Telegram-herald., 1890-04-08
LAS WONDERFUL COLT.
TIE eeory OF the Trials OF Ola Her
Told by . Maine NAp.

LAS WONDERFUL COLT.
Tns eeoxy OF the Trials Of OLE Hero
Told BY . Maine MAD.
'T remember the first time that saw
Elias Perkins, 4" said the man from Maine
10 tho New York Tribuna ''He was
sitting on fenoe-raI. whiting a stick.
The next ttne I saw him he was
perched on the same rail, and tho stick
In his left hand seemed to be the same
one ss before. saw him many times
that summer, and he always sat on the
fence, and ho always whitfield.
HE was one OF those pieces of hickory
that one meets In my State. lie was
over sixty years old, but during the
winter he could swing an axo with any
man In the woods. He never worked in
the summer. He had picked up deal
of knowledge somewhere, and his brain
was like an iron box. for he never for
got anything which he once got into his
head. He would discuss 'algebree, trigo-
nometree and tho classics as no ex-
pressed II, with equal willingness. but,
be would add, Il prefer the old poets;
they get down 10 business without
many fourishca' l have heard him
quote Homer by the hundred lines with
ont break. his long arm making un-
calmly gestures, and his whitened head
bowling with SOLEMN dignity at the end
Of each verse. In geometry he would
rattle away as any thing, winding up
with an impressive quad erat demon
strandum.'
'"Lias, every body called him, and he
was often called upon 10 net as tho final
referee in cases OF dispute, for it was ad-
mitted In that part.of the country that
'Lias knew every thing. But 'Lias was
destined 70 show his weakness lato in
life, and tho result of 1t was more Sc
we're than years of ohopping at pines in
the coldest Maino weather.
''It was the second summer of my 60.
quaintance with him that found him
one day, as usual, on tho fence, but his
knife wes not at work as usual on a piece
OF wood He was pegging away In at
absent-minded fashion at the rail itself
81 went into the village day before
yesterday said Elias, looking up with
a weary look in his faded blue eyes
and bough. colt. I'm going to raise
him, and have the finest horse IN this
township
"'Well, Elias said, what arc you
going to do with hiIn9 What do yor
need of horse?'
81 Just want TO raise him. he an
swerod. But hos tough one L
handle. 1 think that's why want t
raise him.
1.-TWO days aftorward, when saw hin
again, both his knife and whittlinl
stick were gone.
Flows the colt, EitasT ! asked.
"'He got Up in the hills yesterday
and was out looking for him all night
He's back now Tho old man showec
signs Of fatigue
Perhaps there never was colt more
vicious than Elias. heard of the ami
malls oaPers every day. and 1t KEEP
Elias continually busy looking after BIZ
new pet But ono day found him back
in his old position. looking like himself
Where's tho colt so-dny?' asked
Hos lost said Eliss, With satisfsc-
ton. and he quoted sOrne verses to shov
his submission 10 fate.
In three days Elias bad gone back q
/ his old fricndA the knife and the stick
Bot on The morning OF the fourth da,
when he gos up be foxnd bis col. stand
ing at tho door of bis little house
| Hsnceforth woublss came thick and fas
upon the old becbsvoodsman- His bacl
began 70 bend over. and nothing coult
induce him 70 talk OF the old poets, Th'
Old man vent 70 pieces rapidly, bat b.
wouli not give NJ tho colt This con
dition Of Affairs continued until it va
difficult for Elias - drag himself around
One night the viciovs colt while jump
ing fsDoe. osszht one of its legs al.
broke IL Some one took = rife an
ended tho brute's suffering. When
heard Of this The next DAY I ealed o.
Elias. He vas lying OF his bed, Wit
his sYes closed bss there -ss . sapreu-
look Of rest on tbe yellow tsce, and
smile % content sbous tbe thin lines :
tbe corner - the u1oath
'Elias,' 7 said II va 80 h~s shsv7
sA-e cslt'
Yea szH ths old r1an. ~fs1
s-1fle- I think I wzs t.>ohiag him
Bssls iec>ney. II va TO ~ - - dis
.ppsinteS
"Elias ~ s-s srstn r. tev wseks
bat he Vas never able - % hsck r. ~
~oo3s He never ,~>aes - tall. hoz
eve, ho~ bs r>~ sozsgse-ing his 81
when the Antral wz< Killed AnS =
sir7e vent - tss vi-tses of ~ bras
seemed - Trsv o. E1aS - such -
tseaA sociie- iaseiiizaas ant r-rSa arfs
colt as tbe one described ~ Flias t~
Trars aftsv-ar8. as ~ saf CT - oh
fence or~ evening nan never BEER
hesri praisesi