The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-08-17

Fillies and colts like kittens play,
And dance and to's their rppled names.
Shining and soft as silken skeins
Wagons and gigs are ranged about
And fashion faunts her gay turnout
Here stands-each youthful Jehu's dream
The iointed tandem, tiCklsh team!
And there in ampler breadth expand
The splendors of the four.n.hand:
On faultles' ties and glossy tiles
The lovely bonnets beam theirsmiles,
CThe styles The man, so books avoW;
The styles the woman anyhow
From founces frothed with creamy lace
Peeps out the pug-dog's smutty face.
Or spaniel rolls his liquid eye,
Or stars the wiry pet Of Skye
o woman in your hours of ease
So shy with us, so free with these
Come on III bet you two TO one
I'll nj Ike him do itI' "Will you? Donel"
What was 1t you was bound to do?
did not hear and can't tell you
Pray listen till my story's through,
Scarced noticed, back behind the rest,
BY cart and wagon rudely prest
The pars ms lean and bony bay
Stood harne'sed in his onehorse shey--
Lent TO his sexton for the day.
"a funera.-so the sexton said;
His mothers unUle's wife was dead.)
Like Lazarus bid to Dives feast
So looked the poor forlorn old beast
His coat was rough, his tale 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 tleetest of the town,
Till something cracked and broke him down
The steeds, the stateman's common lot!
"And are we then so soon forgot?
All mel 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 was young!
Bring forth the horseI Alas he showed
Not like the one Mazeppa rode;
Scant-maned sharp. backed, and shakey. .kneed
= he 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't were all make believe,
Led forth the horse, and as he laughed
Unhitched the breeching from shaft,
Unclasped the rusty beltbeneath,
Drew forth the snaflle from his teeth
slipped off his headstall, set him free
FIom strap and rein-a sight to see
So worn, so lean in every limb,
1t can't be they are saddling him
1t isl his back the pgskin strides
And flaps his lank, rheumatic sides;
With look of mingled sCorn and mirth
They buckle round the saddle Rirth
With horsey wink and saucy toss
A youngstoT 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 stilened joint.
AS through the ieering crowd he past,
One plying look old Hiram cast;
go 1t, ye cripple while ye canW
Cried out unsentmental Dam
"A Fast Day dinner for the cOwsw
Budd Doble's sCofling 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 a 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 his Jockeys teather-weight
He warns little to his gait,
And now and then a step is tried
That hints of something like a stride.
go H-Throngh his ears the summons stung
AS if hattie trump had rung;
The slumbering instincts long unstirred
Start at the old familiar word;
1t thrills like flame through every limb
What means his twenty years to him?
The savage blow his rider dealt
Fell on his hollow lanks unfelt;
The spur that pricked his starting hide
Unheeded 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 Hes going fast"
Long ere the quarter was a half
The chuckling crowd had ceased to laugh;
Tighter his frightened jockey chung
As in mighty stride he swung,
The gravel flying in the track,
His neck stretched out, his ears laid back,
HIS tail extended all the while
Behind him like rat-tail file
OFF went a shoe, away 1t 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 lose his hOld-he sways and reels
He'll slide beneath those tr9mpling heelsl
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
Hes having out three heats in onel
Don't rush in 'front.' he'll smash your brains;
3ut follow up and grab the reinsr'
)ld Hiram spoke. Dan Pfeiffer heard
And sprang impatient at the word
udd Doble started on his bay,
I'D Hiram followed on his gray.
md of they spring and round they go,
he fast ones doing "all they know"
.ookl twiceithey follow at his heels,
IS round the circling course he wheels,
md whirls with him that clinging boy
ike Hector round the walls of Troy;
till on, and on, third time roundl
heyre failing off they're losing ground
Judd Doble's nag begins to fail
nra4lr - Lib. IL