The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-07-09
BEPPO.

pony; and whatever In the worle
could be the matter with him neithe,
master nor man could make out The
master was the new rector OF Mack.
stey. Mr.. Martin inexperienced IL
country life; and Beppo was his firs
adventure in horse-Hesh. The mar
was Roger. Roger was character
once seen. never forgotten.
Mr.. Martins new living was so fal
away from railway station that q
pony carriage seemed necessity; anc
there was large garden. which he
certainly could not work without assis
lance Therefore he retained the ser.
vices OF the late rector's factotum and
good servant Roger made. he was
masterful 1t was true and had his
own way In everything. He ruled
the stable and garden with the rule oil
an autocrat.
He mercilessly snubbed his master
when he displayed any innocent want
OF understanding OF the details OF
Roger departments But he was a
good servant; he had the interests OF
his master thoroughly at heart; and
he had further great notion OF the
! dignity OF his position in the village.
Roger was in dismay on hearing
that the new rector was going to buy
a pony. What does the master know
about horseneshp Sure as I'm here,
he'll be done" But he was forced to
admire Beppo when he arrived. and
to approve OF the purchase when he
had seen him in harness. He was
fourteen and half hands high, six
years old hight chestnut
Mr.. Martin had been to Suffolk to
look at him. and had been driven
round the neighborhood by his owner
who was medical man retiring
from the active work OF his profession
Ito try the pony's PAGES So pleased
had he been. that the bargain was
concluded. and In a few days Beppo
arrived safely at Mackstey.
To drive he was excellent He
made q good pace. stepped out well.
and seemed to be frightened at moth
ing. Wheelbarrows and tricycles had
| no terrors for him. nor even trains at
the level crossings But when he got
into his stable. all seemed changed.
He tagged. dropped his head and
ears. looked uneasily around when.
ever the door opened. and was
generally out OF sorts. At first this
was set down to the change of groom;
but he had no dislike for Roger and
indeed had taken to him readily.
Could 1t be change of air? II so. he
would be equally uneasy when being
driven. After a week or ten days
2 In al &c.. 49, ~
fessed himself unable to do anything
until some definite ailment declared
itself. And so master and men were
both getting dispirited.
You'd better a let me gone. sir "
said Roger.
Why Roger wouldn't you have
bought himp"
well. perhaps" reluctance
the man admitted suppose /
should. But l should have asked
more about him. and found out IL any
thing wasn't quito right You can't
buy horse like you buy leg o.
mutton.
We'll. but he's n good beast. Roger
and I'm sure you would have bought
him II you had gone"
Maybe so maybe so; but I never
bought pig in a poke yet"
The gentleman from whom the pur-
chase had been made was commune
Gated with. and was much annoyed
that anything should seem to be
wrong. Nothing OF the sort had ever
been not ced before and tho an NAL
was sound in every way. Mr.. Mar
tin had in fact paid guinea for
certificate. And SO what to do they
did not know.
Now 1t happened. about q fortnight
after the purchase that Mr.. Mart
had TO drive to the stat on some six
miles of, to fetch his sisters son. AL
fred. to spend port on OF his holli-
days at Mackstey. He was very
bright boy OF twelve and great fav-
orite with Mrs. Martin and with his
little cousin Lucy. who was some three
years younger than Alfred. and who
regarded him as n sort OF perfection
OF boyhood. He was full OF tricks and
lodges and fun. without being mis-.
chievous; and as gooi-humo ed and
affe tionate as q boy could be. At
home he had numbers OF pets having
a craze for live creatures; but he was
never charged with ill-treatiDg them
or neglecting them. or getting tired
of taem.
How do uncle?-Oh! what jolly
cobr' were the words with which he
announced himself, bag In hand. as he
emerged from the station gateway.
How are you AlfredP-All well at
homeP-1hat's right Yes the pony
looks nicely. doesn't hep You shall
see him trot directly. But there's
something wrong with him. don't
know what He isn't all right in the
stable"
What's amissP" asked the boy.
Il wish could tell you Can't find
out. He doesn't seem happy. Do you
know anything about horse feshp 4
should think n couple OF half crowns
well laid out II you can give us q
hint?"