Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1890-01-21
THE PARSONS HORSE.
Remarkable Feat This Intelligent
Animal Performed.

"Charlie, take an ear of corn and the
bride, and go out and catch Nell"
The church was in the city, but the
pastor lived on the edge OF the country
for his children's sake. There was q
glorious green, with two great oak trees
back of the house, and around it wide
commons and patches OF woodland.
Some new streets had been recently cut,
several of which were little more than
deep ravines, waiting for the land to be
graded down to their level. The pretty
mare so enjoyed getting her feet on the
soft, cool ground, and was safe against
wandering away, that she was permit
ted many run. Half an hour passed,
when the ten-year-old boy came in, as
near to crying as his dignity would al
low, saying:
Papa, she won't let me touch her
and, papa, there was a man there, wait
ing around and watching her, and /
didn't like his looks at all, and after
awhile he began coming towards me,
and l thought I'd better come home"
"You did perfectly right" said the IA
ther, 'I'll go myself. And, by the way,
1 may as we'll cut those bean poles.
Just get me the Ratchet"
Now, you must know that Nell was as
perfectly behaved creature as ever
wore horse shoes. She had just one
trick. When she was loose: no one
could catch her till she was ready.
Without any apparent intention, she
would circle and side just out of reach
of the out-stretchel hand, and 90 on
eating within ten feet of her perplexed
pursuer, whom she would infallibly tire
out and leave. When she was ready,
she would allow the bride to be slipped
on with the most innocent surprise, as
If it had just occurred to her. 1t was
now getting too late in the afternoon,
however, for much pleasantly. Forth
dared the'parson, nubbins distending his
pockets, bride and Ratchet In hand. and
the little boy to show the way. As they
rose over the crest OF hill, Charlie
cried: There she Isl" and the next In.
slant, in a subdued tone: "And, papa,
there's that man. The minister recog-
nized at once typical tramp, Of the
vicious grade, tall, muscular, heavy
jawed and slouchy. As soon as the fell
low saw he was observed he started
down one OF the defiles, and in a mo.
ment became two. mate appearing
from somewhere, and they commenced
q rapid march cityward with the
air OF men who have suddenly 'remem-
bered an engagement. But all blandish.
ments were wasted upon Nell. She
no nubbins, no soft words, and
when she saw an attempt to corner her,
she broke into cavalry charge, cutting
a black trail through the turf, leaping
with snort an obstructing pile Of
brush, and sending back defiant chal-
lengc from the farther side. When the
sex are in this mood wise man knows
what to do. So man and boy adjourned
to the woods, and began cutting beam
poles. When they came back with
their load, dusk was just falling, and
the common all deserted, without'a sign
of life. They looked down all the roads,
and every opening OF hills and woods,
but all in vain. Coming in then from
such an afternoon, a waiting, hot sup
per was irresistible. Then 1t was dark,
and ihankloss chase with lantern
followed. They found all the bitches
and pools, and soft spots and wire-grass
and brambles. The boy went homo
"beaton out" and the father continued
the search aiono till he was in like con.
ditlon.
With tho first streak of dawn the par
son was out on the commons, bride in
hand. He came in late, tired and faint,
10 breakfast, but Nell was still like the
lost bride of Netherby.
For two days no porvadod the city
with bride done up in religious pa
per, asking every one about that horse,
ill he felt as II he had placard on his
back announcing his business. He dc.
'cribed the animal till he seemed to
himself like book-agcnt repeating his !