St Johns College - Yearbook (Annapolis, MD)

Page 204 text:

Autobiography of a Pony ,l,l.l.iLl- I am only a plain, ordinary little twenty-five cent pony. When or how I came into this world of' boys and books, I have not the faintest idea. The earliest recollection I have of my existence goes back to the' days when I stood on a high shelf with many other of my quadruped friends, in a New York bookstore. It was a big place with many long shelves, and over the doors was spelled in broad letters, Hinds dz Noble. I didnot like my home 5 it was too crowded. I longedto get out into the world to see the sights, and to do the work which I felt sure awaited me. So I was very glad when, one day, a clerk took me down from the shelf, wrapped me up in paper, and tossed me in a bag with lots of other ponies who were going out to see this great world. The next time I saw daylight was when a fellow in a gray uniform to whom I had been given by the postman, tore off the paper, looked me over carefully and tossed me on the table. There were many other books on, this table, but they were all strangers to me and I felt rather lonely. Some of them were very shabby and I shuddered at the thought that perhaps some day I would lose my beautiful color and be like them. By and by another fellow came in the room and quickly espied me on the table. He. pickedme up, turned my pages over carefully and, after comparing me fto another book, he said I was a fine pony. I i It pleased- me very much to find that I was making such a good impression, and when I was returned to the table I felt almost as important as the .big dictionary that towered up above me. I 4 . I soon became very popular with the boys and found many warm friends among them, but the Profs seemed to dislike me from the first and I have never been able to gain their friendship. They say all manner of terrible things about me 5 one of them even told my master that he had better throw me away, for I was worse than useless. His advice, however, was not heeded or I had never livedto tell my story. They say I caused my master to flunk. I never knew what that meant, but it must have been something extremely bad, for he was very serious next day and did! not look at me for more than a month. After a time his heart softened and he began to use me again, but I never seemed to stand as high in his affections as before. i T 184