The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-01-07
Doctor Dobbs and His Nag hobbs.

DR.. Daniel Dohbs, of Doncsster, bad
Dag that was called Nobbs. Gao day, in
the middle of winter, the docror having
been summoned TO attend a patient at
some distance from his dwelling, aud be-
Jog anxious to return home before il was
dark, rode poor Nobbs very hard. On
his arrival, not finding the man in the
way, the doctor fastened Nobb by his bri-
die 10 a rail in the yard, and went into
his parlor, where he sat down TO warm
himself by good fire. II had happened
in the morning, the doctors dairy maid
had brewed a barrel of strong beer, which
had been drawn off into the cooler, and
the dairy maid having been called away
TO milk her cows, she had careessly left
the door of the 5rewhouse open. The
steam of ;hs beer proved wonderfully in
viting to poor Nobbs, who had been hard
rode, and now he srood in the cold ex-
! tremely thirsty. After sundry efforts he
got loose from the rail, and repairing to
the brewhousc, he drank 80 heartily Of
the strong beer, that before he was aware
Of it he fell down dead drunk The doe
| tors man coming home, ran into the yard
/ 10 convey Nobbs TO the stable; not finds
/ ing him at the rail, he looked about, and
at length discovered him stretched on the
ground, cold and insensiblc. bursting INTO
the parlor, where the doctor was sitting
with Mrs. Dobbs, he communicated to
! them the news of poor Dubby's decpase
! The doctor and Mrs. DObbs were good
natured people, and of course we're much
! concerned; but as the doctor never suffer-
| ed misfortune to get the b=;ter of his dis
| cretiOn, lie Immediately gave orders that
| Nobbs should, without delay, be hayed,
| and that ms skin should be taken the
next morning to the currier.
| The DOCTORS man accordingly set TO
work; poor Nobbs was dragged 10 the
dunghil, his skin ives stripped off, and he
was left to be eaten by the hounds. He
had not, however, lain long before the
novelty of his situation had n considerable
effect upon him. As he had lost his skin,
of course the coldness of the night operat-
ed with double activity in dissipating the
! fumes of the beer which he had swallow
ed; and at length he awoke, got upon his
! legs, and trOtted away TO the stable door,
which happened to be close by the parlor.
/ WI i'AOI-l = II bfSi4Cu, cila U1litS AOsh
cold and hungry, he began to wlinny for
assistance. The doctor and his wife had
| just done supper, and happened at that
moment to be talking of the accident
which mad befallen their nag, over hot
bowl of brandy punch No sooner had
| Nobbs winuied, than Mrs. Dobbs turned
pale, and exclaimed, doctor DJbbs as
sure as live that is Nobbs' voice know
hlm by his whinny!" ''AIy dear" said
the doctor, ''it is NubL's whinny sure
enUuzh but, poor thing, he is dead, and
has been hayed" He had hardly said
this before No55s whinnied again Up
jumps the doctor, axes candle in his
hand and runs into the yard the first
thing he saw was Nobbs himself without
his skin. The doctor summoned all his
servants, ordered six sheep 10 be killed,
and clapped their skins upon poor Nobbs.
To make long story short, Nobbs
recovered, and did his work as we'll as
ever. The sheep skins stuck fast, and
answered his purpose as we'll as bis own
skin ever did, But what is most re-
markable, as we'll as most to our point, the
wool grew rapidly; and when the shear
ing scason came, the doctor had Nubbs
sheared. Every year he gave the doctor
noble fleece, for he carried upon his
back, YOU know, as much as six sheep
and as Loug as Nobbs lived, all the doctor:
stockings, and all Mrs. Dobb's fanne
petticoats, were made of his wool