New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-20
JACOB.
TWO WOMEN AND A HORSE.

entertain Jacob. .heir faithful steed They said
they knew if we had him they should rest
and they knew that our horse was lame now. and
perhaps we might like to Jacob for bis keep
Afterward found out that though tho fietchers
might rest easy. we could not We Thought well of
this proposition. We decided we would have Ken
tucky's shoes taken "a and put her our pasture
back OF the barn.
When these people drove over from the town
where they live they did not drive therr own
horse. bat came with a neighbor. 1t happened
that we had never seen the horse were 60 take
until he came on the day his family left for New
York TO take the steamer. man IN very narrow
open buggy drove into our yard Hitched to his
wagon behind iron gray horse so tall that 1t
made gasp to look at him. 1t was not that nc
very heavy. but that his legs and neck were
80 long. Now we knew enough to be aware that it
is not good sign to see too much daylight under
horse" One could see half the armament under
Jacob.
The man grlnned as he said he guessed this was
the old Barton place. We said it was.
WALL" he responded. Jumping down from MS
seat and beginning to unite the halter which was
fastened to the rear Of his buggy. WALL I've
brought ye this ere railroad bridge. ye see.'
Ny sister and both stood with our heads thrown
back. gazing L Immediately suggested that 1t
might be we'll to lead the horse home again.
didn't believe we could take care of him, ana my
sister added that we had had no experience in the
wants of dromedary. or even Of Ii giraffe The
man grinned still more
Can't take him back" he said his folks he
gone Hadn't ye ever seen this critter before Z
Never"
Then he laughed, and laughed so long that we
began 70 be angry. Jacob. meanwhile had begun
to Craze. | saw he mad kind eyes there was no
vicions appearance about him. Ny sister remarked
that if she had money enough TO travel in Europe
she thought she shonld afford to sell Jacob where
upon the man went of into another laugh. and l
asked sternlv how many tricks he had As soon as
possible was told that he hadn't any tricks he
was a perfect horse 80 far as he knew. The
Fletchers set such store by him they wouldn't sell
HIM at no price and they thought we women folks
wonld appreciate him.
Having SAID this with great solemnty and en-
phasis he put the end Of the halter into my hand,
placed his foot the hub of the wheel and sprang
over into his buggy. As he drove away we saw him
swaying with laughter, and ne kept looking behind
at the eIonp he had left.
Ii was good while before either of us spoke
Onr Gordon setter now walked up from somewhere
glanced at ~. and walked away again as If wash
ing his hands of this affair
II guess wen put him into the barn said
cheerlully after awhile 81" You 90 in ana turn Ken
lucky out"
Gertrude did as she was told In a moment saw
orr horse walk out Of the west door into the
pasture. She had a loose box. ana II was into this
that now led Jacob. The box was not the largest
kind. bit It roomy enough for Kentucky to
turn round in and she was a good-szed animal 1t
never occurred to Us that this apartment was not
large enough for any horse. or ii ii was not, that
any horse of sense would try TO turn round in 1t.
We closed the door and stood a moment, asking
each other what we were gong 70 DO We said we
hated the Fletchers We said we hoped they would
drown; but withdrew that wish for two
reasons: first. because if they drowned we should
have TO keep Jacob forever; secondly, because the
wish was wicked.
As we walked toward the house heard n great
noise OF hoofs and then oulinous stiffness. IN
which We faucied was a kind OF choking sonnd
We ran back and flung open the box door. There
was Jacob describing curve across the room, his
hind quarters being one end and his head the
other both extremities being pressed so hard
against either partition that he curved nearly
into a half circle and appeared to be smotherIng,
SO twisted was bis neck
Run for a man. cried ont, looking wildly
round for something I knew not what.
NV sister started. while ! recklessly caught ND a
whip and went at the horse, fourishing it across
his back. lie made tremendous movement and
curved up still more much 50 that he released
himself and stood head toward me.
] ran after Gertrude and told her 10 come back.
that we did not want man the horse had turned
round She did not hear at first, and ! screamed
still louder that we did not want any man. Now she
heard, and turned walking with great slowness and
dignity toward me- Something in her aspect made
me look about, and | saw gentleman within
few feet of me. He did not attempt TO disguise his
merrime nt. lie said 1t did not appear to be gOod
time for HIM to CALL and he would 60 on. He was
not urged to stay. but he was invited to call some
other time and see the horse that we had taken to
keep
AS soon as possible we hurried into the barn and
found Jacob with his head in the meal barrel. We
pulled him out and decided that he colld not be
loose in his box. so tied him TO the manger just
as il he had been in a stall. He was all right now.
1t being sunset we placed hay and oats before him
and left him.
The night passed quietly. When went to the
barn in the morning saw plainly that | had not
fed the horse enough. He had eaten everything
had given him, all TIE bedding and about one nalf
Of the manger. which was made of thick pine
plank Also a shallow hole was gnawed out in the
partition. / FASTENED TO give him his breakfast.
and gave him IN my anxiety three times ~ inucu
the usual quantity. ! told my sister what had
discovered. aud she informed me that we should
have to have our stable and eatlng-boX lined
throughout With Zinc for il not because jacob
was hungry, II was because he was crOber
that he had done this thing
She proved 10 be right In less than week we
had the zinc put on and only barely in time then
TO save the walls and foundation. | watched the
horse once | saw him take hold of the wood ana
pull and grunt. He was lost and bcwiidered hen
lie could not do that | think IL was tOr lack OF
this occupation that lie got into trouble the very
first night after bis dwelling was repaired We
v ere wakened about midnight by noise when az
first we could not place; but OF course as We had
bad zeal freedom since Jacob had come, We
immrd Iately thought he the cause OF IT, we
dressed hurredly lighted the lantcI and went out
into the summer night, which was full OF sweet
OdOrs ana the hum OF insects. whlpDO0rwlll
singing the grndstone under the cherry
tree as we opened the back door.
When we reached the stall our hearts sank.