Evening star., 1904-03-19
eALoPofF, The TALKING PONY
A Story for Young Folks.
By Tudor jerks. Copyright Henry Altemus, 1901.
CHAPTER l.


CHAPTER l.
AN ADVENTURE IN RUSSIA.
YES" said Lola. as she and her cousin
Pauline were visiting her pony one after
noon. hes a Russian pony, and when first
seen by my father he was owned by a
nobleman while we were living in st.
Petersburg"
How old is he?" asked Pauline.
II don't know-or. rather. 1 forget; but
you can see that he must be beyond his
youth. for his name and tail are white, .
answered Lola.
THAT isn't from age" said the pony.
The girls started back. They had never
heard an animal talk and naturally they
were surprised.
I didn't know you could talk" exclaimed
Lola you never said word to me in all
the years I've owned YOU"
Maybe not" said the pony coolly. "But
this is the first time have had chance.
You see, every animal has one day in the
year when it can talk until sunset. and this
is my day-it's my birthday, you know
And how old are your" asked Pauline
beginning to recover from her surprise
only eight replied the pony cit isn't
age that made my name and tail white; 1t
Is the result OF one nights experience in
Russia. You've heard that peoples hair
turns white sometimes in single night?'
Yes" answered both girls.
well, the pony went on, "that Is the
way 1t was with me. / had a very trying
experience during my youth in Russia and
since seldom have an audience on the
days that can talk. shall be glad to tell
You the story If you care to listen"
The girls said they would be delighted
and, finding a fiat stone sat down upon
1t ready to listen. They soon made room
for the pony beside them. but he smiled
and shook his head. saying: 1--WE horses al
ways rest standing. Make yourselves COM
Portable and you shall learn my story"
Then he began thus:
Il was foaled just eight years ago to-
day, OF large estate not far from Khar-
kov. in Little Russia. and grew up the pet
OF the children Of my master, who was a
Russian nobleman. don't know just what
his rank was. but the children-there were
two-were known as the prince and prin-
cess. When I was old enough became the
little princes saddle horse and many a de-
lightful galiop we had over the fields The
little princess rode another pony, a little
older and bigger than I: in fact, my own
elder brother. AS the country about the
estate was not thickly settled, and was
heavily wooded the children could not go
far from home except on horseback, and
We were out with them nearly every day,
I'VE seldom yentured out at night except
In summer. for there were wolves in the
woods and when these were hungry they
did not hesitate to attack any one; and they
were big gray fellows not to be despised
can tell you.
MY adventure was with these wolves
AS have already said. the children did not
ride out at night alone, and they would
not have been allowed to do SO except for
an accident. 1t In this way The
prince and princess went one day to visit
the children of a neighbor to celebrate
birthday or rather a nameday fete We
set out about midday all alone. for We ex-
IA 1axf day
night at our friends house. The fete was
delightful: even We horses enjoyed 1t, for
we all had been bedecked with ribbons and
rosettes and were served with extra rations
OF the most delicious oats. with Jumps of
sugar and other dainties
Late at night. after the festivities were
over. a careless servant set fire to some of
the hangings. and soon the house was In
serious danger. By the most vigorous ex-
ert1ons the main part of the house was
saved, but one Of the wings was SO badly
injured by fire and water that the guests
at the house were crowded out and those
VINO lived nearest decided to go home
Among these were my little prince and
princess. 1t was early twilight when we
started. and there would have been time
to reach home before dark except that the
prince insisted upon taking a wrong turning
In wood. My brother and I tried hard to
take the right road. but the prince would
insist on going astray and we had to SUBJ
init Besides we were not entirely certain
he would not be guided by u.s.
so we got deeper and deeper into the
dark woods and further and further from
home. The prince still was headstrong.
the wolves.
That brought him to his senses at once.
knowing he was lost. he threw the reins
upon my neck, telling his sister to do the
same with her pony. My brother and l.
too, had heard the wolves and we were
just about to take the bits between our
teeth and start for home when we found
ourselves free to choose the road
I'VE wheeled about and made for homo
as fast as we could put our hoofs to the
ground but fast we went the bowling
came louder and louder to our ears and
We knew the wolves We're gaining. Luckily.
the snow was light and powdery, and we
did not slip or founder about. On and on
we went, hoping to get out of the woods
where our footing was less secure than in
the open fields.
I'VE could run splendidly il I do saw II.
and we reached the open before the wolves
came nearer than within half mile And
then 1t seemed to me we had never gone
so like the wind. But fast as we were
those great sinewy wolves were swifter
and slowly they drew nearer and nearer
until We could see that there was a pack
of seven. We knew. of course just how
far we were from home. and 1 felt my
realized that the wolves would reach us
before we came to the village where we
might expect help from the peasants
MY brother must have come to the same
conclusion about the time I did, for I
heard his breath come with great gasp
though knew he could not be exhausted
Then. my dear children. had the bright
est idea of my life. suddenly slackened
my pace. and when I was near bank of
soft snow / deliberately shook my master
OFF,
'At the same moment / gave a whinny
which my brother understood and he stop-
ped. / rubbed noses with him. making him
understand what / had in mind. and then
charged back toward the wolves!"
'eThat was braver said Lola.
mot at ALL" replied the pony frankly.
ut was clever. If you like, but not brave
knew that it was my only chance. Scared?