The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-10-07
FLASH. I.
TIE FIREMAN's STORY.


THE FIREMAN's STORY.
Flash was a white-foot sorrel. an run on No. o;
NOT much stable manners--an, average hcrse,
Notional in his methods-strong in lpvez aI'
hates;
Not very much respected, or popular m ohsst
his mates;
Dull an moody an sleepy on "oaF an &ast
Full of turbulent sour looks, au'smah sar sic
scowiesd an bit at his partner, An' 6apgd a3he
With other tricks intended to sdesisnate Ne q
bore.
But when. bet day or night time he heard the
alarm-bell ring,
He'd rush for his place in the harm ess with
regular tiger spring;
An watch with nervous shivers the clasp of
buckle an band,
Until it was plainly ev' dent he like to lend
hand.
An when the word was given, away he would
rush an tear,
As if thousan' witches was rumplin' I'D his
hair
An wake his mate up crazy with its magnetic
charm;
For every hoof-beat sounded a regular fire
alarm!
Never horse a jockey would worship an ad
mire
Like Flash in frol of his engine, a-racin' with
fire;
Never a horse so lazy, so dawdlin, an so
slack
As Flash upon his return trip, a-drawn' the
engine back.
Now, whom the different horses gets tender
footed an old
They amt no use in our business; so Flash
was finally sold
To quite respectable milkman: who found it
A-bossin' of Gods creatures outside O. their
reglar line.
Seems as if I could see Flash a-mopin' along
here now,
A-feeip' that he was. simply assistant to
: But sornetimes he'd imagine he heard the
n alarnl-bells din,F4 81 Ia ~
An d 5%gR S al r sn i i minute before thy
An, once, in spite O his master, he stroIed 81
ITO talk with the other horses, of former freq.
Swhereat the milkman kicked him; wherefor.
He beggedthat horses pardon upon his Blended
But one day for a big fire as we was maxim a
lliBoth 8 The horses we had on soaewhat re-
%Yellin' an ringin' n,rushin', with excellent
voice an heart
We passed the poor old fellow, a-tuggin' away
ut his cart.
If ever see an old horse grow upwards into
new,
If ever see a driver whose traps beh ind him
flew,
Twas that old horse, rompin' an rushin'
An that respectable milkman, a-tryln' to hold
him back.
Away he dashed like a cyclone for the head of
Nos,
Gained the lead, an kept it an steer his
Dodgn' the wheels an horses, an still on the
keenest silk"
An furnishin' all that district with good re-
spectacle milk.
Crowds a-yellin' an runnin an vainly holer-
Milkman bracin' an sawn', with never bit
Firemen laughin an chucklin', an hollerin,:
"GOodl go inp'
Hoss a-gettn' down to ii, an sweepin' along
like sin.
Finally come where the fire was, halted with a
Sent the respectable milkman heels over head
Watched till he see the engine properly work
After which he relnquished all interest in the
affair.
Moped an wilted an dawded-faded away
once more;
Took up his old occ' patton of votin' life
Laid down in his harness, and-sorry 1 am to
say
The milkman he had drawed there drew his
dead body away.
That's the whole O. my story; I've seen, more'n
That poor dumb animals actions are full of
human advice;
An If you ask what Flash taught Isimply an
swer you, then,
That poor old horse was symbol of some in
tellgent men.
VA Carleton, in Harper's Magazine.