The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-03-05
OLD JOE.

field which had been thrown out. on
account of refusal OF the soil to
longer produce the old horse was
picking meager mouthful here and
there. The sky above was cloudless
and OF that rare tinge OF blue only
found in the month of September No
wind stirred. A dreamy stiffness per-
vades the entire scene. High up tho
vultures were slowly circling through
the ar. Their wings were motionless
1t seemed they had fallen asleep on
their somber pinions. But they were
not asleep. For days they had been
feeding place. Like grim shadows OF
death, they were daily following him
patiently awaiting the moment when
his attenuated sinews would collapse.
and his meager flesh become their
prey
For Joe was old-very old-but he
seemed to cling with desperation to
the little life that was still left him,
and unconsciously he disappointed his
overhanging black pursuers. and put
of his dissolution as far as possible.
had been observing the old horse
for some time. while resting on log
in a corpse OF timber near by. 1t
had been an unfavorable day for hunt
ing and was regretting my i'll luck
when my attention was directed to
the old horse. Thinking that it
would be interesting to learn some
thing of his history. l entered into
conversation with him.
What is your name old fellow" I
asked him. -
II have had several names. he re-
piled. my first name was Joe.
That was given me when / was young.
/ was afterward called Old Fool, Old
Scoundrel and lately. Old Bones"
How old are YOU JoeP" next in
quired.
Il am about thirty years old; but
the different masters have had have
so often misrepresented my age when
trading me of. that have been con-
xiderably confused on that point For
instance about ten years ago my late
master who was a deacon. traded me
off to bro the deacon as a nine-year-
Did. when. in fact was close on to
tweuty-eight"
You seem to be pretty we'll used
up. Your frame looks more like .
clothes rack than horse. How came
you to be in such sad condition?
Have you master to look after youpn
I asked.
The old horse raised his head and
turned his sightless eyes in the direc-
ton where stood. do not remem-
Der ever seeing more pity inspiring
countenance. when he replied:
What you say about my poor old
body is only too true. l have but
little flesh to cover my bones now.
have long since become blind and can
not see my withered and shrunken
frame. The only evidences / have OF
this are my feelings The pangs oil
hunger, the thirst for water. the
weakness in my limbs the difficulty !
experience in getting up after lying
down, all tell me that l must be very
weak and bony. But was not al
ways thus tell YOU sir. it does me
good to think what a spanking mover
1 was at six-year-old. All, sir. was
round and sleek. curried and brushed
daily; we'll fed of course, on oats. hay
and corn. and now and then lump
of sugar and salt Goodness! how my
mouth waters to think of it now.
How came to be in this sad condi.
tionp' Well that would be long
story to tell During my younger
years Jared well enough. As / sale
before. was a pert trotter and my
master used me alone for his buggy
horse. On one occasion. 1t was
after night my master who was driv.
ing me to buggy, and who must
say. was rather proud Of me- wa:
showing me off, as tho saying goes,
to young lady, whom he was escort
ing home from picnic. 1t was late
at night and darker night never
saw until lost my eyes Well te
make long story short my master
used the whip rather freely and in
obedience to 1t for / was mortally
afraid OF n whip in those days.,
trotted on at my utmost speed. Had
been allowed to exercise my owr
Judgment, I would not have gone SC
fast; for. although had good eyes il
JnOSe uaye, tuo ulBub WdS Do uurh Via
1t was impossible for me to see where
to place my feet All OF sudden one
OF my forefeet went through rotten
plank in bridge we were crossing, and
down I came. The shock threw me Il
the ground and the buggy and Its In
mates into deep gully. Fortunately
my master and the young lady escaped
unhurt but alas for me! When re-
gained my feet found could scarce
ly walk My master was OF course
in passion over my stupidity. He
however. managed to patch up the
broken rig. and hobbled along. ant
after a weary and painful journey
brought him home. The next mcru
ing / was taken to the horse doctor
It seemed to me that there were about
a dozen OF them. all willing ana anx
ious to diagnose my case and apply
their remedies no two Of which