Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-12
A Peculiar Mare and an Obstinate Man.

The New York San tells the following:
"The McMann Mare" was a beast of
extraordinary speed and endurance Like
most rare animals, whether brute or hui
man. she was eccentric in her ways. 1t
matters not who owned her at the time of
the incident to which this article relates.
Suffice it to say her owner was a sensible
man and a thorough hOrseman, his predi-
lection for horsef1esh more than anything
else having driven him into the livery
business. Next to the wife Of his bosom
he loved the McMann mare. For this rea-
son the mare was intrusted only to par
ticular customers; and, when let, the per
son who hired was always carefully in
structed as to the peculiarities of the ami
NAL. An old friend, Uncle Joe Richelieu,
unacquainted with the animal or her
ways, and troubled with an impeachment
in his speech, as well as an infirmity of
temper which prevented him from using
any charity for living creatures of slow
and tardy motion, applied to the livery
man for horse for a journey of dozen
miles or so, taken for the purpose of
bringing his wife home from her fathers
The contract was made as follows:
" w-w-want hOrse-a good 'un-one
that'll s-s-s-start the minute you s-s-sa-say
'Pw-pwh- pwhist, a-an-and'll go like thun-
der"
"Suit you, l guess" was the reply.
'We-we- well, out with her, then"
The mare was put between the shafts of
a nice light buggy, her harness thorough
ly adjusted by the owner, the reins care
fully laid over the dashboard, and the
usual chapter of advice was begun con-
corning her management
40, g-g-git out with your directions. /
can drive, [ guess; own the fastest PAGER
alive, here" interrupted Uncle Joe, and
picking up the reins he sprang for the
seat, but landed heels 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 breakneck
speed, and nothing more was known un-
til the next day, when Uncle Joe made
his appearance with the mare, but with
out his wife. AS he drove up a cloud
o'erspread his face as he saw the stable
keeper at the stable door.
"W-wwhat k-k-kind of an incarnate
b-br-brute dye ca-call this?"
BEST horse in the stable"
"W-w-well, | started for D."
eyes, | know it,"
"W-well, before l could stop I went to
H Ghirty-five niles; drove back this
morning. You k-kn-know my fathers
door yard-half mile wide?"
Yes, WE'LL"
"W-w-well, old man, br-br-bro-b brother
jim, hired man, and visitor besides TT
tri-tritried for two hours to get w-wi-wife
into the wagon and couldn't do it; t-t-the
pl-plaguy critter danced college horn
pipes all r-rrOund, an-an-and over some
OF us, but not passenger could we get
in"
How did you get in?"
'"Tell you. Old mans foxy as Mace
Told me to take her out. l did Told
me to g-g- get in. I did, and after | got in
they hitched the mare, and he-he-here l
be. W-w-wo-wouldn't give Spanish
dollar for the mare, though she did come
the twelve miles in f-forty-two minutes"
why's"
Look at my hands"
They were one blister The stable
keeper smiled. ''Ify you had listened to
me all this would have been avoided;
allow the lines to remain untouched until
you are seated, and she never starts till
you tell her. Drive her with a slack rein
and she will go as slow as you desire"