Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-02-22
THE TRUMPETER,S HORSE.

L. WAS nearly forty, and felt myself 81
securely anchored i'm my old bachelo
crotchets that on every occasion / swore
with all sincerity and by all the gods II
che heather calendar, l would never TAX,
smgle risk in the matrimonial lottery
putt counted without the trumpeter'.
horse.
1t was toward the last of September
1854. | was on my way back from Ba.
den-Baden, and intended to spend, al
most, day in Paris. had invited four
or nve OF my friends, for the hunting sea-
son, 10 my estate In PitoH. They were
10 arrive early in October, and at least
week was necessary to make preparations.
at La ROche-Targe, for their reception. A
letter from my steward that awaited me In
Paris, brought me unwelcOme news. NV
hounds We're all in good condition. but
five OF my twelve hunters had either fall
len sick of some horse disorder or had be-
come lame during my absence. was.
therefore, compelled to supply their pla-
ces with others.
10 this end made tour In the Elysian
Fleids among the dealers, who showed
me any number of animals-some better.
some Worse-that they recommended as
nuhlers, at moderate priee-abOut three
Thousand francs, on the average. | had
experienced losses at Biden- Baden. and
consequently was in no hum0r to spend
seven or eight hundred lOuis-d'Or without
mature elaboration.
IL was Wednesday. Cheri, one
81 the, principal dealers, had his
hfst sale Of the season, Without
any further knowledge OF the ami.
ihhiF he offered than what I derived
hoth The catalogue and from their appear
ahee, ] bought eight for five Thousand
francs Among them hoped 10 iiHd four
or aye, Mt least, that would do for relays,
which would enable me TO get through
the season,
Among my purchases there was one
horse tliat beught almost solely mn ae-
count Of his color, which was truly beau.
tiui. Ihe catalogue attributed no special
qiaiihcations to him for the chase. He
was entered simply rs "Brutus, saddle
horse, wei built, thoroughly broke. age
unknown" He was a beautiful dsppie.
gray, large, and very handsomely formed,
The next day went home; and the day
iOllOWlhg, early In the forenoon, n servant
came and informed me that the horses had
arrived. i Immediately went out TO see
tnem, or, rather, to see Brutus for this
handsome fellow had been In nv head
ever since bought him, and was siDglI-
larly impatient to find out what kind of
cosrade he was going TO make, and what
he was capable Of doing.
l had brought him out of the stable
iirst, lie certainly had all the signs of
being OF q respectable age but he was
had very handsome neck
ana head, a powerful shoulder, and well |
turned quarter, But Ii was not his fine |
pohlls that so much excited my admra- !
t'on as the intelligent manner with which |
he observed all my movements, lie even |
SEEMED 10 DE Interested In what | sid, |
lie inclined his Head toward me, In order |
apparently, 10 hear betterI and, when had |
had dohe, speaking, he uttered y law Will |
ih sesniliElf ~ response, | looked at the |
ethsf horses hastily, They were efdI- |
nary animals, without ANYTHING 10 dis.
tlheiilsl them ff6m th6Hsabds III 6tbers,
Not so Win Bfiitts, lie certainly diIefed
widely from the vulgar herd, aud was
~ make n little t6ilr through
my park IN his company. Ile allowed
himself 10 he sadded, bfidled. and mount
ed. like n horse that knows his business
and we set out IN the best possible humor
with each other.
Cherl's catalogue had told only tbe
ruin. Briitis was exceedingly well bro
ven lndeed he was too well broken for
my purposes. lie would give me slow
.Int .n OF gallop at call, but would continu-
any strike the ground with his fore-feet In
Pecuilsr manner; and, when tried 10
max MIN raise his head. which be car.
ried very low, he would nearly tear % nv
arm on. Finally, he took to prsncing IN
grand st le, like a show-horse in an m
arena. nj. III oh
"Humphl" J" said to myself; ~ have
here-or | am greatly In error-an oid
stagcr from the racing-school of sanmmr
or st. Cyr. He will have To ne gotten
out OF some of his fancy PAGES beSore ba
will do for the chase" '0
was about TO return home, having sue
hciently satisfied my curiosity with regard
TO Brutus' accomplishments, when /
heard the report of a gun, discharged an.
parently within twenty yards OF me. IL
was one of my keepers shooting hare.
ana VINO subsequently, received hand. |
some present for the shot from my aunt,
! was at the moment exactly in the |
center OF an open space formed by |
INC Junction OF siS long, shaded alleys.