The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-17
SHE NEVER BALI<ED AGAIN.
bar HarbOr Man Played n Blur Game
ON Contrary Mare.
Journal.


Speaking about baIky horses and the
best way to cure them" said George Sper-
ry, Il can tell you of a trick that Stephen
Leland played one time and it worked like
a charm--you fellers all know Steve, course
you do--he lives down to Bar Harbor. Well
let's see, it was twelve years ago this win
ter the 20th day of January. You remember
the heavy sleet storm-same night Lsinnike
was n.arried-when all the trees looked SO
pretty after the STERN. You remember
Stephen, he had a wood lot out near the
foot of Green Mountain, where he cut his
wood winters. That year he had as hand
some a pair of bay horses as ever rein drew
over. The nigh one was all right in every
particular, but the off one had bad spells
once in while, when she would take mat
ters in her own way and throw up her head.
You might put rocks in her ears twist her
tail pound, whip. swear and rave as much
as you liked. but she would never move till
she got ready
One day | met LELAND when he was haul
ing out the first load for the day. He toll
me how she worked and / told him then
and there that if it was my horse I'd just
Onhitch the nigh one and leave her hitched
onto The load in the woods They went into
the Harbor with the first 1oaa all right
but when the second load was piled @on.and
under way things were different. At GER
tain place in the road UP goes that horse :
head again. IT was in just the same place
where she baked before. Steve was mad
as a halter. lie took off his coat and hat
he swore till the trees around him strerl-
bled. Next he took saping birch and
whipped and pounded till he was all tired
he thought he'd coax the critter, 50 he got
drink of water from q spring. She drank
it. Then he asked her to go. but not n
muscle would she move. Stephen fused
till he became exhausted
Then. as he told me afterward. he took
Sperry's yice-onhitched the nigh one
straddled her back and made for home
leaving the ugly contr'y thing alone in the
woods hitehed TO sled with cord and a
half of green wood to anchor it. He never
SO much as looked round or said aye, yes
or no, but made direct for home putting up
his horse and eating his supper. He had
become 50 disguised that he nearly dis
missed the thing from his mind. That night
began with a little fine rain. 1T was like a
cold mist, and wherever Ii struck ii froze
Then it showed and blowed for a while. then
again il turned 10 rain--the queerest storm
ever known on Mount Desert island. There
was not a minute after o'clock that even
ing till daylight next morning but ii showed
or rained, and the wind was like a double
edged razor long toward morning. Every
tree was three times it proper size, and the
ones left standing looked like the most
beautiful plimes you ever see I'm your Nfe
Lots of trees were broken to the ground
The telegraph wires were nearly an inch
and half In diameter. covered with solid
ice. Little limbs OF birch and maple were
like branches of coral.
In the morning Steve took out the old
horse and started back for the woods
When he got near the place where he left
the horse and load he was asfonishea The.
old nag was there just where II stood all