The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-08
A STRANGE HOUSEHOLD PET.
A Shetland PONY Enjoys That Unique
Distinction in South Bend.

Billie Johnson is the only pony in the
world who is a household pet. Billie is
an imported Shetland pony which Mr..
Henry u. Johnson, of South Bend, Ind,
bought fifteen years ago for his son
Harry, when the latter was a baby.
Billie now boasts of seventeen years,
but he is as frolicsome as colt.
He has all the privileges usually en-
joyed by a favorite hound, except that
he has never warmed himself at the
fireside or slept on the spare bed. But
Eillie comes into the house prancins
sayly UP seven pairs of stairs, the
click of his small hoofs being like hail
! on a garret roof.
Naturally he is the banner member
of the circus troupe which holds high
carnival in the children's bed room. 1t
is their chief recreation in stormy
weather, and the pony, dogs, cats, pig
cons and babies furnish a fascinating
programme
As Billie is only forty-eiGht inches
high. he easily stands or sits on an or
dinary chair. with his front feet dangl-
| ing against his breast like thJ hands of
| Il laCkadaiSical lady. At the word of
command he shakes hands, kisses his
| master and plays the corpse to perfec-
tioH. When the babies are in the
basket saddle he steps softly, evident
| ly appraciatng the helplessness of his
precious load. But when the older
| boys get upon his back he jumps. kicks
and frolics like a stiff-legsed bronco
| enjoying the fun as keenly as his
rider He readily becomes the fourda-
| tion of an animal pyramid, lying flat
on the ground, while Sir Eldred. a
splendid st. Bernard. lies atcp him.
| The cap stones are Penny and Dottv.
| two tiny blooded black and tans,
| Weighing twcnty-six ounces each. Bill
lie and Sir Eldred sleep in the same
stall, and when turned out in the pas
| ture the two frolic together like play
| ful puppies.
Mr. johnson has passion for pets
and raised the famous st. Bernard
Major Mckinley, the largest dog ever
| known, which was owned by General
Joseph Terrence, of Chicago. He keeps
a large flock of homing pigeons. some
of which have flown five hundred
| miles.
During Mrs. Johnson's recent illness
| in Chicago hospital two of the pig
| cons. were kept busy bringing mes
| SdSeS from lllt lnNdllu. luey Ildut lHt
| flight of eighty-siX miles in an hour
| and fifteen minutes. When Mr.. John
son first took the pair to Chicago the
male bird was five and half hours re-
| turning home. and his mate only lit
| tie over an hour which was considered
strange, as he was the faster bird. Mr.
| johnson watched him the next time he
was set free and saw him circle for
about ten miles and then come back 10
n neighboring chimney and run his
head up and down as birds do when
| looking for something. Mr.. Johnson
then knew the bird was waiting for his
companion. Mr.. Johnson loosened hel
and she took n straight lire for the
chimney, and they flew joyously away
together, showing that the loyal fell
low waited for her on the previous
journey.
Mr.. Johnson's sons are away al
school. and have "a, cage of pigeons
with them. 1t is a very sweet and
sentimental fashion of sending letters,
and although Mr.. Johnson's private
messengers distance Uncle Sam in
speed, they do not pose as competitors
! in the United States mail service.