Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-01-16
How the Pony Was Taken.
BY c. W.

iUU bHO UhI " az AdhNus
BY c. W.
One morning, last August, Jimmie
Wood was sitting on the gate post max
ing willow whistle, when remarkable
wagon, drawn bya lean, gray horse, came
up over the hill. The wagon looked like
II big black box with window in it. In
front was II man driving. and this man
seemed. rather peculiar too. He had
loug, pointed musache and very curly
hair, He was not IL cigar and candy ped
dler, not patent machine man, nor n
machine agent, for Jim could recognize
any of these in minute. The curly
haired man stopped directly in front of
the gate.
Good morning" said he.
Morning." answered Jim shutting up
his knife.
MY names Leathcrbec,' continued
the curly-haired man.
as it ?" said jim, unconccrnedly, and
then slid off the gate post aud started for
the house.
"Hi boy"'
Jim turned quickly.
Ask your pa whether he would MT
like to have his house tookn called out
the stranger.
Jim nodded and went across the Grass
plot meditating upon what the man meant
by proposing to take the house. His IA
ther was in the sitting room writing II let
ter.
Papa" said Jim, leaning up against
the table, "there's 8 Il man out there in the
road that wants to take the house"
Wants to take the house!n exclaimed
Mr.. Wood, making Il blot in his aStonish-
ment.
{" Yes" continued jim, land he has the
funnest-looking wagon you ever saw in
your life"
"Ahw said Mr.. Wood, q understand
now; he wants to take some photographs,
l suppose. Well, tell him | don't want
any, and Mr.. Wood went on with his let
ter, while Jim proceeded across the front
yard again. He noticed his pony over in
the orchard. A thought struck him, and
he wheeled around and went back in the
sitting room again in some haste.
Papa said he, "can't l have the
pony takenP "
She won't stand still long enough, y
answered Mr.. Wood, sealing up his letter.
But, papa, cant the man try?' plead
ed Jim.
Mr.. Wood thought for n minute. Then
said:
Yes. He may try"
jim galloped across the front yard in
second
Wel?" said the curly~haired man,
raising his eyebrows.
Papa does MT want the house taken,"
said jim, with some dignity. But can
you take my pony over there in the orch
ard?"
The man looked at Baby, who was
calmly crunching harvest apples under
the trees.
Purity little beast" he said, getting
out of his wagon and leading his horse up
TO the fence,
" Can you take her?' asked Jim again
anxiously.
Course kin" answered Mr.. Leather
bee. He then tied his horse to the fence
and lifted his apparatus out of the wagon
AMI arranged it in the orchard The pony
Immediately kicked up her heels and trot-
ted off to flr-away corner. Mr.. Wood
came out of the house and talked to the
photographer. while Jim, after chasing
around for some time trying to catch the
pony, went to the stable and put quart
of oats in measure. As soon as Baby
spied that round, yellow box under Jim's
arm, she trotted up to him with gentle
neigh. lie caught her by the fore top and
led her to where Mr. Leatherbce was
standing.
"Jes. put her there" said he, pointing
to a place under IL big tree. Jim led her
to the place and held her, while Mr..
Leatherbee made all his arrangements.
Now we're ready said he
Baby looked pleased at this announce
ment, but waved her tail wildly.
Mr., Wood smiled.
"rell Baby to keep perfectly quiet"
said he to Jim, land ask her to lower her
chin, cast pleasant expression around her
eyes, and breathe gently"
Mr.. Leatherbee laughed at this. SO did
jim; for it was exactly what the photog-
rapher always told him when he had bis
picture taken.
The pony thought this all very pleasant,
but she wanted the outs, and, consequent
ly, was trying to thrust her nose through
Jim's back in her efforts to ret ut the
measure.
The photographer looked despairing.
Here, I'll fix it," said Mr., Wood, Step
ping up to the pony. No, Jim, stand
back; Mr.. Leatherbce, are you ready9"
" Yes" answered Mr.. Leatherbee, with
one hand on the velvet that covered his
camera.
Mr., Wood poured the oats on the ground
and let go the ponyS head. For II while
Baby grabbed the oats up in great haste,
but finally she stood with her nose to the
ground quietly eating. Mr. Leatherbee
drew away the velvet from the camera
and looked at his watch for some breath
less minutes. Then he slipped the velvet
ON again, and std
That's all right"
Jim drew II long sigh
. Will it be good, do you think?" he
asked anXiously.
mot doubt of it, said Mr.. Leatherbee
in such cheerful tone that Jim immedi-
ately made up his mind that the pony
should have AN extra quart of oats ali
winter for her fine behavior. He expected
the picture would be done right away, but
Mr.. Leatherbee said he would have TO
send the plates to Poughkeepsie to his
partner, and tho pictures would como soon
by the mail Mr. Leatherbeo then put all
his apparatus in his wagon again, and
logged on as he had come.