The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-04-07

HORSE HEAVEN, that mythical land which
some Of The "ancient mariners" used frequent
ly to refer to with emphasis during their noon
tide meal on board ship has been discovered
and definitely located. 1t is in New Jersey;
anu one wonders that so favored land has so
long hidden from mortal eyes, this haven
VI perpetual equine rest. The poetic apostrophe
famliiar to the youth OF Portland, which began.
"oid morse. old horse, what brought you here"
will lose its significance hereafter, for Mr..
Marsh, a deceased wealthy Jersey bachelor.
knocked the romance out OF II as one of the
last acts of a somewhat busy life. He was
man of years, of portly presence and gentle
manly manners, who purchased beautiful
farm of eighty acres near Passaic, which he
took possession of not for the benefit of any
relatives or special human proteges, but as q
home for his six horses; and this scheme took
tne Dest part OF his estate of $500 900. These
SIX norses were apparently all that he held
aear In lie, and for these he evinced deep
anectlon. The special favorite, q dark bay
steed, he regarded as he would his own son II
ne had had one. He was not an attractive
Deast' for an uglier looking horse could hardly
De found, except one that came into the world
miniature Milan cathedral with one eve and
two legs. The other five horses were bad and
good, some of them being worth some hun
dreds of dollars each, and others not worth
two hundred cents. He refused the most ar
travagant offers for his pets, saying that be
bought the farm principally for their use, and
that he would keep them comfortable for the
good they had done and not turn them ont to
die In their old age.
Although desirous Of prolonging the Ioneey-
ity OF bis horses, Mr. Marsh was morally con-
vinced that his own earthly days were fsw and
short. He was suffering from Consumption.
and Of summer evening be would tramp out
into his fields and manage to approach his old
est and wheezest horse, which would rub its
der. Old Mr.. Marsh would then rub the old
horse down, saying: "Poor old horse. Pm n
going, know I'm going. But it's all right.
fsS aoa tS, Won't e. nsuiier old fellow and then salts
men, tramps back to his dwelling And his
innate knowledge proved correct, for one even
ing old Mr.. Marsh quietly rubbed down his
horses for the last time, and his chalk mark on
the tally slate of life was rubbed out with
greater facility and far less noise.
The reading of his will produced asensatiop.
Several young ladies in the village who ex-
pected donations for the reason that they read
him novels, were not seen for several days,
even by their intimate friends, and when seen.
spoke with dramatic effect and apparent expe.
rience OF the unaccountable perfidy of man.
By the will, the farm of eighty acres is sat
apart as grazing pasture, happy hunting
ground, and general terrestrial paradise for the
horses during the term Of ten years. Anxious
lest the new mown hay, succulent turn;ps and
farinaceous corn should pail on the stomachs
OF the horses, the sum of $500 for each horse is
directed to be expended in the feed Of an ultra
superior and novel class; and still further, dur
ing these ten years, some man of experience
and charity to the brute creation will rub down
and curry-combtthe sixjhorses at an annual re.
muneration of $1,000. The browning bequest
of the whole testament is that DR. r. A Ter
hume and gentleman of New York, who are
appointed executors, are bequeathed $4,000
ed.
The charity of Mr.. Marsh is not altogether
confined to the brute creation, for poor orphan
boy to whom Mr.. Marsh evinced some affection
il bequeathed a handsome sum yearly, the &C.
cumulated amount Of which he will receive
when of age. Mr.. Narsh's old housekeeper
also finds herself entitled to coy annual PEN
sion. And poor German farm hand an old
time fixture about the place, is given an acre
Of the best ground with mill on it, value
S45O0, for the small consideration of ST. Mr..
Marsh's distant relatives also receive small
legacies, which will be greatly augmented
when, in accordance with the will, the farm is
sold ten years hence