Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-01-16
THE TRUMPETER'S HORSE.

that nothing would induce me to run
the risk of disturbing it by marriage
But had reckoned without the trum-
peters horse
It was at the end of September. 1864
that arrived at Paris from Baden, in
tending only to remain four-and-twenty
hours. Ihad invited four or five friends
to ioin me in Poitou for the hunting
season, and. as they were to arrive at
the beginning of October, [ had only
allowed myself a 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 [ 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 a 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 Cheri's autumn sale went to
the Rue de Ponthieu, and purchased at
venture eight horses, which cost me
altogether 92O0. "Out Of the eight"
said | to myself there will be surely
four or five which will CO."
Among these horses there was one
which, [ confess, bought principally
on account of his coat. The catalogue
did not assign to him any special quail
fcations as hunter All that it stated
was, Brutus, saddle horse, aged, well
broken" 1t was large dappled gray
horse, but never had [ seen one better
marked, its smooth white skin dappled
over with fine black spots SO regularly
distributed.
The next morning left for La Roche
large, and the following day my horses
arrived Nv first care was for Brutus.
This gray horse had been 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 a respectable
age powerful shoulder, and he carried
his head we'll but what [ most adj
mired in Brutus was the way in which
he looked at me, following every move
ment with his attentive, intelligent, in
quisitive eye. Even my words seemed
to interest him he leant his head on
one side as if to hear me, and when [
had finished speaking. replied with a
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 a little
ride In the country, in order to make
his acquaintance.
Brutus allowed himself to be saddled,
bridled, and mounted as horse who
knew his work. and we started quietly
together, the best friends possible. He
had beautiful mouth, and answered
to every turn of the rein, arching his
neck, and champing his bit. His PAGES
were perfect; he began by slow
measured canter, raising his feet very
high, and letting them fall with the
regularity of pendulum. tried him
at a trot and short gallop, but when
[ sought to quicken his pace he began
to amble in grand style "Ah," said I,
Il see how it is have bought an old
horse out of the cavalry riding-school
at Saumur"
[ was about to turn homewards, salts
lied with the talents of Brutus, when a
shot was heard a short distance off. It
was one of my keepers firing at rab-
bit, for which shot be it said, en- PEASANT,
he afterwards received a handsome
present from my wife. I was then ex-
actly In the centre of an open space
where SIX long green roads met On
hearing the shot Brutus stopped short,
and put his ears forward In an attitude
of attention. was surprised to see him
SO impressionable After the brilliant
military education | assumed he had
received in his youth, he must be well
accustomed to the report of 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 myriding-whip
but still he was immovable Brutus
was not to be displaced and yet-do
not smile, for mine is a true history
each time [ urged him to move the
horse turned his head round, and gazed
upon me with an eye expressive of i'm
patience and surprise, and then relapsed
into his motionless attitude. There was
evidently some misunderstanding be-
tween me and my horse. / saw it in
! his eyes. Brutus was saying as plainly
as he could without speech, l, horse,
do what | ought to do; and you, horse
men, do not perform your part"
Twas more puzzled than embarrassed.
What strange horse Cheri has sold
me! and why does he look upon me
in such a way?" / was about to pro-
coed to extremities, and administer to
him 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.
lie stopped short, and planted himself
more resolutely than ever. [ then got
into a rage, and my riding-whip entered
into play; | took it into both hands,
and struck the horse right and left. But
Brutus, toe, lost patience, and, finding
passive resistance una vailing, defended
himself by rearing, kicking, and plungr
ing; and IN the midst of the battle