
vigorous nip was given to his arm.

“Hi, you young scamp! What are you up to? Is thet the way you mean to
treat me after I lugged all these apples over here? Now just you hold
on; you didn’t care a cent about me till you found out I had somethin’,
did you? That’s just like some folks; they aint got no use fer a feller
except ter knock him ’round till they git a notion he’s wuth somethin’
to them, and then--oh, my! _aint_ they sweet? Reckon I’ve learned
somethin’ o’ _that_ game. Now don’t you try it on, fer you an’ yer ma
is all the friends I got, and if _you_ go back on me I’ll plumb give
out. So come on and let’s be friends.” After this bit of moralizing he
put his arms about the warm little neck and he and Sonny “made love” in
the most approved style.

While the three cronies were indulging in this bit of equine and human
sentiment a shrill whistle announced the approach of the down train.

“There!” exclaimed the boy, “you hear that? That means the mail bag;
and I’ve got to go pick it up; like ’nough ’taint got mor’n one letter
anyhow. Hullo! There go two more toots; reckon they’re a-goin’ ter
set down a visitor this trip and I’ll be called upon ter tote their
‘Saratogie’ up ter the ‘Summer Hotel’--meanin’ old Grump Wheeler’s
attic chamber,” he added with a comical grin as he scudded across the
road.

When the mail bag was tossed off he picked it up with an educated toe,
deftly landed it upon his wagon, then squatted upon it to await further
developments. After depositing an immense valise upon the platform, the
conductor lifted down a cripple child of about seven or eight years of
age, and looked helplessly around for a place to seat her. A delicate
looking woman, evidently her mother, quickly followed and placed
beneath the child’s arms the crutches she carried for her.

“It is strange that Ruth isn’t here to meet us,” said she. “Do you know
of anyone who can take us up to my sister’s house?”

“Can’t say as I do,” answered the conductor. “Wish I could stop and
help you out, but I can’t,” and he waved his hand to the engineer and
sprang aboard his train.

The woman stood looking helplessly about and the child thumped across
the platform on her crutches, as though the motion was a relief from
standing. Catching sight of the boy, the woman walked quickly over to
him and asked: “Is there a wagon of any kind that I can get to take us
where we want to go?”

“That depends on where you’re a-goin’,” was the laconic reply.

“To Mrs. Caleb Parker’s; she is my sister. I wrote to her to expect us
by this train, but I’m afraid she did not receive the letter, for she
would have sent to meet us if she had.”

“When did you send the letter and where did you send it from?” asked
the boy.

“I sent it yesterday morning from Boston.”

“Then it’s right snug in this very bag I’m sittin’ on this minit, fur
there aint been no mail sense this time yistiddy.”

“Dear me! dear me! What am I to do? Is it far to Mrs. Parker’s?”

“Nigh ’bout a mile, I reckon.”

“Is there _anybody_ you can get to carry us over?”

“Don’t know nobody, less it’s Squire Davis, an’ his house is on a spell
beyond Mrs. Parker’s. Most of the men folks is out shuckin’ their corn,
like Pop Bates up yonder. He’s the station agent. See him?”

“Couldn’t he help us?”

The boy laughed: “Mebby he could if yer could make him understand what
yer wanted, but he’s as deef as that post yonder.” He pointed to the
post-rail fence across the road, and then, as though the action had
suggested something, he hopped up, saying: “Say, I’ll tell yer what yer
can do, if yer will. Like as not yer’ll be scared ter; but yer needn’t,
fer Lady’s as steady as a rock and wouldn’t harm nothin’. She often
pulls me all round the lot, but old Wheeler, the man what she belongs
to, don’t know it; he’d caterpillar, sure, if he did.”

The woman did not ask what physical or mental condition was implied as
a possibility for “old Wheeler” should he gain a knowledge of Lady’s
performance, but she hastened to say: “If you know of some way of
getting us there pray tell it quickly, for Lucy is nearly ready to
drop.”

“Will you let her ride on my wagon if I fix it up for her?”

“Certainly; but you will never be able to draw her and this great
satchel all that distance.”

“I aint a-gonter; Lady yonder will,” and he gave a funny laugh as he
scampered across the sandy road.

Placing around the mare’s neck a piece of rope which he had picked up
from the station platform, he then let down the bars and led her out.
“Now, look a-here, old Lady, you’ve got ter be on yer very primest
behavior, ’cause I’ve give my word fer yer. Do yer hear? So mind what
I’m a-sayin’,” and he led her in front of his wagon. Picking up the
rope with which he had drawn it, he tied it firmly to Lady’s long tail.

“There, ma’am! How’s that fer a swell Boston Common broosh?”

“Why, she will never in this world draw it that way; your wagon will be
kicked to atoms.”

“Will it? Just see now,” and, stretching himself full length upon it
and crossing his arms beneath his head, he called out, “Git along,
Lady.” Lady gave one inquiring look behind to see that all was right;
whisked her tail about to be sure that all was fairly hitched, and,
calling her son to her side, marched off down the road as sedately as
though she were harnessed to a farm wagon. Sonny capered along beside
her or stopped to poke his nose into the boy’s face. They certainly
presented a comical spectacle, for the boy had crossed his legs and one
bare foot stuck straight up in the air.

After they had journeyed about twenty rods he called out: “Halt!” and
Lady stopped. “Right about face, forward march!” cried the boy, and
Lady calmly turned herself about and marched back to the station.

“Well, I never! If that don’t beat all I ever heard tell of,” exclaimed
the woman. “Well, come along; we’ve got to get there somehow, and this
seems the only way.”

“Wait a minit and I’ll fix it all hunky,” cried the boy, and, running
down to the end of the platform, he picked up a lot of potato sacks
which were lying there. These he piled on the wagon, then, wadding some
of them up for a pillow, he said: “There you are, ma’am, fine as a
fiddle.”

Together they placed the little invalid upon the queer vehicle, and
after settling the big valise at her feet, as a sort of bunker in case
Lady should prove resentful, the boy took the leader and off they
started. It was a funny enough procession and would have drawn a smile
from the dullest.

As they trudged along through the sand the woman asked: “How did you
come to try such a prank as this, I’d like to know? What is your name?”

“Bob Slocum,” he replied, answering the second question first: “Oh, I
don’t know,” he continued, “yer see old Pop Bates is so deef that he
can’t half hear what folks says to him, and so I kinder got into the
way of comin’ along ’bout train time when the mail was due, and then I
could help him out. Sometimes there is a letter or something for some
of the folks ’round here and I take it to ’em. That saves ’em comin’ to
the post office, and they near ’bout always give me a hunk of cake or
a piece of pie, er suthin’, an’ say: ‘Thanky, Bob.’ That’s about the
only time I ever get anything _sweet_ for my heart er my gizzard; fer
old Wheeler--he’s the man I live with--aint got nothin’ fer a feller
but thumps and leavin’s.”

“Haven’t you any parents?”

“Nope; don’t even remember them. Ma, she died when I was born, and dad
didn’t live long after her. Folks ’round here says he died ’cause ma
did. He worked for old Wheeler, and I reckon most likely he starved
ter death. He’d like to starve me if he could. But I guess I aint the
starvin’ kind. I can git along somehow, and folks ’round here is pretty
good to me.”

“What do you do for Mr. Wheeler? You can’t be more than twelve years
old.”

