The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-28
HOW THE OLD HoRsEswoN The BET.
Oliver Wendell Holmes Companion Piece to
the Zone HOss ShaY.''

Oliver Wendell Holmes Companion Piece to
the zone Hoss Shay
twas on the famous trotting-ground,
The betting menswefe gathered round
From far and near; the "cracks" were there
Whose deeds the sporting prints declare;
The swift e. M, Old Hiram's nag,
The fleet s. h., Dan Pleitfer's brag,
With these third-and who is 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
Of Messenger and Morgan breed;
Green horses, also, not a few
Unknown as yet what they could do;
And all the hacks that know so well
The scourgings OF the Sunday swell.
Blue are the skies OF opening day; u
The bordering turf is green with May:
The sunshine's golden CLEAN is thrown
On sorrel, chestnut, bay, and roam; !
The horses paw and prance and neigh,
Fillies and colts like kittens play
And dance and toss their rippled names
Shining and soft as sllken skeins
Wagons and gigs are ranged about,
And fashion fashion taants her gay turnout turn;
The jointed tandem, ticklish team!
And there in ampler breadth expand
The splendors of the four-in-hand;
On taultless ties and glossy tiles
The lovely bonnets beam their smiles
1.-THE styles the man, so books avow;
The styles the woman, anyhow;
From flounces trothed with creamy lace
Peeps out the pug-dog's smutty face,
Or spaniel rolls his liquid eye,
Or stares the viry pet of Skye
o woman, in your hours of ease,
So shy with us, so tree with these! r..
ri make him do it?' 'sWill you? Donev'
What was it who was bound to do?
| did 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,
The parsons lean and bOny bay
Stood harnessed in his one-horse shay
Lent to his sexton for the day.
"A funeral so the sexton said
His mothers 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 tr0t
Among the fleetest OF the town,
Till something cracked and broke him
The steed's, the statesman's, common lot!
@sAnd are we then SO soon forgot?"
All me! doubt if one of you
Has ever heard the name "Old Blue"
Whose fame through all this region rung
In those old days when was young!
@tBring forth the horse" Alas he showed,
Not like the old sMazeppa rode:
Scant-maned, sharp-backe and shaky -kneed,
The wreck OF what was once 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 lie laughed
Unhitched the breeching from shaft,
Unclasped the rusty belt beneath,
Drew forth the snaftle from his teeth,
Slipped Oft his headstall, set him free -
From strap and rein, sight to see!
SO worn, so lean in every limb,
It can't he they are saddling him!
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 horsey wink and saucy toss
A youngster throws his leg across,
And 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
AS through the jeering crowd he past,
One plying look old Hiram cast ::
600 it, we cripple, while ye can!''
Cried out insentimental Dan;
"a tast-day dinner for the crows!'' ~
Slowly, as when the walking beam
First feels the gathering head of steam.
With warning cough and threatening Wheeze
The stiff old charger crooks his knees,
At first, with cautious step sedate,
As if he drawed coach Of state;
He's 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 teather-weight
He.warms a little to his gait,
And now and then step is tried
That hints OF something like stride.
Go!"-Through his ear the summons stuno
As if q battle trump had rung;
The slumbering instincts long unstirrea
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 TANKS untelt;
The spur that pricked his staring hide
Unheed tore his bleeding side;
Alike to him are spur and rein,-
He steps tive-year-old again!
Before the quarter-pole was past,
Old Hiram SAID, +*He's going FAST
Long ere the quarter was halt,
The chuckling crowd had ceased to laugh:
Tighter his frightened jockey chung
AS in a 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 a bullet from gun.
The quaking jockey shapes PRAYER
From scraps Of oats he used to swear:
He OrODS his whiO he 1rons his ro;,,