The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-07-20
Captain Todd Courts a Widow,


stlfiness and breadth of beam SO much
as want good clean run. i want
hoss to show of with, ye see."
swell, sir" said the doctor, pattlng
on the neck vicious looking animal
which he held by the bride, "if you
want smart horse can't recommend
better animal than this. Just look at
those heels. Hi Don't go too near
'em. AS told you, I've three horses
that want to sell, but II you want q
horse that will go, this mare is just
the beast for you."
You see,'' said the captain conflden-
TALLY, 81 don't know much about
hosses. I'm seafaring man. Follow
ed the sen, man and boy, nigh thirty
five years. Now I'm goin' to settle
down on shore an Pm looking around
for wife. don u mind telling you I'm
sorter courtin' the Widow Bum. Now
the widow Is mighty fond of a good fast
horse, an there's another feller, Sam
Bllss-perhaps you know him-that's
shinin' round the widow, too. Sans
got first rate horse and takes the Wild
ow to ride good deal. Now IL / don't
get something better than Sans got l
won't stand any show, for the widow
will be sure to ride most with the man
that's got the fastest horse, don't you
seeY'
The doctor nodded affirmatively. 81
see," he said, 81 see. Well, / think
the mare will suit you. She's know
ing beast. Just see how her ears are
laid back listening. If you find her
getting lazy, just touch her up with the
whip, and she'll climb, L can tell you"
WE'LL" said the Captain, {" If she's
all that you say she is, bring her around
tonight and turn her into my pasture
and tomorrow I'll hitch her up in my
new buggy and give her trial.
The next afternoon captain Todd ran
his bright new wagon out of the barn,
and throwing halter over his arm
summoned Bill Tyke and proceeded to-
the pasture where the doctor had left
the mare the previous evening.
Bill Tyke was the captains right
hand man. He had sailed with the
captain all his life and now that the
former had retired from active duty
Bill had retired with him and under
taken to learn the art of farming In
appearance he was much like what the
immortal Bunsby might have been and
he was not much the inferior Of that
worthy in taciturnity or oracular wis
dom.
The captain and his factotum cir
cumnavigated the pasture and "bore
down" upon the mare persuasively
from the windward. But that intelli-
gent animal saw them coming and
Hattened her ears. The captain was
almost within reach when she threw
up her head, changed ends and can
tered away to the other end of the
field.
The captain swore a round oath and
divided his forces. Bill Tyke was sent
to coast cautiously around the fence
while the captain lay "off and on" in
the offing. But 1t was game that the
mare understood best. She trotted leis-
urely around the pasture, keeping tan
talizingly out of reach and resisting all
the Establishments offered her in the
shape of wheedling words and ears of
corn.
The captain and Tyke both fell to
swearing and followed the beast around
for an hour. At last, with consummate
generalship, they succeeded in cornering
her, and as she tried to rush between
them both sprang at her name.
The captain was successful and hung
on like grim death, but Bill Tyke failed
to secure a satisfactory grip, and was
kicked head over heels into blackberry
bush, whence he emerged torn, bleeding
and swearing worse than ever. AS for
the captain he was dragged for hun
dred yards or more before he managed
to +" board" the beast, but at last he
found himself ON her back, tearing
across the pasture and bounding foot
in the air every jump. The mare went
straight for the bars, went over them,
and finally came to a halt in the cap
tain's dooryard. The captain slipped
off in an exhausted condition, and
had his new purchase driven into the
barn.
The operation of Harvesting was one
requiring all the seamanship of both the
captain and Bill Tyke to successfully
perform. The uses of the various straps
buckles and Delaying pins'' were the
subject of several animated discussions
before the harness was finally adjusted.
When all was complete. Bill Tvke cruis-