The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-10-07
MISS PUTNAM,s COLT.

MISS PUTNAM's COLT.
1t was a pretty creature; delicate,
reddish yellow color, deepening to
jet black at its hoofs and ears, while
the long, graceful flowing tail and
waving, abundant name, were deli
cately shaded, catching pale amber
lights, in their highest curves, but
every hair toned down to soberest
chestnut at the ends
1t had large, soft eyes; fine, slen-
der limbs, and a graceful, arching
neck; and no one knew its good
points better than its owner, Miss
Irene Putnam.
She was a staunch, straightforward,
New England spinster, as proper and
Puritanic as her name, and a very
brief acquaintance would show any
one that she had her own ideas OF
life's proprieties, as stern and change
less as the Laws of the Medes and
Persians."
This dainty colt was part of the
farm stock, and 50 was counted in
among Miss Putnam's possessions,
without any especial valuation, for
the farm had been left her by her
father, and she carried it on as sue
cessfully as be had ever done.
But Doctor Walden, living a mile
away, had looked with longing eyes
upon the colt; his own horse was
growing old and dull, be felt that it
would be like glimpse of new life to
hold the reins over that glossy back,
to watch the set of those fine ears,
the arching of the graceful neck.
Thou shalt not covet," be said to
himself, and laughed at the school
boyish reproof; but all the same, he
wanted the colt.
At last be gathered up his courage,
and stopped, one warm summer night,
at the cow-yard barn, jus; as Miss
Putnam was coming out with FIVE
or six shining tin milk pals on her
arms, to milk the cows that she
would not trust to any other hand.
Good evening, Miss Putnam" said
the doctor
The woman turned, not swift or
slow bat with firm, decided motion,
and looking the speaker full in the
face; said:
ais anybody sick down to Hi
rams" ?"
"No, oh no; in fact, the village is
remarkably healthy this season, and
there are very few people sick any
where"
81 aim glad to here it. You spoke
so sudden, you startled me-" and as
though that settled the matter, she
moved on.
The docter coughed, whistled a
few notes, and then said:
miss Putnaml"
She rose with the milking stool in
her hand, and fixed her clear, ques-
tioning eyes on him, but did not
speak
81 was a-thinking-tbat is, l don't
suppose it's any sort of use to say
anything about it, but l was avon
dering if you bad ever thought of
selling that sorrel colt ofyours.."
A keen, satirical light shot into the
gray eyes, and with almost laugh,
she answered him:
II don't know a. there's any law
against mans buying horse if he
wants to. You needn't stammer so
over it.n
Then you will sell him?"
Il did not say So"
''But you meant it-you implied
it?"
NO" The word was prompt and
decisive, and the tone had dash of
bitterness in it. THAT colt was born
aud brought up on this farm-same
as | was, and here he will do his
work, and live and die-same as
shall"
She sat down again as she said
this, and the doctor, still leaning on
the bars, could here the soft cheel
cheel, cheel-wilI-cheel, as the milk
streamed into the pail, forced by the
drm grasp of Miss Pntnam's strong
yet gentle fingers.
He thought how invaluable such a
calm, active, self-possessed woman
would be among sick people, espee-
tally children, whose mothers were
generally panic-stricken, and utterly
useless.
He knew her house was neat as
waxwork, her farm well cared for,
but seldom the voice of kith or kin
was heard there, and never little
child played around her door. Mu-
sing thus, be did lot notice that the
pail was iull until the straight, 1.-THE
figure stood before him then recov-
ering his consciousness, he said:
Il beg yorr pardon, Miss Put
nam, | hope | have not offended
you"
"No,n she answered, Il do not
take offence easily; but." aud her
voice grew more bitter than before,
81 am not in the habit of raising
stock to sell, and / hardly think it
would pay, at my time of life, to
take up the business of a horse jock
ey"
By TINS time she had taben another
pail, seated herself by another COW,
and was going on with her work.
Cheel-weel, cheel-weel, went the
milk, with sharp ring against the
bottom of the pail, and to this
tune the doctor walked away think
ing.
The next day, calling to see o sick
child, be found it down with scarlet