The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-06-30
A Lesson to be Remembered.

.Well - said Reuben, the story-teller,
father always wanted horse because
the folks in Greene lived scattered, and
he had so far to go to attend funerals
and weddings and visit schools, you
know: but he never felt as If he could
afford to buy one But one day he was
coming afoot from Hildreth, and a
stranger asked him to ride.
"Father said: That's a handsome
horse you're driving. / would like to
own such horse myself
&c What will you give for him?'
asked the man.
"'Do you want to sell?' returned
father.
g" Yes, do; and I'll sell cheap, too
said he.
"'Oh, WELL says father, it's no use
talking, for l haven't the money to buy
with
''' Make me an OFFER says he.
GO Well, just to put an end to the
talk, father says, I'll give you S75 for
the horse
"' You may have him. says the man,
as quick as flash, but you'll repent
of your bargain in a week"
90 Why, what ails the horse?' asked
father.
"' Ais him? He's got the Old
Nick in him, that's what ails him.
saws he. If he has will to go, he'll
90; but if he takes a notion to stop all
creation can't start him. I've stood and
beat that horse till the sweat ran off me
in streams; have fired gun close to
his ears; I've burnt shavings under
him. 1 might have beat him to death
or roasted him alive before he would
have budged an inch.'
GO I'll take the horse says father.
What's his name?'
"' George said the man.
"' shall call him Georgia. said
father.
"Well, father brought him home,
and we boys were pleased, and we fixed
place for him in the barn, and curried
him down and fed him well, and father
said, Talk to him, boys, and let him
know how you feel kindly.
$50 we coaxed and petted him, and
the next morning father harnessed him
and got him into the wagon to 60. But
George wouldn't stir step. Father
got out and patted him, and we brought
him apples and clover-tops, and once
in while father would say, Get up,
Georgia. but he didn't strike the horse
blow. By-and-by he says this is
going to take time. Well, George,
We'll see which has the most patience,
you or L. So he sat in the wagon and
took out his skeletons
"'Skeletons?' said Poppet, inquir-
ingly;
"Of sermons, you know Ministers
always carry round little book to put
things they think of into when they
are walking or riding, or hoeing in the
garden.
" Well, father sat full two hours be-
fore the horse was ready to start; but
when he did there was no trouble for
that day. The next morning twas the
same thing over again, only George
gave in little sooner. All the time it
seemed as is father couldn't do enough
for the horse. He was round the sta
BILE, feeding and fussing over him, and
talking to him in his pleasant, gentle
way; and the third morning, when he
had fed him and curried and harnessed
him with his own hands, somehow
there was a different look in the horses
eyes. But when father was ready to
go, George put his feet together and
laid his ears back and wouldn't stir
Well, Dove was playing about the yard
and she brought her stool and climbed
up by the horses head. Dove, tel
what you said to George that morning.
81 gave him an awful talking to-
said the little girl. " l told him it was
perfectly 'ediculus for him to act so
that he'd come to real good place tc
live, where everybody helped every.
body; that he was a minister's horse
and God would not love him if he was
not good horse. That's what l tol(
him. And then kissed him on the
nose"
% And what did George do?"
Why, he heard every word / said
and when l got through he felt 81
'shamed of himself he couldn't hold W
his head; so he just dropped it till i
most touched the ground, and hi
looked as sheepish as if he had beef
stealing hundred Sleeps"
Yes" said Reuben, "and wheI
father told him to 60 he was off like
shot. He has never made any trouble
since. That's the way father cured
balky horse. And that night when h.
was embarrassing he rubbed his hea'
against his shoulder, and told him a
plain as he could speak that he wa
sorry. He's tried to make it up wit
ldlutT over slllCc lOT uue JTOuDle IL
made him. When he's loose in tn
pasture father has only to stand at tn
bars and call his name, and he walk
up as quiet as an old sheep. Why, Nv
seen him back himself between tn
shafts of the wagon many time t
save father trouble. Father wouldn'
take 5000 for the horse to-day. He eat
anything you give him, Sis very ofte
brings out some of her dinner TO him.
% He likes to eat out of a plate" sal
Dove; 4" it makes him think he's folks.