The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-10
THE DAILY STAR
CAPTAIN TODD'S HORSE.

kosA I don't want stiffness and breadth
sf beam 90 much as I want good. clean
run. ! want hoss to show off with, ye
ee."
"Well, sir" said the doctor, patting on
ihe neck vicious-looking animal which
he held by the bride, eff you want a
mart horse, l can't recommend better
animal than this. just hook at those
heels. Hill Don't 60 near 'em. As |
told you, I've three horses that l want to
sell; but, if you want horse that will
70, this mare is Just the beast for YOU"
"You see," said the Captain coniden-
tally, "I don't know much about HOSES.
Pm a seafaring man. Followed the sea,
man an boy, nigh thirty-fve years.
Now, Pm going to settle down on shore
m Pm looking around for wife. l
don't mind telling you that Pm sorter
courtin' the Widow Bum. Now the
widow is mighty fond Of good fast hoss,
an there's another feller, Sam Bliss :.
perhaps you know him-that's shinin'
round the widow, too. Sans got first
rate horse and takes the widow to ride a
good deal Now if l don't get something
better than Sans got 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 ye seeY'
The doctor nodded .afirmatiyely. II
see," he said, "I see. Well, I think the
mare will suit you. She's a knowing
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 tell you" d.
"Well," said the captain, eff she's all
you say she is bring her around tonight,
and turn her into my pasture, and to-
morrow I'll hitch her up in my new
buggy and give her a trial"
The next afternoon Capt. Todd ran his
bright new wagon out Of the barn, and
throwing a halter over his arm, sum-
moned Bill Tyke and proceeded to the
pasture, where the doctor had left the
mare the previous evening
man., He had sailed with the captain all
his life, and now that the former had re-
tired from active duty Bill had retired
with him, and undertaken 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 taciturn-
ity or oracular wisdom.
The captain and his factotum circum-
navigated the pasture and "bore down"
upon the mare persuasively from the
windward. But that intelligent animal
saw them coming and fattened her ears.
The captain was almost within reach
when she threw up her head, changed
ends and cantered away to the farther
end Of the field.
The captain swSre round oath and
divided his forces. Bill Tyke was sent to
coast cautiously around the fence while
the captain lay ION and on" in the offing.
But it WIS game that the mare under
stood best. She trotted leisurely around
the pasture, keeping tahtalizingly out Of
reach and resisting all the Establishments
offered her in the. shape Of wheedling
W0Tu5 Auu cdIS Ol COIu.
The captain and Bill 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 held
on like grim death, bat Bill Tyke failed
to secure 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 a hundred
yards 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 at every
Jump The mare made straight for the
bars, went over them, and finally came
to halt in the captains dooryard. The
captain slipped off in an exhausted con.
dition, and drove his new purchase into
the barn. va;
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 "belayipg pins" were tht
subject Of several animated discussions
before the harness was finally adjusted
When all was complete, Bill Tyk,
cruised around the wagon several times
and observed that the "darned thing wal
all right, anyhow"
"Then," said the captain, jest put
that old boat anchor into the buggy, with
about three fathoms of stout line, an
you git in behind. Darn ye," he contin
ued, addressing the mare, "if ye play {
trick like that agin, I'll fix ye.''
Ball marched off to the tool-house, ant
returned carrying an iron keelock and ,
coil of inch MANILA rope. To one end o.
this line he fastened the anchor. Tn,
other, by the captains direction, he tiet
by a double hitch to the rear axle of tn
wagon.
HNow," said the captain, "jump in
Bill. Plf make the old vixen hum whel
we git the widow in"
To the captains great delight tn
widow was at home, and surveyed hi
new turnout with admiration. The har
ness, she thought, looked somewhat pc
c,,lior hYt che didn't know ,nuch ohou