Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-03-10
For the Children.
Nc Winning OF aWhitefoot.n

/ ana began 10 live IN a wild state. Slow
| y hut steadily they degenerated into
small, active, wiry ponies, Today they
| frequent IN great numbers the salt
marshes along the coast. They are
known Familiarity rs bankers" or
marsh ponies Exceedingly hardy and
| easily kept they form an important in
du>trN IN the east and annual pony
pennHgs' are held for the purpose Of
sale and swapping. This is an interest.
ing time To the boys who live on the
banks aud is eagerly awaited from
year To year 1t is the ambition of every
youth 10 own at least one pony. No
indian or Arabian ever sat more store
by his steed
lived on the banks" The fShcrm1Tl',
earnings were scant and uncertain. ow-
| lhg I" his toRdneSS for drink His wife
and children We're frequently forced Ia
30 hungry. In fact the father had
paWned everything in the hut that could
be dispensed with Charities ambition,
therefore, To own a pony of his own
seemed hopeless. Many times ,he had
eagerly watched the wild herds. If he
could only capture one of the shaggy
little creatures But what could n H.
%ear-old boy do with lasso:
His desire for a pony was intensified
enc morning when neighbor'S son.
Amos Blake, rs years old. led a spriyht-
~ hay pony, which he had bought m tho
pehnlng, directly by the drunken fish
erman's door.
They are grand. Charlie: You ought TO
nave one, exclaimed Amos. rubbing the
little bays nose. I'm going to break
th'S young fellow and ride him along
lue hea2h IN search of driftwood. treas
ures from wrecks and things"
lie proudly led thp nnuy nu 1,,,.;,,-
poor Charlie sad and sick mt heart.
IA why can't have n marsh pony :"
ne Eentured, ms he entered the hut where
his parents were seated at breakfast. Ii
was a bold stroke for the lad
a marsh pony the fisherman
echoed. You can have n dozen 80 fal. as
III concerned. They are free as birds.
Catch yourself one" The mother looked
panied and the smaller children were
frightened.
Yes catch yourself one" he ran ON.
onder is Il herd down 10y the inlet. -"
lie pointed through the broken window
to where, deep in the marsh-recds and
outlined against the rolling green of the
sea, small herd of marsh ponies were
feeding Take piece of sailing rope
and learn to lasso them.
Charlie turned from the room. He fell
tiiat his heart would break. Ills sensi-
tive nature smarted beneath the cruel
jest. The most cautious and careful
herdsman could scarcely approach near
enough to the marsh ponies to throw q
lasso over their heads. The dry grass
would rattle; the salt pools would
splash; the very air. though strong with
sea smells, seldom failed 10 convey the
man smell To the shaggy little horses
whose heads flew mp like magic ana
whose bright, black eyes seemed to see
everywhere far and near.
Having nothing better. however. tC
engage his time, Charlie walked SLOWLY
toward the herd of ponies. creeping eau
tiously from bog to bog. When he wa,
within about thirty yards the leader Of
the ponies raised his head, snortcd
paved the earth and led the herd in 4
splashing gallop farther up the beach
Charlie followed out of mere curiosity
tie had caught ii glimpse of two or tire,
pony colts in the herd. 1T would b,
fun to watch them, Mt any rate
Perhaps he could manage to catch ont
of them. The idea seemed to be a will
one. but what boy does not have his
dreams: Iurrying back 10 the hut, h,
obtained Il piece of rope
For something like an hour he fol
lowed the trail of the ponies, at time,
drawing near enough to see that the
most beautiful of the colts had a milk
white forcfoot
The trail led through the Big Sal
Marsh" Suddenly the leader Of the 20
MES snortcd wildly, wheeled and led tn,
herd away at a furious gallop. Fol
some reason the whitefoot colt did no
join the flight
Wondering, the boy crept forward
and peering cautiously through Il fringe
of grass, bchcd Il sight which made hin
SILVER The colt was laundering in tho
mire On the bog "A few yards distan
cronched u huge wildcat. us yellow eye,
ablaze. it's stumpy tail switching bacl
and forth. The cat was waiting for the
moment when the colt should become
hODClessly entanglcd
The boys first impulse was to flee and
give warming: but on second thought he
saw that help would come too late
Something had to he done speedily. The
cat was fast flashing itself into fury
The boy sought his pocket. and found
a match and Il coil of wire. Quick aS
thought. he gathered up several hand
fuls of dry grass. and lung the blazing
ball almost in tho wildcats face. The
creature uttered Il piercing scream and
fed terror stricken up the marsh.
The courageous boy now turned bis at
tentlon 10 the colt. lie soon discovered
that it had become entauglcd in am Old
fish net which had washed ashore Ht
high tide. SkiIlfuliy maxim. halter of
his rope. he slipped it over the cold s.
head tied rag over its eyes. and fri
umphantly led his captive bac'. to the
hut.
The colt became gentle. and soon
recognized its name. ''Whitcfoot.' 1t
grew rapidly under the boys constant
care and proved to be a splendid sad
die animal Its affection for the young
master was marvellous.
If you should ever chance to visit The
banks" and were 10 meet u handsome
young man patrolliug the beach ou 4
beautiful black pony with q mliwlite
foot. you need 90 no farther 10 hrd
Charlie Rane Of the United STAT life
saving station.-EXchange
s-------------~---=--------
Indian May Enter West Point
Paul Knapp. a half-brccd Indian Of
Benton Harbor Mich, whose mother
gs-ae "a JauvLtar If Ctipf frafor Tss,t-suYr