St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-08-23

she would rather b hauled to tho altar
By the most dilapidated donkey thatevct
chewed thistles than BY thas lean and
hungry.looking relic that the afternoon
sun was shining right through. But her
word WAS given. and she would sooner
have died than break her promise.
Besides, she could but feel gratihed
to think that her ardent lover had tried
90 long and hard to please her; and she
had even gone 50 far As to think OF mar
ryinR him anyway, with or without tho
specified horses tail. She got ready al
once, sheepishly took her place In tho
carriage, and OF they started.
Old Starvation did succeed in drag
cling them to the church ut last, and the
pair were consolida.e ted into one without
delay, when they started for Ierman's
homo at the crossroads, and to get
there they had 70 60 right through the
main street OF the village. And there
was where the fun began.
Every body knew Jessamine's pride,
and all about her ambition concerning
the gold headed prince; and also how
her marriage with Herman had been
delayed by the fruitless search for .
long tailed horse. The news Of Her
mans recent purchase, and that the
wedding was At last taking place. had
spread like wild-6re. and they found
the sidewalks lined with people wait
ing to sec them 60 past on their way
home.
How The crowd cheered as6 hooted
when they ct length appeared; Every
body fairly roared ct the sight OF
Jessie's prince. and especially Ut his
proud steed with the tail that swept
the ground. All those whom she had
looked down upon with contempt As
something beneath her notice were
there. and Of course they madc some
rather dispzfaging remarks about tho
bridal e9uipage. That horse did look
like the ghost Of ono Of PharaOh's lean
kline, and no mistake.
The urlucky bride and groom had to
take all tho chat that the assembled
citizens Of Beanville chose to give them.
and that was not little. The old horse
crept along At the pace Of . crippled
snail, and Herman couldn't induce him
to 20 particle faster. The faces Of the
happy pair looked as IL colored with CO.
clinical. but they were perfectly help
less and could only sit still and endure.
"For Heavens sake, pull that horse in;
he's clipping with you!" screamed one by
stander.
..Hail to the Princessv shouted
another.
bones, old bones!" piped in . boy.
through his nose, in shrill treble. in
imitation Of the cry of q rag-picker.
s.Sell me that skeleton for q hcn-c0op,
cried . gray-headed granger.
Look 1T the feed oosing OUT between
his ribs" sang out another.
It was more than human patience
could stand. Herman sprang to his feet
in the wagon and caught the whip in
both hands. The next instant it came
down across the stecd's backbone with
all the forco Of his strong young arms
and was cut in two rs smoothly ~ a
carving-knife would cut . candle.
The horse never quickcned his pace,
for he couldn't; 1t wasn't in him. lie
didI't even have life enough to kick.
but he gave that tail > frantic switch
that extended to its utmost regions.
And then . catastrophe took place that
Is unequaled in the annals Of history. !.
The tail new over: the dasher like z
hairy comet, and landed plump in the
brides lap In . tangled and disorganiscd
mass. 1t had belonged 70 several horses
in its time, and had been tied to the
sub end OF this ones backbone with
about half ball Of wrapping Irvine. He
had NO moro tail Of his own than goa,
has
such . shrek as went up from the
crowd Of spectators who saw the tumble
tho once naughty Jcssamine's pride was
taking! It fairly split the heavens
And the stub-tailed old skinful Of bones
plodded calmly on, Is II he was certain
Of whole eternity in which to get the
happy couple homo to the crossroads.
It did take him > pretty largo portion
Of one to accomplish the trip
But that adventure 10 now thing Of
the past The pretty Jessamine has
settled down into loving. helpful
little woman. who dreams Of splendoI
and royalty no more. She and Herman
have one Of the prettiest and happies'
homes for miles around; but though
they never mention it, neither OF them
will ever forget the misery and humil
iation Of that first homecoming, es
corted by hooting, jecring rabble and
drawn by the bony framework Of Z
horse whose tail and the ground were Z
Sabbath days journey from each other
% e. Young, in Goodsll's Sun.