The mountain Democrat., 1865-12-09
A misunderstanding.

Among the horses in our circus was a
cream colored Hanoverian charger, of ex.
traordinary beauty and immense size, and
went so proud in action as il he disdan
ed the ground Though nothing in his life
was applicable to his name but the leav.
ing Of it (he was killed at sea), he was
called Nelson.
Immediately after taking the direction
Of the establishment, made myself &C.
quainted with the titles and general char.
acter and qualifications of all the horses,
but was bOi SO weA jaIOrmed as TO how
the grooms, minor people and musicians
were called; among the latter was a clari.
onet player, with less talent but with the
same name as the horse, Nelson. But as
Juliet says:
what's in a name' That which we call rose
By any other name would smell as sweet!''
On Sunday, in the forenoon. Rodgers,
an equestrian performer and father of one
of the first riders of the present day,
called at my house and requested to see
me on very particular business. Upon
inquifing his errand he said, with much
Soiemnity of manner
I am very sorry to inform you, sir, that
poor Nelson is dead
Dead ! said with astonishment; why,
Mr.. Rodgers, it's impossible he was well
enough last night for in passing through
the stable ! had stopped to caress the
beautiful animal, and he was as full Of
mischief and spirit as ever.
% no, sir, said Rodgers, he was very
unwtll for two days, and scarcely able to
perform
why, knew nothing of it, replied;
why didn't some Of them let me know
There was no necessity for his being EN-.
ployed in anything but the entree, and,
indeed, if he was sick, he shouldn't have
! been used even for that if had known
it,
You're very kind, sir, I'm sure said
Rodgers. Hell he a great loss TO the
concern he was such kind, good crea.
ture'
why, as to his Kindness said I, Il
can't agree with you there he was most
difficult to manage; but his loss, as you
observed, will be utterly irreparable.- -
When did he die 2
'Early this morning; was up with him
all night. He kicked and rolled about in
great agony, ard you might have heard
his groanS for half square
Poor creature And what did they
say was the matter with him. l enquir
cd
The collie, or something Of that sort
and we thought it was brought on by hi.
eating cucumberS.'
'CucumberS! :! said !; why, where die
he get cucumberS:'
( Mr.. Blythe, be replied, received som
! as present, and he gave poor Nelsol
two or three
We'll, my dear sir. they never coult
have hurt him; you may depend upon it
Rodgers, it was the bots
% dear, no, sir, said he, with n conf
dent veterinary manner, that's disease
As horses often dies on; but his was quite
different. His ody was all drawn up ir
heap, and the sweat poured off him ir
pailfuls. We dosed him with brandy and
lauianum; and kept rubbing of him; but
! before the doctor arrived he was gone
horse and then with a sigh, he contin
ued There's Geo. Geaman, and Williams
aud few more as came out with old Wes
along with him. as wishes to pay him the
compliment of giving him funeral, and
wants to know if you would be good
| enough to attend!
%, pooh! that's perfectly ridiculous
A funeral is all nonsense; we'll have him
hauled away early in the morning, and
! thrown into the river
Sir = said he, looking aghast.
Are you going back to the circus, Mr.
! Rodgers: =
No, sir, said he; but live within &
door or two
We'll, then, you will greatly oblige mt
if you will call and tell Peter, or any o
the grooms you may find there, to employ
a butcher, or any one who understand,
the business, and have him skinned
Skinned = cried Rodgers, in astoniSh
ment.
And il you please, tell them TO have il
done carefully. and he sure not to cut oil
his ears and tail, as intend to have him
stuffed
Stuffed y
Yes; and on the Fourth of July or other
great occasions, we'll have him hoisted
out for sign, or use him for dead horse,
at any rate
This brought our eqnivocal converse
ton to a climax; and, highly delighted at
finding il was Nelson the musician instead
of Nelson the horse who had been killed
with cucumbers and kindness, the next
morning | joined the mourners, and saw
the poor fellow quietly inferred.