Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-02

Galopoff, With His Motto On, Followed.
raised it until he could lift it down from the
| nail and, after a few trials by tossing his
| head. succeeded in throwing the loop of
| ribbon around his neck. so that the motto
! hung down upon his chest. Having arrang-
ed this little matter to his satisfaction, he
| helped himself to a good mouthful of oats
| and munched and mnnched and munched.
| He seemed to be thinking very hard.
| When Pat. the stableman. came in to pre-
pare the stable for the night, he noticed
the motto hanging on Galopoffs neck.
Sure, it's queer contraption We do have
there. Galopoff." said he. rs it a sign post
| we think We are?' And so saying he raised
his hand to take 1t off. But the pony at
| once turned away from Pat. and as the
| stableman again went toward the pony s
| head, the pony once more turned so as to
| keep the motto out of the mans reach.
| $50 that's 1t. is it?" exclaimed Pat. well,
We may kape your bib on. for all me!'' and
he went out, locking the stable door be-
| hind him.
The next morning Pat came early to har-
ness Galopoff to take the little girls to
| school in the pony cart but again though
Galopoff let Pat harness him. the pony
would not permit the man to take the
motto from his neck. Consequently, when
the pony cart was drawn up before the front
chest.
ooh. Lola. lookr' exclaimed Pauline as
| the girls came down the steps: "Galopoff is
wearing our motto around his neck. Did
you put it on him. Pat?'
| Twas himself. if it wasn't you" said
Pat. II did me best to take the chist- pro-
| tictor off him. but niver hand would he
| lave me put to II"
Let me try" said Lola. going to the
pony's head.
But Galopon very quietly. but quite de-
cIdediy backed away from her. and so. af-
ter few attempts, Lola had to give I'D.
Come, said she to Pauline at last, I'VE
shall be late to school unless We hurry.
| jump In Never mind the MOTTO
But we can't go through the town with
Galopof wearing that thing around his
neck" Pauline objected
There's nothing else to do" said Lola
jumping into the pony cart and gathering
UP the reins. So Pauline climbed In, and
they started Galopof being perfectly gentle
and obedient SO long as no one attempted to
remove the motto.
People laughed to see the pony trotting
along wearing the fancy motto around his
neck. and long before the school was
reached both girls were heartily ashamed
of their work. Day after day passed on
and still Galopoff. while perfectly gentle
and docile in every other respect, insisted
upon wearing the motto around his neck
The girls could hardly wait for sunrise
of the day of the month upon which Galop-
on had said he could speak, and when the
morning came at last they hurried through
their breakfast and ran to the stable as
quickly as they could
Now, Galopoff. you can speak today
Gall YOU. dSkcu LOLA. as soon as she
opened the stable door.
But the pony only whinnied as he looked
meaningly at Pat. who was mending a
strap at the other end of the stable.
He won't speak II there's anybody here
but ourselves" said Pauline. softly Let's
take him out into the pasture"
They unfastened the bar before the stall,
and Galopon trotted after them out of the
stable door. with the motto dangling from
his neck. and followed them into the fields.
NOV" said Lola, taking a seat upon the
fat stone again, please, GaIopoff, tell us
why you are wearing that thing around
your neck
ST am sure don't know" Galopoff re-
piled. locking almost cross-eyed in trying
to gaze at 1t with both eyes at once. Didn't
you girls mean it for me?"
Eyes. but not to wear round your neck"
We'll / know that 1t has reading on it."
said GalopOn. and never learned to read
English. though / read Russian easily
enough. But made up my mind that 1t was
either something nice or something mean.
II 1t was something nice. wanted to wear
It for my own sake: IL 1t was something
mean-why. thought you'd get tired of it
before did. What do you think of my
plan?"
Both girls were silent. and looked I'M
comfortable.
"Ah." said Galopoff with much meaning
Then. after moment ne said a little hus-
kily: so you meant to mean to me? Now
girls. that doesn't seem very nice of you,
does it
"No-and I'm sorry said Lola
$50 am l." said Pauline. almost at the
same moment.
well. I won't ask what's written on the
cardboard" said Galopoff, but in order to
punish you little. I'll put Off telling you
how came to America until next month"
"Oh. don't do THAR said the girls We'll
be goodr'
But | have to think up the story" said
Galopoff.
Think 1t up?" repeated Pauline; why. 1
thought 1t was frue?
$50 1t is. mostly true" said GaIopoff, "but
telling things just as they happen. We think
that makes things too dull. We are driven
30 much that We prefer to be free in our
minds when the bride is out of our mouths
No. No story today. Next month-or next
week-Tn tell you how came to America"
Next week? Pauline exclaimed in spite
Of herself. why. first you could only speak
once a year: then once month, and now
It's once week.
II can speak every day like" said Gal
opon. little stifily. .'and il 1 don't like
needn't speak at all. What difference does
It make to your?
mo difference at all. Galopoff. DEAR" said
Lola. and We will come next week to hear
your story"
But Galopon was already nipping the
grass. having dropped the motto when he
put his head down. and not another syllable
would he say.
Isn't 1t Queer?" Whispered Par Inc, as
they went back to the house.
Il don't know" Lola answered. I'VE
hear men speak OF horse sense maybe
what Galopof talks II horse truth
No matter. = said Pauline. I'VE ran make
believe that. It p make helievs" And se|
they LETT It.