The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-10-31
AUNT BEES PONY.
Tommy Tells How He started for Califor
nj

mia.
Jet is MY Aunt Bees black pony.
He's as pretty and gentle as you ever
saw, and quite fast, too. Aunt Bee
always talks to him as if he knew every
word she said, and 1 just believe he
does.
When she goes to hitch up she slips
on the harness, and smooths his name
and foretop, and pats his nose and then
says: "Now come around this way, lit
tie pony" And he goes without lead
ing, and steps between the thills, and
she bitches him to the buggy. And
then she climbs in, and takes the lines
and says: NOW 30 right along, Jet
dear!' And off he goes, proud as you
please.
She don't have to put on any old
checlI-rein to make him hold up his
head. No sir! Aunt Bee'd never do
I such thing. She says it makes q
horses neck ache, same as mine did,
when l looked up too long, trying to
count the little round do funnies on
Chinese kite.
Last month we concluded we'd go
and live in California, and Aunt Bee
said she would go with us. SO she sold
her place, and packed up her things
and came to stay at our house till we
were ready. But she left Jet in his old
pasture, and asked near neighbor to
look after him.
In a few days this neighbor came
| over and said: MRS. Beaman, l believe
your horse is quite sick"
"Oh no." Aunt Bee said, mot really
| cioly I but i,otrbn ln fan1c had
because left him
"Well;" the neighbor said, "he doesn't
run and play as he used to, and he
won't eat a bite but just stands at the
bars with his head down. and doesn't
notice anyone. | think he's a pretty
| sick horse"
But Aunt Bee said she guessed not
| Shed been so rushed she hadn't really
explained to him why she came away,
and probably he felt hurt about it.
So she went right over to see him,
and she talked TO him quite awhile.
She said: Did you think I'd gone and
left my little pony? Not bit of It'll You
see, I'm going to California, Jet, dear,
but I'll take You along You shall &c
on the big train in nice car, and you
shall have nice home when we get
there. And I'll never leave you, Jet,
dear, and don't you ever think it!'
So she patted him and strolted him,
and laid her head on his neck, and when
she picked some grass he nibbled it, and
seemed to feel great deal better.
And then Aunt Bee said; Come now,
little pony, let's have a rum" And she
laid one hand on his name and said:
Now come right along, dear" And
he trotted along beside her till she let
go and clapped her hands, and then
away he went running and jumping
and playing just as he used to.
Well, he was all right after that till
she sent the man that was going to
take care of him on the way, to put him
into the car. The man came round in
the evening and said she might as well
sell the horse, for he would't bulge one
step to go in.
Hes not for sale" said Aunt Bee,
"but do suppose l shall have to put
him in myself"
So she went down next morning and
got Jetty, and led him toward the car.
The men were there, and they just
stood back and laughed to hear how
Aunt Bee talked to the horse.
l saw 'em, but Aunt Bee didn't look
round nor take the least notice. She
just patted the poor little pony, that
seemed most scared to death. and said:
Come now, Jetty, this is the nice car
that you're going to ride in to Cali
fornia. And Joe will go with you all
the way and give you a drink when
ever you want it. And I'll meet you
when you get there, and you shall have
the incest little barn ever you saw.
Now you must go right in with me-
Nothing will hurt you. Come right
along now, that's a dear!'
And she didn try to lead him by the
halter, but put her arms round his
neck, and he walked in with her like a
lamb
guess those men were some aston
ished when they saw that But Aunt
Bee said he would have gone in for any
body, if they had been halfway polite
about it,
Well, that's the way Jet started to
California, and he got there al right.
too. But do wish he could talk, for l
want SO much to ask him what he
thought of the trip, and whether Joe
was halfway polite to him.-Eudora S.
Bumstead, in Youths Companion.