The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-05-03
From Appleton's Journnl.
The Trumpeter's Horse.

Iy anchored in my old bachelor crotchets that
on every occasion / swore, with all sincerity.
and by all the gods In the heavenly calendar,
would never take single risk in the matri-
nnonial lottery; butt counted without the
trumpeter's horse. s-, ,.t @
II was toward the last of September, 1864.
was OF my way back from Baden Baden,
and int ded to spend, at most, day in Par
IL. 1 had invited four or five of my fri nds,
for the hunting season, to my estate in Pictou.
They were TO arrive early in October, and at
least week was necessary to make prepata-
tons al Ia Roche large for their reception.
letter from my eward that awatteQ me III
Paris brought unwelcome news. Ny MOUNDS
we're all in good condition, but hve OF my
t-eive hunters had either fallen SICK OF some
horse disorder or had become lame during my
absence. l was, therefore, compelled to sup
ply their places with others. -sH.aa-
To this end made tour in the Elysian
fields among the dealers, who sho ed me any
number of animals-some better, some worse
that they recommended as hunters at a
moderate price-about three thousand francs
on the average. had experienced losses at
Baden-Baden, and consequently was in no
-mcSdSzsd q ihsasFisfdTea louis
d or without mature deiberation.
It was a Wednesday. Cheri, one of the
principal dealers, had his first sale of the sea-
animals be offered than what derived from
the catalogue and from their appearance,
bought eight for five thousand francs. Among
them hoped to find four or five, at least,
that would enable me to get through the sea-
son. 1850, .4- .--..
Among my purchases there was one horse
that bought almost solely ON account of his
color, which was truly beautiful. The cata-
logue attributed no special qualifications TO
him for the chase. He was entered simply as
"Brutns, saddle-horse. well built, thoroughly
broken, age unknown He was beautiful
dapple-gray, large and very handsomely
formed. The next day went home; a. the
day following, early ia til forenoon, servant
came and informed me that horses had arriv-
ed. immediately went out to see them, or,
rather, to see Brutus; for the handsome fell
low had been in my head ever since bought
him, and | was singulary impatient to
find out what kind of comrade
he was going to make, and what he was capa-
bic Of doing. aE - 6lt3kl
had him brought out of the stable first.
he certainly had all the signs OF of respecta-
bic age; but he was clean-limbed, had very
handsome neck and head, a powerful should
or and well turned quarter. But it was not
bis fine points that so much excited nv ad-
miratlon as the intelligent manner with
which he observed all my movements. He
even seemed to be interested in what I said.
he inclined his head toward me, in order, ap
parently, to hear better; and when I had
done speaking he uttered low winny, SEEM
ingly In response. looked at the other hor-
ses hastily. They were ordinary animals,
without anything to distinguish them from
thousands Of others. Not go With Brutus.
He certainly differed widely from the vulgar
herd, aud was impatient to make little
tour through my park in his company. He
allowed himself to be saddled, bridled and
mounted like horse that knows his business
and we set out 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 well broken tor my purposes. He
would give me slow trot or gallop at call,
but would continually strike the ground with
his fore feet in peculiar manner; and. when
tried to make him raise his head, which he
carried very low, he would nearly tear my
arm of. Finally he took to prancing in
grand style, like show horse in an arena.
"Humphf' said to myself; 81 have here
or I am greatly in error-an old stager
from the riding school of Saumur or st. Cyr
He will have 10 be gott'n out of some of his
fancy PAGES before he will do for the chase. y
/ was about to return home, having sufi-
GENTLY satisfied my curiosity with regard to
Brutus's accomplishments, when heard the
report of gun, discharged apparently within
twenty yards of me. 1t was one of my keep.
ers shooting hare, and who subsequently re-
ceived a handsome present for the shot from
my wife.
Twas at the moment exactly In the center
Of an open space formed by the junction OF
six long, shaded alleys. When Brutus heard
the report of the gun he stopped short, plant
ed his feet firmly in the sand, pricked up his
ears and raised his head high in the air.
was Surnriepd tn hin, CO diSfurhod hv atba
report of firearms. l would have supposed
that, after the liberal education he had re-
eeiVed in his youth, no amount of firing
would have even excited his curiosity. I
touched his tanks with my heels, in order to
urge him forward, but Brutus refused to
bulge. tried to turn him to the right, to
the left; not a foot would he move. He stood
like statue; aud, nevertheless,-you need
not laugh, for, be assured, what am telling
you is strictly true-at every effort made to
induce him to go on he would turn his head
and glance at me with an expression of impa-
thence and surprise; then he would relapse in
to his statue-likc immobility. There was
clearly some misunderstanding between us,
for read very distinctly in his glances that
he would say 81. the herse, cut do my duty,
and you, the cavalier, do not yours"
was more puzzled than angered.
"What manner of beast is this that have
bought of Cheri ?'' said to myself Sand
why does he look at me in this queer way?''
was on the point of having recourse to ex.
treme measTras-that is, to administer a
shower OF weIl-laid blows with my riding
whip-wben we heard another s.1ot-Brutus
andI-at which he made one bound, and on
ly one All my endeaYors to in luce him to
go on were irutless. He planted his feet
anew in the sand, and more firmly, if posi-
bic, than at first began to get out Of pa
nc tn v,lxy u,l,i y,
But Brutus also lost patience, and instead O
submitting tamely to the punishment l inflic
ted. he reared, and pitched, and kicked ii
the most furiousmanner imaginable But while
the battle was at its height, and was deal
ing him heavy blows V it'll the loaded hancl Il
of my whip, he found time to give me look
now and then, full, not only of indignation
but of surprise. 1t was plain that
while demanded of the horse whai
he refused, he expected something
from me that d id not do. 81 y - :
And how, think you, did this end? II
my shame-my great shame. l was igno
miniously unhorsed-thrown Brutus, i
seemed, came to the conclusion that nothing
was to be effected by violence, and that b,
must change his tactics. After moment
pause, which was certainly moment OF re
Election, he stood straight up in the air, MOI
on his hind, but on his fore fees, and that
clown walks on his hands. Of course slit
down over his head into the sand, which, for
tunateiy, was tolerably deep. III .-r
tried TO rise, but one of my legs refused
to do me service; / uttered cry of pain
and fell forward fiat into the sand. 1 hat
ruptured one of the smaller tenduns of m,
right leg, which, although not very seriou
matter, caused me great pain whenever at
tempted to stir. Nevertheless, / succeeded
in turning over and sitting up, but at tn
moment when began to rub my eyes, which
were full of sand, and TO wonder what hat
become Of my rascaliy dapple gray, saw
horses foot descend on my head; then The
foot was placed gently against my breast
and was stretched again on the sand-this
time on my back.
was now. and very naturally too, think
exceedingly frightened, and, moreover, fell
snat II would be useless to make any further
snot. l therefore remained lietly on my
o sI, asknng myselfonce more what manner
~ peast tnis was that / had bought from
Nneii, az tne same time I closed nv e.ve
ana awaited death, for I expected to be killed
But, INSTEAD Of receiving my COUP de qrace
suddenly heard a strange STAINING IN tn,
sand, and at the same time ouantity Of dir.
and gravel-stones struck me In the faco
opened my eyes, and 10! there was Rr,tus