“I’ll be twelve next November. What _don’t_ I do, you’d better ask.
’Most anything a boy twelve years can do an’ a lot some fifteen can’t.
I milk seven cows twice a day; cut all the wood; tote water; take care
of the stock; run errants; hoe corn, an’ do about a hundred things
beside; an’ all fer my board an’ keep--mostly _keep_.”

“Do you go to school?”

“Aint none to go ter. Nearest one’s five mile away, an’ old Wheeler
don’t keep no trotters fer my use.”

“Can you read?”

“Yes’m, some. There was a lady stoppin’ up to Squire Davis’s one summer
and she learnt me; an’ ever sence I’ve been a-pickin’ up some from the
newspapers. Squire Davis takes a lot of ’em, an’ when he’s done with
’em he lets me have ’em.”

By this time they had reached their destination and the boy, pointing
to a low white house which nestled in a garden filled with hollyhocks,
dahlias, and brilliant asters, said: “There’s Mis’ Parker’s. You go on
in an’ tell Si, her hired man, ter come out an’ get yer bag whilst I
stay here along with my friends.”

Without a thought of questioning him the woman started for the house,
and, turning to the child upon the wagon, who thus far had scarcely
spoken a word, he said: “You’ll soon be all right now. Are yer tired?”

“Not very. The ride on the train from Boston was awful hot, but this
part has been splendid. How did you ever get Lady to let you hitch her
up this way? She loves you, doesn’t she, and Sonny does, too; how did
you make them?”

“Guess ’cause we didn’t have nobody else to love. Old Wheeler don’t
care nothin’ for her now she is gettin’ old. He hardly ever takes any
notice of her. She used to be the fastest horse on the Cape, and there
aint one that’s got better blood in her veins. I bring her apples or
somethin’ every day, and I was the first one Sonny, here, saw after he
come into the world. Sonny an’ I are great cronies. I’m only waitin’
fer him to grow up, an’ then we’re goin’ to run away, aren’t we, old
feller?” and he laid his arm over the colt’s neck.

Sonny nestled close up to him, and Lady looked benignly upon them both.

“Will you come to see me while I am here?” asked the child.

“I’ll come when I can get off. Bet I’d ketch it now if they knew I was
gallavintin’ like this. I’ll sneak over when I can. Here comes Si.”

Out bustled Mrs. Parker, followed by her sister; both talking at once.
Close behind them came “Si.”

“My land er Goshen!” exclaimed Mrs. Parker, “did anyone ever hear tell
of such doin’s? And that blessed lamb dragged up to my front door just
as if she was a sack er flour. How do, Bob; seems as if this part of
the world couldn’t get along without you, nohow; don’t it? Run ’long
’round to the back of the house to the buttry and eat your fill; you
certain sure deserve it this time.”

“Can’t now; got to get back with Lady or I’ll have Mr. Wheeler after
me. Will the stuff keep? I’ll come along ’round to-morrow if it will.”

“Yes, indeed, and if it don’t there’s plenty more that will,” and she
nodded her head at him reassuringly.

“All right, I’ll be on hand. Good-by, folks,” and, flopping down on his
wagon, he called out, “Right about, Lady,” and the wise creature turned
around and started back toward the station.

They returned more quickly than they had come, for Lady jogged along,
with the cart jerking and rattling behind her. They soon reached the
pasture, and, after placing his charges safely within it, he put up the
bars once more, and then clambered upon the topmost one.

“Now come along and say ‘good-by,’ ’cause I’ve got ter git ’long back.”

Lady came up to him and laid her big head across his shoulder, and
the boy reached up and circled her soft, warm neck with his arm as he
rested his face against her mane.

Little Sonny looked at him a moment as though to say, “Do you want me,
too?”

“Yes, come along and say good-by, too,” said Bob. Sonny laid his head
across Bob’s knee and looked up at him with his brown eyes full of love
for the friend who never forgot him, but came to him day after day,
in sunshine or shower, to bring the dainty of which he often deprived
himself that his four-footed friends might not be disappointed.

And as he sits there stroking the colt’s silky ears and nestling close
to the mother’s neck, we must bid him “good-by,” too, and skim forward
on the wings of time to a period eight years later, when both he and
Sonny have grown up and Sonny found an opportunity to repay him for his
years of devotion to himself and his mother, Gray Lady.


PART II

SONNY’S GRATITUDE

The sun beat fiercely down upon the Cuban shore, and waves of hot
air quivered above the sand. A short distance off shore the great
transports swung quietly to their anchors in the sheltered bay, as
boatload after boatload of troops disembarked and were rowed to the
white beach, where their comrades were already busy getting their arms
and the camp paraphernalia up to the camping-ground.

A cavalry regiment with its horses was being sent ashore; and a
wretched enough time they were having, too; for the transportation
facilities were extremely limited. One after another the poor beasts
were forced upon the gangplank, which was so arranged that it slid
them off into the water to swim for the beach, probably five hundred
yards distant.

They were nearly all stout, brave animals, and had seen hard service
upon the Western frontier, but this was an entirely new experience, and
many were nearly wild with terror. As they were forced into the water
a man in the stern of one of the boats would take the halter-strap and
guide one swimming animal to the shore, and the others followed as fast
as the waves and their own strength permitted.

Our deepest interest is centered on one splendid, big, dappled gray
which stands at the end of the gangplank about to take his turn. His
beautiful eyes show that he is keenly observing all that is happening
about him. His delicate ears are pricked forward, or laid back as
though to catch the faintest sound, and the wide nostrils quiver with
excitement as he draws in long breaths of the briny air, or gives a
snort of protest. Beside him, with his arm thrown caressingly over the
beautifully arched neck, stands a young soldier, evidently a sergeant.
He is a handsome fellow, whose bronzed skin and muscular form show that
he has seen service. Unquestionably he and his horse understand each
other thoroughly, for he is talking to the intelligent creature, who
seems to comprehend him perfectly.

“Now, old fellow, don’t you get panicky when you’re dipped. Just put
your best leg forward and pungle straight for that shore yonder. Do you
hear what I’m saying?” and he looked into the horse’s eyes as one might
look into the eyes of a human being.

The horse gave his head a toss up and down, as though he were answering
“yes,” and then turned to rub it against the man’s shoulder. “Come
along, gray jacket,” called the man who stood at the end of the plank,
“it’s your turn now,” and he reached for the halter-strap. The horse
walked to the end of the plank, planted his dainty feet upon it, and
would not budge another inch. The man coaxed and tugged, but all to no
purpose. At last, losing patience, he cried: “Well, you’re a dandy,
aint you, now? I’ll get something that’ll give you your marchin’
orders.” He reached for a heavy balestick which was lying on the deck,
but before he could administer the blow the stick was wrenched from his
hand and flung far out into the blue water.

The man looked in utter amazement to encounter a pair of gray eyes that
fairly snapped fire at him: “Did you think I was going to let you knock
him with that stick? Not much. Come on, old man, you’ll follow _me_, I
know,” said the sergeant, and, going to the side of the ship, he caught
hold of a rope which dangled from above and swung himself over the
side, to drop into one of the boats below.

As he disappeared the horse gave a loud neigh, as though to call him
back. “Come, Sonny, come on, old fellow,” called his master; and as
though the ship no longer held anything worth remaining on board for,
the beautiful creature gave another loud whinny and plunged into the
water.

