The weekly Shasta courier. [volume] (Shasta, Calif.) 1872-190?, 1873-04-05
The Zrumpeter's Horse.

1 was nearly forty, and felt myself so Sc
curely anchored in my old-bachelor crotch
cts that on every occasion | swore, with all
sincerity, and by all the gods in the heather
calender, would never take a single risk
in the matrimonial lottery but | count
ed without the trumpeter's horse.
1t was toward the last of September,
1864. was on my way back from Baden
Baden, and intended to spend, at most.
day in Paris. had invited four or five of
my friends, for the hunting season, to my
estate in Pitou. They were to arrive early
in October and at least week was neces-
sary to make preparations, at La Roche
large, for their reception. A letter from
nv steward that awaited me in Paris,
brought me unwelcome news. The hounds
were all in good condition, but five of
nv twelve hunters had either fallen sick of
some horse disorder or had become lame
during my absence Their places must be
supplied by others.
To this end tour was made in the Ely
sian fields among the dealers, who showed
me any number OF anlmals-some better,
some worse-that were recommended as
hunters, at moderate price-about three
thousand francs, on the average. | had ex-
perienced losses at Baden Baden, and con-
sequently was in humor to spend seven or
eight thousand louis-d'or without mature
deliberation.
1t was Wednesday. Cheri, one of the
principal dealers had his first sale of the
season Without any further knowledge of
the animals he offered than was derived
from the catalogue, and from their appear
ance, | bought eight for FIVE thousand francs.
Among them hoped to find four or FIVE,
at least, that would do for relays, which
would enable me to get through the season.
Among my purchases there was one horse
that | bought almost solely on account Of
his color, which was truly beautiful The
catalogue attributed no special qualifications
to him for the chase. lie was entered sim
ply as "Brutus, saddle horse, we'll built,
thoroughly broken, age unknown" He
was beautiful dspple-gray, large, and very
handsomely formed. The next day went
home and the day following, early in the
forenoon, servant came and informed me
that the horses had arrived. | immediate
ly went out to see them, or, rather, to see
Brutus for the handsome fellow had been
in my head ever since | had bought him.
and was impatient to find out what kind
Of a comrade he was going to make, and
what he was capable of doing.
l had him brought out of the stable first.
He certainly had all the signs OF being
of resdectable age; but he was clean
limbed, had very handsome neck and
head, a powerful shoulder and well-turned
quarter But it was not his fine points
that so much excited my admiration as the
intelligent manner with which he observed
all my movements. He even seemed to be
interested in what l said He inclined his
head toward me, in order, apparently, to
hear better, and when l had done speaking,
he uttered low whinny seemingly in re-
spouse. | looked at the others hastily. They
were ordinary animals, without anything to
distinguish them from thousands of others !;
not so with Brutus. He certainly differed
much from the vulgar herd, and I was i'm
patient to make little tour through the
park with him. He allowed himself to be
saddled, bridled and mounted, like a horse
that knows his business and We started in
the best possible humor with each other.
Cheri's catalogue had told only the truth.
Brutus was exceedingly well broken indeed,
he was too we'll broken for my purposes
He would give me slow galIop at call,
but would continually strike the ground
with his forefeet in peculiar manner; and
when tried to make him raise his head
which he carried very low, he would nearly
tear my arm off. Finally, he took to pranc-
ing in grand style, like a show-horse in an
arena.
Humph" said l to myself, al have
here-or am greatly in error-an old stager
from the riding school of Saumer or st. Cyr.
He will have to be gotten out Of some Of
his fancy PAGES before he will do for the
chase"
I was about to return home, having suffi-
GENTLY satisfied my curiosity with regard to
Rrutuss accomplishments, when | heard
the report ola gun, discharged, apparently
within twenty yards of me- Itwas one of my
keepers shooting hare, and who afterward
received handsome present for the shot
from my wife.
was at the moment exactly in the CEN
tire of an open space formed by the junction
of six long, shaded alleys When Brutus
heard the report of the gun, he stopped
short planted his feet firmly in the sand
pricked up his ears, and raised his head
high in the air. was surprised to see him
so disturbed by the report of firearms. |
would have supposed that, after the liberal
education be received in his youth no
amount of firing would have excited hi.
curiosity. / touched his TANKS with nv
heels, in order to urge him forward but
Brutus refused to bulge. 1 tried to turn
him to the right, to the left; not a foot
would he move He stood like a statute
and, nevertheless-you need not laugh, for
be assured, what am telling you is strictly
true-and nevertheless, at every effort ]
made to induce him to go he would turn
his head and glance at me with an expires
sion of impotence and surprise; then he
would relapse into his statue-like immobil
ity. There was clearly some misunderstand