Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-02-10


tain always chose her when he had fa
tiguing ride to take; though, for my part
l should have scorned to be seen mounted
on an ugly, stump-tailed thing like her.
This is ingratitude, however; | have
never had a more devoted friend thar
Kitty. She was assigned TO the duty oi
taking me out to 4" mothers house" where
she was always pleased to go, for used
to take her out of the harness and let heI
run loose under the orchard trees. | have
never met with horse so expert at pick
ing apples as she was; she never injured
the trees, and seemed to know exactly
which were the best eating "
When the time came to 60 home, Kitty,
like sensible, grateful horse, was always
on hand the only trouble was to get her
back into harness again--it generally be-
ing Just milking-time then, and l never
liked to admit to any of the men that
could not harness a horse as well as saddle
it. So, it happened that, after got on the
road, Kitty would stop short and refuse to
go a step farther. Whipping would do no
good on such occasions; she would only
switch her tail, stamp her foot impatiently,
and turn her head around, as If to say
Don't you know that | have good rea-
sons for acting So" On throwing down
lnC iluCS, anu tlC htlnSoSi Il
would be sure to find that some buckle had
been left unfastened, or some strap was
dragging under her feet. One day q sol
dier came to my assistance, and he said it
was the greatest wonder in the world
that the horse had not kicked the buggy
to pieces, for l had fastened buckle on
the wrong side, and with every step she
took the buckle had pressed sorely into
poor Kitty's flesh. | could appreciate
Kitty's good behavior all the more for hav-
ing seen her kick dash board and shafts to
splinters, one day, when the Captain drove
her, and some part of the harness gave
way.
The friendship, however, was recipro-
cal for many a bucket of cool, fresh
water, many a tea-tray fun of oats, and
many an apple and lump of sugar had
Kitty received at my hands, when she
stopped at the door, or was taken into the
back yard, to await her masters leisure to
ride The saddle she liked best, for under
it she could move about in the yard. She
would follow me like dog, and tried to
make her way into the basement one day,
where had gone to get some grain for
her. l always kept a sack of oats in the
house, as we had no stable, and the horses
were boarded at stable down town; but
Kitty would have gone without her dinner
many a time, had it not been for private
feeds J." gave her, as the Captains opinion
was that horses should not be pampered
and spoiled" Kitty knew how much
thought of her, and sometimes presumed
on 1t, too. L have known her--at times,
when the Captain brought her into the
yard late at night, previously to sending
her to the stable-to set up such whin-
nying, stamping and snorting, that, TO the
Captains infinite amusement, was com
PEELED to leave my bed and bring her a
handful of oats or piece uf sugar. And
on the street. if l met the Captain mount
ed on or riding behind Kitty, she would
instantly step on the sidewalk and make
dive for my pocket, to extract the apple
she fancied concealed there. Moreover,
she would allow Tiny to climb all over
her back; but Dick she always greeted
with a snort, and occasionally with "a kick
One day the Captain furnished valua-
bic addition to the happy family" with
out in the least intening to do so. 1t
seems that just as he was leaving the
house, he saw an open market-wagon, and
on it two forlorn chickens broihng in the
July sun. The man offered to sell him
the chickens, so he bought them, threw
servant to unfasten the string lettering the
feet of the poor animals. His order was
not heard and | knew nothing of the ex-
istence of the chickens till Tiny's barking
attracted my attention. There lay the two
chickens, gasping and painting, and the
dogs, like all little natures, exhibited
great delight at being able to worry and
distress the poor defenceless little crea-
lures. l dragged the poor things into the
shade, cut their fetters, aud gave them
g food and drink" One of the chickens
was Ia gay-feathered rooster, the other, a
plain looking hen, who exhibited, how
ever, by far the best sense, in this, that she
did not struggle to get away from me as
:" fighting Billy" did, but allowed me to
pass my hand over her soft dress, accom-
panying each stroke with low grooming
" craw -craw," as though wishing to ex-
press her satisfaction with her present
position. When L thought the chickens
were both safe and comfortable in the
yard, went back to my favorits resting
place-a soft rug, in front of the sitting
room fire place. The summer was extra
warm, and | had repeatedly
all over the house in search of
the coolest place." but had always re-
turned to this, Not far from me was
from which the shutters were
thrown back directly after noon, as there
was shade then on this side Of the house,
and nearly opposite was door leading to
a vine-clad porch. Glad enough to pass
a part of the hot afternoon in a siestd, /
was surprised on waking, and stretching
out my feet, TO push against a soft,
round ball and the slow "craw craw"
| heard, caused me TO start to a sitting
posture. There, sure enough, was Chicky,
cuddled up close to my feet, repeating her
song every time deigned to
take notice of her | had never believed
before that chickens had brains enough TO
feel affection or gratitude toward any
body; but wish to state as an actual fact,
that Chicky, as loug as she was in my pos
session, never let a day pass that she did
not come fluttering up the low steps TO the
porch, and visit me in the sitting.Toom.
During my regular Siestd she was ALWAYS
beside me and if attempted to close the
door against her, she would fly up to the
window and come in that way. Indeed,
she wanted to take up her roost there alto
gether; and it was only with great diff
Guilty could persuade her to remove to
the back yard.
Fighting Billy proved by no means so
OliipfbhiciAnD'p 10 ClliNhJ NiNulh Nh0 lllSb
week he had fought sing Gle. handed, every
rooster in the neighborhood, and the sec
Dnd week lie staggered about the yard with
bis "peepers" closed, and showed general
marks Of severe punishment, from the ef
Iects of which he died. in spite of aught
we could do for his relief
But our happy family" was broken
up, after awhile; the Captain was called
10 the wars" aud in spite of all l could say,
look Kitty with him, as the "most reliable
horse" Kitty never returned and | spent
one whole day, during the Captains first
visit home, in saying; l told you So"
and crying over Kitty's loss. Next, Tiny
was stolen; aud Dick went the way of
most all good dogs with our servant
girls butcher beau-at whose house | saw
him, shortly after Babette's marriage, to-
gether with sundry lace collars, table
cloths and napkin-rings that had mystic
riously left the house about the same time
With her Chicky disappeared the night
before Thanksgiving day perhaps they
couldn't get any turkey TO give thanks for,
and contented themselves with chicken.
When the CaDtain next came h@me he