Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-20
LADD|E AgD::::LASs|E.

By GABRIELLE nnnR JACKSON.

.ss0ss 90
3 81 <
By GABRIELLE arMIEm JACKSON.
A big bay horse with the softest OF white
noses, thin, sensitiv8nostrils, whose Quiv-
ering testified to this deHeate nervous or
ganization controlling theh or drew in long
| breaths Of the clear spring air to exhale it
in a contented sigh as Though thanking the
Lord for life so SWEET
Eyes that looked at you so squarely and
honestly that you began TO wonder If your
conscience was as clear ras their limpid
depths; and such dainty pointed ears that
YOU marveIed at their small size but Won
drous ability to catch the faintest sound.
There was nothing small about Laddie In
body or nature, excepting his ears and
hoofs.
We had bought him for carriage horse,
sured me that he would prove "a first class
family horse, sound as a dollar, and the
best disposition ever known" Still, we had
heard similar assurances before and ex-
perience had taught us that horse flesh
needed sailing.
Laddie was driven into our grounds one
beautiful spring morning for my final de-
csion regarding the purchase and as he
came prancing and curveting up the drive
way I instantly fell in love with HIM
Lassie (our pet name for our four-year-
old daughter) and were on the piazza and
FASTENED down to welcome the new arrival
as the man who had him in charge drove
up to the carriage block and stepping from
the surrey, stood beside 1t.
Lassie ran ahead Of me- and, planting
herself squarely in front of the btp ami
NAL, stood with her sturdy legs far apart
her arms clasped behind her, and her head
cooked knowingly upon one side, critically
surveying him as he lowered above her in
all the grandeur Of his fifteen hands two
| inches How like satin his baa ,,ti f,,I
| bay coat sfone in the sunshine, and how
| hard he tried to reach down to the little
child standing so near him. But fashion
that inexorable dame had put a tight check
upon him and binders at his eyes, and al
| though he turned his head from side to
side and jerked it up and down in his en-
| deavor to reach her. it was only when the
| beautiful arched neck was turned to one
| side that the head was brought any nearer
| the object he strove to reach.
Between big horse and little maid there
| was instantly established mental teleg-
| raphy, and then happened something which
| instantly settled Ladies' fate.
| THAT horwid old check You can't
| weach me, can you? but I'll come where I
can weach you," cried the child, and ere a
| word of renonstrance could be uttered she
| had run toward the horse and clasped both
| little arms tightly about one slender front
leg. and stood pressing her face close to it.
| We stood GREATNESS with astonishment
| fearing to move or speak lest the great foot
| be stamped upon the tiny ones so close to
1T But Laddie stood like a statue, and not
culver stirred his massive frame.
Step back, darling" | said quietly to
| doubts I had entertained of Laddie had
| been dispelled forever. Utterly unconscious
that she had been in a frightfully perilous
| position the child stepped back. and the
man and drew breath Of relief.
second later had unlocked that In
vention Of the evil one-the check-rein.
| First the great neck was stretched out as
| one would stretch ones arms after having
kept them for hours in a strained, unnatu-
| raj position, and then the handsome head
came down to the little arms waiting to
| "cuddle" 1t, and four-year-old Laddie and
| four-year-old Lasse stood making love" to
each other. On one side perfect trust and
| confidence; on the other fearlessness and
| love. p. ~.
After thorough inspection 1 said to the
| man: n
II am satisfied with all but the head
stall, and I wish the binders and check
removed
'oh, but we couldn't dhrive him widout
| thin, man! He was broke to 'em and 1t
would froighten the life out of him to go
widout thin. It'd nofbe safe at ALL"
Patrick was a true child of Erin. and
having long been in the employ Of man
| who broke and trained all his colts with
binders and a high check, was convinced
that Mr.. Blacks way was the only way.
Let us try him without them, anyway.
| ana IL ne mlSDehaTe8 L Will nave only my
| self to blame" answered.
| Side straps were soon brought from our
stable and substituted for those in the
headstall. and the check entirely discarded.
I shall never forget how much handsomer
| Laddie looked, for his neck had a beautiful
| arch. and his great intelligent eyes, set so
widely apart, seemed to see before, behind
| and on all sides of him, as dear Mother
Nature intended they should.
| "Wait on the lawn for me- darling, until
I have tried Laddie. and If he is a good
horse you shall go for drive" said. as
took my seat in the surrey, and the man
seated himself beside me. doubtless with
| the double object Of learning what sort Of
a whip I should prove and how Laddie
| of things.
Lassie skipped of to her nurse, who was
waiting for her. and I gathered up the
reins and prepared to start. The horse
| turned his head around to take good look
at me-: and as I said kindly. cts all right,
old fellow; come along" he gave it a toss
| and set off a brisk pace.
| hao driven many horses before, and
nave driven many since. but never hope
| TO nnd Ladies' equal. An infants hand
could guide him. and while full of life and
| action he was gentle as kitten. We
went all about the town, and although we
met many queer looking objects, such as
| trolley cars. railway trains. etc, all we'll
calculated to rouse doubts in any young
| horse and even though Patrick mentally
questioned my wisdom in dispensing with
the check and binders, r.addie behaved
like an "old stager." ana came back to
our home the very model Of ,od behavior.
This was the beginning of our fondness
| for him which was steadily in creased with
each year, although eight have elapsed
| since that day.
| Never again did he wear either binders
| or cEeck-rein, and ere long time came
when caused us to be profoundly thankful
| that we drove him without them. Many a
| long, delightful drive did we take behind
MIN, and very soon Lassie could drive him
| as easily as I could.
| He knew the instant her small hands
| TOOK the reins, and the change which at
| once manifested itself in gait and express
sion seemed to say as plainly as words
| could have done:
| Little missile Is driving me now, and 1t
penooves such great strong creature as
| l. am to show all that Is best and gem
tiest In me, because she Is ruling by love
| alone"
AS the years slipped by. Laddie became
almost human in his fondness for US, and
ms natural intelligence developed beyond
oellef He seemed to understand every
word we said to him. and would follow us
| like a dog.
| When Lassie was nine years old she
drove him anywhere. and frequently went
1