Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-09-13
MISC ELL An Y.
From p. r. Bmmm's Unpublished Memoirs.
How Barnum's Father Disposed OF the Old
Horse,

From p. T. Bmmam's Unpublished Memoirs.
How Barnum's Father Disposed Of the Old
Horse.
NV father, besides being in the mercantile line
and Keeping the village tavern, also ran freight
wagon to Norwalk, and kept a small livery sta
ble lie was tuud of joke, and had sly pecu-
liar waupiSh kink in his nature which led him
frequently to turns OF some pretty cute tricks
On one occasion a young man named Nelson
Beers, applied to him for the use OF 4 horse to
ride to Danbury, distance of three miles Mel
sun was an apprentice to the shOemakng business,
nearly out of his tine; was not overstncked with
brains, and lived mile and half east OF our VII
lage My father thought it would be better tor
Nelson to make his short journey on foot, than to
be at the expense of hiring a horse, but he did
not tell him So We had an old horse named
Bob" that having reached an age beyond his
teeus was turned ont in the boy lot near our house
to die. He was literally Living skeleton"
and was much in the same condition of the lan-
KEGS mao. which was So weak his owner had TO
hire his neighbnr's horse to help him draw his last
breath. Ny father. therefore, in reply 10 Mel
sons application, told him that the livery horses
were all out, and he had none at home except
famous race horse,' which he was keeping in
low flesh in order to get him in proper trim to win
a great race snOn to come off.
..Oh do let me have hun, Uncle Phiile. that
was my fathers appellation, will ride him very
carefully and not injure him in the least" said
Nelson Beers.
"He is too valuable an animal to risk in the
hands of young man like YOU" responded my
father.
Nelson continued to impOrtune, and my father
to play Oft, until it was hnally agreed that the
horse could be had on the condition that he should
in no case be rode flster than walk or slow trot,
aud tha. he should be fed four quarts of oats at
Daubury. Nelson started on his roSnante, look
inc for all the world as it he was on mission to
the '.carrou crows" hut he tet every inch man,
for he tanced himself asride of the greatest race
horse in the country, and realized that great re-
sponslbjlity resting upon his shoulders, TOR the
last words of my father to him were, "Nelsun. 1t
any accident should happen to this animal while
under your charge you could not pay the damages
in lite time of labor"
Old Bob was duly GATED and watered at Dan
bury, and at the end of several hours Mr.. Beers
mounted him and started for Bethel. He cuncn-
ded To take the great pasture" ruad home, that
being the name of new road Cut through swampS
and meadows is shorter route to our village
Nelson, for the nonce forgetting his responsibility.
probably tried the speed Of his race horse, and
soon broke him down. At all events, something
occurred to weaken old Bob's nerves for he came
to stand still, and Nelson was forced TO dis
mount. The horse trembled with weakness, and
Nelson Beers trembled with fright. small
brook was running through the bog at the road
side, and Beers, thinking that perhaps his 'race
horse needed drink, led him into the stream.
Poor old Bob got stuck in the mud and not hav
inc strength enough 10 withdraw his feet, quietly
closed his eyes, and like patriarch as he was,
he dropped into the soft bed that was awaiting
him. and gave up the ghost without single kick
No language can describe the consiernaton OF
poor Beers. lie could not believe his eyes. lie
tried 10 oTen those of his horse. but 1t was no GO
lie placed his ear at the mouth otpoor old Bob.
but took it away again in utter dismay. The
breath had ceased. At last Nelson. grOaning as
he thought of meeting my father, and wondering
whether eternity, added to time. would be long
enough for him to earn the value OF the horse,
took the bride from the dead head" and un-
bucklng the girh. drew off the saddle. and pa
cling it on his own back, trudged glOomily toward
our village.
1t was about sundown when nv father espied
his victim coming up the street with the saddle
aud bride thrown across his shoulders, his face
wearing a look of the most pIete despair. My
father was certain that old Bob" had departed
this life. and he chuckled inwardy and quietly,
but instantly assumed a most serious cOuntenance
Poor Beers approached more slowly and mourn
tully than if he was following dear friend to ,he
grave
When he came within haing distance, my ia
lher called Out
why, Bees, is it possible you have been so
,areless as to let that race horse run away from
you?"
"Oh, worse than that, worse than that, uncle
PhilIe," groancd Nelson,
Worse than that Then he has been stolen
by some Judge of valuable horses! Oh, what a
fool was tn enirnst him to anybody !" exclaimed
my father. with well ieigned sorrow.
"No he aint stolen, uncle Phille, said Nelson.
mot stolen well am glad Of that, tor shall
recover him again. but where is he ? am afraid
you have famed him.
Worse than that" drawled the unfortunate
Nelson
''Well. what is the matter? where is he 2
what ais him ;" asked my father.