Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-11-18
NATE AND MATE.
The Love That Tw" Splendid Horses Had
For each Other.

For each Other.
Il never waste affection upon n
horse" said the dcalor They care
nothing for their master or their
homo or each other All they caro-
for is their fodder.
"Thcy are not al like that" said
lady who was looking over the
fine lot from the west, with the in
tcntion of making purchase. Il
remember an elegant pair of Nor
gan horses, Nate and Mate, brother
and sister, owned i'll NOrthtield,
Mass, when was n child. They
were raised in northern Vermont,
and when they were first brought
to Massachusetts they we've sold to
two different men, but they We're SO
homesick and balky that they were
of no use until Mr.. Eastman, an in
telligcnt farmer, OWNED the trou-
BILE and purchased them both
"ThCN worked or drove nicely
i'll double harness, but one day Mrs.
Eastman, having occasion to drive
to the village, had Mate harnossed
to Il light buggy and asked my
mother, who was Il near neig
to accompany her. Mrs. Eastman S
two children staying with my
brother and mo while they were
away.
mo sooner was Mate out of hear
ing than Nate began to call tor her,
first with low, soft neighs, then
with plaintive whinnies, and at
length with loud squcals We chill
drCn were attracted to the barn by
his frantic cries, and, as mono of the
men was about, wo tried to quiet
him by giving him tidbits, but it
was of no usc-he plunged about
until he broke his halter and escaped
into the yard. Fortunately we had
sense enough to shut the strong
gate, and, i'll spite of his wheeling
and plunging about, he found him
self Il prisoner. Then such an ado
as there was He pranccd around
and across tho yard, and his calls
for his mate were like terrific
shricks, wo children Watching him
from tho roof of Il low shed, where
we had climbed SO rs 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 yard
toward the village, he stretched his
neck over tho fence and called again.
This time, away TO the northward,
we heard II faint response.
They arc coming!' said my
brother. Mate is answering. l can
see the dust! l can SEQ theml Mate
is runningI
THAT was the fact Nearer they
came and nearer, the beautiful
white horse on II straight run, the
two mothers i'll 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 slackcned her pace.
turned dccorously into the yard and
trotted airily up to the gate to re-
CeiVe her brothers welcome.
Those horses fairly kissed each
other i'll 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
thankfulncSS at their escape.
We could no more control the
creature than we could control the
wind, said my mother. THE mo
ment she heard Mates cry she took
the bit in her teeth and settled down
into IA run. OF course / knew the
harness was strong and the buggy
safe, but l was afraid of meeting
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.
Is not that beautiful said nv
mother. Their love seems almost
human
Yes, said Mr.. Eastman, COM
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. often saw the
beautiful creatures plodding away
and was thankful that there was no
danger of their being again separat-
ed. Our Animal Friends.