Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-08-09
When Jimmy
Went the Long
Way Round.


On the day that little Jimmy was a
month old baby in his New Hampshire
home a letter came from his Uncle
James in Canada, who was very glad
to hear he had a new nephew.
But you must not think you are the
only ones who have n new baby" he
wrote to Jimmy's father and mother,
''for Mol. the chldrens pony, has
fine little black colt, born on the same
day. Now, have fancy to give him
to my namcsake. and as soon as he is
big enough to travel I'll send him
down to your place and let the two
youngsters grow up together"
When Jimmy was about a year old,
the pony came, and it was not long be-
fore they were out in the fields togcth-
er. 1t is safe to say that Jimmy was
the youngest boy in town with horse
of his own.
Jimmy was a sober little pony, with
no bad tricks. and. having been the
playmate of Uncle James children. he
was considered quite safe for the baby
fto grow up with"
When they were both 5 years old,
Jimmy began to ride his pony, and
they trotted around the village streets
without serious mishap.
Jimmy soon became a great favorite,
and when he galloped down the street
with Jimmy on his back the children
followed, shouting with delight
In summer, when they were both I
years old, the family went to the sea-
shore to spend a few months. Jimmy
was placed in the baggage car with
the trunks, and, being quite a Travelled
pony, he did not seem to mind it in the
least.
Jimmy was full of joy over the white
capped waves that rolled up close to
them, the piles of wet seaweed full of
queer shells. pretty stones and now
and then a starfsh or a mussel. Jimmy
had a small cart into which he har-
messed his pony, and fine times they
had driving on the smooth beach.
They spent whole mornings out in
the barn playing circus, and Jimmy
had to trot round the floor with decora-
lions of all kinds fastened to him, al
though, as l have said, he was a sober
minded pony and did not exactly like to
be dressed up for an elephant, wild
tiger, or even buffalo.
One day Jmmy's mother wanted
some postage stamps, and as Jimmy
and Jimmy were just starting off she
called after them to 90 to the postotfice
before they came back. That was about
two miles from the house.
"All right shouted Jimmy. "We'll
be gone long time. though, for Tim
my's most dead with staying in the
barn"
Mother waved goodby from the piaz-
"a while the little team hurried away
down through the shady road to the
beach, where Timmy's heels flew over
the sands to the postoffice.
There they stopped while the post
master, who was everybody's friend.
gave Jimmy an orange and the pony an
apple and wrapping the stamps in a
paper buttoned them inside Jimmy's
blouse, for. as he said, You may need
both hands to hold that animal Of
yours
Then, business being over, they start
ed to go home 1.-The long way round"
through the woods. They had been
this way only once before, but Jimmy
was sure he knew the way, and it was
cool and shady after the hot sunshine
on the beach road. The woods were
beautiful, and he was in and out of the
cart a dozen times getting a great
bunch of wild red lilies and ferns for
the supper table. After awhile jim
my became little drowsy, and he be-
gan to nod
Jimmy felt the reins hang loosely
and made up his pony mind to take life
easily. The cushioned seat was soft,
and presently Jimmy's head lay down
on it, and he went fast asleep.
Every nice bit of clover tempted
Jimmy, and he proceeded to make up
for the diet of dry hay and oats of the
past week.
This method of travel finally brought
them to place where three roads
came together. Straight ahead was
the way home, with guideboard