The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-12-08
THAT NEW HORSE.
Wsrrnnted-iind, &c tito and Perfectly
Safe for woma to Drive.

''Size him up. Fam" he said, leaning
back against the fence, with his elbows
on the top board. 'Look him over. Not
blemish anywhere! Clean-limbed as
deer! And got him for $685."
THAT seems to be pretty high price
for horse, Lemuel," unused Mrs Fin
kenbinder, unless he's got a pedigree.
Do you know whether he has pedi-
gree or not?
"What do you want of a pedigree
when you're buying buggy-horse"
retorted Mr. Finkenbinder, somewhat
impatiently. Hell pull the phaeton
all right, and he couldn't do any better
II he belonged to the first families in
Kentucky and had an ancestral tree as
big as a house. What is your idea OF
pedigree, anyhow Do you think it's
something like dapples, or crupper, or
surcingle, or an insurance policy?"
81 know what it is as we'll as you do,
Lemuel. But are you q good judge of
horse?"
81 know a good horse when see him.
II a horses points are all right l cay
tell it as well rs anybody. And this
horses points are all right"
"How old is hep"
''Six years.
SLOW do you know"
Glow do know? The man got him
from says so. That's how"
did you look at his teeth?"
"What's the use of looking at his
teeth? You can't tell anything about a
horses age by his teeth. A good horse
dentist, madam, can fix up an old plug
SO his teeth will look like a yearling's."
81 never heard OF horse dentist,
Lemuel, "said Mrs. Finkenbinder, doubt
fully. 81 don't believe there's any in
this town"
"There's lots of things in this town
you never heard of. The beauty about
this horse" said Lemuel, stroking the
animals shoulder, sis that-whoa,
Billy! His names Billy-is that any
woman can drive him. He's as gentle
as kitten. He's got plenty of spirit
when you get him started, though.
That's what Mike Downing says. He
got the horse for me, and what he
doesn't know about horse you can put
in your eye. Whoa, Billy! Don't for
get, Fan. that his name is Billy. A
horse always likes to be called by his
right name. think I'll hitch him up
and let you drive him. Go in the house
and get your things on"
Mrs. Finkenbinderc complied and Lem
uel took the horse back to the barn and
hitched him to the phaeton. 1t was n
new vehicle, purchased, together with
q set of harness, in anticipation Of the
horse. He had hard time getting Billy
harnessed. Things didn't fit Straps
had to be let out, frightened. and other
wise adjusted, and the proper arrange
ment and fastening of the holdbacks
was fathomless mystery to Lemuel,
but he got the job done at last, after q
fashion, the horse submitting with the
quiet, resigned demeanor of an animal
| with plenty of time on its hands and nd
disposition to find fault with the exist
ing order of things, and in due time the
entire outfit made it's app 'araace in
front of the family dwelling, where
Mrs. Finkenbinder was patiently await
ing it
You take the lines, Fam" said
Lemuel encouragingly, after she had
taken her scat in the phaeton and he
had tucked the robe comfortably about
them both "You might as well begin
to drive him right now. He's to be q
family horse, and can't be here all the
time to do the driving"
Mrs Finkenbinder took the lines and
cluckcd at the animal
Don't try to drive him too fast al
! the start" cautioned LemueL "He's
been on oats for about a mouth ano
hasn't had anything to do. He's per
fectly gentle, but it won't do to crowd
him at first Don't let him get the
start of YOU Hold him in"
HE doesn't seem to need any holding
in" said Mrs. Finkenbinder, as Billy
after proc eeding few rods at a gentle
walk, stopped promptly at the first pull
on the lines. Hadn't you better toucl
him with the whip?"
Not for worlds!" exclaimed Lemuel
Get up, Billy"
Billy started on again with the sam,
patient walk.
Its risky thing" said Mr.. Finken-
binder. ito touch spirited horse will
q whip-g'lang, Billy!-when he ism
looking for it, Many a runaway, Fan
has been caused-get up, Billy!-by
that very thing.
"Why doesn't he go, Lem?'
"Why don't you drive him?"
lam driving him as we'll as 1 can
Cluck! Chuck. Go on. Billy! Get upr'
"Hi! Billy! Get out of this" said
Lemuel, his voice becoming somewh a
loud and imperative.
Billy wa liked on at the same gentl,
gait.
LET me take the lines!' calculated
his owner Some women can neve
learn to drive horse. Mo-, then
Billy, pike along. Get up. Get up
What do you mean, you lazy, ornery
good for moth Look out, Fan! In
going to touch him with the whip
Hold on to the dash-boardw
He seized the whip and laid it gentl,
along Billy's flank.
Billy switched his tail, heaved a pa
tient sigh and walked ON.
you low-down, base-born scrub.
roared Mr.. Finkenbinder, "You milk
livered son of drag horse-watch out