Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-06-15
How ParsOn Blake Subdued His
Horse.

well, salu Reuben, lne SIOTy -leller,
father always wanted a horse, because
the folks in Greene live scattered and he
has so far to go to attend funerals and
weddings, aud visit schools, you know;
but he never felt as if he could afford to
buy one. But one day he was coming
afoot from Hildreth and a stranger asked
him to ride. Father said, That's hand
some horse you are driving. ! should like
to own such horse myself What will
you give me for him?' said the man. Do
you want to sell {? says father Yes, l do,
and I'll sell cheap, too, says he. oh,
well,' says father, it's no use talking, for
l haven't the mouey to buy with Make
me an offer says he. We'll, just to put
an end to the talk says father. Il will
give you seventy five dollars for the horse
You may have him. says the man, as
quick as flash, but you'll repent of your
bargain in a week why, what ails the
horse?' says father. 'Ails him? He's got
the 'old nick" in him, that's what ails
him. says he. IF he has a will to go,
he'll go; but if he takes a notion to stop,
all creation can't start him. I've stood
and beat that horse till the sweat run off
of me in streams. I've fred a gun close
to his ears; I've burnt shavings under him.
might have beat him to death and roasted
d1lNC DClolC 1C VI hdNC UuhSCu
inch IN take the horse says father
What's his name?' George says the
man. I shall call him Georgie,' said
father.
"Well, father brought him home, and
we boys were nightly pleased, and We
fixed place. for him in the barn, and cur
ried him down and fed him well, and father
said, Talk to him, boys, and let him know
you feel friendly So we coaxed and pet
ted him, and the next morning father har-
messed him and got into the wagon to 60
But George wouldn't stir step. Father
got out and patted him, and we boys
brought him apples and clover-tops, and
once in while father would say, Get up,
Georgie,' but he didn't strike the horse a
blow. By-and-by, he says: This is going
to take time. Well, George, we will see
which has the most patience, you or l.
So he sat in the wagon and took out his
Skeletons
Skeletons" ?" said Poppet, inquiringly.
"Of sermons, you know. Ministers al
ways carry round little book to put down
things they think of when they are off
walking or riding. Father says he's plan
ned out many sermon when he was hoe
ing in the garden"
I" saw him writing one down, sitting
on potato HILL" said Levi.
"Well, don't keep interrupting me, or
never shall get through. Father sat full
two hours before the horse was ready to
start; bat when he did, there was no more
trouble for that day. The next morning
twas the same thing over again, only
George gave in little sooner.
"All the while it seemed as if father
couldn't do enough for the horse. He was
round the stable, feeding him and fussing
over him, and talking to him i'll his pleas
ant, gentle way Qolks say father can quiet
old crazy David Downing, across the
street, any time, by just speaking to him),
and the third morning, when he had fed
and curried and harnessed him with his
own hands, somehow there was different
look in the horses eyes. But when father
was ready to go, George put his feet to-
gether aud laid his ears back, and wouldn't
stir. Well, Dove was playing about the
yard, and she brought her stool and climb
ed up by the horses head. Dove, tell
Pop what you said to George that morn
ing"
az gave him an awful talking to-" said
the little girl. az told MIN it was perfect
ly 'edicul0us for him to act so; that he'd
come to real good place to live, where
ecery6ody helped eUerybody; that he was a
minister's horse, and ought TO set good
sample to all the other horses, and God
wouldn't love him if he wasn't a good
horse. That's what told him. Then 1
kissed him on the nose"
"And what did George do9"
"Why, he heard every word said, and
when l got through he felt so 'shamed of
himself, he couldn't hold up his head; so
he just dropped it, till it most touched the
ground, and he looked as sheepish as if he
had been stealing hundred Sleeps"
"Yes," said Reuben, land when father
told him to go, he was off like shot He
has never made any trouble since. That's
the way father cured a balky horse. And
that night, when he was embarrassed, he
rubbed his head against fathers shoulder,
and told him as plain as a horse could
speak, that he was sorry. He's tried to
make it up to father ever since, for the
trouble he made him. We boys have
great times catching him, when he's loose
in the pasture. He's full of his tricks
He'll come galloping up almost within
reach, and when we think we are sure of
him, he wheel and be off to the other
end Of the pasture. He'll fool with us
that way half an hour; but father has only
to stand at the bars and call his name and
he walks up as quiet as an old sheep.
Why, I've seen him back himself between
the shafts of the wagon many time, to
save father trouble. Father wouldn't take
two hundred dollars for the horse to day
and it doesn't cost much to keep him, for
he eats anything you give him Sis very
often brings out some of her dinner to
him"
"He likes to eat out of plate" said
Dove, ait makes him think he's folks."-
From "Doson in Saloon"