Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-09-22
yntertstiug Storp.
THE WRONG HORSE.
BY W. 0. E6foA.


A stalwart but tired looking iio'rrssemar
was riding toward the village of Moss,
Brook, at the close. Of a sultry sunme
afternoon, as fast as the faded. mare h,
bestrode could lessen the tedious dis
lance. His face was handsome, but hi
wore All anxious expression, and he stareC
about the country as he rode With the all
of stranger in those parts. His dusty
feet, his pale visage, and the foreign eul
OF his apparel with the watehfaIness o.
his manner would have led any observe t
to consider him one that Travelled far
that day, and who was not only fr6n a
foreign country, but laboring under some
deep distress Of mind, sorrow, or fear
perhaps remorse.
As he climbed the hill which looked
down upon the village, his face bright
ened somewhat.
Thank Heaven! there shall find a
few hours rest and Refreshments. for my
self and this exhausted Beast" he nut
tered. And the mare picked up her ears
as she saw the village and heard his
voice, and fastened her pace, as If she
knew her riders intention.
Care for her well" said the stranger
TO the hostler, as he alighted. Il am to
sup and sleep a few hours and at ten
to night have her ready saddled at the
door; for am in great haste to continue
my journey, and must then depart.
The hostIer promised and the stranger
after eating a hasty supper, retired to
rest
Having well bestowed the mare, the
shostler flung Sgsself gogn tsefore the sta
FsbIe door, andNtonsiddling that he had as
much right to rest as any other man OF
beast in free country, went to sleep
himself.
Whether he had worked or drank 100
much that day, certain it was that he
oversight his time and when he started
up, and hastily saddled the mare upon
which the stranger was to continue his
way, it was eleven o'clock and pitch
dark.
AS the stranger, also, had oversight
! his hour he did not so much blame the
hostler, but paid his bill, mounted quick
ly and rode off making no answer to the
remark of the man, that there would be
a heavy storm before morning, as the
clouds were already black and threaten
irg
valuable information p sneered the
| traveller, as the mare made unusually
quick time over the road Couldn't
see ior.myself? Had I not been in haste
to get at the end Of my journey, should
not Of course have gone on before morn
ing, after forty miles Of travel under a
summer sun. The deuce is in my luck
to be roasted to day and half drowned
to night, as this approaching storm seems
to fo-bode. Ha what vivid fash p
The tempest is coming sooner than | ex-
pected. How fast the mare goes A
few hours have worked wonders with
her or, perhaps, instinct bids her speed
to escape the tempest, if possible"
A heavy crash of thunder, just then,
startled both horse and horseman-the
opening cannonade of the elemental bat
tie which was soon to sweep furiously
around them.
Our road lies through wood fer a
I few miles as I am told and when the
shower is on US in full force, with light
ming. the thunder, the rain, and darkness,
she may become interchangeable. Perhaps
| had better stayed, after all. The more
haste-AA--..- speed, sometimes"
Flash after flash, PEEL after peal now
followed rapidly, with binding and
deafening effect upon man and beasf,
and soon the wind and rain combined
with fearful power and volume, as if to
distract and discomfort the benighted
horse and rider. Here ard there, over
their rough road, the torn branches OF
trees encumbered it, as if to dispute their
passage. Twice as the scared beast gal,
loped frantically on, she stumbled, and
nearly threw the traveller, requiring all
his efforts to recover her and keep the
saddle; and once, a dazzling bolt and
fearful simultaneous clap of thunder
caused the poor beast to swerye madly
aside, rear and then turn back in her
track for short distance-w while a tall
tree, cleft by the Lightning, scattered hall
its mighty bulk over the spot from Which
the mare had shrank back.
But, with steady hand and coaxine
voice the aorseman finally carsed her to
return again and vaulting over the pos
trate tfank, they resumed the stormy
course, willie broken boughs, torn from
the tallest trees, whirled dangerously
through the dark air.
Thus, through the night, they proceed
ed, the storm gradually abating a:
the dim dawn Of day approached +; ..and
] when the cheering sun at last broke will
merry face over the glistening Ellis, thu
drenched stranger was far beyond thu
perpexing forest through which he hac
ridden.
"Thank you for nothing" no exclaim
ed, mockiDgly salutiDg the sun. "Th'