The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-25

Blue are the skies Of opening day;
The bordering turf is green with May;
The sunshne's golden CLEAN is thrown
: On sorrel, chestnut, bay and roam;
The horses paw and prance and neigh;
Fillies and colts like kittens play,
And dance and toss their ripped names
Shining and soft ,silken skeins;
Wagons and gigs are ranged about
And fashion flaunts her gay turnout:
Here stands-each youthful Jehus dream
The jointed tandem ticklish team! ~
And there in ampler breadth expand
The splendors. OF the four-in- hand;
On faultless ties and glossy tiles 6E
The lovely bonnets beam their smiles;
8 (Thes styles the man. SO books avow;
The styles the WON an, anyhow
From founces froth'd with creamy lace
Peeps out the pug dogs smutty face,
Or spaniel rolls his liquid eye,
Il Or stares the wiry pet Of Skye
o, woman IN your hours Of ease
SO shy with u.s. SO free with these! 3&
Come on! I'll bet you two to one f8s
I'll make him do i'll" viii you? Done."
What was 1t he was bound to do?
i did not hear, and can't tell you. 3fI8$
Pray listen till my. story's through.
Scarce noticed. back behind the rest,
BY cart and wagon rudely prest,
The parsons lean and bony bay, #sg fs
Is Stood harnessd in his one horse shay tsf4
Lent to his sexton for the day
CA funeral-so the sexton said 3
His mothers .uncle's wife was dead).
Like Lazarus bid to Dives feast, ss
& So look'd the poor forlorn old beast;
His coat was rought, his tail was bare,
The gray was sprlnkled in his hair:
Sportsmen and jockeys knew. him not, tb sss#
And yet they say he could trot s5.Ss
Among the $fleetest Of the town, as5f III IS
Till something crack'd and broke him down 81
The steed's, the statesman's common lot! a s8
&"And are we then SO soon forgot?"5 HI tIs
Il. All, mel I doubt If one of you .#5l-
Has ever heard the name "Old Blue"
Whose fame through all this region nun #.,s5
In those old days when was young
"Bringf forth the horse !" Alas Il he show'd #s#
Not like the one Mazeppa rode;
scant-maned, sharp-back'd and shaky-kneed
The wreck of what was once steed-
Lips thin, eyes hollow, stiff in joints;
Yet not without his knowing points.
The sexton laughing in his sleeve,
y AS If twere all make-belieye,
Led forth the horse, and he laughid
e Unhitch'd the breaching from a. shaft
q Unclasp'd the rusty belt beneath,
Drew forth the snaffe frot1 his teeth
Sltpp'd off his head stall, set him free
From strap and ren--a sight to see! a#
So worn, SO lean In every limb, E5
It can't be'they saddling him!
It Is! His back the pigskin strides,
And flaps his lank rheumatic sides; N
With look Of mingled scorn and mirth
They buckle round the saddle girth;
With horseya wink and saucy toss
"A youngster throws his leg across.
And so, his rider on his back,
They lead him, limping to the track,
d Far up behind the starting point,
To timber out each stiffen'd Joint.
AS through the jeerng crowd he pass'd,
4 One plying look old Hiram cast e
eco It, We cripple, while We can!D
q Cried out unsentimental Dan;
IA fast-day dinner for the crows!"
Budd Dobies soothing shout arose.
Slowly, as when the walking beam
First feels the gathering head of steam
With warning cough and threatening wheeze
The stiff old charger crooks his knees;
At first with cautions step sedate.
AS il he dragg'd q coach OF state;
He's not a colt; he knows full we'll
That time Is weight and sure to tell;
, No horse SO sturdy but he fears
The handicap Of twenty years