Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-08-18
from the New York Tribune.
JACOB.

took q horse to Keep. The family to
whom he belonged were going to spend
the summer in Europe. We knew the
Fletchers slightly. They called on us
to see if we could entertain Jacob,
their faithful steed. They said they
knew if we had him they would rest
easy, and they knew our horse was
lame now, and perhaps we would like
to use Jacob for his keep. Afterward
We found out that though the Fetch
ers might rest easy, we could not. We
thought well of this proposition. We
decided we would have Kentucky's
shoes taken off and put her in our pas
ture back of the barn.
When those people drove over from
the town where they live, they did not
drive their own horse, but came with
a neighbor. 1t happened that we had
never seen the horse that we were to
take until he came on the day his fam
lily left for New York to take the
steamer. A man in 2, very narrow
open buggy drove into the yard.
Iiitched to his wagon behind was an
iron-gray horse so tail that it made
one gasp to look at him. It was not
that he was so very heavy, but that
bis legs and neck were so long. Now
We knew enough to be aware that it is
not a good sign to "see too much day
light under horse" One conld see
half the armament under Jacob.
The man grinned as he said he
guessed this was the old Barton place.
We said it was.
eWall," 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, We see."
My sister and both stood with our
heads thrown back, gazing. | imme-
diately suggested that it might re we'll
to lead the horse home again. didn't
believe we could take care of him, and
my sister added that we had had no
Diary, or even of s. giraffe. The man
grinned still more.
Cant take him back" he said:
'tnis folks hev gone. Hadn't We ever
seen this critter before % "Never."
Then he laughed, and laughed SO
long that we began to be angry. Jacob,
meanwhile, had begun to Craze. saw
he had Kind eyes; there was no vic
ious appearance about him. My Sis
ter remarked that if she had money
enough TO travel in Europe she thought
she should afford co sell Jacob, where
upon the man went off into another
laugh, and asked sternly how many
tricks he had. AS soon as possible [
was told that he hadn't any tricks, he
was a perfect horse, so 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
would appreciate him.
Having said this with great solemn
ty and emphasis, he put the end of the
halter in my hand, placed his foot on
the hub of the wheel, and sprang over
into mis- buggy. AS he drove away we
saw him swaying with laughter, and he
kept looking behind at the group he
had left.
Il was a good while before either of
as spoke. Our Gordon setter now
walked up from somewhere, glanced at
US and walked away again, as if wash
ing his hands of this affair.
81 guess we I'll put him into the
barn." [ said, cheerfully, after awhile.
ssYou 60 in and turn Kentucky out"
Gertrude did as she was told. In g.
moment saw our horse walk out of
the west door into the pasture. She
had loose box, and it was into this I
now led jacob. The box was not the
largest kind, but it was roomy enough
for Kentucky to turn round in, and
she was a good-sized animal. It never
occurred to us that this apartment
was not large enough for any horse, or
if it was not that any horse of sense
would try to turn round in it.
We closed the door and stood a mo-
ment, asking each other what we were
going to do. We said we hated the
Fletchers. We said we hoped they
would drown; but we 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 we
heard a great noise of hoofs, and then
an omincus stiffness, in which we
fancied was kind of choking sound
We ran back and flung open the box
door. There was Jacob describing g.