The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-06-04
THE DOCTORS PERIL.

ting knife, naturally and gracefully as those
of the wild nj ustangs of the prairie. The
ampel chest, small ankles, and proud neck,
and the wide-apart, prominent eyes, and
open nostri!s, denoted gentle blood, but at
the time saw him old age had whitened his
beautiful bay coat, long tufts of hair were
growing behind each foot, his eyes were
rheumy, and the few long teeth he possessed
were loose.
had noticed the care and attention be-
slowed on him by every inmate of the family.
Not day passed that his neck and face
wAs not caressed by soft feminine hands !;
and if | had been surprised at that, how
much more so was |, when Mrs. Morrison,
who like myself, was staying through the
summer, would frequently throw both arms
around his neck, and while bis soft nose
rested against her shoulder, would call him
| pot names, and not unfrequently her beauti-
ful eyes would fill with tears while thusem-
ployed. Don John received all these caresses
as il he had been accustomed to them, fire.
quontly following one and another of the
inmates like a huge house-dog. My curiosi-
ty at length became so great that l resolved
to become acquainted with the reason why
he was thus honored with the respect and
tacLment Of the household. Not many
days elapsed before became acquainted
with the reasons, and assure you, gentle
reader, considered them sufficient to excuse
any amount Of affection which it might
pleasc the superior brute to bestow upon his
fellow, the dumb one.
He had belonged to DR.. Mosely, of White
borough, for many years practiciDg physi.
clan in that place, and "Don John" had
carried his mater to and from many bed
Of death: and, God help him, fire had flown
from his hoofs as many times as his short,
fleet sleeps had dashed across the Mohawk
on the old bridge, not needing the newborn
infants wall that greeted his ear in his quiet
corner, awaiting his masters pleasure-not
that it was the wall for the advent of a
human soul, doomed to suffer it's number Of
years, then-die! If his master had ac-
quired fame-as all knew he had" Don
John" had also his laurels to be proud of.
The Doctor had been called to Utica, on
business connected with his profession, and
had been absent three days. During his
absence one of those drenching, warm,
break.ng-up rains had set in. Mountains
Of ice were rushing down the Mohawk,
sweeping everything before them, overflow
ing the banks, carrying away bridges,
dwellings, and alarming many of the inhabi-
tants, rs well it might, for one must see a
freshet to understand its terrible Importance.
One must hear the crash and roar, behold
the mad waters rushing headong and
wild, eager for destruction, behold the
hoatng wrecks of many dwelling often
bearing 'thing Of life and sometimes hu-
man life, as was witnessed few years since
on the SchuylkIll.
The night was inky black, and Don john
picked out the way faithfully and steadily,
never stumbling, but, with the bride hang
ing slack across his neck, and his nose close
to the earth, his master had little fear for
Consequences. They were approaching
Oriakany, where bridge spanned the Mo-
hawk, and "Don John' whinnered pitifully
once or twice, till sharp word from his
master warned him not to show the white
feather On the other side he could just
distinguish through the dense darkness,
moving and glmmcring lights, and once he
fanc!cI he heard q shout; bat he little
needed nught save getting housed as soon
consequent to his profession. "Now, Don,
and 0 IT knowledge, has lost many a plank
said the Doctor, pat log his beasts neck, aid
pusting the Wet tangled front lock from his
eyes.
They wee now ascending the little emin-
ence leading to the entrance, when the
horse stopped. "Go on, s;rn' said the
Doctor, "you are nearly home nown' Still
no attempt ut ing on, and beneath them
the angry waters roared and beloved, Ike
maddencd devils baked of their prey. 500
you hear me, sir Z" with smart buffet on
the neck, and a gathering up of the loosened
bride into firm and determined hand and
the animal startei-slowly y, steadily, surely,
fcmly- though the broad back slightly shiv-
ere ! from time to time, and the gait was so
measured, and methodlcal, that at any other
time he would have observed it. As 1t was,
he only let him have his own way, though
he may have smoothed h n c'i, for he had
kindly heart, and his poor beast had la
bored hard through dreadful weather, and
was sadly in want Of food and shelter.
Towards the end Of the bridge the step,
became slower, and once stumbled in the
hind foot. A quick grasp at the brides
and n CHEEKY "Easy .john-easy, srn and
and again the cautious h Iofs resounded on
the hard wood. They We're across, and the
animal neighed, and tossed his head till the
Doctor shook in his saddle. "Onc mile
more to go, poor fellow; but first | and
You want some refreshments" Sounding
up to the small tavern door, where genial
light was shining from the windows, he
He'd loudly for the landlord. A dozen or
more Of the inmates caMe rushing to the
door with lantern, which they held aloft,
and "Good Lord, Doctor, where did you
come from 2" broke from their lips almost
simultaneously.
"Comc from? Why, from over the Mo-
hawk What is the matter? Has the
freshet carried away any of your senses :?
Here, bov," as, dismounting he threw the
reins to gaping fellow, ''G've John some
thing nice, and dry him off. Keep him well
wrapped up while be eats, and--landord-
| want tumbler of red hot Jamaica,
quick ~
ssDoctor,' said the group, "have you
crossed the Mohawk tonight, and, If 50,
how"
"Why, on the bridge; are you al drunk
said the exasperated physician.
| "Doctor," said the old grey-headed land
lord, ''that bridge went down the Mohawk
| this afternoon. Come with me, and Nil
show you! If you crossed, God only knows
how you did itn'
A shivcr went to the Doctors heart--and,
lantern in hand, he followed the footsteps
of the men to the margin of tie swollen
and turbid river. Where was the bridge ?
"Almighty God - said the horror struck
Doctor, ''where is nv gratitude? My noble
beast came over here this night, backed by
me-, on this solitary string-piece; and I,
with this right hand, gave him blow as he
faltered 20 and the Doctor sank upon his
knees IN the soft, wet snow, and wcpt like a
child the men NOV ed from his presence re-
spectfuly and left him to himself.
When after some little time he made his
appearance. his eyes were greeted by the
sight of his horsH, surrounded by the entire
, household each contributing to render him
som. sssistanc". quart of warm ale was
given BY ne, another rubbed his neck and
cbss, With sn,.~its-n third dried his glossy
hide with warm flannel, and others patted
his neck, or caressea .'s nose % ana Ira faGe;M h:od
The Doctor approached, and took the head
of his beast against his breast; ana grea'
warm tears rushed up from his heart, as the
long, sraceful tongue Tapped his masters
! J,Ln knr |