Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-10-08


knew that Mr.. Silver owned horse.
because occasionally ssg him drive
out of the yard. and | saw the stable
every day; but what kind of horse
didn't know never went in the stable
for two reasons: In the first place, had
no desire to. and, secondly, didn't know
as the horse cared particularly for com
pany.
never took care of horse in my life
and had been OF less hopeful nature,
the charge Mr.. Silver had left with me
might have had very depressing effect.
but told Mrs. Perkins would do it.
"You know how to take care of 3
horse, don't your" said she.
gave her reassuring wink. In fact,
| knew so little about it that didn't
think it safe to converse more huently
than by winks
After breakfast seized toothpick
and walked out toward the stable. There
was nothing particular to do, as Silver
had given him his breakfast. and found
him eating it. so looked around. The
horse looked around. too, and stared
pretty hard at me There was but little
said on either side. | hunted up the To-
cation of the feed. and then sat down on
a peck measure and fell to studying the
beast. There is a wide difference in
horses. Some of them will kick you
over and never look around to see what
becomes of you don't like a dispo
sition like that, and ! wondered II
Stiver's horse was one of them.
When came home at noon | went
straight to the stable. The animal was
there all right. Silver hadn't told me
what to give him for dinner. and had
not given the subject any thought. but
went to the oat box and filled the peck
measure, and sailed up to the manger
When he saw the oats he almost
smiled; this pleased and amused hun. !
emptied them into the trough, and
left him to admire the way ! parted
my hair behind. just got my head
up in time to save the whole of il. he
had his ears back. his mouth open and
looked as if he were on the point of com.
hitting murder went out and filled
up the measure again. and climbed NJ
the side of the stall and emptied it on
top Of him He brought has head up SC
suddenly at this that Immediately goi
down. letting go Of everything TO do it
| struck on the sharp edge of barrel,
rolled over a couple of times and Their
disappeared under a haycutter. The
peck measure went down on the Other
side and got mysteriously tangled up in
that animals heels. and he went TO work
at it. and then ensued the most dreadful
noise | ever heard in all my life. and
have been married eighteen years.
1t did seem as if never would get Out
from under that haycutter, and all the
while was struggling and wrenching
myself and the cutter apart that awful
beast was kicking around in that stall
and making the most appalling SOUND
imaginable.
When got out found Mrs. Perkins
at the door. She had heard the racket
and had sped out to the stable, her only
thought being of me and three stovelids
she had under her arm. and one OF
which she was about to tire at the beast
: This made me mad
$50 away, You unfortunate IDIOT
| shouted; do you want to knock my
brains ontY For remembered seeing
Mrs. Perkins sling a missile once before
and that | nearly lost an eye by the
operation, although standing on the
other side of the house.
She retired at once. And at the samt
time the animal quieted down, but there
was nothing left of that peck measure
not even the makers name.e
followed Mrs. Perkins into the hous.
and had her do me up, and then l sal
down in a chair and fell into profound
strain of meditation. After awhile
felt better and went out to the stable
again. The horse was leaning agains
the stable stall. with eyes half closed,
and appeared to be very much engrosseo
in thought.
,Step off to the left" said. rubbing
his back.
He didn't step. got the pitchfork and
punched him in the leg with the handle.
He Immediately raised up both hind legs
at once, and that fork few out of my
hands and went rafting up against the
timbers above and came down again in
an instant, the end of the handle rap
ping me with such force on the top OF
the head that sat right down on the
floor under the impression that ! was
standing in front of drug store in the
evening. | went back to the house and
got some more stuff on me. But |
couldn't keep away from that stable }
went out there again. The thought
struck me thai what the horse wanted
was exercise. If thai Thought had been
an empty glvcerin can il would have
saved a windfall OF luck for me.
But exercise would tone him down,