The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-12-13
: DAMS
BLACK MORGAN
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A number of years ago when there
were stretches of wild prairie in
North Iowa, when log cabins OF the
backwoodsman still nestled here and
there in the shelter of some thick
ly wooded hillside, Bert Daniels used
to take his four-horse team, big COW
cred wagon and breaking-p pillow, and
each summer start on trip to the
Dakotas. All summer he would follow
the breaking pillow, moving on to the
next job as soon as one was finished.
Sometimes he would barely reach Da-
kota before the season would end;
other times he would travel across
Iowa without more than half dozen
stops.
While working in the western part
of the State on summer, "Dan'-as
he was Familiarity known, came across
a Morgan colt that just struck his
fancy. She was less than year old
at that time yet she showed an I'M
usual aptitude for learning. AS Dams
work kept him at that place for near
~ four weeks, he and the Morgan colt
became quite good friends. Her gentle,
playful disposition, together with her
extreme beauty, suited Dan especially
well, so he made up his mind to buy
her and take her with him.
When Dan was at work "Trilby'-
for that was the name he gave her
would roam about the field, grazing
when and where she pleased Dan
soon taught her to come at his call,
and it was not long before she would
place her hoof in his hand in re-
Spouse to his command, Shake. She
also learned to trot in circle around
him, to liesdown and to rear her hind
legs at his command. Another little
trick which she had developed her.
self and one which pleased Dan very
much was that of whinnying when
any one approached her. By the time
they were ready to return in the fall
Trilby had also learned to travel along
beside the team without being tied
Each spring she went off with Dams
outfit, followed it all summer, and
came back with it in the fall.
At three years of age she was a
neat, well-proportioned animal, weigh
ing perhaps thirteen hundred pounds
and feet as deer Her black coat
always glistened, her fine name hung
nearly half way to the ground, her
nicely arched neck, her clean-cut head
and quivering pink nostrils spoke of
refinement, while out of her bright
eyes flashed spirit and vigor.
Late one afternoon, as Dan was
making his homeward trip after sue
cessfuls summers work, he stopped in
fair-sized town to lay in supplies
for the rest of the journey. AS is
usually the case, there were number
of persons standing in front of the
store at which Dan had stopped Just
for amusement, Dan ran his hand
along Trilby's neck and whispered
word or two as he passed into the
store. Immediately she laid down.
There was considerable talk among
the bystanders about wornout and
sick horse. Finally one man even
ventured so far as to step out to ex-
anime her AS he touched her head,
Trilby gave low whinny. A sharp,
short whistle answered from the store
and Trilby was upon her feet so quick
that the man who had been bending
over her went sprawling in the dust.
a general laugh from the crowd greet
ed him as he got up and watched her
trot over to playfully tease the other
horses.
AS Dan was preparing to drive
away a tall, dark stranger with small
twitching eyes, and thin. blue lips ac-
costed him with "What'll you take fer
tibet colt, pard?"
'Oh, guess l won't sell her, can't
spare her, you see." was Dams eva
sive reply.
s'Well, I've got fine one down at
the barn I'll trade for her" persisted
the stranger
Dan assured him that he was not
trader, and after a few moments
drove off leaving the stranger with
an increasing desire to obtain that
colt.
About mile or so from town. Dan
pulled up for the night at sheltered
place where there was plenty of grass.
After he had had his supper and the
horses had finished grazing he fasten-
ed the four, two at each end of the
wagon, then crawled in and rolled up
In his blankets. The weather was
Just cool enough to discourage the at
tacks of the mosquitoes and other in
sects, so the horses were quiet and
Dan soon fell asleep