Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-11-10
MISCELLANEOUS.
Story Of a Horse.

The superior intelligence of the noblest of
quadrupeds is we'll illustrated by the follow
ing statement of facts, which appears in the
Lynn Reporter:
Almost everybody knows Alderman Otis
Newhall-genial, goodhearted OTIS New
hall, whose hand everybody likes to shake,
and whose smiling face is pleasant to look
upon-and very many of our readers will
remember "Old Whitley" horse which Mr..
Newhall owned for several years, to assist
him in his labors about Pine Grove cemetery,
of which he is the able and excellent super
intendent. "Old Whitley" was very intel
ligent animal. and knew almost as much as
some men. Many anecdotes are related of
this horse, which we have no room for here.
He was often sent alone about the grounds
of the cemetery with loaded cart, and
would turn the corners of the avenues quite
as carefully without driver as with one.
He was also often sent to the stable where
he was kept, which was half mile distant.
much of the way through piece of woods
A rotc attached to his bride would inform
the workmen at the barn what was wanted,
and the GRAND being accomplished, the
horse would be turned back, always return
ing faithfully and in good time to the place
from whence he came. He was never known
to fail on these errands, nor to meet with
any accident.
About four years ago, "Old Whitley" being
eighteen years of age, Mr.. Newhall sold him
and purchased young horse. A man in
Gloucester bought him, ami that was the
last Mr.. Newhall saw of him, until one day
last week, when a stray horse stroIed into
the cemetery grounds, and walked up to
where the laborers were at work. They tried
to drive him away, but several times he re-
turned, and finally, finding he was not want
ed, turned his steps toward the stable before
mentioned. Mr.. Newhall was absent a. the
time, but upon his return at once recognized
his former faithful assistant, who testified,
his pleasure at seeing his old master in the
most demonstrative horse language. He was
lean and sore, and but wreck of his former
self. but his memory had not failed him
Mr.. N had his old favorite well washed, fed
and cared for. and then turned him into q
! rich pasture, where he found plenty nfsweet
grass which he devoured with evident relish
For week this old horse enjoyed the rest
he had So well earned, but every day when
he had finished his repast, he would find
| his way to where the laborers were at work
in the cemetery, and stand among them. as
much as to say that he was ready to go to
work again. Two or three days since man
| from Topstield called on Mr.. Newhall and
claimed ''Old Whitley" as his property. lie
said that he had bought him Of the Glouces-
ter man some time since, to work on farm;
that he had put him in hls barn the night
before he came to the cemetery, and in the
morning he was missing. The old horse had
made his way out, and fading himself at
liberty, faithful to the instinct, or reason, or
whatever it may he called, that was implant-
ed in him, had travelled during that night,
or early morning, straight back, a distance
of twelve or fifteen miles, to his old home.
as though desirous to return to his former
duties 1t is gratifying to Mr.. Newhall to
believe that "Old Whitley" has kind mas
ter, who will see that he is properly fed and
cared for, as, after twenty years of faithful
service, he certainly deserves to be.