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 THE LIBRARY OF THE 
 
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 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 ENDOWED BY THE 
 
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 SOCIETIES 
 
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 JH 
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A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
Frontispiece — A Blue Grass Beauty. 
 
 "A YOUNG MAN ASKED, 'CAN'T I HELP A BIT, HERE?' 
 
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 ■ /LLL&rmmD- 
 
 PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 flENBYALTEflVVS COMPANY 
 
BY THE SAME AUTHOR 
 
 Caps and Capers 
 Doughnuts and Diplomas 
 
 $1.00 each 
 
 Copyright, 1003, by Henry Alien 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 I. 
 
 Where the Blue Grass Waves, 13 
 
 II. 
 
 Where Horse is King and Fashion Queen, ... 33 
 
 III. 
 Back in God's Country, 49 
 
 Whizzer, Whirligig and Buster, 65 
 
 Tiny Tim's Easter Gift, 89 
 
 Laddie and Lassie, 101 
 
 Where Twinkle Spent the Fourth of July, . . 117 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 " 'Can't I help a bit here ?' " . . . Frontispiece. 
 
 1 " Beauty, what am I going to do without you? ' " . 19 
 
 " He rode with the grace of a practiced rider," . . 25 
 
 "' You want me, Bert ? '" 59 
 
WHERE THE BLUE GRASS 
 WAVES 
 
CHAPTER I 
 
 WHERE THE BLUE GRASS WAVES 
 
 r ( i h H, Fred, is n 't lie a beauty ! I know 
 
 O 
 
 that we have never had anything 
 to compare with him. And such a 
 disposition, too. I don't believe anything could 
 make him show a disagreeable trait now, do 
 you?" 
 
 The speaker was a girl of about eighteen years 
 of age, tall, slight, and in coloring a perfect bru- 
 nette. She stood leaning upon the bars of a 
 large pasture where ten or more horses were en- 
 joying their freedom, and beside her upon the 
 grass lay a side-saddle and bridle. Evidently 
 she had just dismounted, for she wore her habit, 
 and held in her hand the riding-cap she had just 
 removed from the soft, seal-brown hair. 
 
 13 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 The person to whom she spoke was very like 
 her, excepting his eyes, which were a decided 
 gray, and looked out upon the world in a manner 
 to make others hesitate before telling an un- 
 truth. It did not need a second glance to pro- 
 nounce them brother and sister. 
 
 "I don't know; that all depends," answered 
 the man, shaking his head doubtfully. ' ' If some 
 fellow with sense buys him, well and good. But 
 if some idiot gets him, I should n't like to an- 
 swer for the consequences. He is pretty high- 
 strung. ' ' 
 
 1 ' Of course, I know that, but just see what he 
 lets me do with him ! Just anything." 
 
 "I wish he might fall into Bert Conant's 
 hands, for then we need have no further con- 
 cern about him," continued the man. "But 
 J 'in afraid there is no chance of it. The fellow 
 from New York is clean gone over him, and has 
 offered twice as much as father would have 
 taken from Bert, and Mr. Binwell is sure to ac- 
 cept it. That 's the worst of these partnerships; 
 
 14 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 one man wants to sell his horses to buyers who 
 will take good care of them, and the other won't 
 think of a single thing but the cash to be had. 
 He says Dad 's soft-hearted, but I wish he had a 
 little of the disease himself. He could stand it, 
 and not be hurt a mite. ' ' 
 
 During this conversation the subject of it 
 stood nearly knee-deep in the waving grass of 
 the pasture, sometimes gathering a mouthful, 
 and sometimes pausing to look inquiringly at 
 the pair standing beside the bars, as though to 
 say: "I am sure you are talking about me, and 
 it is n't polite to comment upon anyone right in 
 his presence." Presently he walked slowly 
 toward them, and as he approached with his 
 mouth full of the sweet, fresh grass, he shook 
 his head up and down, as though in greeting. 
 
 "Come on, Beauty," said the girl. "I 'm go- 
 ing up to the house now; you 'd better bid me 
 good-by like a gentleman. ' ' He was well named, 
 for never had his native State turned out a hand- 
 somer creature. He was a little over fifteen 
 
 is 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 hands high, clean limbed as a deer, with a body 
 like satin and a head which would have made 
 Herring exclaim over it, for the eyes fairly 
 talked, and the delicate, sensitive nostrils quiv- 
 ered with every emotion. But the expression of 
 the face was, perhaps, the chief charm of the 
 animal, for it was more than mere beauty can 
 give to either beast or man. It was that which 
 is worn only by those creatures who have per- 
 fect confidence and love for their fellow-beings 
 whether they be human or brute. 
 
 It is a great pity that we cannot see it oftener, 
 and never is it more apparent— or more plainly 
 lacking, as the case may be— than in a horse or a 
 dog. Show me an animal, and no matter 
 whether his master be near at hand or miles 
 away, I will tell you what the master's conduct 
 is toward the creature over which he has con- 
 trol. The eyes and ears will tell it all, as we 
 might see every day of our lives if we took the 
 trouble to observe. It is a look either of perfect 
 mutual understanding, or of perpetual odds; 
 
 16 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 and nothing upon earth can be more pathetic 
 when we consider how entirely the creatures 
 must depend upon human beings for their com- 
 fort and happiness. 
 
 Beauty came up to the bars at the girl's bid- 
 ding, and resting his velvety muzzle upon her 
 shoulder, stood as still as a statue while she 
 pressed her face against his, and reaching one 
 arm up and around his neck, stroked him gently. 
 
 " Beauty, what am I going to do without 
 you?" she asked. "I have helped to make you 
 what you are, and now I just can't let you go 
 North with some one I don't know, and who 
 won't care a bit for you, except as he would for 
 any handsome horse. But you 're half human, I 
 believe, and I know you know a heap more than 
 some folks." 
 
 "I 'm going to see Bert this evening," said 
 her brother, as he stooped to gather up the sad- 
 dle and bridle from the ground. "I '11 find out 
 if there 's any chance of Bert 's taking him, for I 
 believe I feel nearly as bad as you do at the 
 
 17 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 thought of letting him go so far away, Bess." 
 He started to leave the pasture. The girl tarried 
 a moment to say a few parting words to the 
 horse, and, gathering up her short riding habit, 
 she ran as lightly as a fairy over the soft turf, 
 and overtaking him slipped one hand through 
 his disengaged arm, clasped her other over it, 
 and taking about two steps to each of his long 
 strides, tripped along beside him. 
 
 Bess and Fred Corbin had spent nearly all 
 their lives upon a Kentucky Stock Farm, and 
 knew every stick and stone for miles around. 
 Except to attend their respective colleges, and 
 even these were close to each other, the brother 
 and sister had never been separated. They had 
 played, studied, ridden, rowed, and entered 
 upon their collegiate courses "neck and neck," 
 as their father put it, and the tie between them 
 was unusually strong. Fred was two years her 
 senior, but being the quicker witted of the two, 
 Bess managed to keep up in all things. 
 
 Mr. Corbin was half owner of the farm, his 
 
 18 
 
UM.lJ 
 
 A Blue Grass Beauty. 
 
 "'BEAUTY, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITHOUT YOUf " 
 9 — Blue Grass Beauty. 10, 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 partner's home being in Lexington, where he 
 lived, except in summer. From tiny children 
 the brother and sister had loved horses and 
 dogs, and their aunt, who had kept house for 
 Mr. Corbin ever since his wife's death, when the 
 children were very young, said : ' l They 'd rather 
 eat and sleep in the stables than in the house." 
 The life seemed to agree with them, for it would 
 have been difficult to find two bonnier, healthier 
 young people than Bess and Fred Corbin were 
 at eighteen and twenty years of age. 
 
 It was vacation time now, and both were 
 home from college, and with the return to their 
 native air came many little localisms of accent 
 and speech that they rarely used "up North." 
 Day after day they rode or drove together, or 
 helped in the training of the colts. 
 
 Bess had achieved a reputation in this line, 
 and rarely did a colt leave "Grassy Ridge," as 
 the farm was called, which did not owe Bess 
 something for its reputation. She used to say 
 that it was because she loved them all so dearly 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 that she was able to do more with them than the 
 average person could, and that they understood 
 whatever she said to them. However that 
 might be, certain it was that the horses sold from 
 "Grassy Ridge" were famed far and wide for 
 their dispositions and their paces. 
 
 But never had there been Beauty's equal. He 
 was as nearly perfect in all things as it ever falls 
 to the lot of a horse to be. Ever sincehis colt-hood 
 Bess had taken charge of his education, till now, 
 at four years, he was ready to go out into the 
 wide world and prove her proficiency. She had 
 seen many colts sold from the farm, and had re- 
 gretted their outgoing more or less, but Beauty's 
 prospective departure grieved her sorely, and 
 she had hoped, far more eagerly than she real- 
 ized, that their neighbor, her old playmate, Bert 
 Conant, would buy him. But Beauty's price 
 was high, and Bert's purse was not heavy, so the 
 chance of Beauty ever becoming his property 
 seemed improbable. More so than ever now, for 
 a gentleman had just come from New York, 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 whose purse more than outweighed Beauty him- 
 self, and Beauty's fate seemed sealed. 
 
 An hour or two after tea that evening Fred 
 made his way to the home of Bert Conant, riding 
 Beauty in order to strengthen the cause he 
 was about to plead. He rode along with the 
 grace and ease of a practiced rider, and making 
 a striking picture against the background of a 
 glorious sunset. Beauty swung onward with 
 the grace of motion peculiar to a perfectly 
 broken horse, now and then tossing his hand- 
 some head and giving a loud neigh just for the 
 joy of being alive. He had no fear of being re- 
 buked, for the understanding between horse and 
 man was perfect. His grace was native and 
 the man who rode him prized it at its full value ; 
 and his perfect confidence in the sympathy of 
 his master sent a thrill of pleasure through 
 Fred's heart. 
 
 "Pretty nice sort of thing to be alive down 
 here, is n't it, Beauty'?" he asked, as though ad- 
 dressing a human being, and reaching forward 
 
 23 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 as they swung along, he laid back a lock of the 
 silky mane which Beauty's joyous toss had dis- 
 arranged. "Now, if we can only strike a bar- 
 gain with Bert, ' ' he continued aloud, ' ' and keep 
 you down here in God 's own country, there will 
 be four of us happy. So put on your most cap- 
 tivating manner, old man, and we '11 see what 
 can be done." 
 
 Beauty gave a soft little whinny of assent, 
 and a sweeping wave of his long, beautiful tail, 
 as they turned into a gateway. A moment later 
 Fred slipped from the saddle at Conant's horse- 
 block, to be met by Bert with: "Don't say a 
 single word; I know what has brought you over. 
 I heard from Jess that some one has an eye on 
 Beauty, and the cash with him to back it up." 
 As he spoke he came down from the porch, and 
 taking the horse's muzzle in his hands stroked 
 it gently. Evidently he was an old friend, for 
 Beauty met his advances more than half way. 
 The two men talked long and earnestly, and 
 finally Fred said: "Perhaps I can get father to 
 
 24 
 
A Blue Grass Beauty. 
 
 "he rode with the grace of a practiced rider/ 
 25 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 shave his price a little, and you can settle when 
 you are able. ' ' 
 
 ''No; I can't let him do that, and even if he 
 were willing, there 's Mr. Binwell, and you 
 know him as well as I do. It would only make 
 trouble. I 'm afraid it can't be thought of— the 
 old gentleman's bank account is none too heavy 
 as it is, and, for a flourishing barrister, my own 
 leaves considerable to be desired." 
 
 Two years ago, Bert Conant had been gradu- 
 ated from the Columbia Law School and re- 
 turned to his native town to take up the practice 
 of law, believing that he had only to open an 
 office in order to achieve fame and fortune. But 
 Dame Fortune did not seem to have chosen Lex- 
 ington for an abiding place, and Bert was be- 
 ginning to learn that one has sometimes to wait 
 long and patiently for that capricious lady to 
 decide upon a permanent residence. 
 
