Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1886-07-29
JACOB.
TWO WOMEN AND A HORSE.


knew the FIetchers slightly. They call
ed on us to see if we would entertain
Jacob, their faithful steed. They said
they knew if we had him they should
rest easy; and they knew that our horse
was lame now, and perhaps we might
like to use Jacob for his keep. After
wards we found out that though the
Fletchers might rest easy, we could
not. We thought well of this PROPOSE
ton. We decided we would have Ken
tucky's shoes taken off and put her in
our pasture back Of the barn.
When these people drove oyer from
the town where they live, they did not
drive their own horse, but came with
neighbor. 1t happened that we bad
never seen the horse that we were to
take unit. he came on the day his fam
lily left for NewYork to take the steam
er. a man in very narrow open bug
gy drove into our yard. Hitched to his
wagon behind him was an iron-gray
horse so tall that it made one gasp to
look at him. 1t was not that he was
so very heavy, but that his legs and
neck were so long. Now we know
enough to be aware that il is not a good
sign to "see too much daylight under a
horse.'' One could see half the frma-
ment under Jacob.
The old man grinned as he said he
guessed this was the old Barton place.
We said it was.
'Well,' he responded, jumping down
from his seat and beginning to unite
the halter which was fastened to the
rear of his buggy. wall, I've brought
We this 'ere railroad bridge. ye see.'
My sister and both stood with our
heads thrown back, gazing. L immedi-
ately suggested that it might be well to
lead the horse home again. l didn't
believe we could take care Of him, and
my sister added that we had had no ex-
perience in the wants of dromedary,
or even of a giraffe. The man grinned
still more.
Cant take him back he said +; 'his
folks haye gone. Hadn't ye eyer seen
this critter before p
Meyer
Then he laughed and laughed so long
that we began to be angry. Jacob,
meanwhile, had begun to Craze. l saw
he had kind eyes; there was no vicious
appearance about him. My sister re-
marked that if she had money enough
to travel in Europe she thought she
should afford to sell Jacob, where upon
the man went off into another laugh.
and L asked sternly how many tricks he
had. AS soon as possible l was told
that he hadn't any tricks; he was a per-
feet horse, SO far as he knew. The
FletcEers set such store by him they
wouldn't sell him at no price, and they
thought we women folks would appre-
ciate him.
Having said this with great solemni-
ty and emphasis, he put the end of the
halter into my hand, placed his foot on
the hub of the wheel, and sprang over
into his buggy. AS he drove away we
saw him swaying with laughter. and he
kept looking behind at the group he had
left.
1t was a good while before either OF
us spoke. Our Gordon setter now walk
ed up from somewhere, glanced at US,
and walked away again, as if washing
his hands of this affair.
Il guess we'll put him into the barn,
l said cheerfully after a while. You
90 in and turn Kentucky OUT
Gertrude did as she was told. In a
moment / saw our horse walk out OF
the west door into the pasture. She
had a loose box, and it was into this
that I now led Jacob. The box was
not the largest kind, but ii was roomy
enough for Kentucky to turn round in,
and she was good-sized animal. II
never occurred to us that this apart
ment was not large enough for any
horse. or if it was not, that any horse
of sense would try to turn round III 1t.
We closed the door and stood a mo-
ment, asking each other what we were
going to de. We said we hated the
Fletchers. We said we hoped they
| would drown; but we withdrew thai
wish for two reasons first, because Il
they drowned we should have to keel
Jacob forever ; secondly, because the
wish was wicked.
AS we walked toward the house VIC
heard a great noise of hoofs, and thef
an ominous stiffness, in which we fan
cied was kind of choking sound. W.
ran back and flung open the box door
There was Jacob describing a curve a
cross the room, his headquarters beins
one end and his head the other, boil
extremities being pressed so hard a
gainst either partition that he was curry
ed nearly into half circle. and appear
ed to be smothering, so twisted was hl
neck.
run for a man y I cried out, ,lookinl
wildly round for something, knew
not what.
NV sister started, while [ recklessl.
caught up a whip and went at tn
horse. flourishing it across his back