“Excoose me; but I’m the gentleman,” he said, with grave dignity, and took the bridle from his cousin’s grasp.
She allowed him his will, finding in him something so lovable that he was already assured of one welcome in the household, no matter how the rest might yet regard him.
One of the farm hands was just putting up the stock for the night, and to him Fritz gave the care of his new possession, with a matter-of-fact manner which surprised the farmer into accepting it without protest.
“Rub her down well, boy, and don’t drink her till she’s cold. That’s what Fritzy Nunky said. I don’t know much about horses myself, but I do know that she isn’t a ‘him’ like you called her, Content,” laughed the tired little fellow, slipping his warm hand into his cousin’s cool clasp.
The “boy,” who was a gray-haired father of many children, received the young horse owner’s directions in silent amazement, and looked after the pair as they left the barn-yard and entered the kitchen as if he didn’t quite know whether he should believe his own ears or not. Finally, he gave a low whistle, and ejaculated: “Jimminetty!” To him it appeared as if the self-possessed child and his dashing little turnout had dropped from the skies; but somehow he felt no reluctance to rubbing the tiny mare “down well,” as he had been ordered, nor did he attempt to “drink her” until she was perfectly cool and it was safe to let her plunge her velvet nostrils into the trough of spring water at the barn-yard gate.
Meanwhile, Content and the new arrival had entered the mansion by the kitchen, and had, after many pauses by the way, caused by the guest’s curiosity, arrived at Grandmother Kinsolving’s quiet room, where Aunt Ruth stood tying on her gray bonnet, preparatory to going out and dispatching her return message of welcome to the guardian of her sister Lydia’s children.
Both mother and daughter stared at Content, but for a moment each supposed she had picked up her small companion from among the “boarders” who frequented their mountain settlement, and who strolled about over the pleasant roads at all hours.
“Well, and whom have you brought to visit me now, Content?” asked grandmother, smiling hospitably upon the little man.
“Can’t thee guess, Grandma?”
“Oh, she needn’t bother to guess. I’d just as lief tell her. I’m your little grand-boy, I reckon. Anyhow, I’m Fritzy Pickel.”