The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-06-19

son Is jealous OF my having horse, and
our girls don't speak TO the Ferguson
girls, because they said they were
"stuck up" about our horse.
When this animal arrived there he
suddenly began to stagger from side to
side and bolt around like drunken
man, butting his head into tree boxes
and one thing or another like some old
ram. At last he fell over the bank at
the side of the road, turned three or
four somersaults, dragged the carriage
after him, and then lay stretched out
there apparently as dead as any dunn
my.
The women had on their best clothes,
and they were completely spoiled, while
Augusta sprained her wrist SO that she
couldn't do a stitch of work for a
month. And the whole Ferguson fami-
ly stood at the window and smiled.
walked two miles to get johnson to
come and look at the horse. He came
along and appeared as if he was pro-
voked at the horse for his conduct. Then
he stopped down and stuck knife into
his neck and let out barrel or two of
blood, and the horse gradually got
better.
"lts nothing but an attack of blind
staggers," said Mr.. johnson. "Every
hoss has got to have it. It's just like
the measles in children. It'll pass off,
and he'll be better for it,"
We got him home by easy stages to
the stable, and there he staid for three
weeks, until he seemed better, except
that he still had touch of the heaves
and the distemper.
Shortly afterwards had to drive over
to Delaware City to see man, and |
gave Mr.. johnson ten dollars to go
with me, in case the horse came to
pieces on the road, or anything Of Sc
rious nature happened.
We started at daybreak, and had pro-
gressed about mile and a half by dim
ner time, when the horse suddenly stop
ped short, and would not bulge an
inch.
/ suggested that perhaps the barbed
stoed had forgotten snmething ond
wanted TO 90 back Mr.. Johnson said,
"No, it was only one of his little tricks.
Most every horse has some eccentricity
or other. INST let him alone for n min.
uta and hon oet overitu
We waited three. e.o,,orters or an hour
Then johnson got out and undertook
to NAT him IN tho nac,, and tho horse
rot frightened and kicked until he GOT
one leg through tbe dasher and couldn,t
get it out.
asked Mr.. Johnson what he thought
we had better do now. He said SIT was
all right. All really good horses kiclSeu
He wouldn't give cent for an anima
that hadn't pluck enough to kick. /
was sign that he felt his oats"
So we loosed his leg and got in, and
before we had time to pick up the lines
he gave n jerk and started down the
road at lightning speed-lightning fol
him, that is-say about four miles an
hour, ran the buggy into ditch, and
then tried to jump over fence, but fail
ed misenbly, and got another blind
stagger on him, and laid there until nine
O'Clock that night.
didn't get to see that man at Della
ware City, and, III fact, haven't seer
him yet. johnson said 1t was gooC
thing anyhow, for they had the fever
down thcre,and | ought to consider it ,
providential thing that the horse wa
taken just rs he was. If we had gont
to Delaware City we might both have
been dead men.
1t is singular how johnson Away
looks on the bright side of things whel
that horse is concerned.
Then thought that perhaps after al
| had better sell the horse he was :,
much trouble, 40 advertised him. Th
man who came to buy him was not :,
hopeful as Johnson. He said the hors
was spawned. roundered, and distem
pered. lie had the glanders, and hcaves
and blind stapgers, and bots, and ring
bone, and Il number of other infrmties
that | don't care to mention. lie sal,
the horse was too hard in the mouth
"And | don't like to pull too hard o
horse, you know" said he, "for
know Il man who split horse in haI
Jerking at him."
So told this man wasn't much Il
lrivin,r n bnrpnin but still if he WOlll
'"ke 'he morse OH my ''a'os 'or any ~,
o'iiapl' sum Hc ihiSH' H'N' "i''' -