Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-09-28
How Father Cured his Horse.


Well, said Reuben, the stcry-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 n
stranger asked him to ride, Father
said, "That's handsome horse you are
driving ! should like to own such n
horse as that myself" "What will you
give for him ?" said the man. edo
you want to sell him ?" says father.
eyes, I do, and I'll sell him cheap, too"
said he. ooh, well" says my father,
cts no use talking, for haven't the
money to buy him with" "Make me
an Offer" said he, "Wcll," just to put
an end to the talk" said my father "I'll
give you seventy-fve dollars for the
horse" "You may have him." says
the man as quick us flash, "but you'll
repent of your bargain in week"
"Why, what ails the horse" said my
father. calls him." said the man,
"why he's got the 'Old Nick in him,
that's what ais him, says he eff he
has will to go, he'll go, but if he takes
notion to stop, all creation can't start
him. / have stood and beat that horse
till the sweat ran off me in streams,
I've fired q gun close to his ears I've
burnt shavings under his nose. 1 might
have beat him to death or burnt him
alive before he'd have budged an inch. !"
"I'll take the horse" says father.
"What's his name ?" "George, )" says
the man. 81 shall call him George, "
says my father.
Well, father brought him home, and
we boys were nightly pleased, and we
built 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 harnessed him and
got into the wagon to go on. But
George wouldn't stir a 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
blow. BY and by he says "this is going
to lake time. Well, George, we'll see
which has the most patience you or /. "
SO he sat in the wagon.
He 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 little
sooner.
All the while it seemed as if father
couldn't do enough for the horse. He
was round the stable feeding and flssine
over him in his quiet, gentle way, and
the third morning, when he had fed
and curried and harnessed HIM with his
own hands, somehow there was differ,
ent look in the horses eyes. But when
father was ready to go, George put his
feet together and laid his ears back, and
wouldn't stir. Well, Dove was playing
about the yard, and she brought hel
stool and climbed up by the horses head
Dove, tell what you said to George tha
morning.
81 gave him an awful talking to,
said the little girl 81 told him it was
perfectly ridiculous for him to act so
that he'd come to real good place tC
live, where everybody helped every
body that he was minister's horse
and ought to set a good example to al
the other horses, and God wouldn't low
him if he wasn't good horse. That
what 1 told him. Then kissed him OF
the nose"
"And what did Georgia do ?"
"Why, he heard every word that
said, and when / got through he felt 81
'shamed of himself, he couldn" hold III
his head ; so he jest dropped it, till i
most touched the ground, and he locke,
as sheepish as if he had been stealing
hundred Sleeps"
Yes, and when father told him to go
he was off like flash. He has neve
made any trouble since. That's TIN
way father cured balky horse. Anc
that night, when he was embarrassed, h
rubbed his head against fathers shoul
der, and told him as plain as hors
could speak that he was sorry. He ha
tried to make it up to father ever since
for the trouble he had made him. Whel
he's loose in the pasture father has onl,
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 be
tween the shafts of the wagon just t.
save father trouble. Father wouldn'
take two hundred dollars for the hors
to-day. He eats anything you give him
Sis very often brings out some Of he
dinner to him.
"He often eats out of a plate" say
no.,o. &C - ,,>ol.oc hin, +1,;,,ly hoe foIl,c