The Republican journal., 1871-07-20
Horse knowledge.

There was pony on q farm that had {
curious, artful trick of shammine lame
ness when he was driven in direction he
| happened, tor some cause on other, not tC
like. He was good-tempered little ami
NAL, very pretty and would have been a
| lavorite only for this perverse habit His
pretended lamencss was so real, and was
| so distressing to witness, that every one
felt ashamed of driving him, lest by any
chance it was no longer make believe. but
| nail that pricked him, or else that he had
sprained himself Yet no sooner was he
put in the field he was all right again, and
would even frisk about is if delighted
with the success of his artiicc.
There We're two roads that he never
liked, one to 4 mill and the other to vii
lage in the opposite direction TO Down
ham. But rs there was another pony be
sides himself, he was generally excused
from these two objectionable roads. IT,
however, after an interval of six or eight
months, or even more he happened to be
driven toward either Of them he again
pretended lameness, dropped into II walk,
and feigned so completely Il state OF sut-
terlng, there was nothing for it but to eX-
cuse him and turn back. lie had been
beaten, poor fellow, for his falschood. but
it made no difference. and it was thought
probable that he had ON some former oc-
caslon, before he came TO the farm, been
lll-used ut the mill or in the village and
never being able to forget it. had hit up
on this device to save himself from ever
going there again. He might, it is true,
have been taught this trick by a former
master or groom, for both dogs and horses
are capable Of being made the accompli-
ces, and were active co-operators in crime,
as several instances on record prove.
1t is stated by Mr.. Harrison Weir that
between 1850 and 1850 Scottish lawyer
made = journey to London. At that period
such journeys We're usually performed
with horses, when the traveller might buy
horse and sell him ut the end of his
journey.
The lawyer in question had sold the
horse on which he had ridden to London
as soon us he had reached that place
when the time for his return arrived he
went to Smithtield, then = market, to pnr-
chase q hackney for his Journey. Not
finding one at first to his mind he waited
till toward dusk, when handsome ami
nal was offered, but at so low 2 price,
considering his appearance, that he imme-
dlately suspected there was some secret
blemlsh or defect that would bear the day
light. However, after much examination,
none such being found, and being himself
good Judge of u horse, he consented to
become its purchaser
The next morning, still better pleased
with the appearance Of his bargain, he
again commenced his journey. The horse
had excellent PAGES, and the lawyer, rid
ing the first few miles on a well-trequent-
ed road, and observing that his horse was
admired by nearly all he met, did not fail
to congratulate himself ON his good luck
in having obtained 50 admirable steed
at so low 4 price. 81 this time he had
reached Finchlcy Common then u noted
resort of highwaymen-and coming tU
one spot in 4 hollow which lay between
two slight ascents, he met Il clerical-looIl-
ing gentleman driving to town in one
horse chlise. The road wa solitary, not
a creature in sight, when the horse as
tonishetl his rider by making a sudden
by which he brought his hind
quarters close to the chaisr, and SD stop
ped ii, proving at once What the protes-
sion of his former master had been, ~
we'll as his own completely in the high
wayman's art
The clergyman, believing to u certainty
that Il highwayman IS we'll rs the house
was at hand, and, unfortunately. hot lIaV-
ING a pistol TO defend himself, or rather a4
appeared, being OF Il peaceful turn, pro-
duced his purse mt once, assuring the as
tonished lawyer that it was quite unnerrs-
sary to use violence, Us he was not about
to offer resistance. The lawyer Spurred
up his horse, and, with many apologies 70
the terrified clergyman, resumed his Jour
ney. In Il while however, they met Il
in another solitary parl of the
road, and again the horse prepared, bv the
same extraordinary maneuvei to bring il
to q stand. But here Il different reception
met him 4 blunderbuSs was leVeed from
the coach window, with denunciation of
death and destruction against the luckless
rider, who was now in his turn more terri
fled than the unrcsisting clergyman had
been.
50 it went through the day. Wherever
IN opportunity OF robbing occurred the
horse offered it to his master, ANA did the
best i'll his power TO aid him. In fact, at-
ter his life had been repeatedly endangered
by the suspicious which the conduct OF his
steed naturally gave rise 10, and his liberty
threatened by the peace officers, who were
about to take him up rs u notorious high
wayman, TO whom, Of 4 truth, ,he horse
had formerly belonged. the lawyer was
obliged to part with him for 4 tritlc, and
to purchase one in his stead which, though
tar less beautiful, had not been trained to
those criminal habits in which the other
had become perfect adept