Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 October 1875 — The Power of Kindness. [ARTICLE]

The Power of Kindness.

Walking down a country lane the other morning I heard a gentle whistle behind me, and almost simultaneously a shrill neigh burst upon my ear from the neighboring field. Turning around I was about to retrace my steps toward a man whom I saw standing by the field gate, about a hundred yards away, and whom I presumed had given the call, when a pony dashed past me at full gallop on the opposite side of the fence toward the gate, and before I had gone many yards was being quietly led out by the man. Feeling interested, not to say delighted, at this proof of the power of kindness—for such I had no doubt was the cause of this ready obedience —I questioned the man, who, seeing that I w-as interested, told me that, having been accustomed to groom and feed the animal, he was in the habit of CEtlling it from the fields by the peculiar whistle of which I had just now seen the effect; that many others had likewise tried to call him, but failed, the pony taking not the ' slightest heed of them. He acknowledged that it was through kindness and attention alone that this was gained. In his absence another groom having to catch the pony would attempt the call, but whistle and chirp as he would it was no use ; he was always obliged to enterthe field, basket in hand, and so lure it to tlie halter.—/. A., tn Animal World. Mr. John 8. Sammis, the eccentric old gentleman of the town of Crawford who some fifteen or eigliteen years ago predicted his own death as soon to occur, and who constructed at considerable expensea vault for receiving his remains, is not dead yet Some two years since he bought metallic burial cases for his cat, dog and niece, so as to have them handy in the case of death in his family. He has had no use for them until last Friday, when his beloved Grimalkin, pride of his heart, caterwauled her life away, being meanwhile .fondly embraced by the old man. The burial case was brought out, the cat was placed in it as tenderly as if it had been the remains of some beloved child, and the old man went into mourning We understand the interment took 'place yesterday, and we also learn that the dog is in delicate health, and his death may be looked for at any day.— Newburg (N F.) Telegraph. V" —aThat is an old story, but a good one, about the army officer who laughed at timid women before his marriage, and subsequently took off his boots in the hall when he came home iate at night, having married “ a timid woman” himself.