Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-26
eALoPoFF, THE TALKING PONY
A Story for Young Folks.
By Tudor jerks. Copyright, Henry Altemus, 1901.
CHAPTER II.

The little girls were delighted to find
| that their pony could talk. and made many
plans to make sure that they should be on
hand the next birthday of the pony, so
that they might hear how he came to leave
his young master. the Russian prince.
They used to go often to the little fell
lows stable. and there talked about his
escape from the wolves. There was a cal
endar hanging near his stall. and on this
they carefully marked Galopof's birthday
| though it was nearly full year ahead of
time, as they reckoned it. for only month
had passed since Galopoff's first story.
While the little girls were making q
broad, black pencil mark around the sup
posed date, they were startled to hear the
pony's gentle voice behind them.
What are you doingr' asked Galopoff.
coming close up for he was SO gentle that
he was never fastened in the stall.
"Goodness-how you startled met ex-
claimed Lola And then she added. flushing
rosy red: "oh. Galopofr-what story you
yes" the pony replied. tossing his mane
with a little conceit. ut was pretty good
story
"Ah. but she doesn't mean that" Pauline
explained She means that you ought to
be ashamed Of yourself because you told q
What do you mean?" said the pony, very
sharply.
why. you said" Lola went on, that
you could talk only on your birthdays till
sunset, and here you are talking again only
a month later. You little story-tellerw
| was his way Of laughing. When he could
catch his breath. he said:
my dear children. your mistake was very
| natural. You thought had birthday only
once a year"
But you said SO. I think" Pauline in
sisted.
II didn't mean to-" the pony replied THE
trouble Il. have been 50 much with people
that talk as they do. Now. my dears.
horses have birthdays once q month. You
see we live only about q dozen years and
1t Is fair that our birthdays should come
Oftener than yours. or else we shouldn't
have so many. Isn't that reasonable?"
1T seems So" Lola answered. thought
fully. And then I suppose those little
Mayfiies that live only a day have a birth
mo doubt" said Galopofr. impatientIy.
but don't care to talk Of ffies hate all
the pesky little things-ughr' And Galop-
on made wild snort SO both little girls
jumped.
I'VE won't talk about flies. them" Lola
agreed. but we want to know how you
came to leave the little Russian prince after
you had saved his life from the wolves"
But the sun is getting low now" OBJ
jected the pony, glancing through the open
stable door toward the western hills; may
be shan't be able to finish it."
''Oh. then. do hurry" said Pauline SIT
ting down upon truss OF hay and draw
Ing Lola to her side
"wait till I get few oats 30 that my
mouth will not be dry" said the pony and
he seized a few from his Manager chewed
them thoughtfully moment or two and
then began his story.
Let me see." he said. turning his head
on one side. Il told you about our return
after had been rescued from the wolves
though do think" he added in a low tone
that might have beaten them all alone
and said that my little master was very
grateful. No doubt he would have liked to
keep me all my life In comfort, but, I'M
fortunately. his father, though a rich Rus
sian nobleman. had been very extravagant,
and had lost much Of his money in foolish
schemes. He tried to do q great deal for
the poor people on his estates. and there
Were so many of them. Before he knew 1t
he became deeply In debt to money-lenders.
and after a year or two the end of his re-
sources was reached.
He was compelled to sell his property
everything he had in the world. I can't
tell you how 1t came about. for am only
a talking pony. not lawyer, you know
saw only what / saw.
"One unhappy day there was grand sale
of all the live stock Of the estate-horses.
cattle, sheep. fowls all had to go. Great
crowds Of men, In long wooden coats and
cloth hats, thronged about. examining us
and talking us over all the morning, and
at last the auctiOneer began the sale.
II don't like to recall that unhappy time
so will tell only what concerns me. was
led into the ring of buyers and the bidding
began. Though some of the men tried to
cheaper me because my name and tail were
white. the auctioneer proved by my teeth
that was still young. strong horse and |
the bids were rather quick and high.
Pretty soon / saw my little master was
trying to buy for himself. Poor little
chap! He hadn't much. but all he had he
had put into his purse. and there he stood |
bidding brayely for his dear little pony.
tell You. children. 1t made me husky!
Some of the dealers were good hearted
fellows with children of their own at home |
and they stopped trying to buy me-. They
pet and they said to one another: Let the |
boy have his pony!'
But there's always a mean scamp or two
in every crowd. and one of them had made |
up his mind that he would buy me at any |
price. So he and my little master were |
soon left alone In the bidding.
One hundred roublesr said the dealer.
One hundred and tenn said the boy.
And twentyr said the dealer.
'Twenty-fvei' said the master; but his |
face turned pale and could see that he |
had not a single kopeck more. The dealer |
lone hundred and twenty-sixr he said, |
and turned with q haunting grin at the boy. |
The little fellow said nothing. He had no |
mere money. and / saw him choke down |
a sob as he looked at me with tears in his |
eyes. I felt choky myself. confess.
Then suddenly. just as the auctioneer |
was about to bring down his hammer for |
the last time. new voice was heard:
One hundred and fifty it cried, with |
queer foreign accent
Fifty-fve.' said the dealer. doggediy; |
but he no longer smiled. He saw that the /
new bidder was an American gentleman. |
and Russians of that class believe all l
Americans are millionaires. so he was |
scared.
One hundred and sixty said the Ameri- |
can't was your father. Lola, as you no |
doubt have gl-ssed Well. you know the |
rest. Your father was resolved that so |
mean q man should not own the pony, and |
he soon outbid the dealer. When the pony
was knocked down. your father turned and |
boy: I'm glad to see you love him enough |
to give all you have to keep him; and keep /
him you shallr