The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-09-26

stable, Tor trot. Often the hony
old beast and dirty chubby Dick,
wonld be found lying there together
on the grass, fast asleep. Point was
delighted with the boy because OF
his friendship for the horse.
"He am got the right name. He's
got bis uncle's blood He knows de
hosses, ana the hosses knows him a,
fus' sightn
But Dick, unfortunately, was not
m influential friend. Mr.. Fur.
long left the affairs of the stable to
Sanders, who moved Black Eagle
from one stall to another, to make
room for the new mare, or as Poin,
said, dem low-bred Canadian ponies
until his place was next the door, ia
a draughty, damp stall. Many 8
time, too, his supply of oats was but
scanty.
Dick brought out many a lump O.
sugar to his friend, but he fancied
that, as winter came on, bis ewes
grew duller. aud that be paid but lit.
tie heed to him. Dick was sure thai
the mare, and the cow, and every
other ordinary brute about the prem
ises, showed their contempt for the
horse, and that be felt IT, 1t was
Poiat, of course. who gave the idea
TO The boy.
Look ut that duck. now, quack
in bout his heels, bitiu' ob 'em
She's telIin' him be isn't worf he's sal
De dogs wali,ps deir tails 10 bis face
Dey hears Sanders talk, yuh see Oh
dey's mighty cute, tell yuh Dal
are donkey uow'sa laughin' an bray.
ia alongside ob bin G'lang wild
yuh :" with whack OF bis staff across
The mules legs You've got To
know your beuers You're nufiin
but uiggah of a brute, anyhow !"
But Black Eagle stood in his ex-
posed stall, day after day, with drC op-
ed head aud dimmed eyes. He ate
little His wrinkled skin grew fever
ish. AT times be cbafed feeby
against the bars, Striving to see out
side the stable to the open field be-
yond 1t needed but little fancy to
suppose that the old racer knew that
death was near, and longed for a
breath of freedom.
What he wants is to be on the
course once more, fob he dies said
Points. "Neber were a boss dat had
de speerit that horse hab, sab
held him by de rein. an walk arouu'
wid him, berry slow. | wur in full
shine myself dat day,-scarlet cap
an jacket, | tell yuh. An the band
a playin' de people sboutin' an the
ladies a wavin' dar hans. all foh
Black Eagle! An his head wur up,
an he sets his foot down soft, like
lady, his bright eyes goin from dis
side to dat. Lor. sab, he knowed,
jes' as well as man
"Au' the race be won next year, |
never tole you. did l.? He cut
his ietlock at de start, an one foot
hung helpless; bus lie went on, neserI
mindin, an he come into de stand
like flash of lightnin' his speerit
was SO up, yuh see,-an' den be fell
down fiat; an dar war de tracks of
blood clar roun' de course.
ale members desc tings now, sab,
when de donkey, an Sanders, and
de od. r beasts is castin' contempt at
him"
Owing perhaps to these discourses
of Points, it came to be settled
thing in Dicks mind, that he and
Black Eagle ought to cut all leading
strings, and together go out into the
world.
SO, one bleak December day, when
the sides Of the stable were sbeeted
with dripping ice, and the snow lay
banked up in the corner of the yard,
fuding the coast clear, Dick managed
to put the bride on the old horse.
He led him out of the gate and noun
ted him.
Black Eagle turned a look of grave
inquiry toward the fat little monkey
percted upon his back, and then
walked slowly and cautiously down
the hill
But this did not suit master Dick
He tugged at the reins, shouted, and,
finally, breaking a branch from a
thorn bush that was near at hand, he
laid it on the poor old hide. The
horse quickened his pace, looking
back as if be was amused at the boy.
Finally be broke iuto low trot.
Dick yelled with delight Stick
ing like a burr to Black Eagles bopy
back, be tbumped, kicked and.struck
him with the stick but Black Eagle
would not move leg the faster. He
logged on slowly as an obstinate dou-
KEY. He knew what was good for
Dick, quite as well as did the house
kee per, who was now searching the
house lor the young rogue.
Dick continued his journey for at
east an hour. He was then about
i've miles from home. 10 lonely road
which wound up the South Mountain.
His ride had given him an appetite
be was already feeling hungry. |
around. he caught sight Of
some bushes such as be had found
,hinquspirs on few months before.
The snow did not look very promis-
ng for chinquapins, nor was be quite
sure that it was the season for them;
Dut he thought it might be worth
" hile to look az those bushes more
loosely
SO he slid eff the horse, easy
the trouble was, that he
,ould not stop sliding. The ground
was covered with ice ald drifted
,now. On the right. the hill rose,
hickly wooded. Upon the left was
perpendicular precipice Of fifty feet,
With creek at the bottom, which
vas covered with thin ice The bush
IS grew along the edge of this preci-
,ice, hiding it from view 1t was to
hem that little Dick had turned
The horse stood where the child
IN left him. shivering as though be