Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-01-16
How the Pony Was Taken.

How the PONY " a. iaken.
BY c. w.
One morning. Is: August, Jimmie
Wood wts sitting IN the gate post mak
ing willow whistle, when 4 remarkable
wagon. drawn bya lean, -rav horse, came
up over the hill The wagon looked like
a big black box with window in it. In
front was = man driving. and this man
seemed rather peculiar 100. He had .
loug, pointed mus:ache and very curly
hair, He was not 4 cigar and candy ped
dler. not 4 patent machine man, nor a
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.
Mo,ning," answered Jim shutting Up
his knife.
My names L-athcrbee,' continued
the cnrly-haired man.
is i. ?" said jim. unconcernedly, and
then slid off the gate post aud started for
the house.
Hi boy
Jim turned quickly.
Ask your pa whether be- would nj
like to have his house to5k.' called ou.
the stranger.
jim nodded AMI went across the grass
plot meditating uron what the man meant
by proposing to take the house. His IA.
ther was in the sitting room writing let
ter.
Papa" said Jim. leaning NJ against
the table. there man out there in the
road that wants to take the house"
Wants to take the house. exclaimed
Mr.. Wood. making blot in his astonish-
msrt.
Yes continued jim, land he has the
funnie.t-lookin- wagon yOu ever saw In
your life"
Ahr' sud Mr.. Wood. Il understand
now; be wants to take some photographs,
I 1 suppose. We'll. tell him | don't want
anv. and Mr. Wood went on with his let
ter. while jim proceeded across the front
ward again. He noticed bis pony over in
( The orchard. \ thought struck him, and
be wheeled around and went back in the
sitting room again in some haste.
Papa. sud he. " can't | have the
pony taken?
"'She won't stand still long enough, ''
answered Mr.. Wood, sealing up his letter.
But, papa can! the man try plead
ed jim.
Mr. Wood though; for u minute, Then
said:
Yes. He may try"
jim galloPed across the front yard in a
second.
Wen?" said the curly haired man,
raising his eyebrows.
" Papa does Mt want the house taken,
said jim, with some dignity. But car
you take my pony over there in the orch
arL?'
The man looked at Baby. who wa,
calmly crunching harvest apples undel
the trees.
Purity little beast" he said, getting
out Of his wagon and leading his horse u
10 the fence.
Can you take herr" a,kcd Jim ag,il
: anxionsly.
; Course kin" answered Mr. Leather
bee. He then tied his horse to the fenc
and lifted his apparatus out of the wagol
AMI arranged il in the orchard. The pom
Immediately kicked up her heels and trot
ted off to ftr-away corner. Mr.. Woo
came out Of the house and talked TO tn
photographer, while Jim, after chasin,
: around for some time trying TO catch tn
: pony, went to the stable and pnt qutr
r Of cats in measure. As soon rs Bah
= spied that round. yellow box under jim
: arm. she trotted up to him with GENT
e neigh. lie caught her by the fore top an
: lei hdr TO where Mr.. Leatherbee Wa
. standing
/ "Jes: pl! her there" said he, poin:in
. 10 Il place under big tree. Jim led he
{ to the place and held her, while Nj
i LeatherDee made all his arrangements.
,, Now were ready. said he.
: Baby looked pleased II this announc,
Il ment, hu, waved her ttil wildly.
r Mr.. Wood smiled.
T Fell Baby TO keep perfectly quiet,
! said be 10 Jim. land ask her to lower be
e chin, cast pleasant expression around h,
eyes. and breathe gently"
e Mr. Lcatherbee laughed AT this So di
o Jim; for it was exactly what the photo.
Il rapher always told him when he had h
n picture taken.
c The pony thought this all very p'easan
!, but she wanted the outs. and, consequent
J, ". was trying to thrust her nose lhroug
r Jim's back in her effJrts to ge, at ih
o measure.
n fine photographer looked despairing
i - Here. I'll fix IT,, said Mr.. Wood, ste
: ping up to the pony. " No. Jim, star
u back; Mr.. Leatherbee. are you ready2r
e Yes" answered Mr.. Leltherbee. wi
Il one hand on the velvet that covered h
II camera.
Mr. Wool poured the oats on the grour
/ and let go the pony's head. For viii
Y Baby grabbed the oats up in great hast
= bat finally she stool with her nose to Il
o ground quietly eating. Mr.. Leatherbt
'. drew away the velvet from the Gamer
n and looked at his watch for some breat
= less minutes. Then he slipped the vely
u on again. and said:
oil That's all right"
s. jim drew a long sigh
lr Will it be good, do You think?'
asked auNiously.
Not II doubt Of il. said Mr. Leatherh
in sucha cheerful tone that Jim imme,
he ately male up his mind that the 20
ut should have an extra quart of oats
be winter for her fine behavior. lie expect
10 the picture would be done right away.
We Mr.. Lealherbee saiI he would have
ed send the plates to Poughkeepsie to
a partner, and the pictures would come so
ut bv the mail. Mr.. I.ealherbec then put
u. his apparatus in his wagon again. a
logged on as be had come.