 Before the war, the old Conant place had been 
 far-famed for lavish hospitality, but sad changes 
 had taken place, and now little remained of its 
 
 27 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 former glories. With the boundless hope of 
 twenty-three, Bert saw it all restored, his father 
 surrounded with luxuries which early habit had 
 rendered almost indispensable to him, and him- 
 self a prosperous, respected lawyer. 
 
 Behind all these dreams arose an ever-recur- 
 ring picture, in which the principal figure was 
 always a dark -haired, olive-cheeked, laughing- 
 eyed girl. However, all was still tantalizingly 
 vague; the place left much to be desired; the 
 luxuries were still conspicuous by their absence ; 
 he was a lawyer all right enough, but the fame 
 and prosperity seemed to hang fire; while the 
 olive-skinned girl was still absorbed in her col- 
 lege fun and her horses, with never anything 
 save a friendly, brotherly sort of fondness for 
 the "boy," as she would no doubt have called 
 him, with whom she had played ever since she 
 could remember, and who had teased and tor- 
 mented her at times till the olive cheeks burned 
 and she had flown at him like a little wildcat. 
 
 The two men talked until darkness fell upon 
 
 28 
 
A BLUE GRASS BnAUTY 
 
 the land, and when at last Fred turned Beauty's 
 head toward home, stars were twinkling in the 
 sky over their heads, crickets were piping their 
 shrill little songs by the roadside, and dear 
 Mother Nature was singing a lullaby to her myr- 
 iads of weary children. Off in the distance a 
 watchdog occasionally announced to the quiet 
 world that he, at least, was still alert, and far 
 away in the valley the lights of Lexington glim- 
 mered. 
 
 Beauty walked quietly on with the long, 
 easy stride peculiar to his race, evidently en- 
 joying the peaceful night, while his master sat 
 silent and thoughtful upon his back, and tried 
 to reason out the contrary moves of fate. 
 
 Reaching home, he turned Beauty over to the 
 care of old Jess, the colored man who always 
 spoke to him as though he were one of his chil- 
 dren, and then went up to the house, where Bess 
 met him with : 
 
 ' ' Does he think he can buy him 1 ' ' 
 
 29 
 
WHERE HORSE IS KING AND 
 FASHION QUEEN 
 
CHAPTER II 
 i 
 
 WHERE HORSE IS KING AND FASHION QUEEN 
 
 NEARLY three years had slipped away 
 since the beautiful Summer morning 
 when we first saw Beauty stand- 
 ing beside his young master and mistress 
 at the pasture bars, and eventful years they had 
 been for him, filled with many bitter and painful 
 experiences. First had come the long ride 
 northward in the box car, which, though not 
 pleasant, Beauty endured with a wonderfully 
 good grace, for old black Jess had accompanied 
 him, and the familiar face helped him forget the 
 jolts and jars of the journey. Moreover, he re- 
 garded all the world as his friend, as he mani- 
 fested repeatedly by his friendly overtures to all 
 
 33 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 who came near him, till, by the time the journey 
 ended, there was not a man or boy on the train 
 who did not stop to speak to him, or stroke him, 
 or bring him some tidbit. Beauty always wel- 
 comed them like the thoroughbred gentleman he 
 was, and made them feel that they were the fa- 
 vored ones. Never having experienced the least 
 unkindness, he did not apprehend it, and his soft 
 little neigh of welcome to those approaching him 
 won all hearts. 
 
 In due time the great city was reached, and 
 Beauty had much to learn and much to reason 
 out in his own horse mind. His home was to be 
 far up-town on Riverside Drive, and Jess rode 
 him to his new master's address. Eighth Ave- 
 nue with its continuous traffic, its clanging trol- 
 ley cars and its mingled noises excited his curi- 
 osity; and time and again he would stop short, 
 raise his head, and draw in long, audible breaths, 
 as though trying to smell something familiar, 
 while his great, eloquent eyes flashed from one 
 strange object to another. 
 
 34 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 Jess let him have his own way, talking to him 
 meanwhile as though he were one of the numer- 
 ous small Jesses at home. "Lor, Honey, is yer 
 cravin' ter put on city style right off? A-stand- 
 in' up here an' a-snuffin' an' a-smellin' like yer 
 was a-tryin' fer ter take in de city airs froo yer 
 nose, ' ' and Jess chuckled at his own joke. ' ' Now, 
 don't yer bat yer big eyes at dem cyars, case dey 
 ain't agoin' ter jump der tracks fer no colt, don't 
 make no diff'ence how much quality-folks he is. 
 So come right long, Honey, and fust ting yer 
 knows yer '11 be de grandee ob de stable up 
 yander. ' ' 
 
 And so it went, till Beauty was safely de- 
 livered at his future master's stable. Then 
 came the trial drive, in which Beauty learned 
 that city horses wore a very different sort of 
 harness from the one he had been accustomed to, 
 and even though the beautiful head was natur- 
 ally held at a noble angle, a check rein kept it 
 there for hours, no matter what the grade of 
 road, or what laws governed his motions under 
 certain conditions. 
 
 3 — Blue Grass Beauty. -jr 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 The tender, sensitive mouth, which had never 
 known or needed anything heavier than a bar 
 bit, found the heavy curb hard to endure, yet 
 Beauty endured with a wonderful good grace, 
 accepting the whole thing as a sort of mistake 
 on the groom's part, which, doubtless, he would 
 remedy when he learned that such precautions 
 were unnecessary. The long, sweeping tail was 
 knotted up— why Beauty could not understand, 
 for it was not muddy, and he had never had his 
 tail tied up unless the roads at home were soft. 
 
 Poor Beauty, he had yet to learn that man 
 knows a thing or two more than the Lord who 
 created him, and that dumb beasts must be edu- 
 cated to that point too, if possible. 
 
 We must pass by those three years, in which 
 Beauty's education advanced rapidly, for from 
 the very moment Jess left him, to the present 
 date, Beauty's horse mind had to grasp many 
 startling facts, and it is difficult to recognize in 
 the present Beauty the animal which Jess rode 
 up Eighth Avenue almost three years ago. The 
 
 36 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 soft, silky mane is reduced to a mere bristly 
 brush, running along his neck, the forelock has 
 disappeared completely, and, alas, for the tail, it 
 will never again wave like a. triumphant banner, 
 emphasizing Beauty's joy at being in a world so 
 sweet. 
 
 But in the eyes and ears lay the most pathetic 
 story, the softness, the gentleness, the love which 
 beamed from them upon mankind has given 
 place to a nervous, questioning apprehension, 
 while the delicate ears which formerly always 
 pointed so gracefully forward, now, move rap- 
 idly back and forth, or are held alertly erect, 
 striving to grasp by sound what the eyes are un- 
 able to see owing to the close blinders ; ears that 
 betrayed to the initiated that the horse has 
 learned rather to dread the driver's voice than 
 to welcome it, and to understand that the word is 
 often replaced by the hissing of the whip, as the 
 most approved manner of "starting off with 
 eclat," and he has grown to expect the sudden 
 stinging lash across his flanks which sets every 
 nerve a-quiver. 
 
 37 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 But what of that? He is only a horse, 
 and can never proclaim to the world that, 
 each day and each hour of his life, he is a martyr 
 to the inexorable decrees of Dame Fashion. 
 
 Twice during the three years he had carried 
 off the Blue Ribbon at the great shov/ held in 
 Madison Square Garden, and fabulous sums of 
 money had been offered for him. But his mas- 
 ter had not yet tired of him. 
 
 It was November and the week of the year 
 for society and horses. All that was beau- 
 tiful, graceful and perfect was gathered be- 
 neath that vast roof. This year Beauty 
 was not to be entered, for a slight mishap 
 had disqualified him. It might easily have 
 been avoided, and that fact did not add to the 
 peace of mind of either his owner, or the owner's 
 coachman, whose fault it was. Everything had 
 been shaping well till a few days before the en- 
 tries were to be made, and Mr. Titus was already 
 congratulating himself upon the prospective 
 
 38 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 landing of Blue Ribbon number three, when all 
 his anticipations were shattered. 
 
 There were several horses beside Beauty in 
 Mr. Titus' stable, and according to' generally 
 conceived ideas regarding such animals, they 
 were well treated. That is, they had a fine stable, 
 clean and well ventilated ; their harness was the 
 handsomest and finest that could be procured; 
 they were fed the best food and fed regularly. 
 Dempsey, the coachman, and Murray, the 
 groom, were, upon the whole, reliable men. 
 
 If the horses did not know the meaning 
 of a soft, gentle word now and again; 
 if sudden stinging slaps were administered 
 by muscular hands at the slightest motion 
 while they were being groomed, or at their 
 failure instantly to respond to the command to 
 ' ' get over there, ' ' when their stalls were entered ; 
 if their blinders were drawn in so tightly by the 
 crown strap that they rested against the deli- 
 cate eyes and caused the most painful irritation ; 
 or if the check-reins kept their heads so drawn 
 
 i 39 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 back that breathing became distressing, what of 
 that 1 It all came in the regular course of things. 
 
 "Pettin' don't do fer bosses. It only spiles 
 'em, an' ye can't git no style out of a boss 
 what 's fussed over," was a sage remark once 
 made by a coachman whose horses were never 
 guilty of turning their heads either to right or 
 left while he had them in hand. 
 
 Beauty's mishap was the very natural out- 
 come of this condition of things, for one 
 evening when Dempsey was just entering his 
 stall with a heavy bucket of water, Beauty ut- 
 terly forgot himself in his eagerness for the 
 coming drink, and turning his head around nick- 
 ered as he used to do long ago at home when old 
 black Jess brought him his drink and stood be- 
 side him stroking the silky mane, and assuring 
 him that "there wa n't ner anudder like him on 
 dis y earth. ' ' 
 
 As Dempsey came into the stall Beauty's 
 nose hit the bucket, and some of the water 
 was spilled. Dempsey jerked backward 
 
 40 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 and uttered a sharp reproof, which he accom- 
 panied with the ever-ready slap. Beauty 
 plunged sideways, the bucket dropped from 
 Dempsey's hand, and rolled beneath Beauty's 
 feet, water and all. Another wild plunge and 
 Beauty's chances at the Horse Show were gone, 
 for a thin streak of blood down his off leg told 
 that the bucket handle was held in place by 
 heavy iron plates. 
 
 It was not a very deep cut, after all, but 
 quite deep enough to lame him for several 
 days, and to leave a scar for many more. 
 A scar and the Horse Show drawing near! Mr. 
 Titus was informed that ' l Somehow the hoss had 
 managed to calk himself in the night, ' ' and was 
 left to wonder how he could possibly do it with- 
 out calks on his shoes. 
 
 But even though Beauty was now beyond the 
 pale of respectability, so far as the great ring 
 was concerned, he could still stand at the gates 
 of paradise, so to speak, there to deposit his mas- 
 ter and his elegantly attired mistress. No hand- 
 
 41 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 somer equipage came up to that door than Mr. 
 Titus', for the cut leg had entirely healed, and 
 only a slight stiffness betrayed that it had ever 
 been hurt at all. Many were the admiring 
 glances cast upon the beautiful bay horse, and 
 none more appreciative than those of a dark- 
 haired girl about twenty-one years of age, who 
 visited the Horse Show each day. 
 
 Again and again, as she was about to enter 
 the Garden, she would pause in the foyer and 
 wait a little in order to see the bay horse which 
 always came at about the same hour. She was 
 accompanied by an elderly gentleman and one a 
 few years her senior, and all three bore the air of 
 knowing a fine horse when they saw one, as well 
 as a certain untrammeled freedom of manner as 
 though they were accustomed to a large breath- 
 ing space, and were very sufficient unto them- 
 selves. Without the slightest sign of boldness or 
 self-consciousness, the girl still possessed a re- 
 markable self-poise and freedom of speech and 
 manner, and her comments upon the animals 
 
 42 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 she saw caused more than one old horseman to 
 glance at her in surprise. 
 
 It was the closing day of the show, and the pre- 
 ceding ones had been fraught with many start- 
 ling revelations for humanitarians of the present 
 day and age, and not a few outsiders had asked 
 whether or not we were returning to the dark 
 ages, for startling discoveries had been made, 
 and much had been learned regarding "ways 
 that are dark" and "tricks which are"— well, 
 let us substitute the word fiendish for "vain." 
 Horses had been driven to the Garden harnessed 
 in every conceivable and inconceivable manner, 
 all intended to put "style" in them, never mind 
 at what cost. 
 
