Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-11-28
A Very Friendly Horse.


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IDoN'T really believe a yellow horse is
any worse by nature than a bay horse, or
q white horse, or a horse of any color or
combination of colors; but Il judgment
Of things in this world is often liable to
be influenced by our preiudices, For this
reason, perhaps, | cannot look upon a
yellow horse with any feelings of de-
light.
A yellow horse was standing at the
depot in Washington the time ! came
down the Shepaug road. Looking at the
animal as he felt around casually with his
hind foot for his owners brains, my
mind reCeded back TO the home of my
childhood.
1t seemed so blessed to lean back in the
scat, and, with partly closed eyes, give
myself up to reveries retrospective.
| remember quite distinctly the day my
parent brought home a yellow horse; in
fact, | can without difficulty pick any day
of the eight which that animal passed in
our society. He was a comely beast,
with long limbs, a straight body, and eyes
that would rival those of an eagle in look
ing hungry.
When he came into the yard we all
went out to look at him. twas evening,
clear, bright and beautiful. My parent
stood near the well, holding the animal
by a halter. We had a dog-a black
and white-aRd If there ever was a dog
who thought he had a head slowed full of
knowledge it vas that dog.
How plainly | a see him approach
that yellow horse, to smell OF his heels.
lie ought to have got more than he did,
considering that he lost the greater part
OF one ear in the attempt. 1t was done
so quick that it is possible we would not
have known anything about it, had the
dog not spoken of it himself.
He never smelt of that yellow horse
again. The flavor wasn't what he had
been used to, | think.
Three days later, when he was turning
around to speak to a flea, as is customary
with dogs, that yellow horse unexpected
ly reached down, and took a mouthful Of
spinal Joints out of the dogs back, and
the modification from being thus caught
preyed 40 heavily upon the dogs mind
that he died in a minute or two.
That evening mother interested father
with an account of Caper's death while
lie was waiting for her to replace the col
lar the yellow horse that afternoon had
snatched from his best coat.
And thus time passed. But the horse
lost none of it. There wasn't q n~eighbor
within a half mile of our honse but bore
some mark of that animals friendship.
Like death, he was no rcspecter Of per
sons. lie never stopped 70 inquire
| whether a man was worth 4 million or ten
cents when reaching for him, lie may
have had some curiosity about it after
ward, but he never showed it.
Finally people came 10 avoid him wher
they met him on the street. Idon't think
they did it purposoly, but it seemed to
come natural to them 20 rush through Tie
first DOORWAY or over the most convenient
fence when they saw him approach.
This inexplicable dread communicated
itself to the very dogs on the street; but
before they had come 10 fairly under.
stand him, he had succeeded in reducing
the price Of a winter breakfast luxury TO
almost q mere song.
After that they looked up to him with
the respect exacted by . Hindoo god with
! two changes of uDderclothcs, and no dog
within three blocks of us would think OF
going to sleep at night without first com
ing w 10 sec If ttat horse was locked
up. 1t was instinct probably.
Myparent new enjoyed 8 single day
Of the eight he was the sole possessor OF
the animal. Ie nip1ed away some por.
ton of him every Cuce in a while. My
parent was not a profsn ne man, buthe was
sOrelytcmpted to be every hourin the day.
There was only one person that had
anything 10 do with the animal who can't
out Of that fiery ordeal unscathed. lie
was the hired man, and he owed his sal.
vation I a misfortune. He was cross.
eyed. lie WAS & great source Of misery
TO that yellow horse. The misiormatiOu
Of his eyes was calculated to deceive even
smarter beings. The beast kicked at him
a few times when he was evidently look.
ing the other way, but that was just the
time he was bearing one eye strongly on
him, and he missed; and when he really
was not looking was Just the time tht
beast thought he was, and SO it went
through the entire eight days, both stom,
ach and heels yearning for a morsel Of
him, but never getting it.
am sure there never was such a horse
10 kick and bite. He did it so unexpect
cdlv, too. He would be lookinga strang
er square in the face, apparently about tc
communicate some information Of value
and then suddenly lift his hind foc' ant
fetch them unsophistlcated an a rap or
the head that would makc,him see seven
ty-aye dollars worth OF fireworks in !
/ minute.
He would bite at anything, whether HI
reached 1t or not; but In kicking he rarely
missed. He could use any leg with ia
( cility, but prided himself mainly on the
extraordinary play Of the left hind leg
With that limb he would break up a
I political meeting in liveminutes, and kich
over the entire plan Of the campaign be
fore the last man got 70 the door.
The very air about our place was i'm
I )regnated with campbor and various new
kinds Of liniments. The neighbors came
around after dark and howied for the
blood Of that yellow horse Ike 30 many
Indians clamoring for q pint Of New En-.
gland potash.
Matters commenced to assume a crit.
! ca form, The people wanted the animal