The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-03-10
HOW A GOOD HORSE CAME TO
BE CALLED AUNT JANE"

HOW A GOOD HORSE CAME TO
BE CALLED AUNT JANE"
Is it not that strange name for horse?
1t is really title of honor, and will
tell you how it was earned.
When our good horse first came to us,
she was young and gay, as full OF play as
q child, and we called her Jennie. AS
time went on she grew quiet, steady, and
was 80 faithful and obedient that we all
loved her. s'Jennie" seemed too light
and frivolous a name for horse OF such
good qualities, and we began to call her
Jane.
She was large and strong, reddish
brown in color, with soft, intelligent
eyes, and dark name and tail. She was
good carriage horse, obedient to the least
touch of rein or infection of voice, and
so gentle that she was the best possible
playfellow for our youngest, child of
ten years, who was never happier than
when in company with Jane.
Little Emily was not long In learning
to harness after she once made James &C
quaintance; and the great horse would
bend her head down meekly while the
child, mounting chair, succeeded after
great effort in putting on the bride.
Again, Jane would stand with quiet pa
tience while her mistress tried to curry
her, combed out her long name and tail,
patted and Rugged her, ran under and
about her, or climbed up for ride on
her broad back. I think the good Jane
really deserved to be called "aunt" then,
for the patience and tenderness she man
ifested toward this little child. But the
title was not given till later.
One fair spring day we went for long
drive in the woods. 1t was so mild and
lovely under the oaks and pines and we
found such treasures in the way of pale
anemones, srbutus, rosy and sweet, hid
den away under the leaves, and young
ferns Just unrolling their woolly wrap
pings, that we fingered and fingered, and
were tempted to explore some grassy,
unused wood roads that looked especially
inviting. In SO doing we lost our way,
and before we could again find the open
country road the sun had set.
Jane started off for home at good
pace; but it was distant several miles,
and the darkness gathered fast. 1t was
a cloudy, starless evening. Soon we
could not see distinctly even the horses
length in front of US; but we knew Jane
could be trusted, SO we gave her a loose
rein and let her take her own way. She
was trotting briskly along quiet lane,
when suddenly she stopped. We could
see no approaching team or any obsta-
Gle in the way, SO bade Jane go on. 70
our establishment, the horse, for the first
time in all our experience OF her, refused
to obey. She paid no attention to rein
or voice, and only tossed her head at
little unwelcome touch of the whip. We
could see that she kept turning her head
and looking back at us in gentle, visit
full way. Clearly something was wrong.
The driver threw down the reins, and
sprang from the carriage, walked up to
the horses head. Then the mystery was
explained.
A few PAGES in front of Jane, seated
right in the wheel.rut, was a little child
"a ,curly-haired, blue-eyed baby OF
two years. He was patting the earth
with one little hand, and looking up in a
sweet. wondering way at the great horse,
looming above him through the dusk. He
was not directly in the horses path; Jane
could have passed him easily enough.
How could she know that the switt-turn-
ing wheels behind her, which she her
self could not see, would reach and harm
the childp
Our good Janet How glad we were OF
the disobedience that had troubled us SC
much a moment beforel How we stroked
and petted and praised her, even before
we lifted the pretty baby from his per
ilous position and carried him to the
nearest house, with injunctions to the
young Irish mother, who had many
children about her, to take better care o
her youngest.
At the first exclamation of surprise an(
relief when the baby was found, our &C
tive little Emily, who was driving will
us, stepped out on the shaft, walke'
along it, and mounted the horses back
in her eager desire to see. When tn
real state of affairs WAS revealed to hel
and looking down into the trusting bah
face she saw how much We owed our gen
tie, intelligent horse, the little Made
threw her arms around James neck, nest
led her rosy little face in the flown
name, and exclaimed "You dear, goo
Aunt Janep And "Aunt Jane" she wa
called after that to the end OF her life
c. A. Dugan, IN EUery Other Sunday.