 Upon this last day, Dempsey decided to outdo 
 the outdone, and get Beauty up in a style that 
 should carry all before it. Harness was accord- 
 ingly polished as never before, and everything 
 was in the most perfect order possible. Then 
 came harnessing, and when Dempsey drove up to 
 his master's door, and Mr. Titus came out to take 
 
 43 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 a final inspection before assisting his wife into 
 the victoria., he marveled greatly at the still more 
 pronounced "action" of his handsome horse. 
 The feet were pawing, the head tossed up and 
 down as though the impatient animal were so 
 full of life that he simply could not await the 
 start, yet when the head was moved slightly 
 sideways, a quick, nervous plunge would be 
 made, very much as one would start at a sudden, 
 keen pin-prick. 
 
 The Garden was reached, and Beauty fell 
 in line behind a long string of carriages 
 which were depositing their occupants. The 
 line was unusually long, for there seemed to 
 be much more delay than usual. At last Beauty 
 stood five from the entrance ; Dempsey began to 
 get his eyes open, and his usually florid cheeks 
 took on a lighter shade. With a muttered ex- 
 pletive, he gave Beauty a keen lash with the 
 whip, and drew sharply upon the left rein to 
 turn him out of the line. His master made a 
 quick protest, and partly arose from the seat. 
 
 44 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 But it was too late. Dear, patient, handsome 
 Beauty's nerves had called a halt, and a second 
 later he had given one wild despairing leap up 
 into the air, then plunged forward, and curbs, 
 burrs, checks, and whips were forgotten in the 
 desperate dash for freedom. 
 
 
 45 
 
BACK IN GOD'S COUNTRY 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 BACK IN GOD S COUNTRY 
 
 IT was all over in a moment ! The wheel col- 
 lided with one much heavier and stronger ; 
 the axle snapped ; Mr. and Mrs. Titus were 
 thrown upon the pavement, and more or less 
 bruised, while a block farther up the avenue 
 several strong hands were striving to subdue the 
 now half-maddened horse, which, with one final 
 plunge, had slipped upon the wet asphalt and 
 there lay prone, quivering in every nerve. 
 
 Dempsey had been pitched headforemost over 
 the dashboard at the very outset, for his nerves 
 had already received one shock, and he lost his 
 head completely. Murray hurried to the assist- 
 ance of his master and mistress, and Beauty was 
 left to the mercy of strangers. 
 
 49 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 Some one was removing his headstall when a 
 fine-looking young man stepped up, and asked: 
 "Can't I help a bit here!" and a second later 
 Beauty stood upon his feet again. "By Jove, 
 he is a beauty; is n't he?" said the man, as he 
 helped to set things straight, and as he spoke 
 the last word, the horse turned his head quick- 
 ly and gave a soft little whinny, then started 
 as though fearing a rebuke. But the man, 
 going quickly to the horse's head, put his 
 hand in his coat pocket and asked: "Sugar, 
 Beauty? Have some sugar?" and he almost 
 laughed aloud in his delight when the horse, tak- 
 ing a step or two toward him, nipped and pulled 
 gently at his buttons. "Beauty, by all that is 
 wonderful!" exclaimed the man, as he caressed 
 the horse, which crowded up to him as though 
 he had found a safe haven from his tormentors. 
 
 "How 's that for torture?" asked the man, 
 holding up the lately removed headstall to show 
 within the leather rings upon each side of the 
 bit a rampant array of tiny sharp spikes. As he 
 
 50 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 drew near with the headstall the horse gave a 
 nervous plunge, but was instantly checked by a 
 word from the other man beside him. ' ' There, 
 there, Beauty, old fellow! Quiet down a bit. 
 Quiet down a bit," he said soothingly, and the 
 horse at once ceased his frightened plunging. 
 ''You seem to know him," said the officer. 
 "Who owns him; do you know?" 
 
 "I can't tell you who owns him now, but I 
 have known this horse ever since he first piped 
 his eye upon the world, have n't I, Beauty? I 'd 
 know him and all his little tricks among a thou- 
 sand. So would Bess; would n't she, Beauty? 
 Wish she could see you now. George, how those 
 eyes would snap at the sight of that thing yon- 
 der," and he nodded toward the headstall. As 
 though his words had summoned her, Bess stood 
 upon the curbstone and gave a little cry of as- 
 tonishment. 
 
 "Oh, Bert! I knew it, I knew it! It is 
 Beauty, is n't it. I knew I could not be mis- 
 taken, though they have nearly deprived him of 
 
 4, — Blue Grass Beauty. c\ 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 his beauty. Beauty, Beauty, don't you remem- 
 ber me?" she cried, as Bert Conant led him up 
 to the curbstone, where she stood with both 
 hands outstretched, as she would have held them 
 out to a child. No child ever responded more 
 promptly than did Beauty, and in an instant all 
 trials were forgotten. 
 
 Mr. Titus, having given his wife over to the 
 care of sympathetic friends, who were now con- 
 doling with her on the accident caused by ' ' that 
 vicious horse," and urging her to "dispose of 
 him without an instant's delay," now appeared 
 upon the scene with Murray, to claim their ar- 
 rant animal. 
 
 "I paid six hundred dollars for that beast 
 less than three years ago, but I 'd take two this 
 minute, if anyone was fool enough to offer it. 
 He '11 never be worth a cent to me again, for my 
 wife vows that nothing will induce her to drive 
 behind him after this experience." 
 
 "I '11 take your offer, sir, ' ' promptly answered 
 a voice at his elbow. "Will you have your 
 
 5 2 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 check right now? Can't be too quick for me." 
 Mr. Titus turned sharply about to find him- 
 self confronted by a very determined looking 
 young man, who held in his hands a check-book 
 and a fountain pen, as though prepared to back 
 up his assertion. 
 
 "And may I ask who you might be, young 
 sir?" he asked in a tone which caused the blood 
 of the old Conants to rise up in defiance, as Bert 
 replied: "Well, I might be the Shah of Persia, 
 but I am Mr. Herbert Colfax Conant, at your 
 service, sir. Permit me to offer you my card," 
 and he handed it to Mr. Titus. 
 
 The older man smiled in spite of himself at the 
 answer so promptly given, and taking a card 
 from his own pocket-book, handed it to Bert 
 with the words : ' ' Call at my office on Monday at 
 eleven, and we will settle this matter;" then 
 turning to his groom he ordered him to take the 
 horse back home at once. After some further de- 
 lay Mr. Titus rejoined his wife, and was pres- 
 ently lost to sight in the throng. Not so four 
 
 53 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 others, with whom we will finish this story. 
 
 "Do you think he will accept your offer?" 
 said Bess as she clasped both hands upon Bert 's 
 arm in her eagerness, just as the old Bess would 
 have done three years ago. 
 
 "I '11 make him," was the wild assertion, for 
 Bert was not wholly accountable for what he was 
 saying at that moment. It was nearly two years 
 since he had seen Bess ; for, shortly after Beauty 
 came North, Bert had come also, to accept a posi- 
 tion with a prominent law firm. They had been 
 years of rapid advancement and great success 
 for him, and the dream, or part of it, had been 
 realized, for the old home presented a very dif- 
 ferent appearance, and his father took infinite 
 pride, when he displayed some little luxury to his 
 friends, in saying, "My son insists upon pre- 
 senting all these little comforts to me. I 'm 
 proud of him, sir! Very proud of him. He will 
 make his mark in the world, sir. ' ' 
 
 Still, the old dream-picture lacked one thing 
 to make it perfect. 
 
 54 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 "How did you know him?" demanded Fred, 
 as he slipped his hand through Bert's unham- 
 pered arm, and walked beside his old friend. 
 "Bess has been watching that identical horse for 
 the entire week, and insisting that it was old 
 Beauty in spite of all father and I could say to 
 the contrary, for we never would have recog- 
 nized him, docked and trimmed up in that fash- 
 ion. It is a perfect shame to mutilate a horse 
 like that." 
 
 "Bess never forgets old friends; do you, 
 daughter?" said Mr. Corbin as he took his place 
 beside her and gave her a light pat upon the 
 shoulder, while he glanced quickly at Bert, who 
 saw the glance and colored slightly. 
 
 But Bess was too absorbed in the subject of 
 Beauty's trials to give a thought to other mat- 
 ters; and as she still clasped her hands about 
 Bert's arm, she asked: 
 
 "Will you really buy him, Bert? Can you 
 now ? Won 't the price be dreadfully high ? ' ' 
 
 "What will you give me if I buy him and 
 
 55 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 send him down to the farm for you to take care 
 of till I come down on my vacation next sum- 
 mer? I have n't had a vacation in two years, 
 and my next one is going to last at least ai 
 month," said Bert, looking down upon the 
 bonny, earnest face beside him. 
 
 ' ' Oh, I '11 give you anything in the world you 
 want ! The very nicest thing I have, if you will 
 only send him safe home, ' ' cried Bess. 
 
 "Good! He '11 come. I '11 buy him now if I 
 go broke for six months. Then I '11 come down 
 and keep you to your word, ' ' and Bert laughed 
 his very happiest laugh ; but Bess looked slightly 
 troubled as she asked : ' ' Truly, Bert, can you af- 
 ford it? Don't laugh, I 'm in earnest now, and 
 please don't think I 'm inquisitive. We have 
 been friends so long, you know. ' ' 
 
 "And we 're going to be lots longer if I have 
 anything to say about it. Don't worry your lit- 
 tle heart, and I shan 't go on my uppers just yet. 
 Ross and Beemis seem to think I 'm worth quite 
 a tidy sum to them ; they have just told me they 
 
 56 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 are afraid I can't keep the wolf from my door 
 on my present salary, so they are going to throw 
 in four hundred more next year. That will be 
 more than enough to buy Beauty back; don't 
 you believe it will?" They had reached their 
 box in the Garden by this time, and presently all 
 were absorbed in watching the handsome horses 
 in the ring. 
 
 June with all her beauty and bloom was mak- 
 ing the world anew, and in no part of it had she 
 been busier than in the great "Blue Grass" re- 
 gion. There her lavishness was rewarded four- 
 fold, and wood and field testified to her handi- 
 work. Birds sang among the trees and shrubs 
 as though they would never cease singing, and 
 a perfect ecstasy of melody filled the air. Nor 
 were they the only warblers in the woods that 
 lovely June morning. 
 
 Coming down the pretty wood-road, with her 
 riding-cap resting upon her lap, and the sun- 
 shine flickering through the leaves upon her 
 pretty hair which her ride had somewhat loos- 
 
 57 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 ened from its pins and combs— one hand hold- 
 ing her reins loosely, while the other stroked 
 the silky neck of Beauty— rode Bess, singing at 
 the top of her voice for very gladness. Beauty 
 stepped sedately along, choosing the softest 
 spots to place his feet, as though his beloved 
 burden must not receive the slightest jar. 
 
 Presently he turned his head partly around 
 as though to catch a glimpse of the singer, but 
 immediately gave a slight start as though he 
 expected the whip she carried to fall upon him. 
 ' ' Oh, Beauty, zuhy do you do so 1 " cried Bess, as 
 she abruptly ceased singing, and leaning for- 
 ward clasped her arms about his warm, soft 
 neck. "Don't you knozu that Bess won't punish 
 you? What did they do to you up North, that 
 you are so frightened all the time? I wonder if 
 the old confidence will ever return. There now, 
 don't be frightened again, and turn around just 
 as often as you like. I 'in singing to you, and 
 you must show your appreciation. ' ' A merry lit- 
 tle laugh bubbled to her lips; so near her lips lie 
 
 a young girl's heart. 
 
 58 
 

 ^Vte^ €^*0^/^^; 
 
 A Blue Grass Beauty. 
 
