Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-11-29
CAPTAIN TODD'S HORSE.

lou see, Dr. Bragg" said Captain
Todd, 81 want o regular clipper. bull
boss. | don't want stiffness and breadth
OF beam SO much as want a good clear
run. Iwant boss to show off with"
well, sir" said the doctor, pattine
on the neck vicious-looking ANNA
which he held by the bride, ''if YOU
want smart horse, I can't recommend
a better animal than this. Just look at
those heels! Hi, don't go near 'em. As
told you, have three horses that
want to sell but if you want mare
that will go, this mare is just the animal
you want"
"You see," said the captain, conf
dentially, Il don't know much about
horses. I'm seafaring man. Followed
the sea, man and boy, nigh thirty-fve
years. Now Pm going to settle down
On shore, and Pm looking around for a
wife. don't mind telling you that Pm
| sorter cOurtin' the Widow Bum. Now,
the widow is mighty fond of good fast
horse, and there's another Teller, Sam
Bliss-perhaps you know him-thats
shinin' round the widow, too. Sans
got tirst-rate boss, and takes the wild
ow to ride a good deal. Now i'll don't
get something better than Sans got
won't stand any show, for the widow
will be snre toriGe most with the man
that's got the fastest boss, don't You
see."
The doctor nodded afirmatively. ~
see," he said, "Isee. Well, now, think
the mare will suit you. She's know
ing beast. Just see how her ears are
laid back, listening. 1fyou find her get
ting lazy, just touch her up little
with the whip, and she'll climb, can
tell you"
"Well," said the captain, "if she's all
you say she is, bring her around to-
night and turn her into my pasture, and
tomorrow I'll hitch her up in my new
buggy and give her trial"
The next afternoon Capt. Todd ran
his new buggy 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.
Bill Tyke was the captains right hand |
man. He had sailed with the captain all |
his lite, and now that the former had re- |
tired from active duty, Bill had retired
with him, and undertaking to learn the
art of farming. In appearance he was
like what the immortal Bunsby might
have been, and he was not much the
inferior Of that worthy in taciturnity or
Dracular wisdam.
The captain and his factotum circum-
navigated the pasture and "bore down"
upon the mare persuasively from the
But the intelligent animal
saw them coming and fattened her ears.
The captain was within reach, when she
threw up her head, changed ends, and
,antered away to the other end of the
ield.
The captain swore a round oath and
divided his forces. Bill Tyke was seen
% coast around the fence while the cap
ain lay "otf and on" in the offing. But it
vas game that the mare understood
'est. She trotted leisurely around the
pasture, keeping tantalizing out reach,
nd resisting all the Establishments Of
cred herin the shape Of wheeling words
nd ears of corn.
The captain and Bill Tyke both fell to
and followed the beast around
or an hour. At last, with consummate
eneralship, they succeeded in cornering
er, and as she tried to rush between
hem, both sprang at her name. {
The captain was successful and hung q
n like grim death, but Bill Tyke failed
secure satisfactory grip, and was c
licked head over heels into a blackberry s
ush, whence be emerged, torn and
leeding, and swearing worse than ever.
S to the captain, he was dragged a r
undred yards before he managed to t
board" her, but at last he found him b
'lfon her back. tearing across the pas v
Ire, and bounding foot in the air at n
very jump. The mare made straight n
II the bars, went over them, and finally h
Tine to a halt in the captains door yard. /,
he captain slipped off in an exhausted t
and drove his new purchase f
ito the barn. II
The operation Of Harvesting was one r
During all the seamanship of both the b
lptain and Bill Tyke to successfully c.
The uses of the various straps, 81
lckles and Hhelavinr-ninsr were tha +,