Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1911-09-29
The Summer
Cottage e. Pony /! 4; ]

Billy was introduced on the prem
ises by Anna when she came to clean
house. AS l saw her rafting along
down the wooded road in her old rick
ETY. cart drawn by a small and BUSH
nesslike bay pony did not clasp my
hands to my heart with a premonition
Of trouble was too busy thrilling
with Joy at the prospect of turning the
battle against cobwebs and dust over
to her She unhitched the pony and
tied him to the back Of the cart OUT
side the fence with his nose in q
bunch of hay under the seat.
The sun was shining flercely on him
a little later when noticed him and
had a surge Of philanthropy.
TITS sha<ne!" said l. Il am going TO
tie him inside, In the shade. where he
can eat grass. It'll save moving It'll"
Billy turned mild and trustful eye
upon my approach. 1t was then that
l saw cherished grapevine that had
been trailed over the fence at the ex-
pense of much time and several yards
Of twine had been eaten bare. Not Q
leaf remained. Early that morning 1t
had boon a mass of green. =
you imp!" said and slapped Billy.
He was tied short. To eat those leaves
he must have performed an acrobatic
twist that would have been we'll worth
seeing. He did not seem In the least
concerned as jerked him inside the
fence and tied him, but rubbed my
shoulder with his soft nose. l harden;
ed my heart. There are people who,
use exactly the same tactics as Billy
and they should be disapproved Of on
principle.
Some time later looked out at Bill
ly. never did have head for math-
emat1cs and l had been too liberal in
the length of the rope. Having eaten;
all the grass In circle Billy was now
with great enthusiasm and gusto en-
joying salad of my scarlet geraniumj
bed recently set out at 80 much per:
geranium.
"Billy!" shrieked, just as he bit of.
the top Of the sixth geranium. He
merely flicked his tail and seemed in
jured when I hauled him back. Hold.
ang his ears firmly, glared into his
countenance and told him few
things. Wriggling loose, he tried to
stick his nose into my apron pocket.
You are not In the least cute!" I
insisted coldly. Il am not impressed
at all, understand! prefer beauty Of
character to parlor tricks and it's plain
to be seen you are an abandoned and
hardened easel"
Then tied him to a small tree in
the midst of an arid waste of moss,
sprouting acorns and other unappetiz-
ing things. for 1t really seemed that
by this time Billy must be entirely
hlled with food. Leaving him to his
meditations stalked away. It was
Anna, washing windows, who saw tho
deed
THAT bad horse!" she commented
with cheerful stolidity. HE is now
eating things above!"
1t was true. Twisting and stretch.
ing his neck like serpent Billy
reached waving tendril of the grape
vines trained over a rustic arbor and
hauled In several yards. He was
standing on tptoes to do 1t. We went
put and seriously considered the mat.
ter after separating Billy from his
aerial feast. The only safe place for
him was on the fireplace mantel or
the roof. Still. from the latter he
probably would spring agilely into the
treetops and devour those. If there
had been an abandoned we'll on tho
place he could have been lowered into
that till Anne was ready to depart,
Comfortably bullying from his numer.
pus repasts. Billy watched us with
mild and liquid eyes as we debated.
He whfnnied beguilingly. He seemed
to think he was a favorite with the
family. instead of an outcast.
l got the yardstick and measured.
Tied around by the corner of tha
house, 1t seemed that Billy would be
rendered utterly innocuous and helm
less. He could not reach the peach tree
with SIX peaches on 1t, which are more
to me than diamonds. He could not
reach the young beeches to gnaw the
bark and he could not touch the wood
bine over the house. Under his feet
was good, plain sand. on which he
might gorge If he cared to, and over
his head unlimited quantities of air. i
tied him In vindictive triumph whila
ne tried to rub his nose against INV
cheek and 'whinnied the depth Of hfa
affection. There was no doubt he was
social horse. .-..-s- Ar
There!" I crowed. Nov no ahead
and do your worst!''' 57
- Ia rsr;* 70, 'tt,> ~
An hour later 1t was time to eel
our MONDAY dinner and l. sought tho
Kitchen. Hastily stepping into tho
pantry, I got q shock that finished
me. Through the open window from
outside projected Bi,ly's head. ana ~,
was Just consuming the last Of ~,
trhubarb pie that I had baked ear,y21
nv 80 ..l..