The Argosy — page 133: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Jen a se68 Shaving the Ponies’ Tails. 119 “T want to get over to Alcester to-day to the magistrates’ mecting,” said the Pater to Budd. ‘“ Ought to have started sooner, but the cold makes one sleep late. [ll drop you on the road, if you like, as you want to go towards Cookhill. It’s a treat to sit behind those ponies of mine.” . “So ’tis,” answered Budd, tossing off a second glass of the ale brought infor him. ‘I never see foiner tails.” “Ah h!” said the Pater, rubbing his hands at the compliment paid to the tails. “ Johnny, go and tell Giles to get the chaise ready.” Giles was not about yet, but I and Bill did it, and he took the car- nage round. I went under the pigeon-house, out of harm’s way, and looked on. Budd came out first, the Pater halting at the door to button his great- coat. Bill was at the ponies’ heads, and the Pater caught sight of him. “Where's Giles?” he asked. Bill answered that he ‘ was not in the way ;” he did not dare to tell the master what was keeping him out of it. “Why, Squire, what on earth have ye had done to ’em?”’ It was Budd that spoke, pointing to the ponies, and it caused the Pater to step quickly to his side. He stood transfixed for a minute, staring like a stone statue, and then he burst into a noise that brought the house out. ‘‘He has shaved their tails! He said he’d do it. I’ll transport him !” Pater. ‘‘ Dwarf Giles.” The poor things stood shivering like human creatures. No wonder, with their fine warm tails gone! Mrs. Todhetley came out, Hugh and Lena came out, old Thomas came out, the empty ale-jug in one hand, the glass in the other ; the women-servants put their heads out at the windows. ‘Them there thick tails kep ’em warm,” cried Budd,—about the worst thing he could have said. “’Twere like clothing to’em, set aside the ornament they was.” ‘‘ They are not our ponies, papa,” cried Hugh. Were they the ponies? The Pater rubbed his eyes as the doubt came over him. Had old Blossom harnessed the wrong ones to the chaise last night? Bill decided it. | ‘“‘ They be um, sir, sure enough. This un’s Punch, and that un’s Toby. Stepping up all perky, as if to show he’d had nothing the matter with him, came Dwarf Giles. At first the Pater did not notice him: they were all crowding around. To watch Giles’s face, when he saw the ponies, was better than a comedy: his mouth and eyes opened, and did 9? “Who?” asked Mr. Budd, staring alternately at the ponies and the <S GO) not shut again. CORE DOO