The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-21
The Chaplain's Horse.

! The Rev. Cyrus Townsend Brady tells
this story in the sy-school Times:
I reached camp at Chickamauga on Sat-
urday, had service on Sunday. and on
Monday proceeded to buy a horse. Being
sailor by education and natural predi-
lection, 1 knew but little about horses,
so turned over the conduct of negotia-
tons to an old trooper of the Seventh
United States Cavalry who had enlisted
with us He bought the horse.
He took me to see him, and he was
present when the purchase was consum-
mated He stood by the seller. and calm
ly pointed out defect after defect in the
animal. which the other man repudiated
vehemently, at the same time calling az
tention to perfection after perfection in
his steed. 1 never saw such divergent
views about single animal. Finally,
alarmed at the zeal of my advocate,
remarked decisively that if the horse had
all the faults he said it had / didn't want
IT at any price, whereupon the seller with
alarming promptness came down in his
figures TO a reasonable basis. and before
l could utter a protest the horse was my
own AS 1 had unequivocally committed
the negotiation to the ex-trooper, 1 felt
that l was in honor bound to, abide by
his decision. We led the horse away, ]
confess, with a very rueful, disguised feel
ing on my part. When we were a short
distance off the trooper remarked, chuck
ling with glee:
THAT was a fine play of yours, chap
lain. didn't know you were so keen in
a horse trade, sir. That Just settled the
deal That was mighty cute. I tell you.
You had the fellow scared. A little more
on your part and we'd a. got him for
nothin."
Keen? Cute?" I exclaimed in surprise.
Il was perfectly honest in what I said;
| didn't want a broken-down old hack
such as you described. Why, look at
that and that and THAR
/ pointed to various blemishes which he
had indicated during the trade He stared
at me in amazement a moment, and then
fairly shouted with laughter. apologizing
the while, until it gradually dawned upon
me that 1t was simply a case of balancing
lies and assertions, and that / had been
guilty of aiding and abetting the deal,
and that he had taken an honest refusal
for an adroit move. / always felt that
L got that horse under false pretenses,
but however that may be, he was I'M
doubtedly the best horse in the regiment.
Every other officer who owned a horse,
l admit, was ready to make the claim,
but l knew my own bore the palm. To
anticipate little, having no means of
keeping him when l returned home and
was mustered out, 1 sold him 40 a United
States cavalry officer.
was in the Union League one day and
a friend of mine met with the query:
Hello archdeacon, when did you return
from the Philippines"
Il have never been there" answered.
"oh. Gomez he replied. jokingly. You
can't tell me that, you know. I received
letter from friend of mine a week or
so ago from Manila stating that Arch
deacon Brady was the gamest thing in
the regiment, that he was always in the
front of the battle line, that he was never
tired and never complained, and that the
writer and the men of his troop positively
adored him."
/ was mystified, of course, until I learn
ed that it was Clifford, my horse The
cavalry officer had renamed him for me.
and l have always been thankful to the
gallant animal that he gave me so good
reputation. 1 wish l had him now