The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-11-27
TaE M0RNNG STAR AND CATHOLIC MESSENGER SUNDAY NOVEMBER
JUVENILE COLUMN.
AN EQUINE IPET.

ful Shetland pony, an animal not SO well
known in this country as it should be-
! This odd little creature is a great favorite
with children in England and Scotland.
and sometimes becomes as much of a net
as a Newfoundland dog. His memory is
: SO good that he never forgets q kindness,
ouS II imposed upon he will quickly show
that ne does not propose to stand it. We
select the following portion of the sketch !:
HE SHETLAND PoNY.-"D Dan Rice the
shown an, }" who has probably surpassed all
+ professionals in lis day in training
representatives of the genus equine, in
cluding horses, asses, mules and zebras,
has very exalted opinion of the merits OF
) the Shetland pony. Atone time he possess
ed a remarkably fine one, which was so
in his arms. This was a most taking Incl
dent with thejuveniles, and they expressed
their feelings by clapping their tiny hands,
and giving utterance to shouts of admra-
ton. Some boys of our acquaintance had
a Shetland pony which afforded an infinite
sight of hearty, healthy amusement, BY
dragging little wagon along a country
road. The fun-loving pet evidently enjoy
Ell the excitement quite as much as his
| more intelligent friends. So long as he was
treated fairly, he would, after his fashion,
do honest work bat if overloaded, he ex-
pressed his indignation by vigorously ham,
mering his heels against the dash board of
the wagon. Having once caught his foot
in bridge-foor which he was often obliged
to cross, he would never after that volun-
tarily tread upon what he presumed to be |
treacherous ground. His biped companions |
effected satisfactory compromise, on these |
occasions, by "unhitching" and placing |
the pony in the wagon. Thus disposed of, |
| he was dragged over the treacherous
| bridge and tackled up on the opposite side. !
Al naft Of 4
in disposition, in accordance with the adj |
vantages of his education. On the bleak |
hillside, and entirely isolated, the pony
is often quite unsocial and the paternal
instinct will often inspire the mother to
fight for her colt, if she thinks it is in dan
ger, with all the superficial earnestness and
manner of a bear. She will put her ears
back, show her teeth, and rush upon you
regardless OF consequences. When brought
up about the cottage, and used to it's occu-
pants, it has very much the manner of a
large Newfoundland dog, and will force it
self into the house, and go to sleep about
the doorway.
In Scotland the Shetlands are familiarlv
and affectionately called ''Shelties." They
run almost wild upon the mountains aud,
from their agility and fondness for climb
ing up steep places, and standing with
perfect confidence on the edge of the most
frightfnl precipices, they might we'll be mis-
taken, by inexperienced eyes, for the
mountain-g goat. In spite of their hard fare,
and the necessity of providing for them
examples, we'll authenticated, are recited
OF individual shelties living to the age of
fifty years, surprising, in the matter of
longevity, all other breeds of horses.
Many pleasant anecdotes are told, illus
trative of the superior docility and intelli-
gence of the Shetland pony. A gentleman
residing in Scotland, was very
much attracted by a remarkably fine speci-
men, little creature scarcely twenty eight
inches in heigh& The geasleman express
ed his admiration of the animal, and it was
presented to him by his generous:hearte
owner. Determined to take possession at Q
once of the coveted prize, little Settle was
lifted into the gentleman's gis, covered
over with u blanket, and kept que. ~ re-
ceiving occasional bits of bread. lite r.
reached his new place of destinat" l in
safety, exhibiting the novel spectacle of n st
horse riding in a four wheeled vehicle F
gentleman possessed a purely white
Shetland pony, which became very ms,
attached to a little dog that occupir': .u
same straw bed in the stable with him.
One day, when the groom took the pony al
'ut for exercise, accompanied usual by n.
lis canine friend, large cur made fierce
'ttack upon the little dog. Much to the E
urprise of all present, Sheltie laid bis ears
Jack, displayed his teeth, and rushed upon N
he cur. A fierce bite made the assailant
clip with pain, and in the next instant
'air of miniature hoofs sent him bowling ST
way.
a little girl, the daughter of wealthy ST
eutleman residing in Warwickshire, Eng
and, playing upon the banks of canal
With a Sheltie, fell into the water, and
'ould have been drowned but for the pony, &c
Thich, with all the sagacity of New
dog, jumped into the canal and
rougbt the child upharmed ashore. OF
A farmer in Canada possessed Sheltie,
vhich was an inseparable companion with :
he farmers son, an only child, "a lad often c al
ears of age. One day the boy was sent, -
18th a sum of money, several miles into the n
ountry. Not returning promptly, his pa
ents were filled with CONSERVATION. In
he midst of this excitement the pony came
ONE, exhibiting great excitement, with or
ne saddle and bride dangling about him. or
he instant he was recognized the pony
,arted off down the road. The farmer,
lied with tears, hestated. The pony re-
lrned, seized him by the coat, and pulled
i'm along. The agonized parents now fol- :,
wed, the animal hurrying ahead, and i2
turning round neighing, to urge
lem onward. After thus travelling several
lies, the unfortunate lad was found tied
tree, stripped of money and clothes, =,
Id nearly dead with fear and cold.-He L
as rescued and placed on the pony's back, g {
no bore the boy with every sign of joyous Q1
iumph back to his home. To the Shet-
nd islanders, the pony is a source of con- Tv
derable profit Numbers are annually