The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-06-19
gntertstins Story.
THAT SPECULATION.
BY JOHN QUILL.

BOUGHT him of johnson, the horse
doctor, and he said he was damned by
Flora Temple, sired by Black Hawk,
and desired by all the horse jockeys in
the State. wished they had got him.
He was fourteen and half hands
high and one finger over. His color
was dun, and his purchaser was about
in that condition also.
He was slightly sprung in the knees,
and his tail had once been cut, so that
it stood right on end, and looked
more like a bunch of straw nailed on
TO the end of a log than anything else.
But he was rathera fine looking horse,
and the man warranted him kind.
But it was poor kind, ! afterwards
found.
lie said he could make his mile in
side of 2.35 without an effort. 1t was
two hours and thirty-tive minutes he
moant, unless he intended to deceive
me. But he could make mile inside
Of that time if he eXerted himself and
didn't get one of his fits on him.
He was Il peculiar horse, and was
subject to Il variety of complaints that
would have killed an ordinary animal !;
but he seemed to stand them well
enough.
The first night had him, put him
in the stable and gave him feed. The
next morning my wife remarked that
she didn't sleep particle on account of
some locomotive or other out on the
railroad, that was putting and blowing
all night, trying to make headway.
heard it, too, and it struck me as queer
that the engine couldn't get past that
| place.
! | went out to see about it, 1t wasn't
Il locomotive, il was my horse. lie was
breathing and signing unlike any 9TH
or horse | ever heard before, and l was
alarmed about him. l was afraid il
would blow the whole end of the stable
out. | unhitched him and took him
around to Johnson.
johnson seemed surprised, but said he
only had slight attack Of the heaves.
"All horses most has it, It'll pass Off u
said he so | drove him home and Great
ed an impression in the town that the
wind was freshenlmg for hurricane
About half way up the main street he
came to a dead halt; | clicked my
tongue for him to go on. lie never
budged. touched him with the whip
lie began backing, and backed the bug
gy right upon the pavement and through
Il plate glass window, worth 200 dol
lars.
Then he started down the street like
lightning, and ran over two boys, break
lug their legs and crippling them fol
life. | won't mention the expense
was to, as youAyouldn't believe me if
was to give the figures.
was so busy attending court for tw,
weeks that hadn't chance to use him
at the end of that time his lower jaw
had swollen up until you couldn't tel
whether he had got his head ON upside
down or not. So | drove him owe
to johnson to see what was the matte
with him.
Johson seemed to feel hurt that tn,
animal should behave so. But he sal,
it was only little touch of the CLAN
ders. SIT don't hurt hoss bit (,
have'em now and then, it does'em good
but it'll pass off," said Johnson.
So | was more hopeful, and drov
.. home again without any serious aeci
! dent, except that the horse SHE'D at
chicken in the road, and took the whee
of by running the buggy intothe fence
Still didn't blame him much, for MI
Johnson told me that sit was good 70
Il hoss to be timid; it's sign of pur
blood"
The glanders did't affect his appetit
any. lie ate more oats and hay tina
would have run an ordinary livery-sta
Bile, and not satisfied with that, h
chewed the feed box all up, aud tried t
4, gnaw down n yellow pine partition.
Johnson said it was "a good thing fc
- hoss to be heavy FEEDER"
Inever owned horse before, and
9 was little set up about it. So though
N | would drive my wife and family
town to church the following Sunda.
lie went alonge all right until he came