The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1854-10-12
How IBsrrum's Father Disposed OF the
.. Old Horse.


My faihsr, besides beikg in the mercan-
tile line ard ping the village tavern, also
ran fTsight wagon to No:walk, and kept a
small livery stable. He was fond OF joke
aud had ely, peculiar, wagsish kink IN his
nature which led him frequently 10 turns ol
come petty cute tricks. On one occasion a
young man named Nelson Beers, applied 10
him for the use of horse to ride 10 Danbu.
~, distance of three miles. Nelson was
an apprentice to the shoemaking business,
nearly out Of HE time was not oversiocked
wsth brains. and lived mile and half east
Of our village. My father though! il would
be better for Nelson TO make his short journ-
on foot, than 10 be a, the expense OF hiring
horse but he did moi tell him so. We had
an old horse named Bob, that having tea-
ched an age beyond his teens, was turned
ou, IN the bog 10, near our house to die. He
was literally living skeleton, and was
much in the same condition of the Yankees
nsg, which was SO weak his owner had TO
hire his neighbours horse TO help him draw
hie last breath. MY father, iherefore, IN
reply TO Nelson's application, told. him that
the livery horses were all ont. aud he had
none at home except a famous race horse,
which he was keeping in low flesh in order
10 get him in proper tum 10 win great
race soon 10 come off. - .....s-s -
sOh do let me have him, Uncle Phile,
tthat was my fa,her's appellaiion I will
ride him very carefully and not iniurs him
in the least, said Nelson Beers
He is too valuable an animal 10 risk in
the HANDS of young man like you, res.
pended my father.
: Nelson continued TO imporuns, and my
father 10 play off, untitit was finally agreed
that The horse could be had on ,he condition
that he should IN no case be rode faster than
walk or STOW trot, and that ne should be
fec four quarts Of oais al Danbury. Nelson
started on his rosinante, looking for all the
world az if he was on mission 10 The 'car.
rion crows but be fell every inch man
for he fancied himself astfide Of the. great
0tt faco uoIoo III ttic eSseh'y ! s~"e sSe'A>s
that . great responsibility was resting upor
his shoulders, for The last words Of my faith
erio him were, Nelson, lf amy acciden
should happen to this animal while unde'
yous charge you could moi pay the damage
In q lifetime Of labor. '9f N
Old Bob was duly Dated and waiered a
Dsnbuy, and a, the end OF several hours
Mr.. Beers mounted him and started fol
BslheI. He concluded 10 take the 'grea'
plnufs' road home. That being the name
Of new road cut through swsmps mead,
ows, % . shorter rouie to ous village. Nsl-
son, for once forgetting bis responsibility,
probably tried the speed Of his race horse.
atd soon broke him down. At all events,
selnethipg occurred TO swssken old sBob's
nerves, for he came to stand s,ilI and MOI
son was forced to dismouoI The horse
frsmbled with fright A small brook was
running though the bog at the roadside,
sad Bears. thinking thai his race horse
nssdsd d drink, led him iuio the stseam.---
Poor cid Bob got stuck IN the mud, and
vol having strength enough to Withdraw his
fses quietly closed bis eyes, aud like q pat