With powerful strokes he swam straight for the beloved object in the
boat, which was being pulled slowly toward the shore. The sergeant, who
was now seated in the stern of the boat, reached out, and, taking hold
of the leader which had been loosely knotted about the horse’s neck,
gently towed the swimming animal, while talking to him encouragingly.
And, as though he gained strength and courage from the beloved voice,
the horse grew less and less nervous and settled down to the long,
steady strokes which carried him swiftly toward the shore. They were
within a hundred yards of it when he began to plunge and hold back.

“Come on, Sonny; come on; what’s up?” asked his master.

But the horse was unable to respond.

“By Jove! he’s stuck in the seaweed; he’ll be a goner, sure as guns;
that stuff has done up more ’n one of ’em already,” cried one of the
men.

“He won’t be a ‘goner’ if I can help it!” exclaimed the sergeant, and
in another instant he had cast hat, coat, and arms into the boat and
plunged into the water.

“Steady, Sonny; steady, old boy. I’ll have you free in a minute,” he
called to the struggling horse. At the sound of his voice the wild
plunges ceased and he looked pathetically at his master with his great,
eloquent eyes.

Swimming to the horse’s side, the man rested one hand upon the broad
back, and reached down into the water; but he could not reach low
enough to disentangle the seaweed from the hind feet. “Hold on a
minute, boys,” he called to the men in the boat. “Steady now,” and with
a mighty dive he disappeared beneath the waves. “He’ll be kicked to
flinders,” shouted one of the soldiers. “Well, let him, if he’s fool
enough to make such a fuss over a horse. I’d see every one of them
soaking on the coral reef before I’d risk my neck for ’em.” “Reckon
you would, Bill; and the whole boatload of us into the bargain,” was
the scornful reply of one of his comrades; “but that younker’s made of
different stuff.”

By this time the sergeant had come sputtering to the surface, and
calling out: “All right; pull ahead,” he rested one dripping arm across
the horse’s withers, and began to swim beside him.

“Come on into the boat,” called one of the men.

“Go ahead; I’m all right,” was the reply, and a moment later they had
reached the shore and were scrambling up the beach.

“You are a durned fool to get a ducking for that brute,” exclaimed the
man who had before spoken disparagingly of the sergeant’s devotion to
his horse.

“Think so?” was the cool reply. “Well, when you’ve had a friend as long
as I’ve had him for one, whether that friend travels on four feet or
two, you’d better stick to him, if he proves as true to you as this one
has to me. We’ve traveled together nine years now, and in all that time
we’ve never been apart a day, and he’s helped me out of many a bad fix,
I can tell you.”

“He must be nigh about twenty year old, aint he?” asked the man with a
laugh.

“He is old enough to know a _chump_ when he sees one, and to stick to a
friend when he’s got one; and that’s more than some other live critters
can do”; and the sergeant walked off up the beach to join his troop.

As they walked along, the man who had taken his part in the boat
overtook him, and asked: “How long have you had that horse, anyhow,
sergeant?”

“Well,” he replied, with a queer sort of smile, “I’ve sort of looked
upon him as mine ever since he drew his first breath, for his mother
was the only friend I ever had. But I can’t say as he’s been my legal
property more than three years.”

“I thought you said you’d had him nine years? He doesn’t look more than
nine now.”

“He was nine years old the sixth of last April, and, as I said before,
we haven’t been apart a day. I looked after him till he was four years
old, and after that he took care of me. Our part of the world got too
hot for us about that time, and one dark night we put out; didn’t we,
Sonny?” turning to stroke the great neck which was rapidly drying in
the tropical sun. Sonny answered with a soft whinny and poked his nose
against the man’s face.

His interrogator looked at him questioningly, and the sergeant, in whom
we can no longer fail to recognize our friend, Bob Slocum, said: “I was
raised down on Cape Cod, and by the meanest old duck that ever gave
a boy cuffs for his breakfast, knocks for dinner, and a kick for his
supper. Don’t remember my parents. Sonny here was the colt of one of
his mares; and a beauty she was, too. But when she got too old to work
he would have let her starve if Squire Davis hadn’t bought her. The
squire took pity on her and let her stay in his barn and took care of
her till she died.

“When Sonny was two years old Wheeler undertook to break him; but
he came nearer killing him instead, for Sonny was nervous and
high-spirited, and old Wheeler had a temper like a very devil. It
makes my blood boil to think of the way he handled that colt; I wonder
he didn’t ruin him, and I believe he would have, if it hadn’t been
for me. But after they’d had one of their shindies and Sonny was all
done up, and old Wheeler was madder than a hornet and had gone up
to the house to take out his spunk on his wife, I’d sneak into the
pasture, and Sonny would just put for me. He seemed to try to tell me
his troubles, and I’d comfort and pet him till he’d get quieted down a
bit. I was only fourteen years old then, and he and I stood it a year
longer, and then one dark night we took French leave and lit out. I
don’t know how we ever escaped being caught, or kept from starving, but
we did both.

“Sonny lived on grass and I on what I could beg. I knew the country for
miles around, and I managed to keep well hidden during the daytime. We
came mighty near being caught lots of times, and had no end of close
shaves, I can tell you. But in time I managed to get into New York
State, and then we got on pretty well. I could do anything with Sonny,
and at last we struck the towpaths. I gave the towmen lifts for my
board and a feed for Sonny, and they didn’t bother to ask where we had
come from or where we were going, so long as we could make ourselves
useful.

“By-and-by we found ourselves out in western New York, and it wasn’t
much further to Ohio; so on we went till the next thing we knew we were
clear out in Colorado. Then I got a notion I’d like to go soldiering,
and Sonny and I enlisted with the regulars. We’ve been with them ever
since. I was only fifteen, but everyone thought I was seventeen, for
I was nearly as tall as I am now, and had been obliged to shift for
myself so long that there wasn’t much of the boy left in me, I can tell
you. Sonny had got to be a beauty, and I could have sold him a dozen
times over, but, you see, he wasn’t mine to sell, even if I’d wanted
to, which I didn’t.

“In two years more I’d managed to scratch together a couple of hundred
dollars somehow, and then I went to the colonel and up and told him
the whole story, and asked him to send the money to old Wheeler for
me. I’d heard the old man say a dozen times that he would sell Sonny
for that sum rather than take the risk of being killed while breaking
him. And he hadn’t broken him, either; I’d done it. That was three
years ago. The money went all right and I’ve got the receipt all safe.
Old Wheeler’s satisfied, and so am I. I’ve been with the regiment ever
since. We’ve had some pretty hot times with the Ingins out there; you
know that as well as I do, but I’ve a notion we’re in for a hotter
one right here than we’ve seen yet. Sonny has helped me out of many
a tight place, and we’ve seen some mighty tough times together, but I
could count on him every time, and I believe he’d lay down his life for
me in a minute. I expect he will save it for me yet. I’d have been a
fine one to sit in that boat and watch him go to the bottom, wouldn’t
I?”

Bob little dreamed how soon Sonny would repay his devotion.

Who would wish to picture the horrors of a battlefield, with its scream
of shot, its burst of shell, and the cries of the wounded? Certainly
not I, but I cannot complete my story of Sonny without touching the
horrible scene.

A charge had been made and many a riderless horse was rushing aimlessly
about; for when the trusting creatures no longer felt the guiding hand
nor heard the encouraging voice of their masters, chaos seemed indeed
to have come again. No one would have recognized in the terrified
animals the well-trained creatures which had gathered for the charge.

Among them was Sonny, rushing he knew not whither. Poor Sonny! No
longer clean and shining, but splashed with mud, blackened with powder,
and bleeding from a ghastly wound in his shoulder. From some instinct
of self-preservation the horses ran to the rear, and he ran with them.
But he had not gone far when he was captured by a trooper whose horse
had been shot under him, and a moment later he was dashing up the hill
and into the thickest of the fight.

