The St. Johns herald., 1900-05-26
4AWA0i 77Nts'5 So5AS } HELEN BLAZES
Rr Freder,eh "a. R..sael..r.
lwexexeve~eaxexoxe~

THIS is story of mare that mad
 her repustt;on during the week of almos, iacessant fighting befor
 Petersburg and. Bermuda Hundred
 She lost her fife in scrimmage i
 which she was nearly the whole thing
 for she had a wax of taking matter
 into her own control and carrying be
 rider into the thickest Of the fgh;
 whether he liked it or not.
 She was such a warrior herself tha
 when she got worked up 10 the prope
 pitch she paid no attention 10 bugE-
 calls or orders. and always started in ;o
 thrash the enemy single handed. Tha
 was one reason why she was called
 Helen B!azes. But there uas another i her temper.
 The name was moi spelled just tha' i way by the boys of the Third New York
 cavalry, but Jeb Smith. the man whc . rode her-and the only man who eveI could ride her-was minister befort
 the war broke out. so he changed the
 original three words Of her name into
 two. thus quieting his conscience and satisfying "ihe boys" at the same time
 She was picked up one night on 8 scouting expedition. Wink TomkinE
 brought her into camp the next morn. ing. and he was 8 sight. You could hess him swearing a; Blazes when they were mile away. and between his cursei and the laughter Of his companions, and the plunging and kicking. biting and striking Of the mare as they np- preached, ii made pretty sight for tired cava!rynen.
 There. by thunderi" said Wink. "l've landed her here. eos said 1 would. The fellow thu: can ride her. can have her, for all care," and be pitched the lead rope 10 me.
 Blnzes was beauty. there was 10 de nying that. and old McNamara-our captain-had his eye on her from the moment he saw her.
 We'll, there's no use in describing all that happened then. It took six of US 10 get saddle and bridle on her. and three out of the six were laid up unfit for duty for a week after ii; and after that she threw. one after another, pretty near the whole company.
 Nobody could ride her until Jeb Smith came along. He had just been relieved from guard and was tired, but when his eyes lighted on the mare. he bright .ned up.
 That's beauty. boys" he said, for he was a great lover of horsefesh. If he was a parson. The mare was stand ing idle al that moment. as docile as a kitten. and nobody in the world would have guessed what devil there was in her. Tompkins drawled out:
 "Get on her back. parson, and try her."
 Mind you, there was not one in the crowd who had not tried her. and who could not show a substantial briIise for his temerity. But the pa-son never caught On at aIl, and we all stood back while he handed his piece 10 8 com rade, and without a moments hesits- Iionf walked straight up to she marc and began 10 rab her nose; and what's more. she seemed 10 like it.
 You could have purchased the whole company for very small sum at that moment, for we felt mighty cheap. We didn't know whether it was jugglery, or what ii was. but the fact remained that the mare did not tres, him ss she had treated us.
 Say. parson." bawled Wink Tomp- kins. "have you ever seen the critter before?"
 Certainly not." was the calm reply. 1 "Why?"
 Well, I'm blowedi Boys. there's suthin' in religion after all."
 While he was thus expressing him. self. Jeb leaped into the saddle. ard in s moment more he was riding around the place as easy as you please. Blazes single-fOo;ed. Gog-irotied and can tered. and you'd have though, she was 8 Chrisimas-iree-rocking horse, for eu the uglipess she showed then.
 ''Wbo owns her?" asked the parsor.
 "Iou do. Jeb; you've earned her." said old Mac; and he walked away with 8 scOwi on his face.
 We'll. Jeb was delighted. and he Es- tened with amaZemeut when we told him what circus we'd been having. It |Sas plain that he did not believe all of 1. and presently he led her away 10 the stable, took the saddle of anc tied her. There was only pole between ihe horses. and Jeb hadn't got half way pack 10 where we were sitting. wbeu here was ihe worst racket in that sta ole you ever heard YouG have thought he rebs were after us for the lOise and ,umuit. The horses le:ghed and squeaied and you could rear boards spiintering and timbers aI:ing. Rlazes had kicked herself pose. laid up two horses. ssarred for ite half 6ozen more. and paved der Say right through the back of that place 10 liberty. She was pointing for .ome. too. Y hen JPb saw her.
 Here, you!" he yelled. md she topred and waited while be went up md caught her.
 We fixed up the stable. but we passed nnaHimOuS resolution that Biazes 'ouicn't tarry there any more, so the ,arsou took her about 20 rods away and ieG her 10 fence. Then be gave her ome oats. and you'd have thought she vas ihe three graces rolled into one she Vas so quiet; but if didn't last long. She finished Der oats. and maybe she 'ot tired or thirsty. or something Any. ow. she pulled away one section of the Pnce. and broke loose from that, and hen she started for the stable again. ome of us heard the horses squealing nd kicking. and we went down 10 see hal was the matter, and I'm blessed Blazes wasn't trying 10 Psi them. She'd reach iu and take a mouthfa4