The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-09-20
BRIBED WITH A PONY.
How 6 Senator's Nephew Was
 Cured of a Bad Habit.
A Senate Page Who Has a Bright Future The Boyhood Days of n Clever Journalist-An Iowa Boys
 Ambitious Desires.
Special Washington Letter.l

Special Washington Letter.l
 Here Is story about lucky little boy. Manderson Strawn is the six year-old nephew of Senator Mander- son, of Nebraska, and until recently was addicted to the habit, which so many small boys have, of biting his finger nails. The senator is very fond of little Manderson, and is also very anxious that he shall become young gentleman with no bad habits. On one of his frequent visits to the home of his nephew the senator noticed that the boy was given to this unfortunate hab- it. It was not the fault of his parents that he did it, for they had endeavored by all means to break him of the prac- tice. Finally the senator, who be- Geved that he could stop it, found plan which worked admirably. It was when he was leaving here for Nebraska after the extra session of the Fifty third congress that the senator made the proposition to the little fellow that if he would break himself of the nail biting habit he should be rewarded with little pony.
 At first little Manderson would not believe that the senator was sincere in his promise, and declared that he would probably only get cheap wooden toy, instead of real live pony. But at last he was prevailed upon by persua- sion and promise to quit the silly hab- it. When his mother found that her little boy had really given it up, she sat down and wrote long letter to the senator who was then in Nebraska, telling how good Manderson had been, and stating that he had at last given up biting his finger nails, and also that the receipt of the promised pony would be in order.
 There were several weeks of tiresome waiting and little Manderson was about to give up in despair of ever re- ceiving his horse, but the senator kept his promise and sure enough one morn ing the boys father received a letter stating that ''There is a Shetland pony to the credit of Manderson Strawn at the Pennsylvania station and awaiting your disposal" To say that there was joy in the Strawn family would be put ting i. mildly. Manderson and Mar gareta, his little sister, were overjoyed; and their father and mother were equally well pleased, for they highly appreciated the generosity of Senator Manderson.
 Little Manderson lives on Capitol Hill and back of his house there is quite large and beautiful yard, in one corner of which Mr. Strawn has built small frame stable, and in this Mandersons pony is housed. At first the little animal was frisky and wild, but after a few weeks of training on the streets of the national capital, Bes- sic, the pony, became subdued and is now as quiet and safe as any old coun- try horse. Bessie is a beautiful dark gray little creature with long mane and tail. After she had become per fectly tame and docile, MT. Strawn pur- chased small yellow phaeton and nearly every evening Manderson may be seen driving about the streets of Washington with his father or mother at his side to see that no harm befalls him.
 Bessie is not lonesome here, for in the large yard back of the house little Manderson has veritable stock farm. He has large and beautiful setter dog which he prizes very highly, and Manderson always takes him out to exercise when he goes walking with his father. Besides these pets the boy has few pretty bantam chickens and he enjoys himself every day feeding and attending to them. He is very fortunate little boy in being able to possess so many beautiful and desir- able live animals for pets. But of all his possessions he prizes most his little pony, Bessie, for which he is indebted to his uncle, Senator Manderson. Neither love nor money could induce him to give up this pet which he ob- tained so easily at the same time that be broke himself of a very bad habit.