Wounds were unnoticed and terror disregarded; no one had time to think
of a horse when human beings were struggling to destroy each other in
order to settle a disputed question and free a down-trodden race.

Poor Sonny! No one could look into the horse’s mind and there see the
anguish he was suffering for the loss of the master whom he had loved
and served so faithfully for nine years, and whom he would willingly
have followed to his death, if necessary. Whatever trials he had before
encountered; whatever suffering he had been compelled to endure, his
trusted master had been there to help him bear them. Now in the midst
of battle he was as much alone as though he had been abandoned in a
wilderness.

Night fell and the carnage ended. Long trains of ambulances were being
driven to the rear; wounded men were dragging themselves along the
tracks; others were being helped over the rough road by comrades, or
were borne on rudely constructed stretchers to the field hospital,
where Red Cross nurses and surgeons were doing their utmost to relieve
the suffering.

In the field behind them lay those who needed neither the surgeon’s
skill nor the nurse’s care.

“Here, Jim, give me a lift, will you?” said a soldier at the edge of
the field, as he was striving to carry a badly wounded comrade to the
rear.

The man addressed was limping along and leading a horse which limped
even worse than he himself did.

The first speaker added quickly: “Where did you get that horse? If he
aint Slocum’s ‘Sonny’ I’ll miss my guess.”

“Who’s Slocum? I caught the horse running wild on the field. He was
wounded then, but I had to get to the front. Here, let’s get him up on
the horse,” he said, speaking of the wounded man.

Together they managed to place him upon the horse’s back and started
on. They had not gone five hundred yards when Sonny stopped short, and,
throwing up his head, gave a loud neigh.

“What’s up, old man?” asked the man who was leading him.

“He acts as though he smelt something,” said the other.

“Here, come on; we haven’t got time for you to smell out your fodder
to-night,” and he started on.

Sonny went a few steps, stopped again, and tried to turn back; but the
man now grew impatient, and, giving him a sounding thwack upon his
flank, went on down the hill.

Again and again he held back and strove to get away from them.

Reaching camp they lifted the unconscious burden from Sonny’s back and
together bore it into one of the tents.

This was Sonny’s chance, and he darted away as he used to do when he
heard Bob’s whistle.

It was a rough road, little better than a trail. But Sonny heeded
naught. One thought filled his mind; one desire dwelt in his heart.

He soon reached the spot where he had first halted, and, plunging into
the dense jungle growth, forced his way through the tangle of grass and
vines. On and on he went till he came to a spot far remote from the
line of battle and the path taken by those returning with the wounded.
A moment later he was whinnying over a figure which lay stretched upon
the ground. Nothing could have been more pronounced than his delight
at finding the object of his search. But his delight was short-lived,
for there was no reply to his repeated neighs and soft whinnies. He put
his muzzle down to the beloved face and pushed it against the quiet
hands, but won no response. Again and again he tried to rouse the quiet
figure. Again and again did he strive to win some recognition. It was
all in vain, and at last, when all else failed, he tried to pick up
his precious charge with his teeth. But he could find no place where
he dared lay hold, for he was far too wise to grasp anything but the
clothing. And now Sonny was in dire straits, indeed, for he was unable
to move his master and would not leave him.

Night fell, and the dense darkness of the tropics enveloped them. Ere
long rain began to fall in torrents, but Sonny did not quit his post.
It may have been the rain, or it may have been dear Mother Nature’s
healing touch, but whatever the cause was, at about midnight the quiet
figure moaned slightly and stirred.

Sonny instantly began to lick the white face; the eyes opened, and Bob
looked wildly around. “Sonny,” he murmured. And Sonny neighed loudly.
That was all, but the horse was satisfied. All the rest of the night he
stood guard; sometimes licking the hands; sometimes whinnying softly.

Morning came with the suddenness of the tropical daybreak, the sun
seeming to spring straight up out of the sea, and with the morning poor
Bob’s senses returned. He looked at Sonny and said: “Dear old fellow,”
and tried to rise. But Bob was not likely to rise for some time. “How
did you find me?” he asked, as though the horse could answer him. “I
wonder how I came here, anyway? The last thing I remember was trying to
crawl out of the reek and roar up yonder.” Once more he tried to raise
himself up, but the exertion was too much for him, and with a pitiful
moan he fell back unconscious.

Now was Sonny indeed wretched! He stood the very picture of misery. But
finally he seemed to decide upon a line of action, and with a parting
caress, he started out of the steaming jungle. Once free of it, he
encountered human beings; some wounded, some searching for the wounded;
and to these last he seemed to turn instinctively. He whinnied, and
they turned in surprise to see a horse emerging from a spot where no
horse was supposed to be.

“Look at that horse!” exclaimed one of them. “Go catch him, Sam.”

Sam started forward, but Sonny had no notion of being caught again, and
with a wild plunge he dashed back into the jungle.

“What in thunder is taking you in there, you fool beast?” the man
called after him. “I wonder if there can be anybody in that stifle,” he
added. “Hi, Jo, come on; there’s something up; I believe that horse’s
rider is in there.”

“Nonsense! How could he get into such a place? I’m not going in.”

“Well, there’s _something_ there, and I’m going to find out what it is,
whether you come in or not!” and he started to follow Sonny.

“Then I’ll come, too;” and both men started.

Sonny kept well ahead of them, but they followed, and in a moment later
they came upon Bob.

“Well, I’ll be shot!” exclaimed the second man. “If that don’t go clear
ahead of anything; that beast has been doing guard duty all night, as
sure as guns.”

“I knew there was something here,” said the first speaker. “I’ve seen
too much of horses out on the plains not to understand some of their
ways.”

Tenderly they lifted the unconscious figure and bore it back to the
camp. No need to lead Sonny now; he would not let the dear master out
of his sight, and every few steps he reached out his head to sniff at
him. Bob was carried into a tent, and all that was possible to be done
for him was done; but it was a long time before he could get about
again, and meantime the story of Sonny’s devotion spread throughout
the camp, and there was not a man in the regiment who was not willing
to give a helping hand when the wounded shoulder needed dressing.

As soon as he was able, Bob’s pet was brought to him, and Sonny’s joy
was pathetic. No words were needed to show it more plainly. As soon as
he could be moved Bob was taken to Montauk, and Sonny went with him.

There we must leave them, only adding that Bob recovered completely,
and when he was able once more to sit upon Sonny’s back and join his
comrades in their drill, his regiment held no more popular man or horse.

Bob was promoted for bravery; and when the men--not content that he
alone should have the honors--presented a medal to Sonny, upon which
was engraved the figure of a horse standing beside his wounded master,
Bob thought more of Sonny’s glory than of his own.

But Bob had served his time at soldiering, and not long after received
his honorable discharge. He returned to the West, for the free life out
there suited him, established himself upon a ranch, and has now settled
down to business pursuits with Sonny as first superintendent, chief
herder, and joint owner, for in Bob’s estimation nothing is too good
for Sonny.




HOW NED TOODLES WENT TO COOKING SCHOOL




HOW NED TOODLES WENT TO COOKING SCHOOL


“No, you must not touch that! No, nor that either. Now mind what I’m
saying, and oh, do keep away from that sugar-box! Ned Toodles, how
can you act so? I’ll never get this dinner ready if you don’t keep
out of my way, and stop trying to steal things. I’m ashamed of you!”
and Denise caught up her rolling-pin, which lay upon the small pastry
board, and drove off the little scamp who was causing all her troubles.
And I am sure you will never guess what that little scamp was, so I
will tell you that it was a small Welsh pony.

