Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-25
BLUFFING A HORSE.
nnr-Harbor Cure Works Like =
Charm.
Lewiston Journal)

Lewiston Journal)
Speaking about balky horses ana ths
best way to cure them" said George
sperry, II can tell you of a trick that
stephen Leland played one time, and II
worked like a charm-you felers all
know Steve, course you do-he lives
down to Bar Harbor. Well, les see, ~
was twelve years ago this winter the
9Oth day of January. You remember ths
heavy sleet-storm-same night Linntn
was married-when all the trees looSed
so pretty after the storm. You remsm-
Der Stephen-he had a wood lot out neal
the foot of Green Mountain, where ne
cut his wood. winters That year ne
had as handsome a pair Of bay horses as
ever rein drew over. The nigh one was I.
all right In every particular but the on
one had spells once in while when she
would take matters In her own way ana
throw up her head. You might put rocks
In her ears, twist bsr tail, pound, whip.
swear and ra re as much as you liked.
but she would never move TIL she got
ready.
zone day / met Leland when he was
hauling out the first load for the day. he
told me how she worked and told him
then and there that II IL was my horse
I'd just on-hitch the nigh one and leave
her hitched onto the load in the woods
They went into the Harbor with the hrst
load all right, but when the second load
was piled on and under way things were
different. At a certain place in the road,
up goes that horses head again. IL was
in Just the same place where she baked
before Steve was mad as a halter. He
took Off his coat and hat lie swore till
the trees around him trembled. Next he
nj w
pounded till he was all tired out. Then
he sat down and rested. Then he thought
ned coax tho critter, SO he got a drink
OF water from a spring. She drank IL.
Then he asked her 10 go, but not mus
Gle would she move. Stephen fused till
he became exhausted.
Then, as he told me afterwards. he
took Sperrys adHce--on-hitched the nigh
one, straddled her back, and made for
home, leaving the ugly. contr'y thing
alone I'm the woods, hitched TO sled with
a cord and a half Of green wood TO an
Choir it, He never so much as looked
round nor said 1, yes or no. but made
direct for home, putting up his horse
and eating his supper. He had become
so disguised that he nearly dismissed
the thing from his mind. That night be-
gan with a little fine rain. IL was like
a cold mist and wherever IL struck IL
froze. Then II showed and blowed Tor
awhile. then again IL turned TO rain-ths
queerest storm ever known on Mount
Desert Island There was not minute
after O'Clock that evening Till daylight
next morning but II showed or rained,
and the wind was like double-edged
razor long toward morning. Every tree
was three times It's proper size, and ths
ones left standing looked like the most
Al nh
life. Lots OF trees were broken 10 the
ground. The telegraph wires were nearly
an inch and a half In diameter, covered
with solid ice. Little limbs OF birth ana
maples were like branches OF coral
GIN the morning Steve took out the old
horse and started back for the woods.
when ne got near the place where he lett
the horse and load he was astonished.
The old nag was there, just where X
stood all night. Not the sign OF a track
did IL make. It's legs were the size OF Hour
barrels, it's body surely three times its
proper size. Its eyes and ears were MD
den from view by the snow that hao
drfted upon Il; the steam from Its nos
triIs formed icicles that reached tbs
ground. All In all, II was the toughest
sight he ever witnessed. Ny Leland at
first supposed the animal was dead, but
after awhile he took an axe and broke
the ice and let the poor crister out. tx
was like a chicken coming out OF an egg
The coat came or In large fakes. When
he hitched the nigh one on he only had
10 speak once, and he made lively time
over the icy road that morning. He kers
that pair TIL last year when they Dosn
died.
"They never baked again"