Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-03-19
The HOrse-His Memory
and Sagacity.

An aged and venerable frlenC
residing in one of the cities OF
our Eastern seahoard, a man OF
character and worth, once related
to me the following anecdote of
the horse, illustrating in a remark
able manner the sagacity and
memory of this animal,
At the close of the Revolution
larry war, when every thing was
unsettled and in disorder, an &C
quaintance residing on the Boston
road, some thirty or forty miles
from New York, lost q valuable
young horse-stolen from his sta
BILE during the night. Great search
and inquiry were made for him,
but no tidings Of him could be
heard of and no trace of
him could be discovered.
Almost six full years had now
elapsed and the recollection of
the lost animal had nearly faded
from the mind. At this period a
gentleman from the East in the
course of business was travelling
on horseback on this road, on his
way to Philadelphia. When with
in four or five miles from a village
on the road, the traveller was over
taken by a respectable looking.
gentleman on horseback, a resident
Of the village, returning from a
ghort business ride. Riding along,
side by side, they soon engaged in
pleasant desultory conversation,
the gentleman was Immediately
struck with the appearance of the
travellers horse. And every glance
of the eye cast toward him seemed
to excite an interest and curiosity
to look at him again and to revive
"a recollection Of something he
had seen before, and soon estab-
lished in his mind the impression
that he looked like the horse he
had lost six years ago. This soon
became so irresistibly fixed in his
mind, that he remarked to the
traveller;
"You have a fine horse, sir?"
eyes," he replied, "an exceed
ingly valuable and excellent ami
NAL"
"What's his age, sir?''
"Well, l suppose him to be a.
bout ten or eleven years old"
"You did not raise him, then ?"
81 purchased him from a stran-
ger, traveller, nearly six years
since"
"Do you reside in this part of |
the country?"
"No; l reside in the Bay State,
and am ON my way to Philadel-
phia on business. How far is it to
New York;"
"Well, sir, I really regret to
interrupt you, or put you to in
convenience-but in your posses
sion is horse | must claim"
The traveller looked with sur.
prise and amazement, and replied:
"What do you mean, sir?'
81 believe the horse you are on,
in truth belongs to me. Five
years ago, the past autumn, val
liable young horse was stolen
from my stable. Great search
was made for him, but no tidings
of him ever came to hand. In
color, appearance and movements
he was the exact counterpart of
the horse you are on. Itwould be
hardly possible, ! think, for two
horses to be so near alike. But
my horse was an uncommonly in
telligent, sagacious animal. And
l will make a proposition to you
that will place the matter in sach {
a position that the result will be ;
satisfactory, l think, to both (
of US. We are now within a
mile of my residence, on the road
to the center of the village before
US. When we arrive at my
house your horse shall be tied to {
the east post in front of the door,
the horse I am on to the west
post. After standing short time
the bride Of your horse shall be
taken off, and if he does not go to
a pair of bars, on the west side of .
the house and pass over and 90
round to the east side of the barn,
and pull out pin, and open the
stable door and enter, / /;
will not claim him. If he does |