The Ravalli Republican., 1898-11-09
NATE AND MATE.
The Love That Two Splendid Horses Had
For Each Other.


81 never waste affection upon a
horse, /" said the dealer. They care
nothing for their master or their
home <or each.other. AL they care
for sttheir fodder =
~"They are not all Hike THAT, !" said
"a lady who was looking over the
fine lot from the west, with the in
tention of making a.purchase. II
remember an elegant pair OF Nor
gan horses, Nate and Mate, brother
and sister, owned in Northtield,
Mass, when was child. They
were raised in northern Vermont,
and when they were first brought
to Massachusetts they were sold to
two different men, bat they were so
homesick and ball1y that they were
Of no use until Mr. Eastman, an in
tel1igent farmer, divined the trou-
bic 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 light buggy and asked my
smother, who was a near neighbor,
ito accompany her, Mrs. Eastman's
two children staying with my
brother and me while they were
away.
"No sooner was Mate out of hear
ing than Nate began to call for her,
first 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 mono Of the
,1nen 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 ;alprisoner Then such an ado
.as ,therewas! He pranced around
;and ;aoxass .the yard, and his calls
for his mate were like terrific
.shrieka, we children watching him
from the roof of low shed, where
we had cliInbe so as to be out of
the way. ~...
"At length, after one of his calls,
he listened with his head in the air,
and, gong 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 faint response.
q They are coming!' said my
brother. Mate is answering. l Car
see the dust! can see them! Mate
is running!
"That was the fact. Nearer they
came and nearer, the beautiful
white horse on straight run, thu
two mothers in the light buggy
helpless and terror stricken, hold
ing the reins, but making no etfor
to control the seemingly uncontrol
liable horse. But as Mate approached
'the house she slackened her pace
turned decorously into the yard ant
trotted airily up to the gate to re
ceive her brothers welcome.
"Those horses fairly kissed eac]
other in their delight, and Of cours
they wero utterly unconscious O
the desperate fright they had give
the two ladies, who sank down G.
the green turf and sobbed wit
thankfulness at their escape.
"'We could no more control tn
creature than we could control tn
wind" said my mother. 1.-The mt
ment she heard Mates cry she too
the bit in her teeth and settled dow
into a run. OF course knew til
harness was strong and the bugg
safe, but was afraid of meeting
team or that she would make S
short turn into the yard as to III
set us.
meantime tho two horses had II
covered from their excitement an
were standing in great contentmen
Mate was nibbling grass and pull
ing up great mouthfuls and holdin
them over the fence to share wit
her brother, who took them delibe
'ately from her mouth.
is not that beautiful?' said III
mother. Their love seems almo
ihuman'-
"'Yes, said Mr.. Eastman, COZ
ing up, but it is an unreasonil
love and might be,the means of d
ing much mischief. | think W.
put them into the brick team
where they can pull continual
shoulder to shoulder and be happy
''This was done | often saw Il
beautiful 'oreattares plodding ava
and was thankful that there was
~danger,of their being again separ;
ed. ''=2Our. Animal Friends
An lcBlxi LEGEND.
4Among the Eskinos, the angak
H.