Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-05-11

ulNSth W INV u NobAa tohaN'
him around the yard. I didn't laugh
again that afternoon. I got him un'
hitched, and then wondered how ] was
10 get him out Of the stall without carry
ing him out I pushed, but he wouldn't
bulge. l stood looking at him in
the face, thinking of something to say,
when he suddenly solved the difficulty
by veering about and plunging for The
door. followed. rs matter 81 course,
because had tight hold on the rope,
and hit about every partition stud
worth speaking of on that side Of the
barn. Mrs. Perkins was at the window
and saw ms come out Of the door. She
subsequently remarked that We came
out skipping like two innocent children.
The skipping was entirely unintentional
on my part. felt as if I stood on the
verge of eternity. Ny legs may have
skipped, but my mind was filled with
awe.
I took that animal ont 10 exercise
him. He exercised me before l got
through with il. He went around few
times in circle. Then he stopped sud
denly, spread out his fore legs and looked
at me. Then he leaned forward little
and hoisted 10th hind legs and threw
about two coal hods of mud over line
full Of clothes Mrs. Perkins had just
hung out.
That excellent lady had taken a posi-
tion at the window, and whenever the
evolutions Of the awful beast permitted
/ caught glance at her features. She
appeared TO be very much interested in
the proceedings, but the instant that
the mud few she disappeared from the
window and moment later she appear
ed ON the stoop with long poker in her
hand and fire enough in her eye TO heat
il redhot
Just then Stiver's horse stood up on
his hind legs and tried to hug me with
the others. This scared me. A horse
never shows his strength TO such ad-
vantage as when he is coming down on
you like frantic pile driver. / instant
" lodged. and the cold sweat fairly
boiled out Of me.
II suddenly came over me that I had
once figured in similar position years
ago. My grandfather owned little
white horse that would get up from a
meal at Delmonico's TO kick the presi-
dent Of the United States. He sent me
to the lot one day and unhappily sug-
gested that I often went after that
horse and suffered all kinds Of defeat
in getting him out Of the pasture, but |
had never tried TO ride him. Heaven
knows, never thought of it. had my
usual trouble with him that day. He
tried to jump over me and push me
down i'm a mudhole. and finally got up
ON his hind legs and came waltzing
after me with facilities enough 10 con
vert me into hash, but turned and just
made for that fence with all the agony
q prospect Of instant death could crowd
into me. II our candidate for the presi-
dency had run one-half as well, there
would be 10 postmasters in Danbury TO-
Gay lnsteu Oh one.
l got him out finally, and then he
was quiet enough, and took him up
alongside the fence and got on him. He
stopped al instant, one brief instant,
and then tore off down the road ut a
frightful speed. l laid down on him and
clasped my hands tightly around his
neck and thought Of my home. When
We got to the stable, was confident he
would stop, but he didn't. He drove
straight ut the door. 1t was low door,
just high enough to permit him to go
in at lightning speed, but there was no
room for me. l saw II struck that sta
Bile the struggle would be brief one. l
thought this all over in an instant, and
then spreading out my arms and legs
emitted a scream, and the next moment
was bounding about in the filth of that
stable yard All this passed through my
mind as Stiver's horse went up into the
air. 1t frightened Mrs. Perkins dread
fully.
why. you old tuoll" she said. why
don't you get rid Of him."
"How can II" said l, i'll desperation.
"Why, there are q thousand ways, +"
said she.
This is just like woman. How diff
ferent statesman would have an
swered.
But could think of only two ways
to dispose of the beast-I could either
swallow him where he stood and then
sit down ON him, or ! could crawl in
side of him and kick him to death.
But was saved either of these expe-
dients BY his coming toward me 30 alb