Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-02-21
Catching the Bay Mare.

1t may be lack of education ON our
part, but we confess to a dislike for
horse races. We never attended but three
the first in our boyhood, the second at =
county fair, where our friends deceived
us as to what would transpire, the third
last Sabbath morning. We see our reader
flush with Indignation at this last admis-
sion; but let him wait moment before
he launches his verdict.
Our horse was in the pasture field. 1t
was almost time to start for church, and
we needed the animal harnessed. The
boy came in saying it was impossible to
catch the bay mare, and calling for our
assistance. We had on our best clothes,
and did not feel like exposing ourself to
rough usage; but we vaulted the fence
with "a pail of water in hand, expecting
to try the effect of rewards rather than
punishments. Tho horse came out gen.
erally to meet u.s. We said to the boy,
"She is very tame. Strange you cannot
catch her." She came near enough to
cautiously smell the pail, when she sud-
denly changed her mind, and, with one
wild snort, dashed off to the other end of
the field. Whether she was not thirsty,
or was critical of the manner of presenta-
ton, or had apprehension of our motive,
or was seized with desire for exercise in
the open air, she gave us no chance to
guess. We resolved upon more caution
Of advance and gentler voice, and so la
boriously approached her; for, though a
pail of water is light for little way, it
gets heavy after you have gone consid-
cradle distance, though its contents be
half spilled away. This time we sue
ceeded in getting her nose inserted in the
bright beverage. We called her by pet
names, addressing her as "Poor Dolly"
not wishing to suggest any pauperism by
that term, but only sympathy for the
sorrows of the brute creation, and told
her that she was the finest horse that ever
was. 1t seemed to take we'll. Flattery
ALWAYS does-with horses. We felt that
the time had come for us to produce tho
rope halter, which with our left hand we
had all the while kept secreted behind
our back. We put over her neck, when
the beast wheeled, and We seized her by
the point whore the copy-books say we
ought to take Time, namely, the fore
lock. But we had poor .lnck. We ceased
junctive mood for the imperative. There
never was greater divergence of senti-
ment than at that instant between us and
the bay mare. She pulled one way, we
pulled the other. Turning her back upon
us she calculated into the air two shining
horse shoes. beth the shape of the letter
0, the one interjection in contempt for
the ministry, and the other in contempt
for the press.
But catch the horse we must, for we
were bound to be at church, though just
then we did not feel at all devotional
We resolved, therefore, with the boy, tc
run her down; so, by the way of making
an animated start, We slung the pail al
the horses head, and put out on "a Sunday
morning horse-race. Every time she stood
at the other end of the field waiting fol
us to come up. She trotted, galloped
| and careered about us, with an occasional
neigh cheerfully given to encourage us il
the pursuit, We we're getting more un
| prepared In body, mind, and soul, fol
the sanctuary. Meanwhile quite house
hold audience lined the fence; the chill
Romans in an amphithcAter at contest
with wild beasts, and it was uncertain
whether the audience was in sympathy
with US or with the bay mare.
/ At this unh.ppy juncture, she who
some years ago took us for "better or fol
WORSE" came to the rescue, finding us in
| the latter condition. She advanced to the
field with a wash basin full of water
Odering that as sole induccment, and gave
one call, when the horse went out to meet
her, and under hand not half so strong
as ours gripping the name, the refractory
beast was led to the manger.-7'a lsnage,
in Christian at Work.