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Archiver > VERMONT > 1999-05 > 0927255131


From: "Jackie M. Botala" <>
Subject: [VERMONT-L] more old papers...
Date: Thu, 20 May 1999 19:52:11 -0700


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"Brownie"

"Brownie" was a Morgan horse, one of the driving horses
kept by Father. She was a beautiful glossy brown; her eyes
were almost luminous. Brownie had a special affection for
us children.
My father matained she was "smart for a horse" and he
had ample evidence of her intelligence! Often he drove her
into the country to farms where he purchased cattle for his
meat business. These cattle had to be driven with foot-ropes
on them and it was Brownie's task to follow along with the
buggy and to wait if a beast grew unruly or vicious or sulky
and lay down beside the road. Sometimes she would wait
so long that they would think they would have to back for her.
Then they would see her coming over the hill.
It was this belief in Brownie's intelligence which led my
father to try an experiment. It seemed that the busiest hours
of his day were interupted to drive the children to and from
school. My father was known as a "hustler" which colloquially
meant to act with resolute energy. He wondered if Brownie,
who, after driving us to the school house would return alone,
if started in the right direction.
The day of the experiment he did not come with us but
went afoot so that he could watch, unknown to Brownie. My
brother, as instructed, tied the rein around the whipstock and
behind the dash board, turned the wagon around and said,
"Go home, Brownie!" Brownie started up and never stopped
until she reached the harness shed.
Father was delighted. It was one thing to go home by
herself, but would she understand the command "Go fetch
the children?" At four o'clock he hitched Brownie to the buggy
and started her out of the yard. She went right along until
she came to a fork.
My father, watching from behind a tree saw her hesitate.
Would she take the stage road over which she often went
when out for cattle or would she take the less traveled road
toward school? She took the right road! Would she overturn
the buggy on the slanting road, turning in at the schoolhouse?
The buggy almost went over but not quite. Brownie drew up
sharply at the school door and stopped. We were greatly
surprised, so was the teacher who dismissed us immediately
to ride home with Brownie.
After that, day after day, Brownie went home by herself
after leaving us at school and come for us in the afternoon.
The neighbors often set their clocks by her comings and
goings. Sometimes she trotted-but seemingly was never
tempted to stop and graze along the roadside.
One day a gentleman feom Booklyn, N.Y. who was visit-
ing at The Center, drove into our yard much upset. "There's
been an acident or foul play! I saw a horse going along
the raod with nobody in the wagon. Where can the occupants
of the buggy be? I didn't see anybody beside the road. I've
tied the horse to the fence until we know what should be
done."
Brownie was off schedual that day and Mother was just
wondering what had become of her.

(Contributed by Clara Gardener)

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