You will wonder what a pony was doing in a kitchen, so I will tell
you that this was a most unusual kitchen. It was a tiny one, in the
playhouse which this little girl’s father had had built for her in
the pretty grounds of her home, and was fitted up in the most perfect
manner with everything a real kitchen ever has. The house had a dining
room too, and upstairs a bedroom and sitting room for the dollies.

That was one half of it; the other was the dearest little stable in the
world, and in it lived Ned Toodles, her pony; Tan, her big goat, and
Sailor, her Newfoundland dog.

There, too, were kept Ned’s and Tan’s carriages, harness, etc.

A door led into it from the playhouse, and her pets could come visiting
whenever they wished, for they were never tied up, and were too wise to
run off.

Denise’s mamma had taught her how to cook many things and she spent
hours making all sorts of dainties, and when they were made she
would set her table and Ned, Tan, Sailor, and Beauty Buttons, the
black-and-tan, would all take their places, standing up, and have a
grand feast.

They dearly loved to come into the kitchen while she cooked, and she
had some lively times trying to keep them out of mischief.

The morning of which I am telling she was preparing a grand luncheon,
and the pets had all been invited, but were not to come till luncheon
was served. They kept sniffing at the closed door, however, and doing
all they could to push it open, for they smelt the apple pies which
were baking, and their mouths fairly watered.

Denise, enveloped in a gingham apron, with a cooking cap set rakishly
upon her curly pate, was flying around, trying to get all ready before
her guests arrived. She had just set her pies to cool, and was making
griddle cakes, of which one must have eaten about a hundred before
being satisfied, to judge by their size, when door leading out of the
kitchen was pushed open and in walked Ned. He had found a way.

“Oh, dear!” she cried, “now you will lead me a life of it till you get
your luncheon, won’t you?”

True enough. To steal an apple from the basket beside the table was
only a second’s work, and that gone he turned his attention to the
pies. Denise flew after him and rescued first the pies and then the
little plate of toast, and at last caught up her rolling-pin and drove
him off with that.

He gave a defiant bounce and ran into the dining room.

“Well, do go in there!” she cried; “there isn’t a single thing on the
table to eat yet, unless you eat the plates, and I don’t believe even
you will want those,” and she put the sugar-box and everything else out
of sight. Then, placing her viands upon her tiny tray, she carried
them into the dining room, meanwhile keeping one eye on Ned.

But more than one eye was required to watch that little black imp,
as Denise soon found, for he bobbed about like a monkey, and behaved
in altogether a disgraceful manner for an invited guest. At last she
became indignant and said:

“I should think you’d be ashamed of yourself to act so! You’ve just
_got_ to wait till it is served, and then you may all come, and----oh,
dear! here they all come this minute, and it’s all because you would
come before the time you were told to,” and the distracted little
hostess looked nearly desperate as three more of her four-footed guests
appeared before the hours named in their invitations.

“Sailor, charge!” “Beauty, lie down at once!” and “Tan, come here!”
were the orders quickly issued, “and you,” turning to Ned, with a look
calculated to strike terror to his heart, “go straight back to the
kitchen! You are not fit to come to the table, and there isn’t a single
thing left in there for you to eat.”

But alas! she had entirely forgotten the Saratoga potatoes, which were
still merrily sizzling in the tiny frying-pan.

With a final defiant jump Ned skipped through the door, and, literally
“following his nose,” made straight for the little stove.

To make a dive for the potatoes, whose tempting odor had proved too
much for him, was only a second’s work, and then came the climax.

A squeal, a wild leap, and the hot morsel was dropped as the scamp flew
across the kitchen and out of the door, upsetting the cooking-table and
everything else in his way, to rush across the lawn as though pursued
by a wild beast.

With Tan and the dogs close upon her heels, Denise rushed into the
kitchen and beheld the wreck.

One glance at the frying-pan, now calmly reposing in the middle of the
floor, explained all.

And I wish to add that ever after Ned stood in very wholesome awe of
that little stove, and would walk a long way around the kitchen in
order to avoid going near it.




OLD NICK’S CHRISTMAS




OLD NICK’S CHRISTMAS


CHAPTER I

“WHERE IS OLD NICK?”

“Good-by!” “Good-by!” “Hope you’ll have a good time!” “Merry Christmas
beforehand!” “Happy New Year, too!” “Hope you’ll get _loads_ of pretty
things, and no end of goodies which will bear transportation!” cried a
dozen or more girls as they bade good-by to one of their schoolmates
just leaving for her Christmas holidays.

Isabel Townsend was truly popular, not only with her schoolmates, but
with teachers also. A bright, happy girl who went through life with
a laugh and a song, and yet had a strong, noble character, quick
to detect sham of any sort, and cordially detest it. She had a long
journey before her, and was starting off earlier than the other girls;
hence her “send-off.”

Forty-eight hours later the train deposited her at a small station,
about fifteen miles from the city of New York, where her father awaited
her.

He was a tall, handsome man, who had once enjoyed an independent
income, but Wall Street had proved to him, as to many another, anything
but “a land of promise.” Still, enough had been saved from the wreck to
enable him to live upon the farm which had been his wife’s dower, and
even to enjoy some luxuries; but he was a disappointed man, and seemed
to have left his faith in his fellow-men behind him in the New York
Stock Exchange. He rarely left his farm, where he found occupation in
his books and in his live stock, in which he took just pride.

It was a pretty place, nestling among the Jersey hills, and as quiet
and secluded as though hundreds of miles from the great city pulsating
with life and daily drawing innumerable human beings into the maelstrom
where hopes and schemes were lost forever.

“Well, daughter, how are you? Glad to see you home again,” was Mr.
Townsend’s greeting, as he helped Isabel into the cutter and tucked the
robes carefully about her.

“It’s awfully nice to be home, too; and how is mamma?” she asked, as
she nestled close to his side when he had taken his seat beside her.

“Mamma is well and very anxious to have you home. I’m glad to see you
looking so well, and that you have decided, after all, to wear your
Christmas present beforehand,” he said, as a faint smile overspread
his fine face, and he picked up one of the tails of the handsome fur
collar Isabel wore.

“Yes, I just _couldn’t_ wait for the day to come. How good you were to
send me such a beauty, and to make it so easy for me to do exactly what
I was dying to do all the time, by telling me to wear the furs right
off and not to wait for Christmas Day.” While she spoke she stroked her
pretty collar and muff, and regarded them with very genuine pride.

“Why did you get such expensive ones, daddy?” she continued. “I should
have been just as pleased with a simpler style,” and she looked up with
her bonny face alive with happiness.

“I’ve only one daughter,” was the brief response.

“Which horse is this, papa? I think I’ve never seen him before; have I?”

“I think not. He is one of Nancy’s colts, and was broken only this
fall. He is none too reliable yet; but I use him a great deal and have
great expectations of him.”

As though to give Mr. Townsend a hint of what his expectations might
realize, the frisky beast at that moment elected to put the laws of
gravity to a crucial test. With one bound he leaped into the air,
struck out wildly, plunged forward, and took about three minutes to
recover his equilibrium, evidently convinced that, so far as history
has recorded, Pegasus was not the only horse capable of flying through
space.

