The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-06-29
HOW THE OLD HORSE WON TIRE
BET.

OLIVER WENDELL HoLxEs' coMrAs1oN PIECE N
E"oNk-Hoss SHAY"
Dedicated by Contributor to the Coheo;an
1891, to the Editors Of the Harvard Advocate,
1865; Read at Their Deccnnial Dinner, May
II, 1876
Twas on the famous trolling ground.
The betting men were gathered round
From far and near; the +" cracks" were there
Whose deeds the sporting prints declare:
The swift g; M, Old Hirsm,s nag,
The fleet s. h.. Dan Pfeiffcr's brag,
With these third-and who fs he
That stands beside his fast b. g.! ,
Budd Doble, whose catarrhal name
So fills the nasal trump Of fame.
There, too stood many a noted steed
or Messenger aud Morgan breed;
Green horses also, not a few
Unknown as yet what they could do;
And all the hacks that know 80 well
The scOurgings ofthe Sunday swell.
Blue are the skies Of opening day;
The bordering sarf !, green With May;
The sunehine's golden CLEAN is thrown
On sorrel, chestnut, bay and roam;
The horses paw and prancc and neigh,
Fillies and coils like kittens play o.
And dance and toss their rippled names
Shining and soft as silken skeins;
Wagons and gigs are ranged about,
And fashion iaSnts her gay turnout;
Here stands-each youthful Jehu's dream
The jointed tandem, ticklish team!
And there in ampler breadth expand
The splendors Of the fourth hand;
On fauitless ties and glossy tiles
The lovely bonne's beam their smiles
lThe styles the man, SO books avow;
The styles the woman, anyhow;
From founcee frothed with creamy lace
Peeps on. the pug-dog's smut,y face,
Or spaniel rolle his liquid eye,
Or stares the wiry pet of Skye
o woman. in your hours of ease
So shy with us, so free with these!
Come on! I'll bet you two to one
I'll make him do lit ~ - Will yOuS DOnCSS
What was it who was bound to do?
did not hear and can't tell you
Pray listen till my storys through.
Scarce noticed, back behind the rest.
By cart and wagon rudely prest,
The parsons lean and bony bay
Stood harnessed in his onc-hOrse shay
Lent to his sexton for the day.
"a funeral-so the sexton sald:
His mothers uncie's wife was dead.)
Like Lazarus bid to Dives feast,
So looked the poor, forlorn old beast;
HIS coat was rough, his tail wae bare,
The gray was sprinkled In his hair;
Sportsmen and jockeys knew him not,
And yet they say he once could trot
Among the fleetest of the town,
Till something cracked and broke him down.
And are We then so soon fOrgotv
All me! doubt if one Of you
Has ever heard the name "Old Blue"
Whose fame through all this region rung
In those CID days when WAS yOung!'
: Bring forth the horse!" 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
A. If 'twere all q make-believe,
Led forth he horse, and as he laughed
Unhitched the breeding from q shaft,
Unclasped the rusty belt beneath,
Drew forth the snaffle from his teeth,
Slipped OF bis heAdstal, set him FREQ
From strap and rein-a sight 10 see!
So warn, SO lean in every limb.
1t can't &c they are saddling himl
1t is. his back the pig-skin strides
And flaps his lank. rheumatic sides;
With look Of mingled scorn and mirth
They buckle round the saddle girth;
With horacy wink and saucy toss
youngster throws his leg across;
An so, his rider on his back,
They lead him, limping, to the track,
Far up behind the starting point.
To Timber out each stiffened joint