Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-09-14


enough just to look at it. 1t was still
worse when It began, to blow of
steam. 1t was still worse when it
gave two wild shrieks. and then went
putting OF down the street.
l felt sorry for Lady, she was SO
frightened. But all the time spoke
softly to her and stroked, her neck,
and kept her facing that awful loco.
motive until 1t had putted out of
sight.
Day after day Lady and rode out
to see those locomotives. Day after
day we went closer to them. We paid
them many visits, before Lady felt
quite sure that the moving, kissing
giant that breathed smoke and steam
and shrieked and roared, meant her
no harm.
But she learned the lesson at last.
she learned 1t 80 well that she felt
only scorn and contempt for her one.
time terror Then / had to hold her
back from crossing the track when a
train was coming. Sometimes when
1t had stopped across the road she
would have tried to climb over 1t, If
I had let her. 1t was funny to see
nov she despised her old foe.
Lady soon learned the meaning. OF
the word back" In short time 1t
was only needful to give the word
and she obeyed at once without any
pulling on the reins. II wished her
to back when was standing on the
ground at her side, she had only to
be touched on the breast, and back
she went until told to stop. Some
persons pull 30 hard ON the bit when
they wish their horses to back that
the poor horses open their mouths
in pain. This is cruel and not need.
full at ALL
Lady soon came to think that zhe'
belonged to her teacher, or that her
teacher belonged to her. She seemed
a little doubtful as to which way it
was; but, at all events, she made up
her mind that she did not wish to
obey any one else.
We took q ride nearly every day.
Lady and I, and every ride was a
lesson. They were learned, too,
chiefly in beautiful park that was
often crowded with carriages and per.
sons on horseback. Yet 1t was not
long before the reins could be drop-
ped on her neck, in the certainty
that by voice alone she could be
guided In and out among them all.
Lady" a quiet voice would say,
Then her ears pricked up, and she
listened for the order she knew was
coming. Left" and at once she
turned OF to the left. Right" and
away she went to the right. II the
word was repeated she kept ON turn.
ing until she faced around the other
II She heard the word "Trpt. I"
"Canter," Walk, !" she obeyed- on the
instant 1t was funny to see how
quickly she dropped from quick
canter into walk, even at q whis.
pered order. Sometimes, when trot-
ting or cantering, low-spoken.
Faster, faster,' sent her tearing
along as If there were a big race to
run and she had set out to win 1t,
Nor was this all that Lady was
taught. Even the voice was not need.
ed to guide her. She soon learned to
obey set of wsnip signals as well as
the orders by voice. A light touch
on the flank started her into trot
A touch on Che right shoulder meant
to canter Between the ears meant
to come down to walk.
Pressing the whip against the right
side of her neck was the signal to
turn to the left. Pressing the whir
on the left side meant turn to the
right. II the whip kept on pressing
against her neck Lady turned and
turned until she had completed a
circle. Rubbing the whip on hel
back behind the saddle was the orde,
to go faster. All these orders By
voice and touch Lady obeyed whethe,
In harness or under the sadlle.-Fron
Helen Harcourt's Stories Of M,
Pets" in st. Nicholas.