The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-05-10
From tie SeW IorA Leader
TIE DOCTORS PERII.-oiE, DON JDHN'H
PASSAGE Of THE MOHAWK,
ny KATE BOYER TYSON

/ ny KATE BOYER TYSON.
! The noble beast that forms the subject
Of my story, had been bay Of the richest
and most glossy color, with lone spot Of
white hair in the forehead. His tail had
been allowed to flow, uncurtailed by the
mutilating knife, naturally and gracefully
as those Of TIE wild mustangs Of the prairie.
The ample chest, small ankles and proud
neck, and the wide-aPart, prominent eyes
aud open nostrils 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 that
family Not day passed that his neck
and face were not caressed by soft feminine
hands, and if had been surprised at that
how much more so was | when Mrs. Nor
rison, who like myself. was staying there
through the summer, would frequently
throw pOIu dIIuo dIUuuIu MS ncch, aud "hil-
, his soft nose rested against her shoulder
= would call him pet names and not unfre-
: Quently her beautiful eyes would I'LL with
, tears while thus employed. Don John
! received all these carresses a. II he had
: beer accustomed to them, frequently follow
/ inc one and another Of the inmates like a
; huge house-dog, Ny curiosity at length
: became SO great that ! resolved to become
: acquainted with the reason Why he was
. thus honored with the respect and attach
t ment Of the household Not many days
t elapsed before became acquainted with
5 the reasons, and assure you, gentle reader,
considered them sufficient to excuse any
S amount of affection which it might please
2 the superior brute to bestow on his fellow
d the dumb one.
Il He had belonged to DR.. Mosely Of
/ Whitesborough, for many years practls-
Q inr physician in that place, and " Don
/ John la carried Ills uIas,ct ~ aud fi0'n
: a bed Of death; and, God help him, fire
~ had flown from his hOofs as many times as
ID his short feet steps had dashed across the
- Mohawk on the old bridge, not needing the
or new born infants wall that greeted his ear
a in his quiet corner, awaiting his master
of nleasure-not that it was the wall tor the
er advent of human soul, doomed to suffer
k its number Of years, then-dle 1t hi'
he master had acquired fame--as all knew h'
IT, had Don John" had his lanrcl7 to b
at- proud OF. -.
i'm The Doctor had been called to Utica, oi
i'd business connected with his profession, an'
he had been absent three days During hi
asst absence one Of those drenching, warm
r" breakinc-up rains had set in Mountain
IF ice were rushing down the MohawB
ce sweeping everything before them, overflow
rht inc the banks. carrying away bridges. dive
On linrs. and alarming many Of the lnhabltant
yth rs we'll it might, for one must see .FcshC
to understand its terrible Importance On
must hear the crash and roar behold ii
srk mad water rushing headlong and wi,
nd eager for destruction, behold the foa'ln
: Of wrecks Of many a dwelling often beari1
fer q thing Of life, and sometimes a humd
Ias. life. as was witnessed a tcw years since q
de- Schuylki!l.
pon The night wa inky black, and Don job
fuI! picked ous the way faithfully and stcadlI
a never stumbling but with the brld
ong hanging slack across his neck, and his no
Rat. close TO the earth, lis master had little fe
we'd for consequences They were approachiI
and Orissany, where bridge spsnned the v
70 hawn. and Don John" whinnied pluiul
ifs once or twice till sharp word from |
Ives master warned him not TO show the whi
can. feather. On the other side he could u
me distinguish through the dense darkness, II
ma. wing and glimmaring lights and once
.ent tancied he heard shout; but he lit
der. needed aught save getting housed as 30
near as possible, and sleeping of the tatlgl
last consequent to bis profession. Now ID
bar s.ep sure old OriskaDy bridge, to my o.
ress- and your knowledge, has lost many aplant
light said the Doctor, patting his beast ne'
out and pushing the wet tangled front lock fr
tied his eyes ,,
~ it They were ro# ascending the little
that inence leading to the entrance, when
Gel horse stopped. Go on, sir" said
'earl Doctor, you are nearly home now = ;
e is no attempt at going on, and beneath tn
kinc he anrry waters roared and beloved, ]
The maiae1ed devils baked Of theirprey. e
ana YOU hear me sir" with smart buffet
edsd the neck. and gathering up Of the loose'
nde, the animal started-slo|ly s'eaaiiy' .aT'
that frmly--though his back wavered sist
n to from time to time, and the gait was
manu-. measured and methodical, that at any OF
J sew. time be would have observed it. As il '
Ike a he only let him have his own way, tho
poss- he may have smoothed his neck, for he
: the kindly heart, and bis poor beast had
,llov- bored hard through dreadful weather
If the was sadly in need Of food and shelter
Towards the end Of the bridge the =
IN in become slower. and once stumbled ID
tha, hind foot: \ quick grasp at the o. OK!
The and CHEEKY Easy John-essy s'r
.rrest. again the cautious boots resounded on
Elroy hard wood. They were across for 'ne IN,
-ailey imal neigbed. aud soosed his bead TIL