The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-10-21
NELLY.
BY A. Il. POE.


Nelly was yellow-the boys called
her cream-colored-and oh so sleek
and fat, with a black stripe down
her back, shining like satin; large,
brown, sensible eyes, such plucky
ears, and a real independent snort.
We all liked Nelly, but of course
I liked her the best, because she was
mine. Father bought her for me
to ride to school; and with Mel
" came a blackeyed boy-"a reg Ter
limb" Nancy called him-who was
to ride behind me and take the horse
back, and come again for me at 4
O'Clock.
The way led through long lanes
edged with hazel bushes and wild
brier, scrubby plum and crabapple
trees, and here and there cleaned
cut the wonderful "burning bush" !"
Nelly would pace along so gaily,
with me seated on the saddle, wear
inc q pink-lined shaker bonnet, with
my little red and green satchel (made
out of a piece of aunt HesteT's new
parlor carpet, hanging on the horn,
while Billy sat behind carrying the
tin dinner pail.
Mounted thus loftily, and with
the delicious haze Of the Indian
summer around me, 1 might have
dreamed in my little girl fashion,
but l did not dare to forget the ex-
istence of Billy, who was ever ready
by some sly prank, to put to fight
any poetic raptures that 1 might in
dulge in. He was indeed, a sore
trial to me. Sometimes he would
pretend to fall asleep and would sit
so limp and ifeless, and nod so,
that l would be almost sure he
would tumble of, and again, l would
happen to look around finding him
standing up, frequently on one foot
with the dinner pail on his head.
He would be sure, if l didn't watch
him, to put the bride on wrong, or
forget to put on the martingale, or
neglect to girth the saddle. More
than once when we we're riding, he
has slyly slipped his hand down,
unloosened the girth, turned the
saddle, and tipped me off into the
dust and then almost strangling
with laughter, he would declare him
self ignorant Of the whole matter.
One morning, after one Of these
falls, I was so exasperated that 1
seized him by the arm, exclaiming:
"Billy, you mean, bad boy you
ought to be punished !"
With a glare Of severity Nelly
eyed him for a second, then, spring
ing forward, she set her great white
teeth firmly into the back of his
Jacket. and oh, what a tremendous
shaking the poor boy did get His
hat and copper-toes went flying in
to the bushes, his hair stood straight
M. and he sereeched and screamed,
wriggled and gasped, till Nelly laid
him down upon his back in the road.
Then her satisfied look and toss Of
her head, said as plainly IS words;
"There, sir III teach you to be-
have yourself"
Sometimes, after a long continued
rain, the creek would be SO swollen
that to avoid crossing it we would
90 part Of the way through a field
and when we went that way, we had
to pass through several gates.
Now, Nelly could open a gate as
well as you or I. Whenever I was
aIone-for sometimes Billy don't 90
she would put her head over the
gate. unlatch it with her teeth, and
them push against it till it came op-
en- but she never would do itwhen
R;liv was along, no matter how mud
dv or wet it was or how much we
coaxed her. She evidently thought
he might do his own work.
She was a great favorite with all
tbe school children, and almost
every dav some of them would beg
for a ride. Often on Saturday a
great troop of them would come |
over TO play with her in the meadow |
She was as kind and gentle as lamb,
and would allow US to stroke her,
feed her, and tumble over her for
hours but if any Of us attempted J.