“What a crazy thing he is!” exclaimed Isabel. “Why didn’t you bring Old
Nick? Dear old fellow! How I want to see him! Is he all right?”

“I think so, I think so,” said her father hurriedly. Then Mr. Townsend
became much occupied with the colt, and a few moments later home
was reached, where, amid warm greetings, Old Nick was, for a time,
forgotten.

A few hours later Isabel came in from the stables, where she had been
on a tour of inspection, with blank dismay pictured upon her face.

“Daddy,” she cried, bursting into the room, “where is Old Nick? The men
say that he is sold, but I won’t believe them. He isn’t, is he?” and
her voice was half-choked in sobs.

Mr. Townsend looked up from his desk, and a peculiar expression
crept into his face--an expression partly of defiance, partly of
self-assertion, partly of shame--but he made no answer. Isabel came
toward him as one who doubted her senses, and laying a hand on each of
his shoulders peered into his face, with doubt and astonishment on her
own.

“Papa, of course you wouldn’t sell Old Nick! Why, he has been mine as
long as I can remember, and next to you and mamma, I love him better
than anything in the world. Where _is_ he? Please tell me.”

“Isabel, listen to me. You are no longer a child. You are nearly
seventeen years old, and you ought to be capable of looking upon things
from a practical standpoint. Yes, Nick is sold. I had an excellent
offer from a man who was going through the country about six weeks ago,
buying up horses. Nick is seventeen years old if he is a day, and such
a chance could never be expected again. Mamma wanted to send you a set
of furs for Christmas, and the means to purchase them had literally
walked to our door. The seventy-five dollars paid for Nick bought them,
and you, certainly, should be the last to complain.”

Mr. Townsend picked up his pen as though the matter were dismissed
forever. But he little knows his daughter. Her hands fell from his
shoulders and she slowly backed away from him, while into her big gray
eyes came a look which told of a resolve born of an outraged spirit.


CHAPTER II

“I WANT TO BUY OLD NICK.”

If Henry Townsend had expected his daughter “to make a fuss,” he was
more than agreeably disappointed. She said not one word, but turned and
left the room.

Going straight to her own sanctum, she took the set of beautiful furs
which poor Old Nick’s money had bought, put them carefully into her
drawer, and locked it. Then, placing the key in her pocket, she threw
a shawl about her and started for the stable, where Hiram Bents, the
foreman, was holding a monologue on the subject of “durned fool men
who would sell their next o’ kin, if they could get enough cash for
’em, never mind if they bruck the purtiest leetle heart that went a
pit-a-pat!”

“Hiram, did you see Nick sold?”

“I reckon I did, missie.”

“Who bought him?”

“An old duffer what was goin’ about tryin’ to git a three-hundred-dollar
critter fer one hundred.”

“Where did he take Nick?”

“Down ter the city ter some horse exchange, where I’ll bet a fiver he
sold him fer twict what he give fer him.”

“Do you know the man’s name?”

“Guess I kin git it. He left his cyard fer the boss, and said he’d call
round agin when he had anythin’ likely he wanted fer ter sell,” and
Hiram gave an indignant snort, as he took a card from a shelf above his
head.

“Here yer be, missie.”

Isabel took the card and read:

“Jacob Vedder, Dealer in Horses. East Twenty-fifth Street, New York.”

“Thanks, Hiram. I’ll keep this, please.”

“Ye’re welcome. I don’t want ter tech the thing; seems like it’s a
scrap o’ Old Nick’s hide.”

Isabel went back to her room, and, locking the door, opened her trunk.
Down in the bottom was a jewel box, from which she took a small leather
case containing a ring of curious design. The ring itself was of dull
gold, holding an uncut stone. It had been sent to her when she was a
mere child by an uncle in India. Excepting to mention that the stone
was valuable, he had said but little about it, and she had kept it more
as a curiosity than for any supposed intrinsic value.

It was still three days to Christmas and bitter cold. Weather-wise folk
predicted a snowstorm within forty-eight hours.

“Mamma, dear, can you spare me to-morrow? I want to go to the city for
the day,” said Isabel, as she came into the pleasant sitting room and
placed her arm caressingly about her mother’s shoulders.

“Spare you, sweetheart? I’ll try. What is the demand--Christmas
shopping?” asked her mother, drawing Isabel’s hand to her lips and
kissing it softly.

“Oh, lots of things! May I go?”

“Certainly, dear.”

It was a determined young spirit which stepped into the big city next
morning and, making her way to one of the large jewelry stores uptown,
asked to see the proprietor. Ushered into his private office, she lost
not a moment in coming straight to the point, and said to him:

“I have something I wish to sell.”

“Yes? May I inquire what it is?”.

“It is a ring.”

A smile crept into the jeweler’s eyes.

“Not a rarity; do you think so?”

“That I do not know, and I wish you to decide. I have been told that it
is very valuable. It was sent to me from India by my uncle.”

“Have you shown it to anyone else?”

“No; but I am very anxious to sell it. Will you _please_ tell me what
you will give me for it?”

The proprietor looked not a little surprised.

“We should have to consider it, my dear young lady, and within a
reasonable time give our decision.”

“But I can’t wait. I must sell it to-day--right off,” said the girl
impulsively.

“Such a thing would be unheard of. But I will examine it.”

“But why can’t you decide right now? It wouldn’t take you very long,
I’m sure, and it’s _so_ important!”

“The Christmas shopping, you mean?” for there were girls in his own
family, and he knew the demands of Christmas.

“Christmas shopping!” she exclaimed with fine scorn. “Do you suppose I
am trying to get money for Christmas shopping? I want to buy Old Nick.”

“Old Nick!” he repeated in amazement. “You’re the first person I’ve
ever met who thought seriously of buying his Satanic Majesty and set
about obtaining money to do it.”

“Oh, dear me! Please be serious, for really it is all too dreadful to
laugh about,” and tears came into the pretty gray eyes.

“My dear young lady,” said the jeweler kindly, for he saw how deeply in
earnest she was, and he was touched by the pathetic tone in the girlish
voice, “I beg your pardon for smiling, and will be glad to learn the
circumstances, if you are willing to tell them.”

Although nearly seventeen, Isabel was still in many respects a child,
and in a moment was pouring out the story of her love for Old Nick,
and her determination to buy him back. It was all told very simply, yet
with a child’s dramatic touch, and her listener quickly detected her
wish to shield her father from censure, even though he justly deserved
it. When she had finished, he looked into the flushed face and shining
eyes, as she asked:

“Can you wait an hour or so? I am in need of a certain stone, and it is
just possible that the one you have may fill the want. You say it is a
ruby?”

“Yes, it is a ruby,” replied Isabel, as she took the ring from her
purse and handed it to him. “I will wait as long as you wish,” and she
stepped into the outer shop.

In a little more than an hour she was called into the private once
again. With a beating heart she entered. The jeweler rose from his
chair as he saw her.

“Well, have you come to learn Old Nick’s fate?” he asked kindly. “I
am happy to say that you have solved half the problem, anyway, for
the stone is very beautiful, and I am willing to give you two hundred
dollars for it. Do you accept my terms?”

“Two hundred dollars! Why, Old Nick was sold for less than one hundred.
But one would buy him back; don’t you think so?”

It is to the man’s credit that he suppressed a smile as he answered
very seriously:

“Ah, but the dealer will never be willing to sell him without making a
good profit. You’d better take the two hundred; the ring is fully worth
it.”

