The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-11-07
The Story the Horse Told.
FREDERIQUE sEEdER.

Ouce upou d oinie ~"
frisking about in green pastures by
NV mothers side; but soon boy
came with bride, which he put on
me, and then, getting on my back, he
drove me this side and that side, try
ing to make me go as he wished me to
90, until I was nearly frantic. This
he called "breaking me in. BE had
fine time breaking me in, for didn't
want to be broken in. l just wanted
to frisk about the pasture all day long.
NY mother told me that it would be
better for me to give in, for would
only get kicks and blows if [ did not;
and that when they pulled the rein
little to one side, it meant to turn in
that direction, and if they pulled the
other way, it meant to turn in the 9TH
er direction.
Well, I learned to go in harness
after while, and then was harness
ed to doctors buggy, and had to go
up hill and down dale all day long.
The doctor was not unkind to me, but
sometimes people sent for him in
hurry, and then he would ride me so
fast that I was foam all over; but it
was pleasure to go for him, for he
would pat me on the neck, and say
"Never mind, my boy, it is life you
are helping to save, and you shall
have plenty of oats by-and-by." He
always kept his promise to me, just as
if I were human being. Yes, ne
was kind master, and never beat me
but once, and then he thought that L
deserved it; but I did not. 1t happen
ed this way:
When the doctor went to see sick
lady he tied me to post, and while
he was there some children came and
tormented me. They pricked my legs
with thorny branches and lashed me
with little switches until | got very
angry and kicked one Of them. My
hoof broke the boys arm, and his
mother complained to the doctor about
me, and then, as I tell you, he whip
ped me. But forgave him that, for
he thought that I derseryed it. If l
had only been able to tell him about
it he would not have punished me,
but, you see, | was very young then
and even old horses cannot talk to hu-
man beings.
We'll, one day the doctor died. It
was sorry day me, for the family
decided that I must be sold. Then q
lot Of men came and measured
me, and rode me and drove me and
looked into my mouth. Finally one
said:
"He is young and sound, almost
thoroughbred; ). I will buy him"
He did. Then he put me into train
ing for the race track, and Learned to
run like the wind. Irather liked this
life; it was exciting, and when l won
race after hard run the applause
was sweet to my ears. Sometimes,
however, my wind gave out, and the
Jockey who rode me would lash me
and lash me to keep me running, un-
til my back smarted and Iwas cover
ed with foam. Sometimes when l had
done my very best I would get sharp
cut Of the whip because I had not won
the race against better and heeter
horse. Oh, some of these human be-
ings are cruel and unjust
One day I was left standing in
draught, and after that | was not
good as a race horse. / simply could
not go; my joints were as stiff as rus
ty hinges. So thejockey doctored me
up little, and groomed me well, and
put me into the market. On the day
1 was sold he rubbed my limbs with
liniment, and ran very, well then. l
was q looking horse, SO a lady
bought me. She said she wanted a
stylish animal. I pulled her phaeton
for several years. She was very kind,
and often gave me Jumps Of sugar,
carrots and apples to,eat. She always
petted me, and even taught me to
dance little.
The children, though, were dread
full. They kicked me and lashed me
and threw stones at me when their
mother was not near. Finally l got
80 stiff that I could not 60 fast enough
to suit them all. One day in trying
to 20 along quickly I fell and sprained
my.ankle.. After that I limped lit
tie, and as there is no style about
limping horse I was sold to a hackman
who harnessed me to cab. | was
driven all day with almost nothing to
eat until my bones could be counted
all over my body. Everybody said to
the hackman :: ''Drive fast, man, or
Twill miss my train" and seemed to
think that he could not be going fast
enough unless he was beating me. |
could not go very fast with my stiff
knees and the limp, but the hackman
expected it all the same. l had to go
on rainy days and hot ones, and life
was burden to me-,
A girl, who SAN the hackman kick
ing me with his heavy boots, reported
him to the American Society for the
Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals,
and he was arrested and had to pay
fine, and that made, him so angry that
when be got me to- the old shanty ne
called a stable he would have beaten
me unmercifully again had he not
known that the officers were constant
ly watching him.
One day I fell down, in the street
from sheer exhaustion. BE beat me
TO make me get up, but | simply COULD
not do so, Then an officer Of the So
ciety for the Prevention Of Cruelty to
Animals came along and arrested the
man and took me away with him. The
The Society has Kept me several days
and fed me we'll, but [ believe that |
am going to be shot because | am no
longer Of any use to anybody and no
one wants to support me. Probably