The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-09-02

and no harm ever came to them, In
the summer the only paths over tbo
mountains were the beds of the brools
from which the water had dried awar
rocked channels, quilted and WON
by the winter t rrents, and turning
many sharp angle where craggSS
ledge or boulder almost shut the w 94!
but the small rider would leave evary
thing to the faithful pony, drop tba
bride on his neck, and stick fast snro
that he would pick his way and come
out all right.
1t was as dangerous a kind of countrv
as could well be imagined. Great per.
lis lurked in the old forsaken limr-nits
which had been left open when there
was no further use for them. These
were on the edge of some precipice~
deep, vast, cemented pits, into which
the broken limestone rocks had been
thrown, then q fire made below. which
would burn there with solid white heat
for days together, Lighting up the whole
countryside.
Of the many ponies who were their
companions, right good comrades in
the best of fellowship, over so many
miles almost every day of their live;
the handsomest was Jack. He was of
pure Welch black, except diamond
shaped spot as white as snow in the
middle of his forehead In genuine
pride and self-respect, which kept him
always at his best, he was as near I'm.
man as a pony could be. He carried
his head so high that when his ten.
year old mistress was on his back their
two heads were nearly on a level. He
was very fond of her, and would follow
her about like dog, and, SO far as he
knew how, was a useful little servant
to her; and when she was riding he
seemed to feel it his duty to take charge
of the whip, which he held between bis
teeth as he galloped along.
In the morning she always went out
to the stable to see him; and, like the
trim English maiden she was-as
quantity sweet, | imagine, as Kate
Greenaway' little damsels-she had on
a white apron tied with long strings.
These had an irresistible fascination to
Jack, who Immediately began to
unite them; but if by any chance he
took hold of one of the bows instead of
an end, he saw his mistake, and
dropped it, seeming to understand that
otherwise he should pull it into knot.
After he had made the apron fall of, he
would try to twist the buttons from her
dress.
The stable opened into the door-yard,
and as soon as he was let out he would
start for the house to find her, going up
the steps into the hall, and past the
kitchen door, as if there was nothing
there to attract him. If it happened to-
be meal-time he would stop in the
dining-room, and, walking up to the
table, lay his head on the shoulder of
some one of the family, and drink cup
of tea. His tavorite place, however,
was in the parlor, where at certain
hours little missy" was sure to be
practicing on the piano. To get there
he was obliged to 90 up several
more steps; then he would unlatch the
door and let himself in, march straight
up to where she was perched at the in
strument, and lay his nose against the
keys. He would even 90 and sniff at
them, coaXing her to play; and manya
time she was to be seen at the piano,
with the kitten lying on one end and
jacks head on the other; and until the
music ceased it was next to impossible
to get him out of the room. --dnsos4.A
Is. HdTrtS. IN Wide AWG6e.