 "'YOU WANT ME, BERT?' 
 59 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 Then the happy old Beauty seemed to come 
 back, and with a soft whinny he broke into 
 a joyous canter, tossed his head as of old, and 
 tried to wave his docked tail. As they swung 
 along in the varying sunlight and shadow of the 
 woods, the thud, thud of a rapidly approaching 
 horse sounded upon the ground. Bess turned to 
 look over her shoulder, and Bert Conant emerged 
 from the trees, riding Fred's pet horse. He 
 waved his hat and called : ' ' Free for six weeks, 
 Bess, and I 've come straight down to claim my 
 reward ! ' ' Then, as he drew up close beside her, 
 and Beauty and Bonny Lass rubbed noses to- 
 gether, he added more seriously, and his voice 
 quivered slightly : ' ' You promised to give me the 
 very best thing in the world if I chose to claim it, 
 Bess, and now I am going to do so, dear. I have 
 waited a long time, yet never dared to ask for it 
 before. But the old dream can never be perfect 
 till I have you, little girl." 
 
 Bess had looked at him incredulously as he 
 poured out the words, and then her big eyes 
 
 61 
 
A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 opened wide as she asked: "You want me, Bert? 
 Just me!" as though it were hard to realize that 
 the old boy and girl friendship had given place 
 to a man's deep love for a woman. 
 
 ' ' ' Just me, ' dear. In one respect not such a 
 tremendous thing to claim, but in another the 
 greatest you can give me. Can you give it, my 
 little girl?" Bert's face was very earnest as he 
 spoke, and leaning across he placed his hand 
 upon the gloved one which but a few minutes be- 
 fore had been caressing Beauty. 
 
 Bess did not speak for a moment, but looked 
 off through the fairy-like woods as though try- 
 ing to read her answer in its sylvan depths; then 
 turning a pink cheek toward the man regarding 
 her so closely she answered, as she looked up at 
 him from under her little elf locks blowing all 
 about her face: "I never break my word, Bert." 
 
 62 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND 
 BUSTER 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 £, 9f | "MENTION! Pwesent Arms! 'Ten- 
 Li tion! Wight face! Forward 
 March!" cried a childish voice 
 from the opposite side of the tall hedge. 
 
 "What sort of orders is them?" questioned 
 a. surly voice, and its owner parted the thick 
 branches of the hedge to peer through it at 
 what was taking place within the grounds which 
 the hedge divided from the dusty roadway. 
 
 A curious sight met the man's gaze, for in the 
 very center of the velvety lawn, with its patches 
 of sunlight and shade, stood a fairy-like little 
 figure of about six summers, daintily arrayed 
 in a white frock, with a broad sash of red, white 
 and blue draped from her shoulder and fastened 
 in a large bow under her left arm, a " Liberty" 
 cap made of a small silk flag was stuck upon her 
 
 65 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 head, and in one hand she grasped a small 
 sword, while with the other she waved the 
 American flag. 
 
 In front of her, gayly decked with small flags, 
 stood a monstrous St. Bernard dog, regarding 
 her with its beautiful, intelligent eyes. With 
 every change of tone or attitude, his ears were 
 raised, or lowered, and his head turned a little 
 to one side. Neither was aware of the third 
 pair of eyes at the hedge, for it was some dis- 
 tance from where the pair stood, and they were 
 much occupied with their own concerns. 
 
 Presently the order was repeated in a more 
 peremptory tone, and the great dog arose to his 
 hind feet, waved his front ones wildly in the 
 air once or twice, and then took a few clumsy 
 steps forward, as the child retreated backward, 
 waving her flag and flourishing her sword. 
 
 Then down he came, to have his small cap- 
 tain rush upon him and embrace him raptur- 
 ously, and assure him that he was "just the very 
 bestest dog that ever lived!" Then the drill 
 
 66 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 proceeded, and the dog was put through all man- 
 ner of evolutions, meantime being assured that 
 it "would vewry soon be the Fourth of July," 
 and that ' ' Uncle Fwed would come to spend it 
 with them," and "How 'shamed you 'd be if 
 you did n 't know how to 'bey orders when Uncle 
 Fwed gave 'em. ' ' 
 
 In the midst of the drilling a gentleman came 
 out upon the porch, and called: "Come along, 
 little patriot! The carriage will be here in a 
 few minutes, and you '11 want an every-day hat 
 on instead of your liberty cap. ' ' With a part- 
 ing hug for her companion, the child tossed 
 down her sword and flag, and skipping across 
 the lawn, ran up to the piazza steps and van- 
 ished within the house with "Daddy," whom 
 she assured that "she could n't live a single day 
 without 'Buster.' " 
 
 Nothing had escaped either the eyes or ears 
 upon the outer side of the hedge, and barely 
 had the beautiful little figure vanished than its 
 human antithesis withdrew his gaze, muttered 
 
 5— Blue Grass Beauty. fay 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 something beneath his breath, and lurched off 
 down the road a little way. Flinging himself 
 upon the soft grass at the roadside, he watched 
 the entrance gate of the big house, and presently 
 saw a carriage drive from it, then a wicked light 
 came into his eyes, and turning into the fields, 
 he made his way to the rear of the building. 
 
 It was perhaps four hours later when this 
 same figure was making its way swiftly along 
 an unfrequented wood road which led toward 
 the river, leading a big dog by a piece of rope. 
 Over the animal 's head was tied a piece of bag- 
 ging, which every few minutes he tried to shake 
 off, but it was too firmly tied about his neck. 
 
 The railway track ran close to the river bank, 
 and standing upon a side track were several box 
 cars. The man looked sharply in every direc- 
 tion, but no sign of living thing was to be seen. 
 Then he scrambled down the bank, pushed 
 open the door of one of the empty cars, man- 
 aged to get the dog into the car and follow 
 it quickly himself. Then he drew the door 
 
 68 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 together and ended the first act of the story. 
 
 At midnight a freight train drew up to the 
 siding, the empty cars were attached to it, and 
 the brakeman shouted "all right," and away 
 rolled the cars, the man and the dog. 
 
 The dawn was breaking over the town of 
 Greenwold, when the train slowed up, and the 
 empty cars were cut loose to go rolling into the 
 freight yard on a flying switch. Presently they 
 came to a standstill, and when all was quiet 
 again the man slipped from the car, dragging 
 the dog after him. 
 
 As he removed the bagging from the animal 's 
 head he was threatened with a low growl and it 
 seemed as though the dog meant to fly at him, 
 but a brutal blow upon his head very nearly 
 stunned him into submission. Then they made 
 their way into the town proper, where the hand- 
 some dog attracted much attention. Putting 
 on a brave front, the man made his way to a sa- 
 loon, and ere long was regaling himself upon 
 what it had to offer. But he paid no heed to 
 
 69 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 the dog's needs, although that intelligent crea- 
 ture did everything but speak his hunger. 
 
 About an hour had passed, when the man 
 emerged from the saloon, and made his way un- 
 steadily down the street, leading the dog with 
 him. He had tried to induce the saloon-keeper 
 to buy the dog, but could not strike a bargain 
 with him. As the pair disappeared down the 
 road the saloon-keeper remarked to some of his 
 customers: 
 
 "He never came by that beast honest. That 
 dog 's worth a tidy sum." 
 
 Several days passed, and the great and glor- 
 ious day of our land drew near. In all the shops 
 of Greenwold flags and fireworks were dis- 
 played, and the boys were saving every penny 
 they could beg or earn for the purchase of fire- 
 crackers. 
 
 Greenwold was a quiet little town, but its citi- 
 zens, both old and young, were very patriotic; 
 especially the latter. But Greenwold was also 
 very conservative in its ideas regarding educa- 
 
 70 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 tion and the institutions connected therewith, 
 and had no intention of closing its schoolroom 
 doors a moment earlier than seemed absolutely 
 necessary. 
 
 So the rising generation of Greenwold fumed 
 and fidgeted at its tasks, took surreptitious 
 peeps out of the school-room windows when it 
 should have been absorbed in nine-times-five, 
 wondered if Mr. Brown, who kept a general 
 store just over the way, had got anything new 
 since the doors had closed upon them at nine 
 o'clock, and hated school and all pertaining to 
 it when they had to stay shut up within its walls 
 the day before the Fourth. True, it was the 
 last day, and to-morrow would begin a long va- 
 cation, but why could n't it have begun sooner? 
 
 However, everything must end, and when 
 three strokes were tolled off on the town clock, 
 a howling, shouting mass burst from the school- 
 house doors, and, like shot from a blunderbuss, 
 scattered in every direction. 
 
 "Come on, Whizzer! I '11 beat yer to 
 
 71 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 Brown's. Bet lie 's got them sky-rockets he 
 said he was a-goin' ter have!" cried a black- 
 eyed little chap, stopping in his onward rush to 
 whirl around on his heel, and yell at a taller boy 
 who was, struggling to get his books strapped 
 together. 
 
 "Ah, hold on a minute! Brown's aint a-goin' 
 ter get away, and I can't get this strap fastened. 
 There!" and with a final tug at the books, 
 "That 's the last of you for one while, I bet a 
 cent ! ' ' and the books were tossed over his shoul- 
 der, where they hung dangling by the strap as 
 their owner tore across the school green and 
 joined his friend just as he stopped to read a 
 notice which had been fastened to a tree in front 
 of Brown's store while he and Whirligig were 
 confined within the school house. 
 
 "What is it?" demanded Whirligig, peering 
 over his friend's shoulder. 
 
 "Dog lost. Must a been a dandy if they '11 
 pay all that for him. Gee! Twenty-five dollar 's 
 a lot of money, ain 't it? Don't you wish ivc 
 
 72 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 could find him? We 'd go snacks, would n't 
 we, and, say, maybe we would n't have a show 
 to-morrow ! ' ' 
 
 "Was he lost here? Whose dog is it?" 
 
 "No; way down in York State! What do 
 they think he 'd be doin ' up in Connecticut, do 
 you 'spose?" 
 
 "Come up in a parlor car, maybe, if he 's such 
 a big gun. They did n 't give him a very hand- 
 some name, though, did they? 'Buster!' That 
 ain't no great shakes of a name is it?" said 
 Whirligig, spinning around upon his heel as was 
 his habit when excited, and which habit had won 
 for him his odd nickname. 
 
 The boys then made their way into Mr. 
 Brown's store and were presently so absorbed 
 in examining his display of fire works, forming 
 conjectures as to their cost and possibilities, 
 and how far their small savings would go to- 
 ward purchasing a supply for the morrow, that 
 the dog advertised dropped entirely from their 
 thoughts, although under ordinary circum- 
 
 73 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 stances it would have remained a topic of con- 
 versation for some time. Their joint savings 
 amounted to exactly sixty-five cents, and when 
 this sum had been judiciously invested, and the 
 parcel wrapped up they were ready to depart. 
 
 "Look-a-here, you boys have been pretty good 
 customers, and I guess I kin stand treat. Fourth 
 of July and vacation don't come every day. 
 What do you say to some crackers and cheese 
 byway of a blow out?" asked Mr. Brown. 
 
 "Guess we aint sayin' nothin' sassy," an- 
 swered Whirligig with a genial grin. 
 
 "Need 'n ter let it go ter waste fer want of 
 somebody ter eat it, I guess," was Whizzer's 
 comment. 
 
 "Well, here; take this and go long, an' let me 
 wait on someone else," and he thrust into the 
 boy's hands a paper bag containing some crack- 
 ers and a generous piece of cheese. Whizzer 
 grabbed it and shot through the door. Whirli- 
 gig spun around on his lively heel to bring his 
 face toward their benefactor, and cried: 
 
 74 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 "Thank you ever so much! That 's just 
 hunky ! ' ' 
 
 "Do you 'spose we can get 'em ter do it?" 
 asked Whizzer with his mouth full of crackers 
 and cheese. 
 
 "We '11 just make 'em. It 's just as easy as 
 anything. Dick was a-showin' me last night, 
 and he told me the orders too. It 's just like 
 this. Stand up in front of me an' do just as I 
 do, and you '11 learn in no time. Then I '11 make 
 you my Lieutenant, and we '11 make a dandy 
 show, ' ' and laying down the hunk of cheese and 
 crackers he was holding, Whirligig spun around 
 and assumed a soldierly attitude. 
 
