Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1831-04-14
rHE sKrNNrp noRaR.


quaintance of his assures him, that he has
often heard his grandfather tell how an of
ficer in the Revolutionary war used to res
late the following story. 1t therefore
comes to as from good authority, and we
hope nobody will take the liberty Of doubt
ing its truth.
Colonel -, an officer in the times
that tried mems souls aud horses bodies,
owned faithful steed which had served
him through the wars, and had arrived at
the mature age Of twenty-five years. Be-
ing on visit few miles from home, while
his master was enjoying glass of cherry
bounce with his host, the horse got to a pile
of cherries which had just been emptied
from the cask, and as they we're well sat
urated with spirits, they soon made him as
drunk as David's SOW If~our readers
know how drunk that means, they will be
able to judge Of the condition Of the poor
old horse. If not, we must inform them
that he was SO badly of as to hestaken for
dead and in this state deprived ofalsis
shoes and stripped of his hide.
The Colonel hired another horse and
returned home, sadly lamenting the fate Of
his venerable and faithful steed. Tie mis-
fortune Of the. animal was talked over be-
tween the Colonel and his wife, and though
they severely blamea him for getting so
beastly drunk, it was concluded on the
whole, that as this was the only instance
of intemperance during a long and useful
life, they should not visit his memory too
severely. With these reflections they re.
tired to rest. But what was their astonish-
ment about midnight, at being awak ened by
the neighing Of horse, which sounded pre-
cisely like that of the one whose death they
had been so deeply lamenting.
Husband! husband ! said the old lady,
giving the Colonel a nudge, isn't tina. our
old h0ss7 1t winners Just like him.
Our old horse, indeed = replied the
Colonel. How do you think, wife, that
the poor old horse could come here, after
being dead and skinned 2
Il don't know how, I'm sure,' said the
old lady, but it sounds jes, like our cid
boss; and lift isn't he, it must be his am
munitioR, that's ALL
The good woman meant apparition.
But while the worthy couple were yet
talking, the same noise was heard again,
and in the most piteops tones Of q suffering
horse. The Colonel was no believer in
ghosts, but the neighing was too much like
that Of the old favorite to be any longer
disregarded. He got up and went to the
door, and therc-what sight for sore eyes {!
he saw indeed the very Identical old
horse, shivering in the night air, and look
ing mos. reproachfllly 10 his masters face.
The heart Of the old Revolutioner smote
it was now apparent that the poor
beast had never been dead-but only dead
that he had acted with too
great precipi,aney in divesting him Of his
skin. ..
What was to be dons1 The horse beg
ged most piteously in such language as ne
could use, and asked, as plainly as dumb
beast could, to have his skin put on again.
The old lady was consulted land being very
handy with her needle. she readily sewed
the hide ON again, which being still moist,
soon grew as fast as ever to the flesh of the
animal, who lived seven years afterwards
and never again was guilty of eating rum
cherries.-N Y. Constellation.