Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-09
SEE THEY ARE LAUGHING AND WAVING THEIR HANDS

Sure enough, Aaron was coming down the
orchard path with bucket of bran. Pres.
emily he called the gray pony. Come
Grste, come" ..y.. o.. -.. ti ,
The pony kicked up his heels, shook his
head, and went galloping toward Aaron az
hard as he could go. When the children
came up to where the pony was eating his
bran they found him disputng with Aaron.
II the children didn't know how to talk to
him day before yesterday, how could they
talk now? That's what he'd like to know
"Gristle, listen. If you didn't have this
bran-mash en- hour ago. how can you be
sticking your nose in 1t now? That's what
| I'd like to know"
The pony snorted so hard that he blew the
wet bran all around. How did they leurn
| to talk to us?" he asked.
They have been touched" replied Aaron
We'll" said the gray pony, that changes
things. That alters the case. Ih sorry /
abused them. But that boy there hasn't
been very good to me. I've sen no like
Little Crotchet. saw them riding the
black stallion yesterday. How was that?'
Haven't / told you, Gristle. They have
bee ntouched. They have the sign"
Il see responded the gray pony. THAT
changes things. That alters the case. But
what do they want with me?"
They can answer for themselves, Grstle
They are here"
why, we wanted yeu to tell us about the
time when my Uncle Crotchet asked grand
father to buy Uncle Aaron" ~.
The pony drew away from the bucket of
he looked at Aaron "Wellr' he snorted,
'how do they know"
Aaron laughed and pointed toward the big
house. They heard it there from the white
haired master. They are our friends. Gristle.
They know the sign
"That alters the case" said the gray pony
for the third time "but the story Is a long
one. To-day Is the day when you get in the
carriage and go where the talking man lives.
used to carry the little master there one
day in every week from the time he could
ride"
HE means 70 preaching" explained Aaron,
and the explanation made the children laugh
Come tomorrow" said the gray pony;
then everybody will be at work, and we
shall have no one to bother u.s."
Aaron thought that this was good idea
and at his suggestion the children agreed to
it. though not with very good grace; to-
morrow seemed to be so far on
But the time rolled on on the plantation as
II did elsewhere, and some time during the
night, when the children were fast asleep and
snoring, may be, tomorrow became today.
After breakfast, when they had gone over
their lessons with their grandfather, who
taught them to amuse himself they went out
and found the gray pony, carrying him some
green corn.
NOW. like that" said the pony, switch
Ing his tail vigorously. 'Ive had a bad
taste in my mouth all day. and this green
corn will drive it away" He munched
at 1t little while, looking at the children
occasionally. and then began:
Il was very fond of the little master from
the frst, The white-haired master found
me in drove of mules and horses In pen in
town. We had Travelled hundreds of miles,
and though l was young and tough, l was
very stiff and tired. But the drover cracked
his whip. separated me from the rest and ran
me to corner Of the pen, where / stood
ment the lash would crack on my back as 1t
had cracked many times before The white !
haired master-hiS hair was as gray as mine |
even then-held the little master In his arms, |
and when they came near i stood still and al |
lowed the little fellow to pat my back and |
stroke my neck. The little master cried |
Father. buy him-I like him.
THAT was enough. A negro came and put |
a halter on me, and led me from the pen. |
Soon some one brought bride and then |
a small saddle. After a while the little |
master was placed on my back. and some |
one handed him two heavy sticks. / was |
with them, but when I fiinched the little
master stroked my neck. and had no more
fear. The sticks he carried along to help |
him along over the ground when he was
not riding. and he used them nimbly.
so We came home and grew to know each
other In cold weather had a warm stable
to rest in, and a heavy blanket to sleep under
in pleasant weather / had cool water twice a
day and young corn and green barley. Peo-
pie used TO say he rode me too hard at times,
but IL was not so. 1t was a pleasure to him
ana no harm to me.
Zone sav there came to him from far