 The boys had made their way to a little dell, 
 just out of the village, and seating themselves 
 upon an old log which lay beside the mill dam, 
 had regaled themselves upon Mr. Brown's treat. 
 Very little of it remained, and this was carefully 
 placed upon the log for future consideration, but 
 just now Whirligig was keenly alive to the latest 
 plan for the morrow, and this was a parade of 
 
 75 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 the boys to follow the village company to the 
 lake about a mile beyond the village, where pa- 
 triotic speeches, a spread and later fire-works, 
 were to celebrate the day and evening. Whirli- 
 gig's big brother was Captain of the company, 
 and had stirred Whirligig's enthusiasm to fever 
 heat. 
 
 "Attention! Present arms! Attention! Eight 
 face ! Forward, March ! " he cried, using a piece 
 of stick for a sword, and imitated closely by 
 Whizzer. Thej had been hard at it for ten 
 minutes or more, and so absorbed that they had 
 failed to notice a forlorn dog which had slunk 
 in behind the bushes and was snuffing eagerly at 
 the parcel upon the log, and eying them closely 
 meanwhile. 
 
 He was a wretched enough looking creature, 
 for his feet were sore from tramping, his hair in 
 a dirty mat, and a gnawed and draggled piece 
 of rope tied about his neck testified to the man- 
 ner of his escape. Lying almost flat upon his 
 stomach he crawled closer and closer to the 
 
 76 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 paper bag, and was on the point of seizing it 
 when Whirligig issued a somewhat more per- 
 emptory order than had yet been given. Whiz- 
 zer braced himself to obey, when chancing to 
 turn his eyes a little to the left, he nearly fell flat 
 with amazement, for just a little behind Whirli- 
 gig stood a huge dog straight upon his hind legs, 
 his front paws wildly fanning the air, but 
 marching like a soldier, and as the unconscious 
 Captain issued his orders, the dog changed his 
 tactics to respond to them, going through with 
 perfect precision, the evolutions which poor 
 Whizzer was striving so hard to learn. 
 
 'Oh, Jerusalem Christmas! Look a-there! 
 Look A-THERE!" he yelled, dropping his 
 sword, and staring with open mouth. 
 
 "Where? What?" demanded Whirligig, his 
 educated heel standing him in good stead as he 
 whirled about. The dog had come down upon 
 all fours, and stood regarding the boys with a 
 half frightened, half beseeching expression. 
 
 "He was a-doin' the very things you were 
 
 77 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 tellin' me to do. He was right up on his hind 
 feet, walking for all he was worth," almost 
 yelled Whizzer. 
 
 Whirligig looked incredulous, but put out his 
 hand to the dog and said: "Come here. Come 
 here. Good dog. Good dog," and was promptly 
 responded to by the sagacious beast, which 
 raised the dejected tail and wagging it gracious- 
 ly, laid his head in the boy's outstretched hands 
 and looked at him appealingly. Then glancing 
 toward the log, he gave a low bark. 
 
 "He 's hungry! He 's begging for something 
 to eat ! ' ' cried Whizzer. ' * That 's the reason he 
 was doing those things, I bet a dollar, ' ' and he 
 caught up the bag. The dog gave every evi- 
 dence of joy, and the boys began feeding him the 
 cheese and crackers which he devoured raven- 
 ously. 
 
 ' ' See if he will march again for something to 
 eat," exclaimed Whizzer, and a moment later 
 the dog was performing the "drill" like an old 
 soldier, for each evolution receiving a reward 
 
 78 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 from the paper bag. No thought of connecting 
 the appearance of this remarkable dog with the 
 advertisement upon the village tree ever entered 
 their heads. 
 
 After they had fully tested his remarkable 
 prowess, they rushed toward the village leading 
 him with them, and before nightfall their com- 
 pany was formed, with "Jack," as they had 
 named the dog, for its chief officer. Then arose 
 the question of ownership, which was amicably 
 settled by a partnership, the boys agreeing that 
 Whizzer should keep him one week and Whirli- 
 gig the next, parents, guardians, etc., permit- 
 ting, and Whizzer led him home in triumph. 
 
 Drums were beating, the band playing, flags 
 waving, fire-crackers banging and a general 
 hoorah prevailing in Greenwold. Everybody 
 who had "a team," was out upon the highway, 
 and everybody who had n't one was riding 
 ' ' Shank 's mare, ' ' and sending her along toward 
 the little park in the outskirts of the town as 
 fast as she would carry them. 
 
 79 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 The last small boy the town produced was 
 trudging along at the tail end of the procession, 
 for at that end was the most important actor in 
 the entire turnout. Military parades, brass 
 bands, and flags were every-day affairs, but a 
 big St. Bernard dog that could march as well as 
 a soldier, and who knew the commands given, 
 was a novelty not to be lightly regarded. Whiz- 
 zer had done his best for his new found pet, and 
 with Whirligig's assistance had scrubbed and 
 scoured the dog until he bore but little resem- 
 blance to the forlorn creature which had begged 
 for food the previous day. 
 
 A clean coat and a well filled stomach had 
 heartened him up wonderfully, and now he was 
 marching along surrounded by an admiring 
 throng of children, waving his plumy tail, from 
 which every vestige of a burr had been removed, 
 and beaming upon his friends with love and 
 gratitude in the beautiful eyes. Now and again 
 a halt would be called, and Jack put through his 
 drill for the benefit of all admirers. He never 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 failed to respond, and seemed delighted with 
 the praise showered upon him. 
 
 The procession had reached the park, and 
 "speechifying" had begun when an automobile 
 came rapidly into the village from the opposite 
 direction. In it were seated a gentleman, a lady 
 and a little girl, who looked eagerly all about her 
 and talked incessantly. The vehicle drew up in 
 front of the Constable's office and the gentleman 
 hurried in. A few moments later he reappeared 
 followed by that officer, who took his place upon 
 the rear seat, and a second later was whirling 
 down the road in the direction taken by the 
 parade. 
 
 The speeches were ended, and the event of 
 the day was about to take place. This was the 
 firing of the big cannon which had not been fired 
 since the civil war. Many were very skeptical 
 regarding it, and contended that it was a dan- 
 gerous undertaking, but they were over-ruled 
 by the more enthusiastic, and the old gun was 
 charged with powder; " enough to have blown it 
 
 81 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 to fragments when it was at its best," so said 
 the wiseacres. 
 
 Just as the match was about to be applied an 
 exciting scene was enacted not far from the 
 cannon, for a coarse looking man pushed his 
 way through the crowd to where Whizzer and 
 Whirligig were standing, the latter holding- 
 Jack's leader, lest he grow excited and take 
 French leave. Pushing the children roughly 
 aside, the man laid hold of the dog's chain, 
 jerked it savagely from the boy's hands and 
 started to drag the dog away. But he was in- 
 stantly surrounded by a protesting throng of 
 children, and fierce growls from the dog plainly 
 told his resentment of such treatment. 
 
 Just as the recrimination was at its fiercest 
 the match was applied to the cannon, and a 
 second later, destruction was sown broadcast, 
 for the old gun had long since been hors de com- 
 bat, and with one wild boom gave up the fight 
 forever. Many were thrown flat, several were 
 badly injured, and one man was seen to whirl 
 
 82 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 bodily into the pond at which the cannon 
 pointed. 
 
 When people managed to collect their senses 
 the man was struggling in the waler, but 
 evidently helpless. A general rush was made 
 for the shore, and someone ran to unfasten a 
 boat which was moored a little way off. But 
 the man must have perished before it could 
 reach him, but for a splendid dog which rushed 
 to his rescue. Plunging into the water he 
 caught the man by his coat collar and began to 
 swim toward shore with him, the crowd cheer- 
 ing and yelling like mad, and two small boys 
 dancing and whirling about like wild Indians. 
 Never had Whirligig's heel been called upon to 
 meet such demands. Willing hands rushed to 
 the noble dog's assistance, and Whizzer and 
 Whirligig fell upon him bodily, regardless of 
 the shower-bath with which they were greeted. 
 
 Just at this moment an automobile came 
 whirling into the park, and the next second a 
 beautiful little child was hugging and crying 
 
 6— Blue Grass Beauty. g-j 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 over the dripping dog, calling him her "dear, 
 dear Buster, ' ' while he in turn acted like a crazy 
 thing, licking her hands, and whining with joy. 
 
 "He 's the twenty-five dollar dog! He 's the 
 twenty-five dollar dog!" shouted Whizzer. "She 
 calls him 'Buster, ' and that was the name on the 
 notice! We found him! We found him!" 
 
 "I 'd rather have him than the money, even 
 if they '11 give it to us," said Whirligig in a 
 doleful tone. "He aint no slouch of a dog, let 
 me tell you. I 'd rather have the dog. ' ' 
 
 "I '11 take charge of this man," said the Con- 
 stable, laying his hand upon the arm of the man 
 whom the dog had rescued, and who was now 
 sufficiently recovered to sit up and see what was 
 taking place. "You got a good bit more than 
 you deserved when that dog saved you from 
 drowning, my man. The world can spare such 
 as you." 
 
 Meantime Mr. Howard had been making in- 
 quiries upon his own account, and going up to 
 the two boys he said: 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 "So these are the boys who rescued and be- 
 friended Buster? Come along with Flossy and 
 me. We think that we can do something for the 
 boys who did so much for our dog. A ride in 
 the automobile won't be a bad beginning. Ever 
 had a ride in one?" 
 
 Before the boys well knew what had hap- 
 pened they were whirling over the ground with 
 Buster capering along beside them, a lady smil- 
 ing upon them from the front seat, a bonny lit- 
 tle girl telling them all about her dear Bus- 
 ter and how he had been stolen, and a gentleman 
 nodding approval of all the little maid said. 
 
 That evening, long after the automobile had 
 spun away out of the town, two very happy boys 
 settled themselves down to talk over the excit- 
 ing events of the day. 
 
 "He gave me a whole dollar just for fire- 
 works, ' ' said Whizzer. 
 
 * ' Yes, and me too, ' ' cried Whirligig. ' ' And he 
 told Pa that he had left a cheque with the con- 
 stable for each of us, 'cause we both found the 
 
 85 
 
WHIZZER, WHIRLIGIG AND BUSTER 
 
 dog. And nobody is to touch it, and it has got 
 to stay in the bank till we 're big, and then it '11 
 be a lot more, cause Pa said that it would draw 
 interest, and when we were men we would have 
 some money to begin business with. My, think 
 of that! Ain't we rich! We 've both got a 
 quarter of a hundred dollars ! ' ' 
 
 86 
 

 TINY TIM'S EASTER GIFT 
 
TINY TIM'S EASTEE GIFT 
 
 U 
 
 N 
 
 OW where has that blockhead gone 
 to, I 'd like to know! Seems to 
 me he need n 't take half a day to 
 deliver a bundle of kindling, seven pounds of 
 sugar and a box of baking powder," and the 
 proprietor of the big grocery store on Fenton 
 Street popped his head out of his store door to 
 look for the tardy clerk whom he had sent to 
 deliver some goods more than an hour before. 
 As he opened the door he saw a wee bit of a lad- 
 die standing in front of a great tray of eggs 
 labeled : 
 
 "Strictly fresh eggs, just from Long Island. 
 Ten for a quarter!" 
 
 It was a tiny figure, shabbily clad, and thin 
 almost to emaciation, but the face was a frank 
 one and evidently deeply interested in the pile 
 of eggs. 
 
 89 
 
TINY TIM'S EASTER GIFT 
 
 "Seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, te-wen-t-y," 
 murmured the lips, and then an interruption 
 came from the store door. 
 
 "Hey, sonny! What are you doing to them 
 eggs ? ' ' 
 
 "I ain't doin' nothin' but just countin' 'em." 
 
 "Countin' 'em?" echoed the groceryman 
 with a laugh. "Expect to stand there till to- 
 morrow mornin'?" 
 
 "Nop, but I ain't hurtin' 'em, and they look 
 so nice and white. ' ' 
 
 "Like eggs?" 
 
 "Bet I does, but I can't git none now; cost too 
 much." 
 
 "Can you do an errand?" 
 
 "Guess I kin. Whatcher want?" 
 
 "Here; take this loaf of bread and scoot along 
 
 up to Street, and then come back and 
 
 I '11 give you two of the finest eggs in that 
 pile." 
 
