Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-03-25
Uncle Richards Evening Talk.
KINDNESS TO ANIMALS.


Blunt as Uncle Richard is, he can tell the
truth, and that is what | like in him. He
tells his own story in his own way-lnd YOU
can rely Oh whqtever he says. He has his
own tastes too, and shows great good sense
in his way of doing things. He came 70 our
house one day for shovel said he was in Il
great hurry and wished to save the deacon's
OK if it was a possible thing aud he would
tell US all about it when he brought back the
shovel In the evening he came in and said
the deacon came within one of losing the
best OK he had. The fracas began in the
yard. The nigh OK, always perfectly gentle
before, didn't want to 90 into the stable, and
the deacon determined to make him. The
reason he had refused to 90 in was this, he
had just been unyoked, having helped draw a
heavy load of wood from the mountain lot,
over the drifts, three miles out. and the cold
had frozen long icces to the hairs on his
chin. These he went to rub off at Il post be.
fore he was tied up. The deacon got excited.
and down came heavy sled-stake ON one of
his horns. For moment the OK quivercd
and trembled all over as he stood unconscious.
Of what had been done, then bending a side
look towards the ground he gave one loud.
tremendous below, then pitching into good
sized two-year old, that stood near he threw
him some distance beyond the Watering trough,
leaving him in possession Of lrighttul rup.
ture in the abdomen. He then made for the
stable door, which had been opened for him
at the outset. \ slender last springs cali
was going in, gust Of wind blew the door
to with so much violence as to iniure his
neck staggering back, he was received upon
the horns Of the Infatuated OK tossed upon
the hen-house, which he fell through, aud was
SO injured that the next morning he had To
be killed. | was out early to look after
things-fed the stock as usual. and when the
deacon came into the barn with some corn Tor
the working cattle, the old OK shook his head
at him. ate one ear of corn and again shook
ms head IN disgust; and when the deacon
passed him, as he was leaving for the house.
he got another shake of the head.
After breakfast, We yoked up for the woods
again, but the moment the deacon passed that
nigh OK he received a kick which sent hin,
tumbing and reelng half across the yard
It's OF no use, ! thought The OK will re.
member last nights insult as long as he lives.
80 nnyoked aud put him on the off side
Tor they were broke to work on either. We'll
after the deacon had been to the house and
changed his torn frock for whole one we
started for the wood-lot, loaded up, got half.
way home, when we came 10 hard drift,
high and solid, lying directly across the road.
The deacon did his best to tramp track
through il for the team, and took up the whin
to start on. This the OK, now on the off side.
saw, aud the moment the lash indicated a
start, the old OK with shake of the head
threw his pondrous body round across the
UNI IN such a way as completely to cripple
MS mate, by throwing him over and turning
the yoke. The deacon was crawling from
under the fioundering OK, and FASTENED here
for the shovel, for / thought the OK would
surrey De choked TO death by the turning
yoke, before he could be got up. But he Is
safe and sound, and here is your shovel
Oxen and horses, and indeed most animal.
remember for long time, those who use them
Wen, Or Ill, and | would a. soon strike nv
brother over the head with sled stake, as
my OK. II he is not gentle, make him so by
kindness; that's my way The tempers Of
uones'lc animals often resemble the tempers
OF Those who manage them kind and humane
men wall have kind and gentle animals. if
they have any. Hundreds are unworthy IN
nave any You can tell the general temper
OF a family, by the bearing of the house-dog
even who meets you in the yard. A horse
has wonderful memory. When / was
twenty-five, rode my fathers four.year old
n 1s across the Alleghanies into Virginia
mere and there came to clearing where |
iea num- and found entertainment for myself.
put one day, | rode till past o'clock IN the
afternoon before ] came to any cultivated
neid. Here | dismounted, procured some
corn nom the laborers, for my horse, and fed
a,m under large gum tree. by the roadside
Two days after, l reached nav place Of des.