Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-04-11
HERo's STRANGE FREAKS.
A Pet Shetland Pony That Has Pro
nounced Likes and DlslIkes.

The little daughter of n well. known
Brooklyn merchant. who lives in Carl.
ton avenue, has q pet Shetland pony
that is gradually developing some ex'
traordinary proclivities. says the N
Y. Times. From the time, year ago,
when she received the shaggy little
animal from her father rs q birthday
present. Hero. US the little lady named
her pet. has been a model of docility
and intelligence. He began to show
his attachment to his young mistress
very early, and at once appeared &c
recognize the fact that he was hei
peculiar property. He permitted the
attentions of the groom US mortify-
ing necessity, but resented any at.
tempts at familiarity on the part ol
that official, and gave him to under.
stand in several unmistakable ways
that there was wide social gulf be.
tween a mere groom and the pampered
pet of an aristocratic young lady.
One of HERDS pleasant duties is to
take his mistress to the Packer insti-
tute in Joralemon street every morn
ing. and she usually pays a visit to his
comfortable stall before starting. He
knows her football and her voice, and
whinnies his good morning before she
enters the stable. If the customary
lump of sugar or chocolate bonbon is
not forthcoming, HERDS nose searches
her pockets for the coveted morsel.
Then he follows her around the
grounds like big dog,and gives every
evidence of jealousy if her spaniel is
given n single caress more than he re-
ceives. He is not tractable under tn,
process of Harvesting II his young mis-.
trcss does not superintend the opera.
ton. On recent occasion in hei
absence the groom led him out OF the
stable by main strength. An inspira'
ton seemed to strike Hero. for he sud.
denly went dead lame. He held up
his of fore foot and limped about q:
though in agony until suddenly catch.
ing sight of the young lady he made &
mad gallop on four very sound legs to
her side.
Hero is an animal of very pro.
nounced likes and dislikes. He gives
signs of two insuperable aversions.
One is to the street urchins, who fol.
low him in admiring troops. and the
other is to the fur shoulder capes now
so popular with young women. He is
too well-bred not to recognize the
friends and schoolmates of his mistress
and to submit to their fondling, but
with the street gamin he has no pa.
thence ut all. One luckless urchin re.
Gently, in an effort to placate Hero,
rendered him an apple. Hero shook
his shaggy name menacingly and on
repeating the Offering the urchin was
lifted of the ground by the nape Of
the neck and flung ten feet away. The
BOYS have amused themselves by teas
ing him and, looking upon them as his
natural enemies, he has made q prac-
tice of nipping viciously at any OF
them who come within his reach, un.
ill now they have learned to keep at
respectful distance.
HERDS mistress regardSus- most in
explicable his aversion to fur capes,
for she wears one herself. and he fire.
quently places his chin on the soft fur
on her shoulder to have his nose rub
bed and patted. She says this strange
trait in her pets character developed
suddenly. One day while she was
and Hero stood with his
phaeton at the shop door she heard an
awful scream, and rushed out to find
Haro savaO elv shaking a fur cane that
he had literally dragged from the
shoulders of its passing wearer with
his teeth. He got a good scolding,
and was informed that his mistress
would have to pay for the repairs made
necessary by his sudden freak.
HERDS eccentricities are the talk OF
the young people who enjoy a speak
ing acquaintance with him, and now
he can hardly do anything that will
surprise them, however extrayagant
It may be.