Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-08-18
THE NICHOLAS MARE.

The "Nicholas Mare" was q beast OF extra
ordinary speed and endurance. Like most
rare animals, whether human or brute, she
was eccentric in her habits. 1t matters not
who owned her at the time of the incident
VIC are about to relate. suffice it 10 say her
| owner was q sensible man, and thorough
horseman his prediction for horse-iiesh,
more than ANYTHING else, having driven him
| into { q livery business. Next to the wife
| of his bosom he loved the Nicholas mare
a fact of which both females were sensible,
without being OF all jealous OF each other.
| For this reason the mare was hired only TO
| particular customers and, when let, the
party hiring was always carefully instructed
as to the peculiarities Of the animal. A par
| ticular friend, unacquanted with the animal
oe her habits, and troubled with an impede
ment in his speech, as well as with native
| iniirmity of temper, which prevented him
exercising any charity for living creatures of
slow and tardy motion, once applied to our
livery man for horse, for a journey of q
dozen miles or so taken for the purpose OF
bringing his wife home from her fathers house,
whittier she had been on o visit. The con-
tract runs thus:
81 w-w-want a horse-a good 'un--one
thatll s-s-s-start the minute you s-e-sa-say
| Pwh-Pwhist ? a-an-and'll go like tLun-
der"
Suit you, guess" was the reply.
"We-we-well out with her, then"
| The mare was put between the thills Of
nice light buggy, her harness thoroughly
adjusted by the ownor, the reins carefully
laid over the dashboard, and the usual chap
ter of advice opened concerning her manage
| ment.
30, g-g-git out with your directions. can
drive, guess" interrupted the lessee; and
| picking up the reins he sprang for the seat
but landed heels up upon the buggy bottom.
The mare was off! but the driver being
game, had the command, as he thought
| through recovery Of the lines upon which he
pulled as though resolved 'to do or die" 4
slight smile was visible upon the demure face
of the lessor as the vehicle receded from
sight at killing pace, and nothing more
was known until the next day, when our
friend with the impediment made his appear
ance with the mare, but without his wife.
As he Grove up cloud o'erspread bis face
! as he saw the lessor at the stable door.
"W-w-what k-ki-kind of an incarnate b-br-
brute dye c-ca-call this ?"
Best horse in the stable"
"W-w-wel l started for D."
eyes, know it."
"W-well, before l could STOP went to
| Ii, (33 miles) drove back this morning.
You k-kn-know fathers door yard-half q
mile wide 2"
Eyes, well ?"
"W-w-well-old man-my-b-br-bro-br bro
ther Jim, hired man, aud visitor besides,
t-t-tri-:ri-tried for two hours to get w-wi-wiie
into the wagon-and couldn't do it; d-d-de-
devillsh crtter danced college hornpipes all
r-r-round an-an-and over some of us--but
not passenger could we get in."
GLOW did you get in"
Tell you. Old mans foxy as lawyer
Told me to take her out. l did. Told me
to g-g-get in. l did, and after got in they
hitched the mare, and he-he.h here l be. w
w-wo-wouldn't give Spanish dollar for the
mare, though she did come the twelve miles
| in f-forty-eight minutes"
"Why?'
Look at my hands,"
They were-one blister. The lessor smiled.
IF you had listened to me all this would
have been avoided allow the lines to remain
untouched until you are seated, and she
never starts till you tell her. Drive her with
a slack rein, she will go as slow as you de-
sire"
The truth Of this statement was at once
tested by trial, and resulted as was asserted
precisely but the driver was punished for
his impatience, and ever from that day in.
sists upon having horse that won't ''s-st-
start the minute you say P-p-phwist and
go like thunder Worcester Transcript.