The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-12
THE STRANGE COM PANY OF WORN
 OUTS"

flI M AFRAID" said the old mare,
 dejectedly, there's not much
 | excuse for my living. I'm too old to do much work. and the younger horses regard me as a sort of nuisance that must be put up with. They're all so much younger than and have SO much to learn that I. with their interest at heart. try to give them all the kindly advice I can. But. bless you! you can't tell the youngsters any thing nowadays. know they'd be only too glad to get rid of me"
 Old Bossy looked affectionately over the stall partition at her neighbor. "Cheer up, Jennie." she replied. "the youngsters couldn't do without you. or course. they fret and grow a little ina- patient when given advice, but that's merely their way. Why, every one loves old Jenny!'
 And you'll soon have an opportunity of judging for yourself whether or not my words are true, for I heard master say only the other day that you should do no ml e work the rest of your life. You and l are to be pastured together in that delightful paddock through which the brook runs and where there are so many delightful shade trees.
 YOUNGSTERS LACK RESPECT s But I'll admit that the young people don't have the respect for their elders that they should have. I'm in the same position as yourself. you know. and l can tell you of several others.
 By the way" concluded Bossy. T have an iiea. Suppose all we worm outs form a company by ourselves. and then see whether or not our counsel Is missed?'
 "Yes. it would be .ratter curious to find out exactly what they think or us," agreed :he mare.
 The following day a visitor might have seen a most remarkable coliec- tion of animals in the pleasant pad dock along by the brook
 There was Jennie. the mare: Bossy. the COW, Patsy. the pig; Toby. the Irish setter: Thomas, the cat. and Dandy, the rooster. Yes. and they were all worn too. But now they all conversed peaceably together (even Toby and Thomas seemed to be on the best of terms) and were en- towing them selves to the utmost
 For one whole week these old anil mals were separated from the younger ones At first the youngsters rejoiced nat the removal of thAs restraint. but somehow, after a few days. things went entirely wrong.
 At the end of the week Coo-coo. the pigeon. appeared among the worn out" company as the bearer of impor- tant messages.
 Addressing himself first to the old horse. Coo-coo said:
 Jennie, the horses reg of you to return. They've got into all sorts of scrapes since you left them, while they miss your advice sadly. Jim and Joe. the young colts. are being broken for harness. and it's such a trial for them without you. No one Of them will be happy until you come back. NEED THE OLD FOLKS
 "Bossy. the cows are nearly wild to that they are grieving sadly over your desertion.
 ~ And, Patsy, since you left few of your greedy gra1deniidren, fSnn, are keep ts;I z to eat. If you don't restore peace quickly. don't know what will hap pen.
 ''The hunting dogs have behaved mis- erably since you left, Toby. Master declares they have forgotten all that you and he have taught them. If you could see what a whipped-looking g pack they are, I'm sure your heart would bleed for them.
 Thomas children, too, have lost their cunning for housing, and the mice have grown more daring than ever.
 'As for the flock. Dandy. if Is in a sad way. Immediately after your de- parture a dozen young roosters sprang up as rivals for leadership, so that all the time was spent in fight ing instead of providing for the hens and chicks
 Indeed. the farmyard people. one and all, pray for the return of all of you. They positively cannot do with out |you."
 When Coo-coo had flown away the "worn-outs" looked at one another and then laughed softly. And their old hearts beat quicker, too, and if those were not teardrops in their eyes, they looked very much like them.
 After aiL Bossy was the wiser. as Jennie admitted.