Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-01-07
Slonth's Column.
HOW THE PONY WAS TAKEN.


looked like big black box with win
dow in it. In front was man driving,
and this man seemed rather peculiar too.
He had long. pointed mustache and
very curly hair. He was not cigar
and candy peddler, nor patent medi
cine man, nor 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.
"Aiorning." answered Jim, shutting
up his knife.
"My names Letherbee," continued
the curly haired man.
els it?" said Jim, unconcernedly,
and then slid off the gate-post and start
ed for the house.
"Hi boyv'
Jim turned quickly.
"Ask your pa whether he wouldn't
like to have his house took !" 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 father was in the sitting
room writing letter.
..Papa," said jim. leaning up against
the table, ..there's man out there in
the road that wants to take the house.
Wants to take the house p exclaim-
ed Mr.. Wood. making blot in his
astonishment.
Yes, continued Jim, s'and he has
the funniest looking wagon you ever
saw in your life. %
"Ab !" said Mr. Wood, Il under
stand now he wants to take some pho
tographs, suppose. Well, tell him 1
don't want any, and Mr.. Wood went
on with his letter, while Jim proceeded
across the front yard again. He no.
ticed his pony over in the orchard. A
thought struck him, and he wheeled
around and went back into the sitting.
room again in some haste.
Papa" said he, "can't I have the
pony taken p
"She wont stand still long enough,
answered Mr.. Wood, sealing up his let.
ter.
"But, papa, can't the man try p
pleaded Jim.
Mr.. Wood thought for minute.
Then said:
"Yes. He may try"
Jim galloped across the front yard in
q second. 9slT SIS 14s ,5ae-a G' g
"Well?" said the curly-haired man
raising his eyebrows. s taA $
Papa doesn't want the house taken,
said Jim. with some dignity. but car
you take my pony over there in thu
orchard ?''1 1aIa3 - 3 Hs
The man looked at Baby, who wa
calmly crunching harvest apples unde
the trees. F-a s7li34-re yH t
30 .'Purty little beast. he said, gettin.
out of his wagon an leading his hors
up to the fence.
Gan. You take her?" asked jim
again, anxlously. I'd ga 81
"Course / KIM" answered Mr.. Leth
: erbee. He then tied bis horse to th
; fence and lifted his apparatus out of tb
wagon, and arranged it in the orchard
. The pony immediately kicked up be
. heels and trotted off to far-awa
corner. Mr.. Wood came out of tn
house and talked to the photographer
while Jim, after chasing around fo
some time trying to catch the pony
went to the stable and put quart q
:. oats in measure. AS soon as Bah
: spied that round yellow box under Jim
= arm, she trotting up to him with
gentle neigh. He caught her by tn
J. fore-top and led her to where M
: Leatherbee was standing.
- "Jest put her there" said he. poin
: ing to place under big tree. Jill
: led her to the place and held her viii
) Mr.. Leatherbee made all his arrang
ments.
% "Now we're ready" said he.
: Baby looked pleased at this announc
. ment. but waved her tail wildly.
:. Mr.. Wood smiled
80 "Tell Baby to keep perfectly quiet
~ said he to Jim, land ask her to low
!, her chin little, cast pleasant e
= preston around her eyes, and breatl
- gently"
= Mr.. Leatherbee laughed at this.
:. did Jim; for it was exactly what Il
= photographer always told him when
- had his picture taken.
: The pony thought this all very ples
. ant, but she wanted the oats, and co
:. sequently, was trying to thrust her nc
- through Jim's back in her efforts to &
e at the measure.
~ The photographer looked despairing
"Here, I'll fix it," said Mr.. Woo
stepping up to the pony. No, il
stand back; Mr.. Leatherbee, are y
ready3"
"Ycs," answered Mr.. Leatherb
of with one hand on the velvet that &C