The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-09-26
ONE OF BARNuM,s STORIES.

This story from recent number will serve
to Illustrate its styn.
i My father, besides being in tho mercantile
line and keeping tho village tavern, also run
freight wagon to Nor~alk. and kept small
livery stable. Ho was fond of joke and had
a sly peculiar waggish kink i'm his nature, which
led bin frequently TO turn off some pretty cute
tricks.
On ono occasion young man, named Mel
son Beers, applied TO him for the use of a
horse TO ride to Danbury Distance of three
miles Nelson was an APPRENTICE TO tho shoe
making business, nearly out OF his time; was
not overstockcd with brains. and lived Il mile
and half east OF our village. Wy father
thought il would be better for Nelson to mako
his short journey on foot than TO bo at tho ex-
pense of hiring horse but he did not tell him
so. We had an old horse named "Bnb," that
having reached an age beyond his teens, was
turned out in a bog lot near our house 10 die.
He was literally living skeleton" and was
much in tho same col d'ion of the Yankees
nag, which was weak his owner had to hire
his ncighbor's horse to help him draw his last
breath. My father therefore. in reply to Mel
sons application, told him that the livery hor-
scs were all out, and he had none at home
excepta famous "raco horse" which he was
Keeping in low flesh in order to get him i'm
proper trim to win great rae e soon TO come
off.
"Oh do let me have him, Uncle Philo,*
will ride him very CAREFUL, and not idlure him
in tho least" said Nelson Bcors.
"1e Is too valuable an animal 10 risk in the
hands of young man like you," responded
my faihe;.
Nelson continued to importune, and my faith
or to play off, until il was finally agrccd that
Tho horse could be had on tho condition that he
shouldin no ease no rode faster than walk or
a slow trot and that he should be fed four quarts
ofoats at Danbury. Nelson started on his Ros-
inante looking for all the world as fine was on
a mission 10 the "carrion crows but he folt
every inch man, for he fancidc himself astride
of the greatest race horse in the country. and
realized tnai great responsibility was resting
upon his shoulders: for the last words Of my
iathgr 10 him were "Nelson, il any accident |
should happen to tho animal while under your
charge, YOU could not pay the damage in
life Tina Of labor
Old Bob" WAS duly Dated and watered at |
Danbury, and nj tho end Of several hours Mr. |
Beers noOnted him aud started for Bethel
lie conclndod TO take the "groat pasture" road
home-,hat being the uamo OF the new road
cut through sHainps and meadows-as a short
er route to our village Nelson for once forget
ting his responsibility, probably ried the speed
u.
A all events, sOmetiiag occurred to weaken
old Bob's nerves: for he came to a stand. still.
and Nelson was forced Ia disnOunt. The
horse trcmb'ed with weakness. and Nelson
Beers tremblod with fright. small brook
was running through the bog at tho roadside.
and Beers, thinking that perhaps the "race
nurse" needed drink led him into the etroa,u.
Poor old Bob" got stuck in the mud, and not
having st.englh to withdraw his feet, quietly
closed his eyes, and like patriarch as ho was
he dropped into the soft bed that was awaiting
him, and gave up the ghost witwout q single
kick.
No language can describe tho CONSERVATION
,f poor Beers. He could not believe his eyes.
Iic tried to open those of tho horse, bu, it was
40 go. He placed his ear at the mouth of
poor old Bob" but took ii away again in ut
er dismay The breath had ceased! At last
Nelson groaned as he thought of meeting my |
a'her, and wondered whether eternity. added
o time would be long enough for him to earn
he value of tho dead horse and unhuckled
he girth, drow off the saddle and placed it on
lis own back, trudgcd gloomily toward the vii
age
Ii was about sundown when my father cspied
us victim coming up the street with tho sad '
10 and bride thrown across his shoulders, his l
ace wearing look of the most complete dis
v
lad departed this life, and he chuckled in j
'ardiy aud quietly, but instantly assumed a !
nnre serious countenance. Poor Beers an. q
roacbeG more slowly and mournfully than i'll j
o was following dear fiiend to the grave
When he came within hailing distance, nv :
ither called out. "Why. Beers, it possible .
ou have been so careless as to let that "race- !,
orse run away from you:" II
"oh, worse than that, worse than that, uncle c
'hile,' groaned Nelson.
"Worse than that: Then he has been sto u
'n by some judge Of valuable horses! Oh. 0
hat fool was to inirust him to anybody! p
reclaimed my father, with well -fcigncd sorrow. u
mo he amt stolen uncle, Phe," said Mel r.
)n. r'
"Not stolen: we'll am glad of that. for l =,
lall recover him again; but whore is he: | :;
N afraid you have lamed him." -
"Worse than that" drawled tho unfortunate o
rlsop.
swell, what is the matter? whore is he? =,
bat as him." asked my fathor ~
"Oh, cant tell you'll can't tell you," said y,
id Beers with groan "
"But you must tell me- returned my father. '"
at will break your hcrt, 'groaned Beers. :,
"Fo bo sure it will if he is seriously injured ~
blicd my fa,hsr, "bot whero is be!' 30
"lie is dead" said Beers, as he nerved him. 80
III up Tor the announcement, and then closing -
$ eyes sunk into chair completely overcome no
th fright. o nv
My father gare groan that startled Nelson -.
his feet again. All tho sensation of pain, 81
,pair, horror and intense agony were depic- -
! TO tho life on my fathers countenance. -ln 70
oh, uncle Phle, uncle Phile. don't be too tb
rd with mo, wouldn't had it happen for all ba
. world, said Beers. ,o'
You can mover recompcnse no for that wi
o.'replied my father. ~,
IL know il, know it. uncle Phs. can T..
ly work for you as long as live. but yon ~,
vi have my services till you are satisfied" o., 90,
urned Beers ~
After short time my father became recon on,
ed to his loss, he asked Nelson how much the
ho ought TO owe him ou,
i don, know an no judge of tho vauo cic
blood horses, but / have been told they are
rth fortunes sometimes" replied Beers. tco
And mine was one Of the best in the world" Of
. my father,"and in such perfect condition co,
rnnning--all bone and sinew' -
oh yes saw that, said Beers dcspondinr
but with frankness that showed no did not In =