The Jennings daily record., 1902-12-05
addie and LaSSie
By Gao,ts.ls E~s.is Jaesso..

a.
III Who auivering testified to the deli.
Il cate nervous organization controll-
ine them. OF drew in long breaths
OF the clear spring air to exhale it
N contented sigh as though thanking
the Lord Tor life SO sweet"
Gyee ehat looked at you SO squareIy and
n0ne0tly shat you began to wonder II your
conscience was as clear as their limpid
depths; and such dainty pointed ears that
you marveled at their small size but won-
9rouo ability to catch the faintest sound.
There was othing small about Laddie in
pooy or nature. excepting his ears and
We had bought him for a carriage horse,
ana the person from whom we got him as
eured me that he would prove "a first
class family horse. sound as dollar, and
the best disposition ever known" Still,
We had heard similar assurances before.
ana experience had taught US that horse
0esh needed sailing.
LAddie was driven into our grounds one
beautiful spring morning for my final de-
ctsion regarding the purchase. and as he
way 1 Instantly fell in love with him.
Lassie (our pet name for our four-year-
old daughter) and Iwere on the piazza. and
as the man who him in charge drove
up to the carriage block and stepping
from the surrey. stood beside It:
herself sQuarely in front Of the big ami
mai. stood with her sturdy legs far apart.
her arms clasped behind her. and her head
surveying him as he lowered above her in
all the grandeur of his fifteen hands two
inches. How like satin his beautiful blood
bay coat shone in the sunshine. and how
hard he tried to reach down to the little
child standing so near him! But fashion.
that insxoraSe dame s;,ndaas had put II. tga
and although he turned his mead from side
to side and jerked it up and down In his
sndeavor to reach her; IT. was oniy tyneH %nen tn
one side that the head was brought any
nearer the object he strove to reach;
was instantly established q mental tele-
Graphy. and then happened something
which instantly settled Ladies' fate.
weach ai me. ac' can you? @ but ri come where
can weach you." cried the child: ana ne ere
Q word Of remonstrance could be uttered
both little arms tightly about one s!en-
der front leg. and stood pressing her race
We stood breathiess with astonishment,
fearing to move or speak lest the ereat
foot be stamped upon the tiny ones 20
close to It. But Laddie stood like stat stat
ue, and not q culver stirred his massive
.step back. darling" ! said quietly to
. % that you can stroke his face"-for any
doubts had entertained Of Laddie had
been dispelled forever. Utterly uncon- neon.
perilous position. the child stepped back.
and the man and drew q breath OF re-
lief.
vention Of the evil one-the check-rein.
First the great neck was stretched out as
one would stretch ones arms after hay-
unnatural position. and then the hand
some head came, game down DO to the & little arms ms
Iaddie and four-year-old LasSie stood
"making love- to each other On one side
perfect trust and confidence; on the other
fear.essness and love.
After thorough inspection ] said to
the man:
1T am satisfied with all but the head
stall. and I wish the binders and check
"Oh. but ye couldn't dhrive him widout
thin. man! He was broke to EN- and 1t
wHnd frSighten the life out Of him to go
Patrick was true child of Erin. and
having long been in employ of a man
blinders and high check. was convinced
that Mr. Blacks way was the only way.
Let us try him without them, anyway,
myself to blame" I answered:
Side straps were soon brought from our
stable and substituted for those in the
headstall. and the check entirely discard
ed. 1 shall never forget how much hand
somer 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
dea,,a dear Mother Nature intended they
Wait on the lawn for me. darling. un-
al | have tried Laddie, and If he is
good horse you shall go for drive" l
said said "a. as l took my seat ca in the he, surrey
doubtless with the double object of learn
ing what sort Of whip ] should prove
under the new order of things.
Lassie skipped off to her nurse. who was
an waitns for her her and sathersd ed up the
turned his head around to take. a good
iG9k M rirbt at me- od and de,en as said kindly Its
"A at
l had driven many horses before, and
nave 5 drIven Il,ia,a many since but never hone
could guide him, and while full Of life and
action he was gentle as a kitten. We
met many queer looking. objects, such as
trolley cars, railway trains etc, all well
calculated to rouse doubts in any young
questioned my, wisdom in dispensing with
the check and binders. Laddie behaved
like like bnn an .old ID stager and came back to
for. This was the beginning of our fond
ness for ,,tb him which was steadily in.
have elapsed since that day.
Never again did he wear either binders
ora or check rein. and ere long a time came
full that, we drove him without them.
Many a long. delightful drive did we take
Srius Srhind b him and very soon Lasse 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
Little missile is driving me now, and If
behooves such great strong creat,Ire as
am to show all that is best and gentIest
N me- because she is ruling by love
AS the years slipped by. Laddie became
aim ost human in his fondness for us. and
his natural Intelligence developed beyond
belief. He seemed to understand ever,,
, Word we said to him. and would follow us
like dog. "s
When Lassle was nine years old she
grove him anywhere, and frequently went
long errands over the mountain road IN
oIlhs us the eggs and cream cheese we
miles from our home I'LL ee
one afternoon she started about 2
CLOCK. and had not been absent half IN
nour when ominous thunder heads'' nre