The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-06-20
Misrfllansuns.
OUR MINISTER'S PURCHASE.

OUR MINISTER'S PURCHASE.
"Are those all you have for Sale!" sai
Mr.. Hale, ashe stood in the yard before d.
bray's stable, while the salesman wake
about low, heavy built grey horse, and
rawny large-boned racker.
Yes sir, these are all we have to-day
except young mare, that I don't believ
you'd like. Jim lead out the black tilly,
and the clumsy Irish Ostlcr proceeded +
pull out with jerks and twitches, small
rough-coated animal, whose bleeding moutl
and SCARED TANKS showed. that she had beer
numerically treated.
She resented the ostler's rough handling
with spirit, still she did not look Vicious
There was no fiery, ugly CLEAN Of tho eye
but on the contrary, pleading, expostulat
ing with the coarse creature, who giving hel
q blow and kick, to make her show or
brought her up with jerk of the halter
that almost broke her slender neck.
"We'ye sold her twice, but had her re-
turned" said the salesman. "She's gen.
tie as lamb unless she gets her temper up,
then she's regular devil, and for oil she's
so small, she's strong and fierce rs lion
when she's roused."
~ guess. Bill Smith'll have her, and he'll
break her temper or her neck"
Going up to her Mr.. Hale spoke kindly,
patted her neck which was still quivering
with pain from 'hc pressure Of tho halter,
passed his hand carcssingly over her nose,
and flung back the heavy name that was
tangled and knotted about her eyes.
The poor creature seemed to know at once
that he was of different nature from her
old tormcntors, and with . gentle whinny,
laid her head confdinsly on his shoulder,
while her large hazel eyes filled with some
thing very much like tears.
She was not such horse as he wanted
her spirit seemed broken, except when en-
gagged, and she had been abused and neglect
ed till she was anything but beauty, still
her head was well formed, and her eyes
almost human in their expression. If her
coat could be made smooth she might posi-
bly, pass without exciting remark.
Mr.. Hale liked to drive good looking
animal as we'll Us any one, and he hesitated
for some time, but he could not resist her
pleading look, to be taken from her hated
owners.
This decided the fate of the filly, and as
she was led back to the stable, to remain
until Mr.. Hale should send for her, she gave
a look and whinny, as though she under
stood that he was to be her future master.
1t was not until quite dark that Mr.. Hale
dispatched his Irish boy for his new pur-
chase, and for several weeks she was allow
cd to remain quietly in the stable.
During this time Dennis worked assidu-
0usly under Mr.. Halo's direction, in clear
ing the knots from her luyuriant name, and
brushing its full waves to shining gloss.
Her rough coat yielded readily 70 high keep
ins and care, giving in its je'ty blackncss
and silky soltnSss, sure proof Of good blood.
1t was evident that she had always been
ruled through fear, but she Was peculiarly
susceptible to his kindness, and Mr.. Hale
thought what time he could spare from duty
and study well spent in teaching her to love
and obey him. lie called her Pysche and
the name seemed very appropriate, for her
slender form, and jctty blackncss, united
with caprieious gracefulness, mado her
much moro beautiful than her master had
anticipated.
Dennis had been very indignant when she
first come homo. He had boasted to the
neighboring boys Of the "splendid creature
his master was about to purchase, and hi'
iirst sight of" the li.tls black devil, rs h,
called her under his breath, had sorely ycx
cd him. But he soon became interested il
her, and ~ she grew in beauty under hi
hands, his pleasure and his pride knew NJ
bounds.
lie would follow her with his eyes, q
Mr.. Hale drove away, and fairly eaper viii
delight as after a little playful caroiiin'
with many toss of her beautiful head, sh
would spring Of throwing the miles behin'
her in fine style.
He learned her many tricks. She woui'
carry and fetch his coat when ordered.
One day when her proyender had not becl
given her as usual, to his great delight b
found her patiently tugging at the string
Of tho cat bag. lie was never weary oil re
counting her exploits to his master who 10