The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1854-11-23
MISCELLANEOUS.
From p. T. Barnum's Unpublished Memoirs.
HOW EAIINUM'S FAT IEEIs DlSPOsEn
CF TEsE OLD HORSE.

Yern, also ran a lrcl5hL wagon " MI
walk, and kept small livery stable
lie was fond Of joke, and had a sly
peculiar, waggish kink in his nature
which led him frequently to turn of some
pretty cute tricks. On one occasion a
young man named Nelson Beers applied
10 lin for the use Of horse to ride to
Danbury, distance Of three miles. Mel
son was an apprentice to the shoemaking
business, nearly out of his time; was not
oyerstocked with brains, and lived mile
and half out Of the village My father
thought it would be better for Nelson to
make his short journey on foot, than to
be at the expense of bring a horse, but
he did not tell him so. We had an old
horse named "Bob," that having reach
ed an age beyond his teens, was turned
out in tie bog lot near our house to die.
He was literally living skeleton, y and
was much in the condition of the Yam
KEGS horse which was SO weak his owner
had to hire lis neighbor horse to help
him draw his last breath. My father
therefore, in reply to Nelson's applica
ton, told him that the livery horses were
all out, and he had none at home but a
famous Grace horse" which he was
keeping in low flesh in order to get him
in proper trim to win great race soon to
come off.
"Oh. do let me have him, Uncle Phil
le, THAT was my fathers appellation.
will ride him very carefully and not in
lure 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 of, until it was finally
agreed that the horse could be had on the
condition that he should in no case be
rode faster than a walk or slow trot, and
that he should be fed four quarts Of oats
at Danbury. Nelson started on his Ro-
sinante, looking for all the world as if he
was on a mission to the "carion crows,
but he felt every inch man, for he fell
himself astrde of the greatest race horse
in the country, and realized that a great
responsibility was resting upon his shoul
ders, for the last words of my father tc
him were,-" Nelson, if any accden
should happen to this animal while under
your charge, you could not pay the
damages in a life time Of labor"
Old Bob" was duly Dated and wa
tered at Danbury, and at the end 0
several hours Mr.. Beers mounted lin
and started for Bethel. He concluded
to take the great pasture , road home
that being the name of new road Gu
through swamrs and meadows, as 1
shorter route to our village. Nelson fol
the nonce forgetting his responsibility
probably tried the speed of his rae
t. horse, and soon broke him down. A
all events, something occurred to weake,
old Bob's nerves for he came to STAN
still. and Nelson was forced to dismount
The horse trembled with weakness an
Nelson Beers tr mbed with fright. /
small brook was running through tn
boz at the roadside, and Beers, thinkin!
that perhaps his Grace horse needed
OF drink, led him into the stream. Poo
old Bob got stuck in the mud. and nc
: having strength enough to withdraw hi
feet, Quietly closed his eyes, and like
RS patriarch as he was, he dropped into tn
at soft bed that was awaiting him, and CAV
N up the ghost without single kick.
r. No language can describe the constel
in nation of poor Beers. lie could not b'
l. Iieve Lis eyes. lie tried to open those
e. his horse, but it was no go. He place
e. his ear to the mouth of old Bob" br
ye took it away again in utter diSmay. Th
4. breath had ceased. At last, Nelson
y eroaning at the thought of meeting m
father, and wondering whether eternil.
m added to time, would be long enough iC
Of him to earn the value of the horse, too
Id the bride from the dead head" an
is unbucking the girth, drew off The saddle
se and, placing it on his back, trudge
IN gloomily toward our village
o. It was about sundown when my tatht
n. espied his victim coming up the stree
with the saddle and bride thrown acro'
his shoulders, his face wearing look
ee the most complete despair. My fath'
ar was certain that old "Bob' had depar
xt ed this life, and he chuckled inward
and quietly, but Instantly assumed amo
n, serious countenance. Poor Beers a
proached more seriously and mournful
We than if he was following dear friend
Us the grave. -. ,...
,le When he came within hailing distanc
my father called out:
"Whv, Beers, is it possible you ha'
been so careless as to let that race nor
~ ~ run away from you" -,
lre ooh, worse than that, worse th'
re that, Uncle Phille,' groancd Nelson.
'u "Worse than that! Then he has be-
stolen by some Judge of valuable horse
'ee' oh, what a fool was to entrust him
'u' anybodyp' exclaimed my father with w
~ feigned sorrow MINI
~ 2 No, he amt stolen, uncle Phllle
w. ~ said Nelson, ,rn.
le, {" Not stolen well, am glad of tn
for shall recover him again; but whc
ne is he? | am afraid you have lam
Ibe him."
az" ac, "Worse than that" drawlod the u
be fortunate Nelson. -. I
do well, what is the matter where is
AVE- what ails him ? asked mytalher.
w. w. oh, | can't tell you-l can't tell you