“Well, perhaps I would better,” she said simply, “I should be sorry
not to have enough,” and she looked up into the big man’s face as
confidingly as though she were seven instead of seventeen.

“I’m sure you would be; so take this and be careful of it. It is a
good deal of money to look after.”

“I’ll be very careful, and I am _so_ much obliged to you.” Her small,
gloved hand was impulsively offered.

“Good-by, little lady, and accept my best wishes for your success.”


CHAPTER III

“POOR OLD NICK!”

It was a short walk from the jeweler’s to the address given upon the
horse-dealer’s card, and with heart beating high with hope Isabel
quickly made her way there.

But when the dealer had bought Nick he had known what he was about.
Very little “doctoring” was required to bring the still handsome old
horse up to “market shape” and palm him off for a much younger animal
than he was. So it was no wonder that ere a week had passed dear Old
Nick, who had never known a hard day’s work in all his happy life, and
whose big, arching neck had never drawn anything heavier than a surrey,
should find it burdened with a heavy, ill-fitting collar, and himself
harnessed to a city express wagon, while the dealer patted his pocket,
congratulating himself that in a few days he had been able to make a
profit of fifty dollars. Accustomed all his life to kind treatment and
the best of care, Nick could not comprehend anything different; and the
look of surprise which came into the big, beautiful eyes when his funny
little kittenish overtures to play or to be petted were met with harsh
words or a blow was truly a revelation. When Isabel started upon her
quest, he had been hard at work for over a month, and it had told upon
the old horse.

Under ordinary conditions a local city express usually keeps its horses
busy, but when the Christmas rush begins it means early and late hours
for horse and driver, meals snatched when and where they can be, and
rushing to and fro in storm and shine.

It is really no wonder that the men become worn out and impatient, and
too often the poor horses must suffer in consequence.

From the dealer, a good-natured German, Isabel learned who had become
Nick’s owner and that his office was in Forty-second Street, so off
she started once more. The day was growing bitter cold, and the light
snowfall during the previous night had frozen upon the streets and
walks, making it exceedingly uncomfortable for pedestrians, whether
they traveled upon two feet or four. The sun shone brightly, however,
and the spirit of Christmas-tide seemed to be abroad; for as the people
slipped and slid along they laughed at one another’s mishaps.

But for the poor horses it was a different matter. Those sharp-shod
managed well enough, but those with smooth shoes were utterly wretched,
and, while striving to keep their equilibrium, struggled along,
straining and pulling, utterly exhausted by the double effort.

Turning into Fifth Avenue, Isabel started off at a brisk pace, and was
soon making good time up the steep grade which lies between Thirtieth
and Fortieth Streets. The avenue was crowded with vehicles of every
sort, from the elegantly appointed equipages of the wealthy, with
their prancing, beautiful horses, to the humble hawkers’ carts, yet
all seemed imbued with the Christmas cheer. As she neared Thirty-third
Street, an express wagon drove away from the Waldorf, the man had
come running from the hotel to spring upon his wagon and whip up his
horse with the lack of common sense so often displayed. It is a pity
that such people cannot be placed between the shafts for a short time.
The experience would prove a wholesome one, I fancy, and give them a
practical demonstration of the impossibility of moving heavy weights
suddenly without endangering some organ of the body.

The horse sprang forward, slipped, nearly fell, and was brought to a
realizing sense of his duty by another jerk and a lash. Then, with a
mighty effort, he started quickly up the hill with his heavily laden
wagon, his poor, smooth-shod feet slipping over the icy pavement in a
manner which threatened every moment to bring him down.

It had all happened in less time than it has taken to tell it, but love
has keen sight, and with a cry of “Nick! Oh, dear Old Nick!” Isabel
forgetful of everybody and everything, started up the avenue like a
deer. She had not far to run, for at Thirty-sixth Street the climax was
reached and Nick fell.

As she reached him a crowd had surrounded the prone horse. One man sat
calmly on the animal’s head, another was unhooking the traces, another
the tug-straps, while the driver was indulging in language not set
down in the Ten Commandments. The poor horse, utterly exhausted by his
double exertions, lay as still as though the hard, icy pavement were a
blissful spot. Just as the last strap was released and the men stepped
aside, Isabel came to him, and crying out, “Nick! Dear, dear Nick!”
went close to the edge of the curb and stretched out her hands toward
him. God had not given him human speech, but if ever a dumb beast spoke
Old Nick did then; for at the sound of the beloved voice the poor head
was raised quickly, and as joyous a neigh as ever greeted friend rang
out upon the frosty air.

As Isabel spoke the driver approached her, and touching his cap
respectfully, said:

“Do you know that horse, miss?”

Isabel looked quickly up, and her heart gave a joyous bound as she said:

“Yes, oh, yes! But please, please don’t harness him to that dreadful
wagon again. He was mine once, and I want to buy him back.”

“Buy him back?” incredulously.

“Yes, yes. I truly do! Where can I talk to you?”

“Will you step into this store, miss, and I’ll see what I can do for
you.”

“Thank you so much. But let me touch Nick first.”

No need to ask it. The horse was now upon his feet, and had made
straight for the sidewalk, where two arms were waiting to gather the
big head, which snuggled into them as a child might have done.

Never mind cold and ice now! Old Nick had no more to wish for, and
would have been willing to stand there for hours just to hear the
beloved voice and feel the stroke of the dear hands.

Thanks to the courtesy of the proprietor of the store in which Isabel
soon took refuge, matters were settled between the expressman and
herself, and, to judge from the expression of both faces, to their
mutual satisfaction. As the expressman left the store he was conscious
of a good day’s profit in the hundred and fifty dollars paid him
for Old Nick; and when Nick was given into his charge to be looked
after until he could be taken to the farm, Isabel felt that her first
business transaction had been a successful one.


CHAPTER IV

OLD NICK’S HOME-COMING

Next arose the question of getting Nick home, but Isabel had gone too
far to retreat, nor did such a thought occur to her. Home Nick must go,
and home he was going, and _she_ was to get him there. There were quick
wits in that pretty head, and the plans were soon laid.

Another journey to town, ostensibly to finish the previous day’s
shopping; a suit case, presumably to bring the parcels home in; a
secret conference with the faithful Hiram, who, as she tripped away
from the stable, slapped his thigh and ejaculated: “Wal, I be gol
twisted ef she don’t beat the band!” and Old Nick’s saddle and bridle
were on their way to the city.

There was still sufficient money for her needs, and by one o’clock the
following day a young lady might have been seen mounting a big bay
horse in front of the Margaret Louisa Home. The horse was either too
happy or too frisky to know what he was about, for he kept turning his
head around to pull at the girl’s habit, her shoe--in short, he was
acting like a spoilt child.

At the horse’s head a stableman stood, smiling in a very satisfied
manner, as if he knew a pleasant Christmas secret. Nick’s late owner,
with a new horse filling Nick’s place, drove up, touched his hat to the
girl as he asked, “Is your bag inside, miss?” and a moment later the
suit case, containing Isabel’s street clothing, was speeding upon its
homeward way.

“Thank you so much for your kindness,” she said to the man who had
brought Nick from the expressman’s stable, “and please take this for
your children, if you have any. I hope they will be as happy as I am.”
And with a smile which the man remembered for many a long day she
slipped a coin into his hand, gathered up her reins, and started.

Nick’s burden seemed to have an intoxicating effect upon him--or,
perhaps, the spirit of Christmas had been fastened upon his feet with
his new shoes--for he acted altogether foolishly. But a wise little
horsewoman rode him, and knowing the miles to be traveled over snowy
roads, she took good care of her mount.

