St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-07-07
original significance long lost even
to tradition. - Washington Star.
FARMER TESTERS BRAVE PONY.

In the neighborhood a few miles
east of this place a Mexican pony is
the hero of the hour at this writing.
The pony, which is very small one,
was bought by farmer-James
Lester-several years ago, and has
since been the constant companion
of the Lester children. They have
ridden San Jose, rolled over him and
pulled his ears and tail, and have al
ways considered him as one of the
family. When the children went on
an expedition where they didn't care
to ride San Jose generally went along
anyhow, as naturally as though he
had been a pet dog; and on the few
occasions when his liberty was re-
stricted, and he was tied up by the
head, while the children went visiting
he sung melancholy he-haws until the
family were only too glad to turn
him loose.
One day not long ago, however,
three of the children went on a nut
ting expedition, and the two little
girls rode San Jose, while the brother
walked beside him. Arrived at the
point where nuts were most plenti-
full, San Jose was turned loose to
wander about and Craze at his will
until the time should come for return
ing home. The children worked
steadily for several hours, and then
the boy went to tree some distance
away, leaving his sisters to rest where
they were. He was fully out of sight,
and the little girls were walking
about, side by side, exploring the
ground to see if any nuts had been
left.
Suddenly, almost beneath their feet,
sounded an ominous whirr, and there
was the coil of a huge rattlesnake
with his wicked head reared from the
midst and drawn slightly back. ready
to strike. Neither child moved an
inch. Each said afterwards that she
could not have moved-that she felt
as though she was frozen stiff. But
suddenly, while the deadly head went
waving back and forth, there was a
quick trample ofhoofs, rush through
the bushes and San Jose leaped into
the ring. With his four little sharp
hoofs brought together he shot up
into the air, landed square on the
snakes coil, and was off again before
the wicked head could strike The
interruption had released the fright
ened children from the rattler's inhu-
ence, and they ran a short distance
away and stopped to witness the
fight.
The RATHER was wounded, but in
an instant it resumed it's coil and it's |
attitude, and the children
began to think it was all over with |
poor San Jose. But no! He came
again with that sudden spring with
all four of the little hoofs straight |
upon the snakes body, and this time
the body was cut half in two in one
place and was wounded in several
others. The snake writhed and
twisted, and, in the midst of its con-
tortions, bit itself again and again :
There was no more fight in it. 1t
tried to crawl away, but San Jose
leaped upon it and trampled over it
until it lay quivering upon the
ground. San Jose was still doubt
full about it, and paved it over with
one forefoot, after which he smelled
it over earthly. Being thoroughly
satisfied that it was dead, he shook
his head jauntily, sung a melodious
solo and went on grazing. [Goliad
(Tex.) Special to St. Louis Globe
Democrat.