The Bossier banner., 1894-10-04

by. And if Johns father ever stopned
at house with an alien creed, it was
against the distinct remonstrance of
| fonce. lie was not dangerous steed,
since Johns mother, slim, soft-speak-
ing woman, could drive him almost
anywhere, and turn round with him
| too!-but the fire of colthood had not
wholly died out. He SHE'D occasion
ally at mysterious white objects-as if
he had not entirely abandoned an
early belief in ghosts, and he utterly
refused to be friendly with a railway
locomotive. He would look it full in
the face, but at a distance which
showed great coldness of feeling.
What right had it-a one-eyed thing
to go snorting contemptuously along
regardless Of everybody? Why he
would travel half a mile around-if
cessary-rather than even frighten
children at play!
speak of Ponce's well-known good
ness of heart that you may understand
how it was that he was so implicitly
trusted to carry precious and perisha-
BILE family treasure to and from Mrs.
Birds.
The saddle went on, John followed,
and pleasant trot along level coun
try road soon ended at farm-yard
gate. John stated his errand, and,
after some alarmed cackling died
| away, he found himself in the posses
sion of four fat pullets, half dead with
fright. A happy thought occurred to
him. He would make a balance of his
load by tying pair of chickens to
each side of the bridle-rein This he
did, to his own satisfaction, and to the
intense admiration of Tommy Bird-a
bit of color perched on the fence like
Cock Robin come to life again-and
then, with gay flourish of horseman-
ship, he turned homeward. Ponce
picked up his ears and trotted down
the lane at brisk pace. BY the time
he had reached the main road his gait
was lively-very lively, indeed!-but
horse going home to good meal of oats
was known to travel well, so John
wasn't surprised. Ponce, however,
was confounded. He was accustomed
to the Tapping against his flanks
of saddle-bags weighted with cleanli-
ness on one hand, and godliness on the
other-that is to say, with fresh linen
and religious literature-but what
could be the meaning of these dread
full neckbags? He stopped, shook his
head, and paved the ground. These
proceedings did not help matters-as
he evidently hoped they might-for
down the bridle-rein began to slide
the terminated and hapless pullets.
What were these monstrous things fly
ing across his vision and cackling un-
der his very nostrils? He tried to
jump a seven-railed fence, while John
clung to saddle and name like barna-
Gle to the hull of ship; he puffed like
a leviathan-if anyone knows what
that is like; and then he dashed mad
ly down the country road There were
no travellers on the highway, which
was fortunate circumstance, as Ponce
in his temporary insanity would have
been quite as regardless of human life
as the most despicable of steam
engines. Not a soul was in sight to
watch the mad ride. Indian corn
stared tall and green from both sides of
the fence, and sparrows looked out from
the hedges-these were the only living
things to see the weight carrying
race of my dear little John Gilpin. Off
flew his hat, but no matter-he had
better one at home! On went his
steed, the affrighted missionary!
There was wild satisfaction in going
so fast-it was like flying, and he had
always wished to fly. Mr.. Wales farm
was passed. And could that vision of
white and green be Mr.. Stron's-so
soon? Really, this was going as fast
as he cared to go!-a pleasure from
which he had hitherto been debarred
by his parents and the parish. He felt
very much exilarated and somewhat
startled. l think if he had known
that, in addition to the linear fight
Ponce was treating him to, the earth
was whirling him around its axis, and
sweeping him around the sun, and
carrying him around some wonderful
center, the compound multiplication
of motion would have seriously
alarmed him; but as he knew nothing
of the wheels within wheels, and
the sturdy spirit of the west was
in his veins he was not dis
mayed. That red blur must be Mrs
Perkins barn! ''Only half a mile,
Ponce! SO! Sol" he said, soothing
ly. But Ponce would listen to no ca
jolement, even though a friendly lit
tie voice poured it directly into his
ear. What! with those unheard-of
things Tapping into his very face? He
gave an indignant heave, and John,
realizing that his ride was over, loos-
ened his feet from the stirrups and
slipped deftly off-with the saddle.
Onward plunged Ponce, and, in few
minutes the exhausted animal halted
at the parsonage gate to beg, with al
most human cries, for deliverence
from the unaccountable burden swing
ing under his dilated nostrils. AS
may be supposed, the arrival of the
riderless and frenzied horse plunged
= apd itc nairh b0r.S into