Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-01-16
THE TRUNPETER'S HORSE.

L
felt myself so safely anchored in the
noaceable haven Of a bachelors life
hat nothing would induce me to run
the risk of disturbing it by marriage.
But had reckoned without the trum-
peter's horse.
It was at the end of September, 1864,
that arrived at Paris from Baden, in
tending only to remain four-and-twenty
hours. had invited four or five friends
to Join me in Potion for the hunting
season, and, as they were to arrive at
the beginning of October, l had only
allowed myself week at La Roche
large to prepare for their reception. A
letter from home awaited my arrival at
Paris, bringing me the disastrous intel
ligence that out of twelve horses five
had fallen i'll or lame during my stay at
Baden, so that l was under the neces-
sity of remounting my cavalry before
| left Paris.
made the round of all the horse
dealers Of the Champs Elysees, where /
was shown collection of screws, the
average price of which was f12O; but
was neither in humor nor in cash to
throw away my money upon such use
less beasts. 1t was a Wednesday, the
day of Cheris autumn sale; l went to
the Rue de Ponthieu, and purchased at
a venture eight horses, which cost me
altogether E2OO. "Out of the eight"
said | to myself "there will be surely
four or five which will go."'
Among these horses there was one
which, l confess, l bought principally
on account of his coat. The catalogue
did not assign to him any special quail
tications as a hunter. All that it stated
was, Brutus, saddle horse, aged, we'll
broken" 1t was large dappled gray
horse, but never had l seen one better
marked, its smooth white skin dappled
Pver with fine black spots so regularly
attributed.
The next morning / left for La Roche
arge, and the following day my horses
rived. My first care was for Brutus.
bis gray horse had been running for
ae last forty-eight hours in my head,
ID was anxious to try his PAGES, and
what he was good for. He had long
eth, and every mark Of respectable
&c, a powerful shoulder, and he carried
is head well but what 1 most ad
hired in Brutus was the way in which
e looked at me, following every move
nent with his attentive, Intelligent, in
ulstive eye. Even my words seemed
0 interest him he leant his head on
Pne side as if to hear me, and when
PAD finished speaking, replied with a
merry neigh. The other seven horses
we're brought out to me in succession,
put they resembled any other horses,
ma Brutus certaipJy was different from
hem all. was anxious to take little
lde IN the country, in order to make
lis acquaintance.
brutus allowed himself to be saddled.
pfidled, and mounted as horse who
new his work. and we started quietly
osether, the best friends possible. He
al beautiful mouth, and answered
every turn of the rein, arching his
eek and champing his bit His PAGES
ere perfect; he began by slow
ieasured canter, raising his feet very
sh and letting item fall with the
gularlty of q pendulum. l tried him
s a u9t and short gallop, but when
sought to quicken his pace he began
amble In grand style. "Ah," said l.
see how it is /; l have bong hit an old
o use out OF the cavalry riding-school
Saumur." ~
was about to turn homewards, salts
ca with the talents of Brutus, when
lot was heard short distance off. 1t
a. one OF my keepers firing at rab-
y lor which shot be it said, en- PEASANT,
afterwards received a handsome
esent from my wife. / was then ex-
ny IN the centre of an open SPACE
,uie SIX long green roads met. On
JJ'lng the shot Brutus stopped short,
~ put his ears forward in an attitude
aIVentlon; was surprised to see him
III unreasonable. After the brilliant
.lary education. l assumed he had
oeNed IN his youth, he must be well
us'9med to the report of gun. l
osseu my knees against him to make
II move on, but Brutus would not
- 1 tried to back him, to make him
j.; ~ 70 the right or to the left, but in
Il" l made him feel my ridine.whip.
sun he was immovable. Rrntns
iioI to be displaced and yet-do
Oh Inc iQr mine is a true history
.llle | urged him to move the
o NJ u ourne nee. his head round, and gazed
10 me with an eye expressive of i'm
ne b;, ana surprise, and then relapsed
nis motlonless attitude. There was
an yn, Wy some misunderstanding be-
or, me and my horse. saw it in
he co,,,i brutns was saying as plainly
wb ooIid without speech, Il. horse
n dt ought to do; and Won horse,
was ', ~ no, not perform your part
That a st puzzled than embarrassed.
and range horse Cheri has sold
Eucb . r why does he look upon me
. way! | was about to pro-