Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-06-29
ROErRY,
HOWTHE OLD HORSE WON
"A THE BET.

lOliver Wendell Holmes Companion Piece {
the 'One- Hoss sShay"-Dedicated by a Cor
tributor to s.The Collegian, 1880, to tn
Editors of ''The Harvard Advocate" 1866
1876; Read at their Decennial Dinner, Ma
11th, 1876.
Twas on the famous trotting ground,
The betting men were gathered round
From far and near; the cracks were there
Whose deeds the sporting prints declare:
The swift 6. m, Old Hiram's nag,
The fleet s. h., Dan Pfeiffers nag,
With these third-and who is he
That stands beside his fast b. G.?
Bubb Doble, whose catarrhal name
So fills the nasal trump of fame.
There, too, stood many a noted steed
OF Messenger and Morgan breed;
Green horses, also, not few
Unknown as yet what they could do:
AND all the hacks that know so well
Ihe scourgings of the Sunday swell. 70,
Blue are the skies of opening day;
line bordering turf is green with May:
Inc sunshine's golden CLEAN is thrown
On sorrel, chestnut, bay and roam;
Ihe horses paw and prance and neigh,
And dance and toss their rippled names.
Shining and soft as silken skeins;
Wagons and gigs are ranged about,
ana 1ashion haunts her gay turnout:
Aere stands-each youthful Jehus dream
Ihe Jolnted jantem,, ticklish team.
And there in ampler breadth expan
The splendors of the four-in-hand;
On faultless ties and glossy tiles
The lovely honnets beam their smiles
Che styles the man, 50 books avow:
The styles the woman, anyhow ;aar-.s--za-
FROM nounces frothed with, creamy lace
Peeps out the pug dogs smutty face,
Or spaniel rolls his liquid eye,
Or stares the wiry pet of Skye
. woman, in your hours of ease,
SO shy with us, SO free with thesei
Come on I'll bet you two to one
I'll make him do 1t = will you? Donev
What was it who was bound to do?
do not hear and can't tell you
Pray listen till my story's through
Scarce noticed, back behind the rest.
BY cart and wagon rudely prest,
Tarsons lean and bony bay
Stood harnessed in his one-horse shay
Lent to his sexton for the dav.
"A funeral-so the sexton said;
His monther's uncle's wife was dead).
Like Lazarus bid to Dives feast.
SO looked the poor, forlorn old beast:
His coat was rough, his tail was bare.
The gray was sprinkled in his hair;
Sportsmen and jockeys knew him not.
AND yet they say he once could trot
Among the heetest of the town,
I'LL something cracked and broke him down
Inc steeds, the statesman's common lot2
AND are we then so soon forgot?'
All me! l doubt if one of you
Has ever heard the name old Blue
Whose fame through all this region rung
In those old days when l was young
Bring forth the horsel' Alas. he showed,
Not like the one Mazeppa rode:
Scant-maned, sharp-backed, and shaky-kneed
The wreck of what was once a steed.
Lips thin, eyes hollow, stiff in Joints:
Yet not without his knowing points.
The sexton, laughing in his sleeve,
As if 'twere all a make-believe.
LED forth the horse, and as we laughed
Onhltched the breeching from shaft,
Unclasped the rusty belt beneath.
Drew forth the snaffie from his teeth,
Slipped of his headstall, set him free
FROM strap and rein-a sight to see!
so worn, so lean, in every limb.
1t can't be they are saddling him,
1t is! his back the pig-sk;n strides
And Hanks his lank, rheumatic sides;
With look of mingled scorn and mirth.
Ihey bucklcd round the saddle-girth:
win horsey wink and saucy toss.
A youngster throws his legs across.
And SO his rider OF his back.
They lead him, limping, to the track.
far up behind the starting point.
10 llm0er out each stiffened Joint.
as as through the jeering crowd he passed,
One pitying look old Hiram cast:
Go it. ye cripple, while We CAM
Cried out unsentimental Dan:
"A fast day dinner for the crows,'
Bubb Doble's scoffing shout arose.
Slowly, as when the walking-beam
First feels the gathering head of steam,
With warning cough and threatening wheeze
Inc still old charger crooks his knees
AL nrst, with cautious step sedate,
AS If he dragged coach of state;
Hes not colt; he knows full well
That time is weight and sure to tell:
No horse so sturdy but he fears
The handicap of twenty years.
As through the throng on either hand
The old horse nears the judges stand,
Beneath the Jockeys feather-weight
lie warns little TO his gait,
And now and then step is tried
That hints OF something like a stride.
'Gor-Through his ear the summons stung
As If battle trump had rung;
The slumbering instincts long unstirred
Start at the long familiar word;
1t thrills like flame through every limb
What mean his twenty years to him?
The savage blow his rider dealt
Fell on his hollow f1anks unfelt;
The spur that pricked his staring hide
Unheeded tore his bleeding side;
Alike to him are spur and rein
lie steps five-y again!
Before the quarter-pole past,
Old Hiram said: Hes going fast
Long ere the quarter was half,
The chuckling crowd had ceased to laugh;
= Tighter his frightened Jockey clung
As in mighty stride he swung,
The gravel flying in his track,
His neck Stretched out, his ears laid back.
His tail extended all the while
Behind him like rat-tail file.
On went shoe-away it spun,
Shot like bullet from a gun
The quaking jockey shapes prayer
From scraps of oaths he used to swear;
He drops his whip, he drops his rein,
He clutches fiercely for a name;
He'll lose his hold-he sways and reels
He'll slide beneath those trampling heels!
The knees of many horseman quake,
The flowers of many bonnet shake,
And shouts arise from left and right,
Stick on Stick on 'Hould tight Hold tightI'
Cling round lis neck and don't let go
That pace can't hold-there. steady whoa
But like the sable steed that bore
The spectral lover of Lenore,
His nostrils snorting foam and fire,
No stretch his bony limbs can tire;
And now the stand he rushes by,
And stop himl-stop him. is the cry.
Stand back. he's only just begun
He's having out three heats in one,
Don't rush in 'front.' he'll smash your brains;
Ruf FOLLOW nm and nrah the roinci,