 "Will yer fer honest?" asked that boy, his 
 face growing wonderfully attractive when 
 
 90 
 
TINY TIM'S EASTER GIFT 
 
 lighted up by a smile, for the eyes were as blue 
 as the March skies overhead, and the cheeks 
 would have had a suggestion of June's roses 
 had Dear Mother Nature's plans not been 
 thwarted, but there was not enough of the rich, 
 lifeblood in that small frame to spare any for 
 decorative purposes. It was all needed to keep 
 body and soul together. 
 
 "Sure! My best customer is waiting for that 
 loaf to stuff her poultry for dinner, and that 
 lunkhead of a boy of mine aint shown up since 
 noon." 
 
 The wee laddie took the big loaf, nearly as 
 tall as himself, and tucking it under his arm, 
 scurried across the street. The grocer watched 
 him until he turned the corner, and then mut- 
 tering: 
 
 ' ' Guess he '11 go all right enough, ' ' gave a lit- 
 tle laugh and returned to his store to attend to 
 his other customers, for it was Saturday after- 
 noon, and a busy season for him. In less time 
 than it seemed possible the little messenger re- 
 
 91 
 
TINY TIM'S EASTER GIFT 
 
 turned, and slipping into the store, was nearly- 
 lost sight of behind a big flour barrel. The pro- 
 prietor had meantime forgotten his very exist- 
 ence. The afternoon slipped along, and sunset 
 drew near. Then the store grew dim and the 
 electric lights were turned on to reveal a small 
 boy sitting on a box beside a flour barrel. 
 
 "Hello!" cried the proprietor, "When did 
 yon come back ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' I came right back. ' ' 
 
 "What! You aint been sittin' there all this 
 time?" 
 
 ' ' Course I have. Did n 't you tell me ter come 
 back fer my eggs?" with some shade of re- 
 proach in his voice. 
 
 "Well, why did n't you come and ask fer 
 'em?" 
 
 "Cause you was a waitin' on folks." 
 
 "And you've been squattin' down side that 
 barrel all this time ? Well you do beat my time. 
 What 's yer name?" 
 
 "Timothy Rollins." 
 
 92 
 
TINY TIM'S EASTER GIFT 
 
 "Tiny Tim?" asked the grocer, for lie had 
 come from Old England, and Dickens was an 
 old friend. 
 
 1 ' 'Aint never been called that. Will yer give 
 me my eggs now ? ' ' 
 
 ' ' Sure ! Come on, and I '11 give you more 'n 
 I said I would. Soon be Easter, and eggs will 
 be gettin' cheaper. Better take your feast 
 while they 're high priced and you 're gettin' a 
 luxury," and the man laughed as he led the way 
 to the front of the store. "Now pick out four 
 of the finest in that pile. Maybe if they had n 't 
 come to market there would a-been four chicks 
 come out of 'em at Easter. Who knows. ' ' 
 
 The boy looked at him in a puzzled sort of 
 way, and the man asked: 
 
 "What you lookin' so queer about?" 
 
 "Say, what was that you said then? Chick- 
 ens? Out of one 'er them eggs? Ah, a chicken 
 could n't git in one o' them eggs." 
 
 "Perhaps they could n't get in, but they can 
 come out all right. Did n't ye never see a lit- 
 tle chicken ? ' ' 
 
 93 
 
TINY TIM'S EASTER GIFT 
 
 "A little chicken what was little enough ter 
 git into a egg like that? Ah, say— " 
 
 "Don't believe me, do you? Aint never been 
 in the country have you? Well, take these eggs 
 home, if you 've got a home. Give three of 'em 
 to your mother, if you 've got one; have you?" 
 
 "Sure." 
 
 "But this one I 'm goin' to write your name 
 on, and you roll it all up in this here bit o' cot- 
 ton,— see it?— an' you just keep it right inside 
 your shirt here. Don't take it out night or day, 
 an' you see what '11 happen three weeks from 
 to-morrow, ' ' and the man placed the egg inside 
 the forlorn little shirt. 
 
 All this time the boy had been regarding him 
 with a half doubtful, half trusting expression, 
 with a wonderful hope creeping into his eyes, 
 and when the egg was safely bestowed a queer 
 little smile crept about the corners of his 
 mouth. 
 
 "Did n't expect to be turned into an incuba- 
 tor, did you sonny? Well, do n't smash your 
 
 94 
 
TINY TIM'S EASTER GIFT 
 
 egg, and there 's no knowing what will hap- 
 pen. ' ' 
 
 How little grown people are given to weigh- 
 ing the words they speak to little people, and 
 yet what tremendous weight, for good or ill, for 
 joy or sorrow those words often carry. 
 
 Poor little Timothy Eollins, poverty-stricken, 
 half starved, wholly neglected, had then and 
 there learned something that seemed a. wild 
 dream to him, nor could he have been said to 
 have learned it either. As yet it was only a 
 dim suspicion, for he did not know whether to 
 believe what had been told him or not. But 
 that egg was cherished. 
 
 The others were eaten with a keen relish, as 
 would number four have been had its existence 
 been suspected by the coarse, half-intoxicated 
 woman whom this poor little soul called by that 
 beautiful name— Mother. 
 
 Birds were singing, and bells were ringing 
 upon Easter morning, telling to the world the 
 glorious story of the Eesurrection. Up in a 
 
 95 
 
TINY TIM'S EASTER GIFT 
 
 wretched little room, barely more than a closet, 
 but saved from utter dreariness by the warm 
 Easter sunshine which flooded through one 
 small window in the ceiling, sat Timothy Rol- 
 lins, his little pinched face lighted up with a 
 joy beyond words to express. He held in his 
 claw-like little hands the wad of cotton given 
 him by the grocer three weeks before and nest- 
 ling in the center of it, with a bit of its shell still 
 sticking to its feathers, was the weest of wee 
 yellow chicks, looking up at Timothy with its 
 tiny bead-like eyes and uttering the softest of 
 peeps. 
 
 "An' he said you lived in that egg an' I 
 did n't b'live him. I did n't, no, not fer a cent. 
 But it was de trute, so it was. Ain't you gist 
 little! My, but what must yer eat!" 
 
 Here was a problem to confront. It was too 
 much for Timothy, and wrapping his treasure 
 carefully in the cotton, he put it into his hat, 
 crept softly down the stairs, out into the glor- 
 ious light of Easter day, carrying in his grimy 
 
 96 
 
TINY TIM'S EASTER GIFT 
 
 little hands the beautiful symbol of Easter, but 
 without even knowing that he was doing so. 
 Straight to his friend, the grocer, he hurried, 
 rushed into the store just as the clerks were 
 hurrying out their early Sunday-morning or- 
 ders, left over from the night before, and run- 
 ning up to the man cried : 
 
 "Look at me little hen! Look at me little 
 hen what yer give me in de egg. It 's gist come 
 out, an' aint it a dandy?" 
 
 97 
 
LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 7— Blue Grass Beauty. 
 
A 
 
 LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 LC /\. ^^ ^ a y norse with the softest of 
 white noses, thin, sensitive nos- 
 trils, whose quivering testified to 
 the delicate nervous organization controlling 
 them, or drew in long breaths of the clear spring 
 air to exhale it in a contented sigh as though 
 "thanking" the Lord for a life so sweet." 
 
 Eyes that looked at you so squarely and hon- 
 estly that you began to wonder if your con- 
 science was as clear as their limpid depths ; and 
 such dainty pointed ears that you marvelled at 
 their small size but wondrous ability to catch 
 the faintest sound. There was nothing small 
 about Laddie, in body or nature, excepting his 
 ears and hoofs. 
 
 IOI 
 
LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 We had bought him for a carriage horse, and 
 the person from whom we got him assured me 
 that he would prove "a first-class family 
 horse, sound as a dollar, and the best disposi- 
 tion ever known." Still, we had heard similar 
 assurances before, and experience had taught 
 us that horse flesh needed salting. 
 
 Laddie was driven into our grounds one beau- 
 tiful spring morning for my final decision re- 
 garding the purchase, and as he came prancing 
 and curveting up the driveway I instantly fell 
 in love with him. 
 
 Lassie (our pet name for our four-year-old 
 daughter) and I were on the piazza, and hast- 
 ened down to welcome the new arrival as the 
 man who had him in charge drove up to the 
 carriage block and, stepping from the surrey, 
 stood beside it. 
 
 Lassie ran ahead of me, and, planting herself 
 squarely in front of the big animal, stood with 
 her sturdy legs far apart, her arms clasped be- 
 hind her, and her head cocked knowingly upon 
 
LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 one side, critically surveying him as he towered 
 above her in all the grandeur of his fifteen 
 hands two* inches. How like satin his beautiful 
 blood-bay coat shone in the sunshine, and how 
 hard he tried to reach down to the little child 
 standing so near him! But fashion, that inex- 
 orable dame, had put a tight check upon him 
 and blinders at his eyes, and although he 
 turned his head from side to side and jerked it 
 up and down in his endeavors to reach her, it 
 was only when the beautiful arched neck was 
 turned far to one side that the head was brought 
 any nearer the object he strove to reach. 
 
 Between big horse and little maid there was 
 instantly established a mental telegraphy, and 
 then happened something which instantly set- 
 tled Laddie's fate. 
 
 "That horzvid old check-rein! You can't 
 weach me, can you ? But I'll come where / can 
 weach you," cried the child, and ere a word of 
 remonstrance could be uttered she had run to- 
 ward the horse and clasped both little arms 
 
 103 
 
LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 tightly about one slender front leg, and stood 
 pressing her face close to it. 
 
 We stood breathless with astonishment, fear- 
 ing to move or speak lest the great foot be 
 stamped upon the tiny ones so close to it. But 
 Laddie stood like a statue, and not a quiver 
 stirred his massive frame. 
 
 "Step back, darling," I said quietly to my 
 little girl, "and I will undo his check so that 
 you can stroke his face"— for any doubts I had 
 entertained of Laddie had been dispelled for- 
 ever. Utterly unconscious that she had been 
 in a frightfully perilous situation, the child 
 stepped back, and the man and I drew a breath 
 of relief. 
 
 A second later, I had unhooked that invention 
 of the evil one— the check-rein. First the 
 great neck was stretched out as one would 
 stretch one's arms after having kept them for 
 hours in a strained, unnatural position, and 
 then the handsome head came down to the little 
 arms waiting to "cuddle" it, and four-year-old 
 
 104 
 
LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 Laddie and four-year-old Lassie stood ' ' making 
 love" to each other. On one side perfect trust 
 and confidence; on the other utter fearlessness 
 and love. 
 
 After a thorough inspection, I said to the 
 man: 
 
 "I am satisfied with all but the headstall, and 
 I wish the blinders and check removed. ' ' 
 
 "Oh, but ye could n't dhrive him widout 
 thim, ma'am! He was broke to 'em, and it 
 would frighten the life out uv him to go widout 
 thim. It 'd not be safe at all." 
 
 Patrick was a true child of Erin, and, having 
 long been in the employ of a man who broke 
 and trained all his colts with blinders and a 
 high check, was convinced that Mr. Black's way 
 was the only way. 
 
 "Let us try him without them, anyway, and 
 if he misbehaves I shall have only myself to 
 blame," I answered. 
 
 Side straps were soon brought from our stable 
 and substituted for those then in the headstall, 
 
 ios 
 
LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 and the check entirely discarded. I shall never 
 forget how much handsomer Laddie looked, for 
 his neck had a beautiful natural arch, and his 
 great intelligent eyes, set so widely apart, 
 seemed to see before, behind, and on all sides of 
 him, as dear Mother Nature intended they 
 should. 
 
 "Wait on the lawn for me, darling, until I 
 have tried Laddie, and if he is a good horse you 
 shall go for a drive," I said, as I took my seat 
 in the surrey, and the man seated himself beside 
 me, doubtless with the double object of learn- 
 ing what sort of "whip" I should prove and 
 how Laddie would deport himself under the new 
 order of things. 
 
 Lassie skipped off to her nurse, who was 
 waiting for her, and I gathered up the reins and 
 prepared to start. The horse turned his head 
 around to take a good look at me, and as I said 
 kindly, "It 's all right, old fellow, come along," 
 he gave it a toss and set off at a brisk pace. 
 
