The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-01-24
THE TRUMPETER'S HORSE,

I'LL IIlUlHt IIIIl y IlUflOIi
was nearly forty years of age, anC
felt myself SO safely anchored in the
peaceable haven of bachelors life thai
nothing would induce me to run the risl
Of disturbing it by marriage But
had reckoned without the trumpeter.
horse
1t 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 sea
son, and as they were to arrive at the be
ginning of October, | had only allowed
myself a week at La Roche large to pre-
par for their reception. A letter from
home awaited my arrival at Paris, bring
ing me the disastrous intelligence thai
out of twelve horses five had fallen il
or lame during my stay at Baden, so thai
was under the necessity of remountine
my cavalry before / left Paris.
1 made the round of all the horse
dealers of the Champs Elysees, where
was shown a collection OF screws, the
average price Of which was el20, but
was neither in humor nor in cash t
throw away money upon such useless
beasts. 1t was d Wednesday, the day o.
Cheri's Autumn sale; | went to the kut
de Ponthieu, and purchased at a venture
eight horses, which cost me altogether
goo. "Out of the eight" said to my
self, " there will be surely four or fly,
which will go"
Among these horses there was one
which, confess, | bought principally
on account of his coat. The catalogu,
did not assign to him any special qualifi
cations as a hunter. All that it stated
was, BrutuS, a saddle-horse, aged, we'll
broken" 1t was large dapple gray
horse, It's smooth white skin dappled ovel
with fine black spots 50 regularly dis
tributed.
The next morning / left for La Roche
large, and the following day my horse,
arrived. My first care was for Brutus
This gray horse was running for the last
forty-eight hours in my head, and was
anxious to try his PAGES, and see what he
was good for. He had long teeth, and
every mark of respectable age, a power
ful shoulder, and he carried his head well
but what | must admire in Brutus was
the way in which he looked at me, fol
lowing every movement with his atten
tive, intelligent, inquisitive eye Even
my words seemed to interest him: he
leaned his head on one side As if to hear
me, and when | had finished speaking
replied with merry neigh. The other
seven horses were brought out to me in
succession, but they resembled any other
horses, and Brutus certainly was different
from them all. was anxious to take 4
little ride in the country, in order tC
make his acquaintance.
Brutus allowed himself to he saddled
hrldled, and mounted rs a horse who
knew his work, and we started quietly
together, the best friends possible. H
had beautiful mouth, and answered t
every turn of the rein, arching his neck
and champing his bit. His PAGES were
perfect: he began by a slow measured
canter, raising his feet very high, ant
letting them fall with the regularity o
pendulum. tried him at a trot and {
short gallop, but when | sought t,
quicken his pace he began to amble il
grand style. All" said |, Il see how
It is; ! have bought an old horse out o
the cavalry riding school at Saumur."
| was about to turn homeward. salts
he'd with the talents of Brutus, when &
shot was heard a short distance off II
was one of my keepers firing at a rabbit
for which shot, be it said en- PEASANT, he
afterward received handsome present
from my wife. | was then exactly in
the center OF an open space where six
long green roads met. On hearing the
shot Brutus stopped short, and put his
ears forward i'll an attitude of attention
was surprised to see him so impressions
able. After the brilliant military edu.
cation | assumed he had received in his
youth, he must be we'll accustomed to
the report of a gun. | pressed my knees
against him TO make him move on, but
brutus would not stir. | tried to back
HIM, To make him turn to the right or to
the left, but in vain. | made him feel
my ridmg-whip, but still he was i'm
movable. Brutus was not TO be dis
placed; and yet-do not smile, for mine
Is true hi>tory-each time urged him
10 move the horse turned his head round,
ana gazed upon me with an eye express
slve OF Impauence and surprise, and then
reiap>ed into his motionlesS attitude
There was evidently some misunder.
standing between me and my horse.
saw II in his eyes. Brutus was saving as
plainly Is he could without speech, q
horse, do what ! ought to do; and YOU,
horseman, do not perform your part"
| was more puzzled than embarrassed.
What strange horse Cheri has sold
me. and why does he look upon me in
such Way" ! was about to proceed
10 extremities and administer to him a
good thrashing, when another shot was
fired.
The horse then made one bound. |
thought had gained my point, and
again tried to start him, but in vain. He
stopped short, and planted himself
more resolutely than ever. l then got
into rage, and my riding-whip entered
into play took it in both hands, and
struck the horse right and left. But
Brutus, too, lost patience, and finding
passive resistance unavailing, defended
himself by rearing, kicking. and plung-
ing; and in the midst of the battle,
while the horse capered and plunged,
and |, exasperated, was Jogging him
with the loaded butt-end of my broken
whip, BrutuS, nevertheless, found time
10 look at me, not only with impatieHce
and surprise, but with rage and indigna,
ton. While | required of the horse the
obedience he refused, he on his part, was
exneeting Of me something ] did not do