She had barely reached the Fort Lee ferry when the threatened storm
began and snowflakes fell rapidly. The fifteen miles to be traveled
after she reached the Jersey shore would have been a pleasant jaunt
under favorable conditions, but in a driving snowstorm, with the
thermometer far below freezing point, they were no joke; and even
though joy had put new life into Nick, Isabel realized that reserve
strength was wanting after the hard work of the past weeks.

More than one person turned to regard the pretty young girl with a
questioning look as she rode up with her hair, hat, and habit powdered
with snowflakes. Ten of the miles had been told off, and although doing
bravely, Old Nick showed signs of great fatigue, while his brave little
rider was nearly perishing from cold. The snow was falling fast and the
short winter day drawing to its close. It would have been impossible to
travel rapidly, had Nick been young and fresh; and although he started
forward from time to time, as home drew nearer and he became familiar
with the road, he soon lagged again, and his labored breathing told
plainly of exhaustion.

The last turn had been made, and a straight stretch of road lay before
him, with home almost in sight. He threw up his head, gave a loud
neigh, stumbled, and nearly fell over something hidden by the snow.
Isabel slipped from the saddle and stood knee-deep in the drifts.

“Why, Nick, dear, how did it happen?” she cried, stroking his steaming
neck. But Nick was sniffing about in the snow with queer, frightened
snorts.

Isabel gave a little cry, and brushing aside the snow struck a man’s
garments. A moment later she was supporting her father’s unconscious
form in her arms.

A bad bruise upon his temple, a broken arm, a whip lying near him
told the story. Quickly taking a card from her pocket-book, she wrote
upon it: “Papa is at the four corners injured. Send at once. Isabel,”
and fastened the message to Nick’s headstall. Then, tying the reins
securely to the pommel of the saddle, she gave Nick a sharp slap upon
his flank, and cried:

“Home, Nick! Home!”

A dumb beast was then permitted to demonstrate the teachings of Him
whose birthday eve it was and to return good for evil. With a wild toss
of his head, Nick plunged forward, and was soon lost in the gloom,
but Isabel heard the thud, thud of his fleeing feet long after he had
disappeared.

Two hours later Mr. Townsend was being tenderly cared for by wife and
daughter, the wretched colt which had caused the mishap was caught
and returned to the stable, and Nick--dear, faithful Old Nick--was in
Hiram’s care--Hiram, who rubbed him down until each separate hair was
as dry as a bone, and who was now standing by while Nick enjoyed a
steaming bran mash, and talking to him as to a twin brother.

“Aint she a trump, Nick? I tell ye, old man, ye needn’t never have no
fears thet ye’ll leave _this_ place agin till ye’re toted out ter yer
last beddin’ down. No, siree; not while thet leetle girl owns yer. Do
yer believe me, sonny?”

Nick evidently did believe it, for he promptly put his mark thereto by
raising a very slobbery muzzle and rubbing it against Hiram’s sleeve.




HOW NED TOODLES TOLD TIME




HOW NED TOODLES TOLD TIME


“Denise, darling, are you upstairs?” called Aunt Helen, at the foot of
the playhouse stairs.

“Yes, auntie; do you want me?”

“Only to know whether you have seen John anywhere about, dear.”

“I think he has gone with Sunshine and Flash to the blacksmith’s. I saw
him lead them away about half an hour ago.”

“Dear me, that is too bad, for we need him very much.”

“What is it, auntie? Can I do it for you?”

“Why, the grocer has just delivered the morning’s order, but has
forgotten to bring the half barrel of sugar ordered, and cook is
nearly beside herself, for she is in the midst of her jelly-making and
needs the sugar very much.”

“Oh! let me go after it. It will be lots of fun.”

Aunt Helen laughed as she gave her consent, and a moment later Denise
had let down the bars of the day stall and was dragging Ned Toodles
out by his forelock, much to that animal’s disgust, for it was nearly
twelve o’clock, and that meant dinner time for him.

It took her only a jiffy to whisk his harness on him, and a few moments
later she rattled out of the playhouse, down the driveway, and through
the gate.

It was not more than a mile to the village, but that mile tried
Denise’s patience.

Ned bounced and jerked along, first upon one side of the road and then
upon the other, in order to show his disapproval at being sent upon an
errand just at dinner time.

“I certainly think I shall do something dreadful to you, if you don’t
behave yourself. What makes you act so, anyway?” she cried, as she drew
up his rein and cracked her whip threateningly. “I’d be ashamed of
myself to make such a fuss just because I thought my dinner was going
to be half an hour late,” she continued, in a scathing tone.

A fig cared Ned for anybody’s opinion, and as Denise came up to the
store at which she had to stop and turned around so that Ned was headed
toward home, he gave his head a saucy wag, as though to say:

“Perhaps some people had better reserve their opinions until they are
asked.”

Tie-strap in hand, Denise hopped out of the wagon, but just as she was
about to tie Ned, for she had very pronounced misgivings of his sense
of honor, the proprietor of the store slipped out to say:

“I know what you have come for, Miss Denise, but we will send it at
once.”

“I will take it with me in the back of my wagon, Mr. Groves, thank you.”

“Very well. I’ll send it right out.” Denise stepped back into the wagon
to wait, and then came the beginning of Ned’s humiliation. Dong! rang
out the bell of the town clock. Dong! dong! until twelve strokes of the
bell had sounded. Ned knew a great deal, and he must also have known
how to count, for as the last stroke rung out he began to fidget. “Now
you are up to some new prank,” said Denise to herself, “and I won’t say
one word, but will see what you will do.” So she let the reins hang
loose and kept perfectly still.

Ned’s blinders prevented him from seeing her, but one ear was laid back
to listen.

Denise sat as silent as the whip socket.

First a sidling step away from the curbstone; then another. Still no
restraint from the wagon. Surely Denise must have gone into that store,
thought Ned.

Two or three more steps took him well into the middle of the road, and
that road led home and to dinner.

Still it would be wiser to listen again, and a knowing pair of ears
were prepared to catch the faintest sound from the wagon.

But no sound came, although Denise was nearly convulsed with laughter.

Surely things were progressing famously, and when dinner was to be had
so easily why not go after it? And off my laddie started, at a brisk
pace.

But walking was slow work. Not a vehicle was in sight, so very shortly
Master Ned was trotting along at a fine rate.

“Dear me! trotting is a very common-place manner of getting over the
ground. Can’t we improve on it?” Surely, and a moment later the little
villain was bounding along like a deer, the wagon jerking and rattling
behind him.

By this time Denise thought the joke had gone far enough, and so said
in her most sarcastic tone:

“Well, sir, how much further do you intend to run?”

But the effect was astounding. With one final bound Ned stopped short.

Snap went the breeching straps, and over went Denise, landing straight
across the dashboard, with her hands spread out upon Ned’s fat
haunches, where she could only lie and laugh. When she had laughed till
she couldn’t laugh any more, she scrambled out, and, walking around to
Ned’s head, peeped over the blinders, and beheld a very subdued little
horse.

“Well, sir, when I’ve fixed up your harness, and gotten you into some
sort of shape again, we’ll go back for the sugar, if you please, and it
would serve you just exactly right if you did not get one bit of dinner
until two o’clock instead of one.”


THE END




TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:


  Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.

  Perceived typographical errors have been corrected.

  Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.

  Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.



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