 I had driven many horses before, and have 
 
 106 
 
LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 driven many since, but never hope to find Lad- 
 die's equal. An infant's hand could guide him, 
 and while full of life and action he was gentle 
 as a kitten. We went all about the town, and 
 although we met many queer-looking objects, 
 such as trolley cars, railway trains, etc., all well 
 calculated to arouse doubts in any young horse, 
 and even though Patrick still mentally ques- 
 tioned my wisdom in dispensing with the check 
 and blinders, Laddie behaved like an "old 
 stager," and came back to our home the very 
 model of good behavior. This was the begin- 
 ning of our fondness for him, which has stead- 
 ily increased with each year, although eight 
 have elapsed since that day. 
 
 Never again di'd he wear either blinders or a 
 check-rein, and ere long a time came which 
 caused us to be profoundly thankful that we 
 drove him without them. Many a long, delight- 
 ful drive did we take behind him, and very soon 
 Lassie could drive him as easily as I could. 
 
 He knew the instant her small hands took the 
 
 107 
 
LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 reins, and the change which at once manifested 
 itself in gait and expression seemed to say as 
 plainly as words could have done: 
 
 " Little missie is driving me now, and it be- 
 hooves such a great strong creature as I am to 
 show all that is best and gentlest in me, because 
 she is ruling by love alone." 
 
 As the years slipped b} T , Laddie became almost 
 human in his fondness for us, and his natural in- 
 telligence developed beyond belief. He seemed 
 to understand every word we said to him, and 
 would follow us like a dog. 
 
 When Lassie was nine years old she drove him 
 anywhere, and frequently went long errands 
 over the mountain road to bring us eggs and 
 cream cheese we always bought from a farm 
 about three miles from our home. 
 
 One afternoon she started about three o'clock, 
 and had not been absent half an hour when omin- 
 ous " thunder heads" predicted a coming storm, 
 which in a little while was raging furiously. 
 
 Confident that Lassie would remain at the 
 
 108 
 
LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 farm until the storm passed over, we felt little 
 concern for her; but when the weather, instead 
 of clearing, settled down to a dismal rain, we be- 
 gan to feel uneasy, even though we realized that 
 she was an exceptionally "level-headed" little 
 body who would take no chances. 
 
 Six o 'clock came, and then seven, but that mis- 
 erable down-pour continued. It was late in the 
 summer, and the evenings were growing short, 
 so that scarcely any daylight remained after 
 seven o'clock; and when no Laddie or Lassie ap- 
 peared by that hour, we began to feel consider- 
 able alarm, and sent Edward, our man, in quest 
 of them. We had no other horse, so he was 
 obliged to walk. He had gone nearly two miles, 
 and was just beginning to climb up the steep 
 mountain road where the thick foliage made it 
 as dark as midnight, when he heard in the dis- 
 tance the slow, cautious tread of a horse, taking 
 a few steps at a time; then halting; then taking a 
 few more steps. 
 
 A sharp bend in the road winding zig-zag 
 
 109 
 
LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 down the mountain would have hidden the ap- 
 proaching vehicle had not the darkness effec- 
 tually done so, and the man had ample time to 
 marvel at such a remarkable manner of pro- 
 cedure. Hardly conscious why he did so, he 
 called out: 
 
 "Who 's coming there!" and was instantly 
 answered by a shrill neigh and a joyful cry. 
 Springing forward, he soon came upon Laddie 
 and Lassie, and in the light of his lantern beheld 
 a sight which nearly took his breath away. 
 
 Creeping cautiously down the steep dark road, 
 with his nose so close to the ground as literally 
 to smell his way, and with his big eyes wide ojDen 
 to see all that could be seen in the gloaming, with 
 his left breeching strap dangling about his hind 
 legs, and the carriage bumping against his 
 haunches every step he took, came Laddie. 
 
 Kneeling in the bottom of the phaeton, with 
 her arms stretched out over the dash-board, was 
 Lassie, holding the reins and talking to the in- 
 telligent creature, who literally held her life in 
 his keeping. 
 
 HO 
 
LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 It took Edward but a second to spring to their 
 rescue, and, as he afterward expressed it: 
 "Faith, there was no telling which was gladdest 
 to meet me— the big horse or the little girl." 
 
 When they were safe at home Lassie told us 
 her story. 
 
 She had reached Farmer Hannam's just as it 
 began to rain, but found the house closed and 
 every soul absent. She drove under the shed to 
 wait for the storm to pass, but when the rain still 
 continued to fall and night drew near, the child 
 hardly knew what to do, and instinctively sought 
 home. 
 
 All went well till she reached the wood road 
 leading down the mountain, when, without a sec- 
 ond's warning, the hook which held the breech- 
 ing strap to the shaft pulled out and the strap 
 dropped. The carriage plunged forward as far 
 as the tug strap would let it, and these, soon slip- 
 ping backward, let the whiffle-tree come squarely 
 upon Laddie's haunches. After one frightened 
 plunge he seemed to realize what had happened, 
 
LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 and proved what it meant for a horse to be able 
 to see both behind and before him. 
 
 After looking behind him for a moment, as 
 though studying the situation and deciding upon 
 the next move, he started slowly down the hill, 
 taking a few steps and stopping, a few more and 
 another pause, as though to assure the fright- 
 ened child that she need fear nothing so long as 
 she trusted to him. He had traveled more than 
 half the journey with the phaeton bumping along 
 behind him at every step before Edward met 
 him, and he doubtless would have brought his 
 charge safely home. 
 
 We asked Lassie why she had not gotten out 
 to try to fix the breeching, for she knew how as 
 well as we did, but she said that it was so dark, 
 rainy, and slippery on the mountain road that 
 she had lacked courage to do so, and had felt 
 more faith in Laddie's ability to care for her 
 than in her own. 
 
 And now I ask my readers if this is not a fair 
 
 113 
 
LADDIE AND LASSIE 
 
 argument in favor of abolishing the use of a 
 check-rein and blinders? 
 
 Had the horse been unable to see the cause of 
 the trouble behind him, and had he not been free 
 to turn his head as he chose and put it as close 
 to the ground as he wished, who can guess what 
 ignorance and terror might have caused even so 
 faithful a creature to do? But the head was 
 free to turn and reach in any direction, and the 
 eyes were able to see all about him, as dear 
 Mother Nature meant they should be. And 
 when we add to this perfectly natural condition 
 the affection he bore the little child who had al- 
 ways treated him kindly, it is no wonder that he 
 promptly assumed the responsibility and took 
 her life in his care. 
 
 "3 
 
WHERE TWINKLE SPENT THE 
 FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 S -Blue Grass Beauty. 
 
WHERE TWINKLE SPENT THE FOURTH 
 OF JULY 
 
 \ LL abo-a-r-d! First stop Stamford. 
 
 A 
 
 All abo-a-r-d!" called out the con- 
 ductor, then gave a wave of his 
 hand and sprang upon the car step just as the 
 train began to roll out of the great railway sta- 
 tion. 
 
 It was a merry party, for a holiday was near 
 at hand, and everybody was eager to leave the 
 hot, dusty city, and longing for the cool sea 
 breezes which awaited them a few miles beyond. 
 People ware laughing and talking as they settled 
 themselves comfortably in their seats, or placed 
 their belongings in the racks overhead. 
 
 In one of the cars a family party was settling 
 itself, evidently for a long journey, and a long 
 sojourn, once their destination was reached, for 
 there was the "big box, little box, band box and 
 
 117 
 
WHERE TWINKLE SPENT THE FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 bundle" to tell the story, to say nothing of sev- 
 eral children, and several pets. One boy carried 
 a bird cage into which he peeped every little 
 w,hile. Another had a box with a hole in the lid, 
 and a bit of wire netting over it. This was 
 Frisky 's house for the time being, and Frisky 
 was a squirrel. The lady with them held a small 
 Boston terrier in her arms, and the little girl be- 
 side her carried a basket, from which now and 
 again came meek wails of protest against her 
 confined quarters, for Twinkle did not like her 
 narrow walls. 
 
 As our story has little to do with the other 
 pets, we must pass them by, and tell the story of 
 Twinkle, for Twinkle was a lady of high degree ; 
 a blue Maltese, with just a hint of Angora blood. 
 
 "Now pussykins, you must n't cry," said the 
 little girl, as she slipped one small hand through 
 the little crack in the basket lid. "We Ve got to 
 ride three whole hours, and if you begin to be 
 bad now, I 'm afraid that they will make you 
 ride in the baggage car, and think how ashamed 
 
 118 
 
WHERE TWINKLE SPENT THE FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 you 'd feel. So be a good pussy, please do." 
 Twinkle gave a little throaty meow, and set- 
 tled down for a time. 
 
 At last the journey was ended, and the family 
 settled in the pretty cottage close to the water, 
 where children and pets could enjoy themselves 
 to their heart's content. In another week "the 
 day we celebrate" would announce itself with 
 boom and bang, and the children were making 
 great preparations for it. Fair Point was well 
 named, for it was a very fair point indeed, and 
 better yet, a perfectly safe point. The long, 
 sandy beach stretched far out into the Sound, 
 and at low tide one could walk from the main 
 land to the island more than half a mile from 
 the shore. 
 
 Out on the island was a small cottage used by 
 the family upon rare occasions only, for it was 
 a little more than a covering for Mr. Hart when 
 he chose to go out there for fishing. Sometimes 
 when their own cottage was filled to overflow- 
 ing with guests, Mrs. Hart would send the men 
 
 119 
 
WHERE TWINKLE SPENT THE FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 over to the island to "roost," as she called it, 
 but most of the time the place was shut up. 
 
 "Mary, have you seen Twinkle this morn- 
 ing?" asked Elsie, as she opened the door lead- 
 ing into the kitchen of the cottage. "I 've 
 searched and searched for her, but I can't find 
 her, ' ' and the little girl looked very unhappy, for 
 Twinkle was her "Very own," and each child 
 cared for his or her especial pet. 
 
 "No, Miss, I have n't. I saw her last night 
 just before Mistress closed up the house, and 
 then she was sitting out yonder on that sand- 
 bar a-lookin' over toward the island as though 
 she was a wonderin' who lived over there," and 
 Mary, the cook, laughed at her own wit. 
 
 1 ' Oh, I wish I could find her, my dear pussy- 
 kins," and Elsie went back into the cottage to 
 renew her search. But it proved unavailing and 
 no Twinkle was to be found. The family had 
 now settled in the cottage three days, and on the 
 day following their arrival Twinkle had van- 
 ished, leaving her little mistress sorely troubled. 
 
 120 
 
WHERE TWINKLE SPENT THE FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 Four more days passed, and the morrow 
 would usher in the Fourth of July. Fire works 
 and fire crackers had been sent out from the 
 city, and the boys were wild with delightful an- 
 ticipations, but Elsie could not reconcile herself 
 to Twinkle's loss. They had searched and made 
 inquiry far and near, but all to no' purpose; 
 Twinkle could not be found. 
 
 The day had passed as all such days pass, and 
 the children had enjoyed it thoroughly; at least 
 the boys had, but Elsie still grieved for her lost 
 pet and could not be comforted. Evening drew 
 on, and the boys began to set up their fireworks, 
 of which Mr. Hart had purchased a generous 
 supply. Roman candles were stuck in the sand, 
 and as the tide was out and the long sand-bar 
 exposed, they placed a row of rockets almost 
 across to the island. 
 
 Boom! Boom! went the bombs and candles, 
 and whiz, sizz, bang! went the rockets one after 
 another. Finally one rocket flew wildly into the 
 air, whirled about, sputtered and then came tear- 
 
 121 
 
WHERE TWINKLE SPENT THE FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 ing to tlie earth again, to land upon the island 
 opposite. Nobody gave it another thought, and 
 it would have gone from their minds forever, 
 had not its sparks set about creating a little cele- 
 bration upon their own account. 
 
 "Oh, look, look at the island! The cottage is 
 all afire ! ' ' cried Hugh, as he let fall the candle 
 he was about to set off, and pointed wildly to- 
 ward the little cottage. 
 
