Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-10-28
oHILDRENs' DEPARTMENT.
THE SHETLAND PONY.

These curious little animals attract much
attention wherever they appear, especially
among youths, that they generally form a
part Of all the menagerles that travel through
The country. No wonder that they nre great
favorites with the girls and boys:for their small
size, beautiful shape, and gentle playful disPo-
sition seem TO fl them exactly TO be playmates
for young people, and the little horses are al
ways ready to join in their pleasure e'cursions
aud frolcs.
Egypt was the original country Of horses.
but a. they are now found In all parts OF the
world, they differ greatly, each kind Of horse
being adapted TO the climate aud productions
Of the country he inhabits. The Shetland
PONY is Just the animal required in Scotland,
IN Shetland Islands, from which It's name
Is derived,) aud Canada. Its diminutive size
suits the scanty vegetation OF these countries,
which would not support large animals; ,ut II
they were as feeble as they are small, they
would be Of little service. They however,
possess immense strength in proportion TO
their size, and are SO tough and healthy that
they can live among the mountains through
the long winters. and survive to great age,
even fifty or sixty years.
In Scotand they are called Shelties, and as
they have 10 take care Of themselves, they
run almost wild upon the mountains, aud
will climb up steep places, standing with
ease on the very edge OF most lrighttul preci-
pieces. On the Sabbath they are always wan
ted to carry the lamili TO church, and they
must be caught on Saturday The rogues
know how 10 make this n difficult task. II
Is a pleasing vi ut, on Sunday morning, TO
see OF women mounted upon one OF These
ponies covering him so completely with their
urge dresses, that nothing can be seen Of tue
pony; but its jroll little head
A middling sized man must ride With his
knees raised 10 the animals shoulders 10
prevent his toes from touching the ground
Its surprising To see with what speed they
will carry heavy man over broken and zig
zag roads In their native mountains.
"A gentleman, some time, ago, was presen.
ted with one Of these handsome litils ami.
mails, which was no less docie than elegant,
and measured only seven hands, or % in
ches in height. To was anxious 10 convey
Il TO his present home as speedily ~ possible
but being NJ a considerable distance, was al a
loss how 10 do 20 most easily The friend
said. .,Can yon not carry him In your
chaiae7" tie made the experiment: and the
Shelly wus lifted into u, covered up with the
apron. aud some bis OF bread given him
10 Keep quiet. lie lay peacefully on
he reached his destination, thus exhibiting
the novel spectacle Of hufse riding IN d
gig.
A gentleman had Whit pony. which be.
came extremely attached 10 little white dog
that lived with him In the stables and when.
ever the horse was taken cut The pog always
ran BY his side. One day when the groom
took cut the pony Tor exercise, aud accom-.
pan OIL, as usual. by his canine friend, they
met a large dog, which attacked The dimsnu.
tive cur, upon which the hoiar reared, aud ID
the aaionIahmsnt oi the hystaDdsfs, 30 sfIsc,
tualy fought his friends battle With his fore
feet, that tbs asgressor found II for hrs Inter.
ett TO acampef OF NJ fall speed, and never
again vsntursd 10 aasall the small dog
A llt,ls girl. the daughter Of gentleman
In Warwick shire, England, playing on ths
banks Of canal witch runs through hlI
grounds, had the misfortune 10 fall In, ant
would, IN al probability, have been drowned
had not little pony which had long been
kept In the family, plunged Into the stream
Anl brought the child safely ashore without
tie least Injury
A farmer IN Canals had large number oI
ponies, aud among them a very handsom
aud playful ons, which was great fasoFli,
will, a Ilillp boy about Ten years OF aye, The
only child Of the farmer, One day the hoy
WAS sent several mites on an effsud for some
money, with \ wafnlng ~ return before night
as the country was IN Ieal.d with robbers, III
visit waa 80 delightful that he forget ihe com
mand OF hla parents, add dld not mount hll
pony 10 felufn llll n was quite dark, llIl
road lay through thick forest, and II WI
not long before hlRhwuyman attacked and
dragged him from HE horse, which RAJ
nwliny homewaFd, Meantime bic iaffIne,
parents sat trembling by their lifeshlr, await
log ihelF hey'n return They wefe Just pfa
paiIng 10 20 Ia search " him, when the,
heard TIE ulattedns ol hoUli, and soon after 1
luud kiekiug aud paving ~ lhs door o.
opening H. they saw lle pony IN stats ol
y sfual esoIlimani, with hla saddle and hfli
dla dangling about hui lie fan from then
short Distance, then fflrked about, an,
aiiglnR the fathers oeal IN hls teeth, pulls,
him along, Tie agunls u parents fellowe.
the animal, who faa ahead, and neighlng III
uFga them onward, Alter travelling many
niles through The wogis, lhey eams 10 lhl
place where the boy had been robbed, AM
found him tied 10 a tree, stripped VI his mon
~ aud elolhss, and half dead with fsaF AN
anli, lie was placed Un lhe fony'a lack
who proudly bore him home, aud was eyp
after treated Ne fllend Ny the boy whose no
| ha hai saved,