The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-12-13
THE LITTLE FOLKS


sMamma, where do ponies grow
little tinty tonty ones like this?" and.
he held up . picture of . number Of
Shetland ponies.
II don't know" answered mamma.
"Out on the prairie, I guess. Mann
mo, where is the prairie? Is it rel
there?" pointing toward a large
meadow that lay along the river.
II guess SO. Run out and play" an
swered mamma, without looking up.
"All right. Good-by, mamma. I
am going to catch a pony" and away
he ran to his own. little room for the
things he thought he should need.
There was his warm winter o~vercoat;
he must have that to wrap round him
If he should camp out. His pea-pistol
he must take to shoot bears and buffalo
with, and his fur cap he should want
if it should be winter before he got
home again.
Taking off his nice thew shoes and
striped stockings, for fear he would
spoil them, he laid them carefully away
at the foot of his little bed; then stick
ing his pistol in his belt, buttoning his
overcoat to his chin, and settling his
fur cap on his sunny curls, he was all.
ready to travel.
"Good-by, mammal" he shouted,
but mamma was too busy to hear him.
One faithful friend dill hear him,
and, looking after the odd little figure.
wondered what new freak Ray had ia
ken now.
That was old Bruno, who lay bask-'
ing in the sunshine on the piazza. =,
After watching a few moments, Bru-
no rose, and, after stretching his shay
gy limbs, started after Ray.
Down through the orchard, over the
hill and across the brook trudged the
sturdy little figure; across the great
meadow to the stream between that
and the island.
1t was only fun to wade that, for the
water hardly covered the chubby feet.
He turned and looked toward home,
then caught his breath, for he had
never been so far from home alone be-
fore.
Old Bruno followed slowly in his
footsteps.
The sun sank behind a great black
cloud, and suddenly a clap of thunder
crashed and cracked overhead, the
lightning flashed and the rain began
to come in big, splashing drops that
wet ven through his warm o~vercoat.
Now Ray was afraid of a thunder
storm. He had not reckoned on that.
He forgot everything but home and
mamma, but he could not tell which way
home was; the rain blinded him, andtl the
thunder reared SO that he could hard
~ hear himself cry.
He stumbled and fell oven a big rock
and hurt his ankle, and then Bruno
thought it al about time for him to
attend to matters himself.
Bounding to Rays side lie Tapped.
his cold. wet hands and face, and told
in every way a dog could of sympathy
and protection.
Ray started up with a joyful cry-he
had often ridden on Bruno's back-why
couldn't he do so now?
Bruno stood perfectly still until Raw
dragged himself up on one foot, and
after many trials, was fairly seated ON
his broad back with both hands
clenched in the hair on his shaggy
neck.
Then, step by step. carefully as
though he knew what pain every move
ment gave Ray, Bruno picked his way
across the stream and the meadow, up
the hill and through the orchard, to
the house.
The shower was over and the warm
sun shone through the mist.
Papa and John we're looking every
where for the lost boy, and mamma
stood on the piazza with a face white
with fear.
20, Ray! Ray! what made o IL
away?" she cried.
Il just wanted the pony, mamma,
but 1 don't now," answered Ray: "and
I'll never go on the prairie any more
never"
II guess not" said mamma And.
she laughed and cried all the while she
was changing his wei clothes. Then
papa came in.
whats this about q pony? Come
out to the barn. little son. Judy has
found a pony for you-iust the cum
ningest little collie You ever saw"
And there in Judy's warm stall Ray
found his pony after all.-Youih's
COmUnniQM.