The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-08-25
Nate and Mate.

said the dealer. "They care nothing
for their master, or their home, preach
other. All they care for is their fod-
der.n
"They are not all like that" said a
lady who was looking at the lot with
the intention Of making a purchase.
81 remember an elegant pair of Nor
gan horses, Nate and Mate, brother
and sister, owned in Mortified, Mass,
when / was child. They were raised
in Northern Vermont, and when they
were 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 intelligent farmer, OWNED the
trouble and purchased them both.
''rhey worked or drove beautifully
in double harness, but one day Mrs.
Eastman, having occasion to drive to
the village, had Mate harness.
ed to a light buggy, and asked my
mother, who was near neighbor, to
accompany her, Mrs. Eastman's two
children staying with my brother and
me while they were away.
No sooner WAS Mate out of hearing
than Nate began to call for her, first
with low soft neighs, then with plain
tive whinnies, and at lengtI, with loud
squeals. We children were attracted
to the barn by his frantic cries, and, as
none of the men were about, we tried
to quiet him by giving him tid-bits;
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 plung-
ing about, he found himself prisoner.
Then such ado as there was, He pranc-
ell around and scross the yard, and his
calls for his mate svere like terrific
shrieks; We children watched him
from the roof Of low shed, where We
had climbed so as TO 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
the fence and called again. This time,
away TO the northward, we heard a
faint respOse.
"'They are eomingr' said my broth
er. Mate is answering. can see the
dust. can see them, Mate is run
ningr
''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, holding the reins but making
no effort to control the seemingly un-
controllable horse. But as Mate ap-
preached the house she slackened her
pace, turned deeOrously into the yard,
and trotted airily up to the gate to re-
ceive her brothers welcome.
"Those horses fairly kissed each 9TH
er in their delight, and of course they
were utterly unconscious of the desper-
ate fright they had given the two la
dies, who sunk 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. The mo-
ment she heard Mates cry she took
the bit i'm her teeth and settled down
and into a run. OF course, / knew
the harness was strong aud the buggy |
was safe, but | was afraid of meeting
team, or that she would make 50 short
turn into the yard as to upset US
Meantime the horses having recov-
from their excitement were stand
ing in great contentment Mate was
nibbling grass and pulling up
great mouthfuls, and holding them
over the fence to share with her broth
er, who took them deliberately from
her mouth.
{" is not that beautiful?' said my
mother. Their love seems almost hu-
man
Yes said Mr.. Eastman, coming
up, but it is an unreasoning love and
might be TIE means of doing much
mischief. think | will put them in
to 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 separated. Our
Animal Friends