St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-08-01

There was then Mt that time Q little
short-coupled, long-iegged horse on the
place which called mine. Accordin to
the family understandin he was mine
to feed and curry and ride and claim as
my own, but still he didn't come in for
10 exemptions under the general law
sgin horse racin. told Jerry that he
would have to ride the preachers horse
whilst I would back the little bay as
usual. Up to that time never had
lun up agin but one horse that could
pass by the little bay, and that WIS y
roam mare which belonged to Hamp
Weaver, a younger brother to Ben Chris.
It is about the same way, 1 reckon, with
most all country boys, but in them days
/ would ruther take a lickin any time
than to ride horse that couldn't lead
the pack. It il human nature with
everybody-but boys in particlar-to
try and keep ahead and work in the
lead. You can take notice of the same
thing in old men. They most in gener-
ally pull for the amen corner, or take
the first seat in the front row Of the
dress circle.
So in pursuit of adjournment, me and
Jerry reassembled ourselves together
down there in the horse lot Mt mid
night, and now presently we had took
the horses out and of down the old
stage road loolsin for level stretch u
run the race. The moon hit was shinin
bright as day, and when we got out in
Z clear openin we dismounted and got
down SO could take q good look 1T
Timber Jim.
And a. am farmer from Farmers
Vile, and q natural-born southern gen.
tleman, that horse was the most ugliest
and unpromisin plug had ever saw in
al of my born days. He was sway
backed, and bench-legged, and box
ankled and yew-necked, and slab-sided
and ragged aud raw-bony. Blamed if
! couldn't hang my hat on his hip bone
and count his ribs by the pale light Of
the moon. He was sluggish and sleepy
and looked like he would break up and
fall to pieces at every step he took.
He was 30 loose and timber In his gen
eral makeup till it seemed like he never
could put his feet down In. the same
way more than oncst.
Finally at last come right out and
told Jerry II he wanted to run . race on
that old horse he could do it, but as to
me wouldn't ride him In q race for love
nor money, cause I was plum satisfied
break his neck or mine-and maybe
both. And Jerry he was ruther skittish
about It, but by this time Timber Jim
had his ears Topped and his head hung
down like he was fixin on to sleep, and
Jerry lowed he'll be smeared il he want
goin to wake up the old crowbait il It
brung On . funeral in the family-which
At that time likely young bucks such a.
him was worth . thousand dollars Z
head.
The niAnigAs Reee IVES Nm.
IA that. midnight. moonlight hoEse
race - didn't have any starter and q
Judges to speak Of, and % consequent
ially NE had to make our own EuleeAnd
arrangesients. TAsswsys~enanAvsl
WAS to start even and gallop along
noe1E-ond beck III we. comoito.e 31etJe
tim. & HI road. Thensfivi6111a111e
ITU; ma away N6:wf1I Whi21
lopin IA q II. ittseseh I 18le III ti132
tbeE iask IN { eeqld' g. q t61sk ~
lin come up Tor : good even Hafk o.
Ewhen givA cut tie wQp6Go my hoFse
got away Ike he was shot ont Of acan-
! non. The way I most IN geneFslly win