Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-03
How Father Cured His Horse.

"Well," said Reuben, the story-teller, father
always wanted horse because the folks in
Greene live scattered, and he has so far to go to
attend funerals and weddings and 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 handsome horse
you are driving should like TO own such a
horse myself What will you give for himr
said the man. DO you want to sellp says
father. yes, l do, and I'll sell cheap, too says
he. oh, we'll says father, it's no use talking,
for haven't the money to buy with Make
me an Offer says he. We'll, just to put an end
to the talk father says, 'Ill 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 week. why, what
ails the horseP says father. 'Ails
him? He's got the "0d Nick" in
him, that's what ails him., says he. IF
he has will to go, he'll go; but if he takes
notion to stop, all creation can't start him. I've
stood and beat that horse till the sweat run off
me in streams Pve fred gun close to his
ears; Pye burnt shavings under him. / might
have beat him TO death and roasted him alive
before he'd have budged an inch "Ill take the
horse saws father. What's his nameP George
says the man. 4 shall call him Georgia. says
father.
"Well, father brought him home, and we boys
were nightly pleased, and we fixed place for
him in the barn, and curried him down and fed
him well, and father said, Talk to him, boys,
and let him know you feel friendly So we
coaxed and petted him, and the next morning,
father haTnessed him and got into the wagon to
go. 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, George, but he didn't
strike the horse a blow. By-and-by, he says,
This is going to take time. Well, George,
we'll see which has the most patience, you or |,
so he sat in the wagon and took out his skele-
tons -"
"Skeletons" said Poppet, inquiringly.
"0f sermons, you know. Ministers always
carry round little book to put down things
they think of when they are out walking or rid
ing, or hoeing in the garden.
"Well, father sat full two hours, before the
horse was ready to start; but when he did there
was no more trouble for that day. The next
morning twas the same thing over again,
only George gave in a 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 in his pleasant, gentle way, and the third
morning when he had fed and curried and har-
messed him with his own hands, somehow there
was different look in the horses eyes. But
when father was ready to 60 George put his
feet together and laid his ears back and wouldn't
stir. Well, Dove was playing about the yard,
and she brought her stool and climbed up by
the horsesS head. Dove, tell what you said to
George, that morning.
81 gave him an awful talking to, said the little
girl. told him it was perfectly 'edieulous for
him to act So that he d come to real good place
to live, where everybody helped everybody that
he was minister's horse, and ought to set a
good Sample to all the other horses, and God
wouldn't love him if he wasn't good horse.
That's what told him. Then kissed him on
the nose.'" "And what did George do?"
"Why, he heard every word said, and when |
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 sheepSh as if he had been stealing a hundred
Sleeps"
eyes" said Reuben, "and 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. When he's loose in the
PASTURE father has only TO stand at the bars and
call his name, and he walks up as quiet as an
old sheep. Why, Pve 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 today He
eats anything you give him. Sis very often
brings out some of her dinner to him.
ale likes to eat out of plate" said Dove
sit makes him think he's folks"