The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1897-09-04

NATE AND MATE.
The Love That Two Splendid Horses Had
For Each Other.

The Love That Two Splendid Horses Had
For Each Other.
II never waste affection upon a
horse,'' said the dealer. "They care
nothing for their master or their
home or each other. All they care
for is their fodder. -
"They are not all like that, said
a lady who was looking over the
fine lot from the west, with the in
tention of making a purchase. Il
remem Der an elegant pair Of Nor
gan horses, Nate and Mate, brother
and sister, owned in Northfield,
Mass, when I was a child. They
were raised in northern Vermont,
and when they were first brought
to Massachusetts they were sold to
two different men, but they were SO
homesick and balky that they were
of no use until Mr.. Eastman, an in
telligent farmer, OWNED the trou-
BILE and purchased them both.
"They worked or drove nicely
in double harness, but one day Mrs.
Eastman, having occasion to drive
to the village, had Mate harnessed
to a light buggy and asked my
mother, who was a near neighbor,
to accompany her, Mrs. Eastman's
two children staying with my
brother and me- while they were
away.
mo sooner was Mate out of hear
ing than Nate began to call for her,
fret with low, soft neighs, then
with plaintive whinnies, and at
length with loud squeals. We chill
dren were attracted to the barn by
his frantic cries, and, as none of the
men was about, we tried to quiet
him by giving him tidbits, but it
was of no use-he plunged about
until he broke his halter and escaped
into the yard. Fortunately we had
sense enough to shut the strong
gate, and, in spite Of his wheeling
and plunging about, he found him
self prisoner. Then such an ado
as there was! He pranced around
and across the yard, and his calls
for his mate were like terrific
shrieks, we children watching him
from the roof of a low shed, where
we had climbed so as to be out of
the way. .....
"At length, after one of his calls,
he listened with his head in the air,
and, going to the side of the ysrd
toward the village, he stretched his
neck over the fence and called again.
This time, away to the northward,
we heard a faint response.
">'They are coning!' said my
brother. Mate is answering. I can
see the dust! can see them! Mate
is running'
"That was the fact. Nearer they
came and nearer, the beautiful
white horse on a straight run, the
two mothers in the light buggy
helpless and terror stricken, hold
ing the reins, but making no effort
to control the seemingly uncontrol-
liable horse But as Mate approached
the house she slackened her pace,
turned decorously into the yard and
trotted airily up to the gate to re-
ceive her brothers welcome.
"Those horses fairly kissed each
other in their delight, and of course
they were utterly unconscious of
the desperate fright they had given
the two ladies, who sank down On
the green turf and sobbed with
thankfulness at their escape.
We could no more control the
creature than we could control the
wind, - said my mother. 1.-THE mo-
ment she heard Mates cry she took
the bit in her teeth and settled down
into run. Of course I knew the
harness was strong and the buggy
safe, but I was afraid of meeting a
team or that she would make so
short turn into the yard as to up
set US
Meantime the two horses had re-
covered from their excitement and
were standing in great contentment.
Mate was nibbling grass and pull
ing up great mouthfuls and holding
them over the fence to share with
her brother, who took them deliber-
ately from her mouth.
lis not that beautiful2' said my
mother. Their love seems almost
human
YES said Mr.. Eastman, CON-
ing up, but it is an unreasoning
love and might be the means OF do
ing much mischief. l think l will
put them into the brick teams,
where they can pull continually
shoulder to shoulder and be happy.
'"This was done. I often saw the
beautiful creatures Flooding away
and was thankful that there was no