The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-02-10


lief that my gifts were much more wonder
ful than they were.
"Are you quite sure you are not q little
witch ?" said William Cumming. "Seliu
kissed you. and laid his nose on your shoul
der, the first FIVE minutes OF your acquain'
tance."
I answered him with some impatience--
~ wish people had as much sense as hor.
ses. They know who mean well by them
while people are always suspecting one. They
suspect poor little me OF witchery or the
black art. Even you. uncle William, ore
afraid will cheat you."
was grieved, perhaps little angry, THAI
had M, been trusted to ride Selim and
now that William had returned, wished tc
punish him. But he took no notice OF my
III humor, and said, very pleasantly
"Tell me, by your black art where have
been the last half hour"
He was standing by the door, and was nj
tho opposite side OF the room, but was in
the draught of air, and answered.
"You have been whisking the dies of So
lin with bunch OF pennyroyal, and you
have been over to the bank where the wild
thyme grows. and you have been among the
Wild roses on Ginger hill. / know oil this,
though have been here all the while."
He walked over to where was standing,
and said
"How do you know all this ?''
As he came beside me, ] said
"And you saw Mary Stacy, and shook
hands with her and you have something in
your pocket from Luke Stacy"
"How do you know all thisy' said he,
wonder struck, as he had been half dozen
times before. "No spygass could tell you
this, for Mary was at home in her father 8
house beyond the hill and the thyme bank
beyond that. and hidden from everybody; and
the roses and pennyroyal are beyond the hill;
and the whole is three miles from here. You
could not have followed me unless you had
been on the back Of another Selim and, be.
sides, you say that you have been here oil
the time. How do you know that have
something in my pocket FROM Luke Stacy
and what is it?'
at is letter." said l. "that he has
brought you from some one."
"Even so. What you say is oil true.
But how do you know it?"
..Simply and only" | replied, "because
nave u uNct. " utH NOu OahO
lin and the pennyroyal. Tho mingled odors
told me that you had been brushing the hles
otf the horse with some sprigs OF the herb.
The next odor | smelt was the thyme, and
then the wild roses. When you came to this
side of the room smelt the verbena-the on
ly perfume Mary Stacy uses. When you
came a little nearer sinelt Turkish tobacco
aud the sizing of paper and then was sure
yJu had some paper from Luke Stacy, and the
most probable idea was. that IL was u letter.
Why, can smell Luke mt the lower end OF
our lane when | stand in the door. Now
you can see that have fairly accounted fol
everything"
Except the fact that you are all nose, v
said William. "You are a cross between a
vu!turc and dove. But must attend tc
Selim dare say he thinks he is hungry
lie went out to see to the horse, but he was
gone. He looked all around, but did not
find him.
ale is stolen," said William Cumming
much alarmed. al saw an ill-looking fellow
watching me rs rode home. The gate !:
shut and there is no way for him to disap
pear unless some one has taken him."
"The gate is shut" said +; "but it is moi
. fastened"
The gate was fastened by pin, which was
put in hole bored IN the gate post. When
this pin was taken out the gate swung open
and if the wind were right it might be closed
again. examined and found the pin on the
wrong side of the gate, which had evidently
been closed by the wind. smeled tho pin
l-Selim's breath was warm on it. This was
4 30, hut mi kf, WI.
liam Cumming.
"Sclim don't know enough to tako Out
that pin and then replace it," said he.
"He has more sense than n great many
men, said, rs passed into the orchard
where the crushed clover blossoms gave me
. notice that the horse had passed hut few
minutes previous. .lf find him over the
, hill. may ride him. uncle William"
.You will not find him, he answered.
ran to the top of the hill. On the Other
side, Seim was trying to eat with his hit be
tween his teeth. | went to him and tried tc
unbuckle the bride on the wrong side. H'
quietly turned the other side OF his head tc
my awkward hands. putting the right buck
le pertinaciously before me, tin unfastenet
il William Cumming came along, much
, pleased, but said Selim should do the gate
trick again that he might see him. SO he
led him back, and left him to himself in the
yard again. He drew out the gate.pin with
his teeth, and when the gate swung open he
put the pin again in the hole, and went hi,
way to feast upon tho sweet grass.
"Lcavc him to me-" said | al will take
care Of him"
When William Cumming was gone. and
Selim was satisfied with the grass, called
him by a low whistle that his master used
He uotted up to me and laid his nose upon
nv shoulder. led him to the door and sad
! died him with my own side-saddle. and then
with very little preparation. started for a
contraband ride. Selim cantered away
seemingly proud Of his burden. and wa,
, rocked in the cradle Of an ecstatic delight.
!, There il in my opinion. no terrestrial ecstacy
10 he compared with canter, provided your
horse be OF the right kind, and the atmos
phere and scenery equally desirable. Fol
myself want no company but my horse.
do not want to put my loot in the hand o
any cavalier; but want to spring into my
, aerial cradle. and skim over hill and dale like
creature with wings.
Once only Selim tried my mettle; buI
when he found that understood his game
and swayed him Grst to one side and then to
the other, and finally turned him completely
round, be made up his mind to goswittly for
wards and give me no trouble. patsed hi'
neck to let him know that appreciated hi'
good manners; and, after canter OF ten
miles. turned him homewards. Ontheway
saw the same Unlocking fellow watching