New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-02
Il WONDERFUL BACKVOODS COLT
SHE STORY OF THE TRIALS OF AN OLD HERO AS
TOLD BY MAINE MAN.

sHE STORY OF THE TRIALS OF AN OLD HERO AS
TOLD BY MAINE NAN
81 remember the first time that I saw Elias
Perkins," said the man from Maine. " lie was si'''nS
on a fence-rail, whiting stick. The next tlnic
saw him he perched on the same RAIL- ana '"e
stick In his left hand seemed to be the same one
as before saw him many times that summer ana
he always sat on the fence. and he always whitfield
"Hc was one Of those pieces Of hickory that one
meets in nv State. He over sixty years Old,
but during the winter he could swing an axe VIII
any man In the woods. He never WORKED III the
summer He had picked up deal OF Eno" edge
somewhere, and his brain was like an iron box 1or
ne never forgot anything which he once got INTO MS
head. He would discuss 'algebree, trigo
nometree and the classics as ne ex-
pressed it. with equal willingness, but he would
add Il prefer the old poets they get down to business
without MANY fourishes.' ! have heard him quote
Homer by the hundred lines without break MS
long arm making unganly gestures ana MS "hi'ehea
head bowling with solemn dignity at the end OF each
verse; In geometry he would rattle away az any
thing, winding up with an impressive 'quod era'
demOnstrandum.'
@,Lias everybody called him. and he was often
called upon to act as the final referee in cases OF
dispute for 1t was admitted in that part OF thc
country that 'Las knew everything But Las was
destined TO show his weakness late In LIE ana tho
result of it was more severe than years OF chopphs
at mines in the coolest Maine weather.
1T was the second summer Of my acquaintance
with him that found him one day, as usual, on tho
fence but his knife was not at work as usual on a
piece of wood. lie pcggiDg away In an absent
minded fashion at the rail ITSELF
al went into the village day before yesterday
said Elias booking up with weary look In his 1aded
blue eyes, and ! bought colt. Pm going 10 raise
him and have the finest horse in this township
dwell Elias said, what are you going 10 40
with him? What do you need OF Il horse! ..
az Just want to raise him., ne answered. ,nu,
he's a tough one to handle. l think that's why
want TO raise him. -, , ho,, HE
Two DAYS afterward when l saw him again DOM MS
knife and whiting stick were gone
- Flows tile colt Elias p | asked. $500.
ale got up in the hills yesterday ana was , our
looking Tor him all night He's Dack now lhc
old man showed signs of fatigue. ..,.,.,,o .,o,
~ perhaps there never was colt more vicious tian
Eljas,s i heard of the animals capers every gay
and it kept Elias continually busy looking after ms
new net But one day found him back IN MS OLD
position looking like himself.
:" where's tho colt today asked H.
lies lost said Elias with satisfaction, anu ne
In three Gays Elias had gong back TO his old
friends the knife and the stick But on the morning
he fonnd his colt standing al the door OF MS
little hoNse IIenceforth troubles came tlck ana
faSf unon the old backwo0dsman. His back began
IN bend over and nothing could induce him to talk
Of the old poets The old man went to pieces rapidly
Snt t he would not give UP the colt: This condition
NJ affairs continued until it was difficult for Elias
40 drar himself around. One night the vicious colt.
while Jumping fence, caught one OF nus legs ana
broke L: Some took rifle and ended the brute 5