 ' ' As true as I live ! ' ' cried Mr. Hart. ' ' Come 
 quickly boys, we can get across and maybe save 
 it by prompt action. Get all the pails you can 
 find and follow me. Don't waste a moment," 
 and off he tore, followed by his own boys and 
 half a dozen others from the cottages near at 
 hand. Several other gentlemen had seen the 
 fire and were now running up to offer help, and 
 in a few moments a regular fire brigade was 
 formed and running toward the burning cottage. 
 Mrs. Hart and several other ladies followed 
 close at their heels, with Elsie and some of her 
 little friends running beside her. Mr. Hart 
 
WHERE TWINKLE SPENT THE FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 rushed toward the burning building, and dashed 
 upon it his pail of water, but just as he did so, 
 tripped and nearly fell over a small animal which 
 came scurrying from the cottage, to drop some- 
 thing at his very feet, and then rush back to- 
 ward the house. 
 
 Mr. Hart stooped down and picked up a tiny 
 white kitten, but before he could say a word, a 
 little gray figure came running toward him, 
 bearing in its mouth a little black brother to the 
 mite in his hands. 
 
 1 ' As I live it 's Twinkle, ' ' he cried, and hastily 
 handing over the two kittens rushed around to- 
 ward the rear door, which the flames had not yet 
 reached. The light from the fire made every- 
 thing plainly visible, and there in one corner of 
 the little outhouse which they had used as a 
 bath house, was Twinkle with two- more kittens ; 
 one black and white, the other a little tiger. In 
 the further corner lay the mother of the little 
 kittens, dead. Doubtless the mother love had 
 given her strength to reach her little ones, and 
 
 123 
 
WHERE TWINKLE SPENT THE FOURTH OF JULY 
 
 then life departed. She had doubtless been dead 
 several days, and somehow Twinkle had discov- 
 ered her babies, and cared for them, for Twinkle 
 had just reared a family in the city, and seen 
 them carefully bestowed in new homes before 
 leaving town. 
 
 The kittens were quickly moved to a place of 
 safety and in a little while the fire was extin- 
 guished. Then Twinkle was looked after. How 
 she had managed to live on the island all that 
 time, and cared for the orphan kittens, was a 
 mystery to her owner, but it was a. poor, thin, 
 forlorn Twinkle which they carried back to the 
 main land, and a ravenously hungry one too. 
 The adopted kittens were placed in a basket, and 
 their gracious foster-mother took her place be- 
 side them with a warbly meow as though to 
 say: "I suppose I ought to be an advocate of 
 Fourth of July celebrations, or my beautiful 
 foster-children would never have been found, 
 but, really, I should not have minded if the dis- 
 covery had been accompanied with just a little 
 
 less thrilling scenes. ' ' 
 
 124 
 
ALTEMUS' GOOD TIMES SERIES 
 
 Handsomely printed, profusely illustrated and attractively bound. 
 Cloth, illuminated covers {S l A x 7% inches) SO cents each. 
 
 UNDER THE STARS 
 
 By Florence Morse Kingsley 
 
 Four beautiful stories from the life of Jesus. 
 A Watch in the Night. The Only Son of His Mother. 
 
 The Child in Jerusalem. The Children's Bread. 
 
 THE STORY OF THE ROBINS 
 
 By Sarah Trimmer 
 
 "The Story of the Robins" was first published in England under the 
 title of " Fabulous Histories," in 1785, and acquired instant popularity. 
 It has been issued in all sizes and styles ; it has received nothing but 
 praise from the greatest of critics ; and it has been illustrated by the best 
 artists. It compares favorably with modern works which teach kindness to 
 animals. 
 
 JACKANAPES 
 
 By Juliana H. Ewing 
 
 In the story of "jackanapes," the Captain's child, with his clear blue 
 eyes and mop of yellow curls, is the one important figure. The doting 
 aunt, the faithful Tony, the irascible General, the postman, the boy- 
 trumpeter, the silent Major, and the ever-dear Lollo, are there, it is true, 
 but they group around the hero in subordinate positions. In all they say 
 and do and feel they conspire to reflect the glory and beauty of the noble, 
 generous, tender-spirited "Jackanapes." 
 
 THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING 
 
 By Elizabeth Wetherell 
 
 This story of the Christmas Stocking has helped to make many children 
 happy, for without it many fathers and mothers would have never thought 
 of making arrangements for the visit of Santa Claus, who never comes 
 where he is not maoe welcome. The things little Carl found in his stocking 
 told him stories which should help us into the habit of remembering those 
 who have not all the good things we possess. 
 
 LADDIE 
 
 By the Author of " Miss Toosey's Mission " 
 
 A charming story that has been popular for many years, and deservedly so. 
 
 MAKING A START 
 
 By Tudor Jenks. 
 
 A story of a bright boy who did not wait for " something to turn up," 
 but exercised his talent for drawing until he secured a good position on a 
 great daily newspaper. A book for boys who are learning that " the secret 
 of success is constancy to purpose." 
 
 HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA 
 127 
 
ALTEMUS' GOOD TIMES SERIES 
 
 Handsomely printed, profusely illustrated and attractively bound. 
 Cloth, illuminated covers (5% x IVt, inches) 50 cents each. 
 
 THE STORY OF A DONKEY 
 
 By Mme. La Comtesse de Segur. 
 
 In this book the donkey tells the story of his life and adventure, be- 
 cause, as he says, "I want you to treat all of us donkeys kindly, and to 
 remember that we are often much more sensible than some human beings." 
 The story has always been exceedingly popular and has delighted thousands 
 of readers. 
 
 MISS TOOSEY'S MISSION 
 
 By the Author of " Laddie." 
 
 A delightful and wholesome story that has had a wide circulation and still 
 holds its popularity. 
 
 A BLUE GRASS BEAUTY 
 
 By Gabrielle E. Jackson. 
 
 Never did Kentucky turn out a handsomer creature than the Blue Grass 
 Beauty who twice carried off the Blue Ribbon at New York's great annual 
 horse show. With the story of his life is woven that of some very nice 
 people, and all is set forth in Mrs. Jackson's inimitable manner. It is far too 
 good a book to mislay. 
 
 THE STORY OF A SHORT LIFE 
 
 By Juliana H. Ewing. 
 
 In "The Story of a Short Life," Mrs. Ewing again sings the praises of 
 military life and courtesies. Many people admire Leonard's story as 
 much as "jackanapes," possibly because the circumstances of the former's 
 life are much more within the range of common experiences than those of the 
 latter. It is a simple, exquisitely tender little story. 
 
 "JESSICA'S FIRST PRAYER 
 
 By Hesba Stretton. 
 
 A beautiful and pathetic story which appeals to all children, and to older 
 readers as well. 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF BARON 
 MUNCHAUSEN 
 
 By Rudolph Erich Raspe. 
 
 In 1737 Baron Munchausen served in Russian campaigns against the 
 Turks, and after his return acquired great notoriety by his exaggerated 
 stories of adventure. These stories are so outrageous, and Munchausen 
 asserts so strongly that they are all strictly true, that his name has become 
 proverbial as a synonym for extravagant boasting. 
 
 HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA 
 
 ""■■ — — - ■ j^ 
 
GEORGE WASHINGTON JONES 
 
 A Christmas Gift that went-a-begging. 
 
 By Ruth McEnery Stuart, 
 Author of " Napoleon Jackson," etc. 
 
 George Washington Jones, " ten years old, little, black, sensitive," tries to 
 give himself away to some lovely young lady who would make him her page, 
 as in the days "befo' the wah." Even without the magic of the author's 
 name in the writing world, the story will survive as one of the best and 
 prettiest ever written. 
 
 Cloth, ornamental, illustrated - - - - $1.00 
 
 LITTLE MISS JOY-SING 
 
 How she became the Beautiful Pine Tree in the Garden 
 
 of Prince of Don't Care What. 
 
 By John Luther Long. 
 
 PICTURES BY ZAIDA BEN-YUSUF. 
 Little Miss Joy-Sing, with a poppy behind her ear, is a child of the sunshine. 
 She slept and she woke and she wished ; and there is a beautiful prince, and 
 a fox that can talk — but the book is too clever to be cut up in pieces for 
 inspection. Mr. Long stands inside the circle of the mighty and always 
 has large audiences. 
 
 Cloth, ornamental - - - - - $1,00 
 
 HALF-A-DOZEN HOUSEKEEPERS 
 
 A Story for Girls in half-a-dozen chapters. 
 By Kate Douglas Wiggin. 
 
 PICTURES BY MILLS THOMPSON. 
 The charm of fhis book is the insight the author gives us into the natural life 
 of natural people. Every girl who reads it will put the volume in her collec- 
 tion of permanent acquisitions. It is deliciously fresh and amusing. 
 
 Cloth, ornamental $0.75 
 
 THE STORY OF THE GOLDEN 
 FLEECE 
 
 By Andrew Lang. 
 
 PICTURES BY MILLS THOMPSON. 
 It happened long ago, this adventure of the Golden Fleece, but the fame 
 of the heroes who sailed away to a distant lard to win themselves renown 
 forever has lived, having been told many times in story and song. Yet 
 who cou.d tell it like Mr. Lang, with his poet's passion for beauty, his 
 artist's eye for color and detail ? 
 
 Cloth, ornamental - - - - - - $0.75 
 
 HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA 
 
 129 
 
GALOPOFF, THE TALKING PONY 
 
 By TUDOR JENKS, 
 
 Author of " Imagino*ions," " The Century World's Fair Book," " The Boys' Book of Ex* 
 ploration," etc., etc. Pictures by Howard R. Cort. 
 
 A story for young folks, told in the captivating style that has made 
 Mr. Jenks' name a household word wherever there are English-speak- 
 ing boys and girls. The book is delightful reading; as enjoyable as 
 " Black Beauty," or "Alice in Wonderland." 
 12mo, cloth, $1.00 
 
 "caps and capers 
 
 By GABRIELLE E. JACKSON, 
 
 Author of " Pretty Polly Perkins," " Denise and Ned. Toodles," " By Love's Sweet Rule," 
 etc., etc. Pictures by C. M. Relyea. 
 
 A story of boarding-school life, far above the average of such stories. 
 Toinette Reeve, who has scarcely known the influence of a happy 
 home or tender mother's love, is taken from a school where the posses- 
 sion of money atones for shortcomings in character, and is placed with 
 sensible, loving instructors who are not one whit behind their charges 
 i:i the spirit of good fellowship. 
 12mo, cloth, $1.00 
 
 THE LITTLE LADY— HER BOOK 
 
 By ALBERT BIOELOW PAINE. 
 
 Author of " The Hollow Tree," " The Peep Woods," " The Arkansaw Bear," etc., etc. 
 Pictures by Mabel L. Humphrey, Louise L. Heustis and others. 
 
 The Little Lady, who lives with the Big Man and the Little Woman 
 in the House of Many Windows, is a dainty little girl to whom, the Big 
 Man tells stories and sings songs; just such stories and songs as chil- 
 dren love. Then there are walks and excursions and many adventures, 
 which the Little Woman shares with them. 
 12mo, cloth, $1.00 
 
 TOMMY FOSTER'S ADVENTURES 
 
 By FRED A. OBER, 
 
 Author of " The Silver City," " Montetum.i's Gold Mines," "Crusoe's Uland," " Tha 
 Knockabout Club Books," etc., etc. Pictures by Stanley M. Arthur. 
 
 It is worth while for boys to read such a book as this, and girls, too, 
 for that matter. Tommy is a sturdy American boy who has a glorious 
 time in the Southwest among the Navajo, Zuni, Moqui and Pueblo 
 Indians. Boylike, he gets into a "scrape," but a young Indian becomes 
 his friend and later shares his adventures. The author has lived 
 among the scenes he describes ; and there is plenty of fun and incident. 
 12mo, cloth, $1.00 
 
 FOLLY IN FAIRYLAND 
 
 By CAROLYN WELLS, 
 
 Author of '" Story of Betty," " Idle Idyls," " The Merry Go Round," "At the Sign of ths 
 Sphinx," etc., etc. Handsomely Illustrated. 
 
 A remarkable book for boys and girls, fully as fascinating as the 
 other justly popular books of this author. 
 12 mo, cloth, $1.00 
 
 Henry Altemus Company, Philadelphia 
 
 130