Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-07-12
How Father Cured his Horse.

"Well, said Reuben, the story-teller, "fa-
ther always wanted horse because the folks
in Greene live scattered, and he has so far to 60
to attend funerals and weddings, and visit
schools you know but he never felt as if he
could afford to buy one Bat one day he was
coming afoot from Hldrcth, and stranger
asked him TO ride Father said, That's
handsome horse you are driving. | should
like to own such a horse myself" What
will you give for him ?" said the man. DO
you want to sell ?" says father. Yes, do,
and I'll sell cheap, too - says he. Oh, well,
says father, "its no use talking, for haven't
the money to buy with" Make me an offer, b"
says he. Well, just to put an end to the
talk" father says, "Ill give you seventy.tive
dollars for the horse" You may have him,
says the man, as quick az fash, "but you'll
repent Of your bargain in week. Why,
what ails the horso2n says father. "Ails him?
He's got the "Old Nick" in him, that's what
aiIs him, ' says he. g. If he has a will to 60,
he'll go but if he takes a notion to stop oil
creation can't start him. I've stood and beat
that thorse till the sweat run ofi me in streams
I've fired gun close to his ears I've burnt
shavings under him | might have beat him
to death and roasted him alive before he'd
have budeed an inch" " I'll take the horse" +"
says father. " What's his name ?' " George"
says the man. shall call him George, 4"
says father.
" Well, father brought him home and we
boys were nightly pleased, and we fixed a
place for him in the barn, and curried him
down and fed him we'll and father said, Talk
to him, boys, and let him know you feel friend
ly" So we coazed and petted him, and the
next morning father harnessed him and got
into the wagon to GO But George wouldn't
stir step. Father got out aud patted him,
and we boys brought him apples and clover
tops and once in while father would say,
Get up George, but he didn't strike the
horse blow. BY and by, he says, This is
going to take time Well, George, well see
which has the most patience, you or |, so he
sat in the wagon and took out his skele'
tons
Skeletons? ?" said Poppet inquiringly.
"Of sermons, you know. Ministers alway'
carry round little book to put down thing
they think of when they are off walking OIL
riding, or hoeing in the garden"
We'll, father sat full two hours, befor'
the horse was ready to start but when HI
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
do enough for the horse. He was round tn
stable, feeding him and fussing over him an
talking to him in his pleasant, gentle way
and the third morning, when he had fed an
curried and harnessed him with mis- own hands
somehow there was a different look in tn
horses eyes. But when father was ready t
20, George put his feet together and laid HI
ears back, and wouldn't stir Well, Doy
was playing about the yard, aud she brougl
her stool and climbed up by the horses hea
Dove, tell what you said to George, th
morning"
81 gave him an awful talking to-" said II
little girl. II told him it was perfectly 'edi'
ulous for him to act So that he'd come to
!, real good place to live, where everybody he'll
ed everybody, that he was a minister's hors
aud ought to set good sample to all til
other horses and God wouldn't love him ift
, wasn't good horse That's what told hin
Then kissed him on the nose
And what did George do ~
why, he heard every word said, and VIII
| got through, he felt so 'shamed of himse
. he couldn't hold up his head so he just dro
! ped it, till it most touched the ground, al
: = he looked as sheepish as if he had been stea
ing hundred Sleeps
= "Yes," said Reuben, "and when father to
: him to 20, he was of like shot. He has nev
: made any trouble since. That's the way faith
il cured balky horse. And that night, when
was embarrassed, he rubbed his head agail
/, fathers shoulder and told him as plain a.
= horse could speak, that he was sorry. H
tried to make it up to father ever since,
: the trouble he made him. When he's loo
in the pasture, father has only to stand at t
a q bars and call his name, and he walks up
- :, quiet as an old sheep. Why, I've seen h
u back himself between the shafts of the way
many time, to save father trouble. Fath
wouldn't take two hundred dollars for
y horse to-day. He eats anything you give hi
% % Sis very often brings out some of her dim
y to him.
- !, d" He likes to eat out of plate, said Do
= " it makes him think he's folks"