Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-07-18
NO. 81.
Intelligence Of n Horse,

A correspondent of Our Dumb Arai-
mails writes: A little incident, of the
sagacity of horse which was suffering
from thirst, reminds me of similar case
that came under my own observation.
L was the happy and fortunate owner of
a rarely intelligent and very feet Mexi-
can pony, who came into my possession
almost directly from his native plains.
and | had owned him nearly a year.
When went to the country for the sum-
mer my horse preceded me, and on my
arrival greeted me with every evidence
of JOY and satisfaction, though had not
seen him for five months, the greater
part of the time having been seriously
ILL. We were at a farmhouse, where
both "Sultan and myself could have
unlimited range. Sultan was turned out
through the day in a large paddock ad-
Joining the dooryard, and communicat-
ing Herewith by small gate.
Every morning Sultan was led around
to the well, which was about ten feet
from the kitchen piazza, and there took
his morning draught from tub devoted
to his especial use, the same occurring
again at night. At such times | usually
went out to give him his bit of sugar and
caress and pet him little, and he would
refuse to obey the halter until came out
and spoke to him. Occasionally he would
become thirsty at midday, when he
would deliberately unfasten the gate,
come to the well for his drink, and re-
turn at once to his paddock, expecting
no sugar.
Twas one day aroused by loud screams
from the kitchen, accompanied by heavy
stamping of feet, and n sound of scuf-
fling, apparently, with loud calls in a
terrified voice for Mrs Graham, Mrs.
Graham" Alarmed for my children,
made all possible haste to the scene, but
was met in the hall by my little girls,
wild with eNcitement, exclaiming
Mamma, mamma, Sultan is in the
kitchen, and Mrs. - can't drive him
out"
l found Sultan really inside the kitch-
en-, neighing in a positively ludicrous
manner, evidently having something tc
say, but quite amazed at the commotior
he had aroused, and not at all under
standing the broomstick parade" He
gave a whinny of delight when he saw
me, and at once put his nose in my hand
"Go out, Sultan, don't you know you
do not belong in the kitchen!" at which
he backed out to the piazza, waited tC
see if | was following, went down the
steps (there were five), then turned tC
see if Twas still there, went to the wei
and took hold of the well-rope with his
teeth, and then went around and stood
patiently by his tub while the frightened
servant drew water to appease his thirst
After the affair v as over, and Sultar
had returned to his grazing, | remember.
ed having heard the gate bang quite 6
little while before he made his unexpect.
ed "entree" into the cooks domains
Tired of waiting for some one to attenC
upon his wants, he evidently thought
best to arouse some one to action.
He was a very wise fellow, and soor
found he could open the orchard gate as
well as the other, and would very quietly
steal in there when there was no one il
the kitchen who could see him. He
would very soon be discovered by the
children, however, who would come tt
me with the tale of his misdemeanors
or he would not come out for them. |
would open the gate wide, say "Sultan
come out of the orchard, am sorry yol
are thief !" when he would at one
leave the orchard, but not through tn
gate; he would leap the fence, though
he was never known to do that going in
1would talk to him about his moral tur
pitude, tell him "he should have n,
sugar at atnight," and he would keep ou
day or two, CT till he found no on
would see him going in. when tempta
tion would be too strong for his princi
Piles, and we would find him on forbid
den ground again. We could not faster
the gate except by mailing it as securel
as any part of the fence, in such man
ncr that he could not open it. coul
almost I'll volume with instances O
Sultan's remarkable intelligence.