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

=. - 80 u e ~
AS through the throng on either hand
The old horse nears the Judges stand,
Reneath his Jockeys featherweight
He warns a little to his gait,
And now and then step is tried
That hints Of something like stride.
Go!''-Through his ear the summons stung,
AS If a battle trump had rung;
The slumbering instincts long unstirr'd
Start at the old familiar word
1t thrills like flame through every limb
What mean his twenty years to him?
The savage blow his rider dealt
Fell on his hollow TANKS 5unfelt:
The spur that prick'd his staring hide
4Unheeded tore his bleeding side;
Alike to him are spur and rein e
He steps a fve-year-old againl
Before the quarter pole was pass'd,
Old Hiram said, He's going FAST
Long ere the quarter was half,
The chuckling crowd had ceased to laugh; 8
Tighter his frightened jockey chung $#
EAs in mighty stride he swung,
The gravel flying In his track,
3 His neck stretched out, his ears laid back, I .
His tail extended all the while
Behind him like rat tail file! &s55i$ 5s
TOff went a shoe-away It spun, III S3 s 3 S. G5f
Shot like. a bullet from "a gun;
1.-THE quaking Jockey shapes a@prayer 3.aSst 3.
From scraps Of oaths he used to swear; ss&@
He drops his whip, he drops his rein, 8a5
He clutches fiercely for al name; 81
I He'll lose his hold-he sways and reels
He'll slide beneath those tramplng heels ~
The knees Of many horseman quake,
/, The flowers on many a bonnet shake, #8
aShouts arise from left to right,
3estick on! stick on! .'Hould tight! hould Tight"
Cling round his neck and don't let GO 555
& That pace can't hod-T There! steady! whoa!'
But, like the sable steed that bore 4S ~ sSss 81 S
The, spectral lover Of Lenore, a53s 9sgfs
His nostrils snorting foam and fire, 81 @se 5 5b
No stretch his bony limbs can tire;
And now the stand hesrushes by, Him
and $.Stop him! stop him!N is the cry 8ss 5Ss
stand back he's on ~ Just begup-s
He's having out three heats In one! "ss.$
Don't rush in front! he'll smash your brains;
But follow up and grab the reins ~ s
6Old Hiram spoke. Dan Pfeiffer heard, sz aTs5 s5a
And sprang, impa tent, at the word F
4Budd Doble started on his bay
aOld Hiram FOLLOWED on his gray, ~
And off they spring and round they 60, l Ts 3ts
The fast ones doing "all they know
Look twice they follow at bis heels, #
AS round the cfrcling course he Wheels
And whlrls with him that clinging boy
Like Hector round the walls Of Troy.
Still on, and on, the third time round
They're failing off, they're losing grounds!
Budd Dobles nag begins to fail!
Dan Pfeiffer's sorrel9 whlsks his tail! ,.
And see! in spite of whip and shout!
Old Hiram's mare is giving out
Now for the finish! At the turn,
The old horse---all the rest astern-
Comes swinging in, with easy trot;
BY joye! he's distanced all the lot!
That trot no mortal could explain; 3$
Some said, sold Dutchfnan come again!"}
Some, took his tme-at least, they tried,
But what It was could none decide;
One said he couldn't understand @5
What happend to his secondhand;
One said 2:10. that couldn't be
More like two twenty-five or three;
Old Hiram settled it at last!
The = 1 time was two-too dee-voish tast,H
The parsons horse had won the bet;
1t cost him something of sweat;
Back in the one-horse shay he went
The parson wondered what 1t meant,
And murmurd, with mild surprise
And pleasant twinkle of the eyes
That funeral must have been a trick,
Or corpses drive at double quick; 3.
I shouldn't wonder, declare,
II Brother Jehu made the prayer!''
And this is all l have to say
About that tough old trotting bay
Huddnp! Huddup! g'lang, good day!
Moral for which this tale.is told:
A horse can trot, for all hos old