Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-03-09
THE SHETLAND roNY.

much attention wherever they appear,
especially among youths, that they gene
rally form part of all the meuagerles.-
No wonder that they are great tavorltes
with the girls and boys; for their small
size, beautiful shape, and gentle, playful
disposition, seem to fit them exactly to
be playmates for young people, and the
little horses are always ready to Join IN
their pleasure excursions and frolics.
Egypt was the original country of hor-
ses but as they are now found in all
parts of the world, they differ greatly,
each kind of horse being adapted to the
climate and productions of the country he
inhabits.
The Shetland pony is just the animal
REQUIRED in Scotland and the Shetland
IsHlnds, from which its name is derived,
AMI CauaIa. LIS dimiuutive size suits the
scautv vegetation of those countries,
which would not support large animals;
but if they were as feeble rs they are
small. they would be of little SERVICE
They, however, possess great strength in
proportion to their size, and are SO tough
and healthy that they can live upon the
mountains, through the long winters, and
survive TO great age, even fifty or sixty
wears.
In Scotland they are called Shelties
and as they have to take care of them,
selves, they run almost wild upon the
mountains, and will climb up steep pla-
ces, standing with ease on the very edge
of the most frightful precipices. On the
Sabbath they are always wanted to carry
the families to church, and they must be
caught on Saturday. The rCgues know
how to make this difficult task. 1t is
pleasing sight on Sunday morning. to
see one or two women mounted on one
of these ponies. covering him so COM
pletely with their large dresses, that no
thing can be seen of the pony but its droll
little head.
\ middling sized man must ride with
his knees raised to the animal shoulders,
to prevent his toes from touching the
ground. 1t is surprisingt to see with what
speed they will carry man over broken
and zigzag roads in their native noun
ta;ns.
\ gentleman, some time ago, was pre-
spnteu with one of these hnnISomc little
animals, which WAS no less docile than
elegant, and measured only seven hands,
or tweuty-eight inches i'll height. He
was anxious To convey it to his present
home as speedily as possible, but, being
at a con siderable distance, was at loss
bow tu 10 50 most easily. The friend
sad, can rvt not curry "''it III S0u
chaise ?" He made the experiment, and
,b. Shelly was lifted into it, covered with
nm apron, and SOME bits of bread given
him to keep him quiet. He lay peaceful
" till he reached his destination, thus eN-
hibitiug the novel spectacle ota horse RI
ding in gig.
A little girl, the daughter of gentle
man in Warwickshire, Eng gland, playing
ON the banks ola canal which runs through
his grounds, had the misfortune to fall
in, and would, in all probability have
been drowned, had not a little pony which
had long been kept in the family, plum
ped into the stream, and brought the
child in safety to the shore without the
slightest injury.
4 farmer in Canada had large num-
Der of ponies, and among them very
handsome and playful one, which was
great favorite with little boy about ten
years of age, the only child of the tar
mer. One day the boy was sent several
miles on an errand for some money, with
country was infested with robbers. His
visit was so delightful that he forgot the
command Of his parents, and did not
mount his pony to return until late
hour. His road lay through a thick for
est, and it was not long before a high
wayman attacked and dragged him from
ms horse, which ran swiftly homeward.
Meanwhile, his anxious parents sat trem-
bling by their Greside, awaiting their
boys return. They were just preparing
TO so IN search Of him, when they heard
the clattering of hoofs. and soon after a
loud kicking and paving at the dool.-
On opening it they saw the pony in a
state of great excitement, with his saddle
and bride dangling about him. He rar
from them short distance, then friskeC
about, and seizing the fathers coat in hi
teeth, pulled him along. The agonize,
parents Immediately followed the animal
who run ahead, constantly turning bac
and neighing to urge them onward. Al
ter travelling many miles through tn
woods, they came to the place where tn
boy had been robbed, and found him tie
to tree, stripped of his money an
clothes, aad half dead with fear and cold
He was placed on the pony's back, VIII
bore him proudly home, and was ever al
ter treated as true friend by the bo
whose life he had saved.
We have, somewhere, read a curior
story of a farmer who was in the habit
riding little Shelly to an sle-house, SON