Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1905-08-25
BY David Bufum.

and dreaded thing among horses-a
mankiller. There is little doubt that
he realized fully what he had done,
but if he had any thoughts on the sub
ject they were probably those OF salts
faction.
But he was too sore, too lame to
think of much besides his own suffer
ings. He wandered aim.essly about
the yard, and as his excitement grad
ually left him, became desperately
thirsty and longed greatly for some
soft ground, where he might lie down.
After long time-for help had to
be summoned from a neighboring
farm-people came and removed Pat
rick's body; but except for standing
him off, with whips and clubs. no one
paid any attention to Peter.
Two days later, Bridget. Pats Wild
ow, came into the yard. The horse
being now too exhausted and lame to
cause her any fear, she cut loose the
strap that confined his forefoot, re-
moved the bride and surcingle, and
turned him into an adjoining pasture,
where was a brook of running water.
Here Peter ran for many weeks,
and fully recovered from his injuries,
although the ugly scars on his knees
of course remained, as well as some
of the marks left by the cart-stake.
On the side of the pasture next the
highway was a white board, bearing
the notice, "For sale, sound young
horse, warranted kind in harness.
People looked at the sign and smiled
derisively as they drove by.
From time to time. however, the
more curious stopped and looked over
the fence. 1t was not every day one
could see real mankiller. But they
always gave the horse a wide berth.
At last, one day, came Ruth; and
Peter, although with some hesitation,
walked slowly up 70 the fence where
she stood
Ruth had not intended to speak to
him or caress him-this mankilling was
too horrible-but when she saw his
broken knees and, all over his body,
the scars left by the heavy cart-stake,
she relented.
"Poor Peterr' she said. "Poor, poor
fellowm
Then Ruth fell to musing on the pos
sibilities for good and evil that often
exist in the same individual, and the
kind of discipline needed to hold the
evil impulses in check.
Whatever the right discipline is, Pc
ter has never had it." she said. She
was a wise little horsewoman, was
Ruth.
But a purchaser had been found for
Peter before, and a purchaser was
again forthcoming. This time it was
Hobbs, who ran the coal and wood
yard in the village, and he wanted the
horse to put in his tread-power. He
had always used cheap horses for this
purpose, and here was a chance to OBJ,
tain for a small sum a good young
horse, who would last for long time.
Peter gave a snort of relief when hn
was taken from the lonely pasture,
where for many weeks he had had
neither equine nor human companion-
ship. Use was far better than this
enforced isolation.
He looked almost pleasant as Hobbs
put on his halter and led him out Sf
the field, and he trotted along behiI.d
the buggy with his head up, his thin
nostrils distended and his warm blood
leaping in his veins.
Half way to the village Hobbs net
Ruth. He halted to tell her of his par.
chase and the use to which he intend
ed to put the horse.
Ruth looked aghast "Peter ir q
tread-power? Why, he's half tLor-
oughbredp' she exclaimed.
$50 much the more reason why ae',l
stand up to that hard work" said
Hobbs. 81 amt much of a hoss,nan.
but accordin' to what I'm told, cher
oughbreds don't quit"
mo, and I'll guarantee Peter rot to
quit" said Ruth, with a little RIG of
pride in her voice, "but that kiad of
work is too far removed from what
nature intended him for. It'll break
his heart"
Hobbs shrugged his shoulders.
Maybe" he said. "But if he does
his work l amt frettin' about his
heart" And he drove on.
Peter had a good supper ard fine
bed that night, for Hobbs, although he
worked his horses hard, led and
stabbed them WELL
In the morning Peter was led cut to
the tread-power, and it vas evident to
him that he was expected TO enter it.
1t was a strengthening thing, but
Peter had never yet shown tear He
entered it at oace, and stood perfectly
still while the cross-bar was Lnt across
behind him and his head tad firmly
down, so that he could not jump. out.
Then the brake was taken off AMI the
floor began to slide backward esnder
him.
Peter gave spring forward, but,
fast as he went, the floor mored pack
ward with equal speed. He WIZ for
ever going up very short hill, but
never reaching the top. Nothing could
possibly be more discouraging or more
destructive to horses ambition.
At last he gave up the struggle and
settled down to nervous, quick stride,
a half-wild and hunted expression in
his eyes. All the forenoon hp climbed
that interminable hill; then, after an
hours rest, he was again PITT in, and
climbed till night In week he was
greatly changed horse.
1t was not the severity of ais work,
hard as it was, that done it, for those
deep lungs of his, that short strong
back and those clean, fat, sinewy
limbs would have carried HIM tri-
umphantly through still harjer tasks
1t was the absolute hopeless1eSs of it,
the travelling for ever and Lever get
ting anywhere, the ignorAiEy, the
shame, the mockery Of the wss0le thing.
But although the horse showed less
disposition than formerly tc bite and
kick, his subsection had nat been of
the right kind, and his mind did not
run in healthy, normal channel AS
the phrase aptly expresses It, his heart
was broken.