DOLLY'S DAY OFF 



the rope we had taken along had been lost in the 

 excitement, but I was too mad to say anything about 

 it. For a dreary mile I led the brute along the road, 

 and when we reached the home corner I let her go 

 and laid the buggy whip along her ribs. Really 

 there is little satisfaction in the cheap, light buggy 

 whips they make nowadays. I merely raised dust 

 from her hide as if I were beating a carpet, but I 

 didn't feel that the cut I gave her had any sting to it. 

 When we reached the lane gate she went right past 

 it. She didn't intend to live with us any more. But 

 another neighbour headed her off and we finally got 

 her home. This morning I hitched her up to drive 

 to the village. She started off slowly, picking her 

 steps like a cat, but I began signalling to her with 

 the buggy whip that I was looking for some of the 

 speed she had shown the day before. Her hide is an 

 excellent non-conductor, but I finally made an im- 

 pression. She eventually caught my meaning and 

 made a record trip to the village — I mean a record 

 for her. Now what I am wondering is what she 

 would do if she were fed on oats as well as blue 

 grass. Anyway, I am going to cure her of the sleep- 

 ing sickness, even if I have to invest in a blacksnake 

 whip. 



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