The Republican journal., 1905-04-20
John FARRow's sLE1GHRIDE.

An Islesboro Sea Captain Displays His
Skin(:) at Horsemanship and Comes to
Grief.
The following sea yarn, spun by sea-dog
land consequently reliable) was handed to
the Rockland Courer-Gazette for publ
cation and without comment or changes in
the original text that paper turned it over
for consideration of its readers We Go the
same:
Capt J ohm Farrow lives on IslesborO, has
nice home and nice schOOner-the Mag
gle S. Hart Last fall Capt. John says
Emma, | guess | won't go to sea this
winter; I'll stay at home and let the boy
60"
Capt John owns an old yellow horse, and
along in January he suggested to his wife
that they drive to Rockland, where Mrs.
Farrow could stay with his sister while he
went on to New York to see how the boy
was getting along.
The trip was carried out accordingly,
Capt. John had a good time in New York
and spent two or three weeks in ROckland
on his return. He had not been back to
Islesboro long before he became lonesome,
and one fine day preached the subject OF
Seighride to Dark Harbor. The old yellow
horse had been in the barn all winter, and
Mrs. Farrow ventured to remark that his
fiery spirit would be too much for man OF
Capt. Johns age.
This advice was we'll meant, but Capt.
John went into the air at the very ntma-
ton that he was not as capable OF handling
the horse as a younger man would be.
''FGr Gods sake, Emma he exclaimed,
''wnat are you talking about Wasn't L
raised on this island? DO you think there's
anybody here that can show me anything
about horse?'
"No, John, | DON'T was the patient
wife's reply, 81 guess you know it all now.
''know if all or net Pm going to Dark
Harbor, and you can go or stay, Just as you
please
Capt. John harnessed the old yellow
horse and started off as big as life. The
horse was lively as kitten and the captain
had nice time until he neared the school
house The boys saw him and as a token
that they knew him let drive the snowballs.
Then the pent-up spirit of the old horse
broke loose. The sleigh went in a big thank
you-marm, overturned, and into snow
drift went Capt. John, head first. When
the mariner had found his bearings again
there was not boy in sight and nowhere
OH the horizon was the Old yellow horse
visible.
Capt. J ohm picked up the robes and cush-
ions, and walked home the back way, leav-
ing the gear back of the barn. His wife
had several questions to ask.
Did you have IA good ride, john"
''Fine, was the grim reply.
"W hat is the matter with your nose, ana
how did you tear your coat?" Capt. Johns
nose was skinned, his overcoat was split up
and down the back and his pants were torn.
Further than that he was mad clear through.
"What became OF the horse, and why
didn't you bri, . the sleigh home'' per-
sisted his wife
damn the horse, and the sleigh, too, -
exploded Capt. John. 81 don't care where
in HI they are.
Swell, John, should think a man of
your age would know enough to let horses
alone, for what you don't know about them
would make the biggest kind OF a horse
book"
This was by no means balm to Captain
Johns wounded feelings, and he went into
the air higher than he did when the run
away horse struck the thank-you-marm.
"Look here, Emma he shouted, 81 drove
horse before | ever saw you. | was mas
ter of a square-rigged vessel for voyage
around Cape Horn and back before l was
% years old, and | have landed more coal at
the gas house in Boston than any other man
on the coast Now if you think | don't
know enough to drive d horse, send for DR..
Osler and let him chloroform me.
''Oh no, john if you live long enough you
Will learn how to drive a horse