The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-26
gave way to Mr.. Chandler, on whose mo-
ton the Senate went into executive session,
and then adjourned until Monday.
How the Minister Cured His Horse.

"Well," said Reuben, the story-teller,
"father always wanted horse because the
folks in Greene live scattered, and he had
so far to go to attend funerals and we'd
dngs, 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 stranger asked him
to ride. Father said, That's handsome
horse you are driving. should like to
own such horse myself what will you
give for him" said the man. DO you
want to sell?' says father. Yes, do, and
III sell cheap, too says he. oh, well,
says father, it's no use talking, for
haven't the money to buy WITH Make
me an offer,' says he. We'll, inst to put
an end to the talk father says, IN give
you SIS for the horse you may have
him, says the man, as quick as a flash,
but you'll repent of your bargain in a
week. Why, what ails the horse p
says father. 'Ails him I? He's got the
sold Nick" in him, that's what ais him, ,
says he. IF he has will to go, he'll go !;
but fhe takes a notion to stop, all creation
can't start him. Pve stood and beat that
horse till the sweat run off me in streams.
Pve fired a gun close to his ears Pve
burnt shayings under him. might have
beat him to death and roasted him alive be-
fore he'd have budged an INCH Tll take
the horse says father. WHATS his
name p George says the man. Il shall
call him Georgia. said father.
swell, father brought him home, and
we boys were nightly pleased, we fixed a
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 in 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
awhile father would say, Get up, Geor-
gie,' but he didn't strike the horse blow.
By-and-by, he says, This is going to take
time. Well, George, We'll see who has
the most patience, you or L. So he sat
in the wagon and took out his skeletons"
- Skeletons ?" said Poppet, inquiringly.
"Of sermons, you know. Ministers al
ways carry round little book to put down
things they think of when they are off
walking, or riding, or hoeing in the garden.
swell, father sat full two hours, before
eiiO iVi oO Nuo iSduy W but W uVit uC
did, there was no more trouble for that
day. The next morning twas the same
thing over again, only George gave in lit
tie 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 pleas
ant, 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 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 her stool and climbed up by the
horses head. Dove, tell what you said to
George that 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 to live, where ecery-
body helped ererybody /; that he was min
ister's horse, and ought to set good SAM
pie 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 his 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 tho
ground, and he looked as sheepish as if he
had been stealing hundred sheep"
| "Ycs," 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 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, I've seen
him back himself between the shafts of the
wagon many time, to save father trouble.
Father wouldn't take 5000 for the horse to-
day. He eats anything you give him. Sis
very often brings out some of her dinner to
him."
{" He likes to eat out of plate" said
Dove, sit makes him think he's folks" -
| Selected.
TN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNI
/ SIN AF7Is