Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-02-12
A Mares Peculiartics.

"A lar IcCulidfIlcS
"The McMann mare" was "a beast
of extraordinary speed and endur
ance. Like most rare animals
whether human or brute, she wa.
eccentric IN her ways. 1t matter,
not who owned her at the time O
the incident to which this article re
lates. Suffice it to say her owner
was a sensible man and thorough
horseman, his prediction for horse
flesh, more than anything else, hav
ing driven him into the livery bust
ness. Next 10 the wife of In,
bosom he loved the McMann mare
For this reason the mare was in
trusted only to particular customers;
and when let, the person who hired
was always carefully instructed as to
the peculiarities of the animal. An
old friend. Uncle Joe Richelieu, uu-
acquainted with the animal or hel
ways, and troubled with an impedl
ment in his speech, as we'll as al
infirmity of temper, which prevent
ed him from exercising any charity
for living creatures of slow and tar
dy motion, applied to the livery
lar for a horse for a journey of q
dozen miles or so, taken for the pur
pose of bringing his wife home
from her fathers. The contract
was made as follows:
Il WV want a horse-a good
'un-one that'll SIS s start the min
ute you s-sa say, 'Pw-pwh
phwhist,' a an and'll go like thun
der"
Suit you, l guess" was the re-
ply.
I'VE we well, ont with her. then
The mare was put between the
shafts of a nice light buggy, her
harness thoroughly adjusted by her
owner, the reins carefully laid Over
the dash board, and the usual cha,
ter of advice was begun concerning
her management.
"Oh, gig get out with your dire.
tions. l can drive, | guess, id damn
w you; l own the fastest PAGER
alive. Here!" interrupted Unch
Joe; and picking up the %reins, be
sprang for the seat, but landed heeIs
up on the buggy's bottom The
mare was off; but the driver being
game, had command, as he thought.
through recovery of the lines, upon
which he pulled as though resolved
'to do or die A slight smile was
visible on the demure face of the
stable-keeper, as the vehicle receded
from view at a break neck speed
and nothing more was known until
the next day, when Uncle Joe made
his appearance with the mare, but
without his wife. As he drove up,
a cloud o'erspread bis face as he saw
the stable keeper at the stable door.
"W w what k k-kind of an incar-
nate b br brute dye ca call this?'
BEST horse in the stable"
"W w-well, / started for D"
ayes, | know it."
wv well, before l could stop, went
to H (thirty five miles,; drove
back this morning You k KIN know
fathers door yard-half a mile
wide?-'
''Yes, well?"
"W w-well, old man, my br-br
bro brother Jim, hired man, and
visitors besides, t t-tri tri-tried for
two honrs to get w-wi-wife into the
wagon and couldn't do it; id de-
devilish critter danced college horn.
all r round an-an-and over
some of us, but not a passenger
could we get in
"How did you get in?"
"Tell you. Old mans foxy as
Mace. Told me to take her out |
did. Told me to gg-get in. l did,
and after | got in they hitched the
mare. and here I be. W-w-wo.
wouldn't give a Spanish dollar for
the mare though she did come the
twelve miles in f-fnrty-two minutes"
"Why?"
"LOok at my hands"
They we're one blister. The sta
BILE keeper smiled. IF you had
listened to me, all this would have
been avoided; allow the lines to
remain untouched until you are
and she never starts till you
ell her. Drive her with a slack
,ein, and she will go as slow as you
i~esire."