The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1895-11-01
OLD jim, THE SOUTH BRITAIE CREAMERY
HORSE.

He was only horse, old Jim, and a
buckskin, .ssthe homeliest BEAST" so
mother said when we talked of buying
him, ''the homeliest beast that ever liv-
ed, and probably as treacherous as home
ly." He had Zebra (striped) legs and
stripe down the back bone. But he had
fine knee action and good eye, and he
came to live at Sunny Crest for better or
for worse. The first thing he said when
he got into his new stall was to the effect
that if there was anything to eat he
wanted it, and the demand never varied.
don't believe horse can do the work
of span with a small ration or with a
poor digestive capacity. never believ-
ed it, and the demand seemed rational
and was acceded to. But the threat that
accompanied it, the glaring eye and lift
ed heel did not like. He was thin and
seemed grateful for his oats, and by de-
grees sympathy, which the proverb says
is akin to love, got the better of my fear.
One morning as my hand touched the
stable latch was startled by neigh so
keen and shrill that it sent the blood
tingling to my fingers. began again to
fear my new charge, and answered him
soothingly as l put the grain in his man.
ger, watching meantime for the flash of
that hind foot. But it did not come and
the glare had left his eye; neither ever
showed itself again on any occasion. In
stead there was the eager eye and alert
ear and arched neck that soon learned
meant affection for me. Always after
ward, whether in street or stable, coun-
try or city, he would speak up when he
saw or heard me, compelling kind word
and pat in reply. When 1 went about
him he often whinnied in an undertone
to me, asking in whisper If it were mot
nearly noon, or time for supper, or If
had an apple about ready for him, and he
always got what he wanted, the scamp!
He was one of those short-backed,
clean-limbed quadrupeds with four good
feet under him and knew how to start a
load and how to haul it any distance, and
he never shirked whether single or
double.
When beside another horse he made it
his rule to be the better of the two al
ways, and no horse could step SO high,
haul so much, and do SO much pretty
stepping when the traces wefe slack.
Women and children soon found Jim to
be as kind and trusty as an OK and would
take him anywhere. One trait was his
which would have preserved him sound
until 40 years old-he knew how to take
care of himself, and on being stripped af-
| ter day of hard work in harness. he
would lie down In his tracks and roll over
three or four times. When he rose he
always shook himself like a big dog, and
then he would trot into the barn as fresh
as il it were morning. But poor old Jim
He did not live to spoil his splendid rec
ord. One day he returned, after hauling
away big load of butter, and ate his
noon ration Of oats. Little did consider
that could be the last time should feed
him, or would have fingered longer tc
stroke that glossy neck. The booming
OF heavens artillery was heard beyond
the western hill. Soon It came over and
sped In rattle and roar across the valley
la mid summer shower suddenly upor
us and soon past. But onward with tn,
hurrying fleecy hosts went the soul O.
old Jim, If good horses have souls, n
their eyes almost prove.
Jim fell in the battle that day, July 80
and never did truer and more gallan
4. Az