The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-07-06


"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 ank jockeys knew him not,
And yet they say he once could trot
Among the Aeetest OF the town,
Til something cracked and broke him down.
The steed's the statesman's common lot
"And are we then so soon forgot?'
All me TT doubt if one of you
Has ever heard the name "Old Blue"
Whose fame through all this region rt1ng
In those days when was youngl
Bring forth the horse p Alas he showed,
Not like the one Mazeppa rode;
Scantmaned, sharp-backed, 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 makebelieve,
Led forth the horse, and as he laughed
Unhitched the breeching from a shaft,
Unclasped the rusty belt beneath,
DiSn lOAth LiO ohllllS llOul ulo tCGlut
Slipped off his headstall, set him free
From strap and rein-a sight to see!
So worn, so lean in every limb,
Itcan't be they are saddling him
II is his back the pig-skin strides
And flaps his lank, rhumatic sides,
With looks of mingled scorn and mirth
They buckle round the saddle.girth;
With horsey wink and saucy toss,
A youngster throws his legs 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 PASSED.
One pitying look old Hiram cast;
"Go it, ye cripple, while ye canl' 20
Cried out unsentimental DAM
"a fastday dinner for the crows!"
Budd Doble's scoffing shout arose,
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 dragged coach of state;
He's not colt; he knows full well
That time is weight and sure to tell;
No horse so steady but he fears
The handicap oftwenty years,
AS through the throng on either hand
The old horse nears the judges stand,
Beneath the Jockeys feather-weight ..
He warns little to his gait,
And now and then step is tried
That hints of something like stride.
"Gop'-Through his ears 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 .Ea
Fell on his hollow flank unfet
The spur that pricked his staring hide .. .
Unheeded tore his bleeding side;
Alike to him are spur and rein
He steps fve.year-Old again. .. ID"
Before the quarter-pole was 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 tile
OFF went a shoe-away it spun,
Shot like bullet from gun.
The quaking jockey shapes prayer
From scraps of oaths he used to swear;
He drops his whip, he drops his rein,
He clutches fercely for name;
He'll loose 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 to right,
stick on Stick on "Hold tight Hold Tight"
"Cling round his neck and don't let go
That pace can't hold-there steady whoaP
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 him! 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;
But follow up and grab the reins"
Old Hiram spoke. Dan Pfeiffer heard,
And sprang impatient at the word;
Budd Doble started on his bay,
Old Hiram followed on his gray,
And off they sprang, and round they go,
The fast ones doing "all they know.';'
Look twice they follow at his heels,
As round the circling course he wheels,
And whirls with him that clinging boy
Like Hector round the walls Of Troy;
Still on, and on, the third time round
They're failing off they're losing ground
Budd Dobles nag begins to fail
Dan Pfeiffer's Sorrel whisks his tail
And see in spite of whip and shout,
Old Hiram's mare is giving out
Now for the finish lat the turn,
The old horse-all the rest astern-
Comes swinging in with easy trot;
By Jovel he's dstanced all the lott
That trot no mortal could explain;
Some said, "Old Dutchman come againP -n .
Some took his time-at least they tried, 't.I
But what 1t was could not decide, N
One said he couldn't understand
What happened to his second hand
One said 2:10; That couldn't be
More like two twenty-five or three;
Old Hiram settled 1t at last ' D. taH o y NlE .
1.-THE time was two-too dee.vel ishI Ifastl"