Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-05-25
How Father Cured His Horse.

| the folks IN Greene lived scattered, ano
he had so far to 90 TO attend funerals and
weddings and visit schools, you know
but he never felt as if he could afford to
buy one. But one day he was coming
afoot from Hildreth, and stranger asked
him to ride.
"Father said: That's handsome horse
you're driving. | should like to own
such horse myself.
"'What will you give for him?' said
the man.
"'Do you want to sell p says father.
"'Yes do, and I'll sell cheap, too,
says he.
40 we'll, says father, it's no use
talking, for haven't the money to buy
with
"'Make an offer" said he.
"Well, Just to put an end TO the talk,
father says, I'll give you seventy-five
dollars for the horse
"'You may have him, says the man,
as quick as flash, but you'll repent OF
your bargain in week
"Why, what ailS the horse ? says
father.
"'Ails him ? He's got the Old Nick
in him, that's what ais him. says he.
If he has will to go, he'll go; but if he
takes notion to stop, all creation can't
start him. I've stood and beat that horse
till the sweat ran off me in streams. I've
fired gun close to his ears. I've burned
shavings under him. might have beaten
him to death or roasted him alive before
he have budged an inch
"Ill take the horse, says father.
What's his name ?
"George,' said the man.
"'I shall call him George said father.
"Well, father brought him home, and
we boys were pleased, and we fixed a
place for him in the barn, and curried
him down and fed him well; and father
said: Talk to him, boys, and let him
know you feel friendly
$50 we coaxed and petted him, and
the next morning father harneSSed him
and gotinto the wagonto go. But George
wouldn't stir step. Father got out and
patted him, and we brought him apples
and clover-topS; and once in a while
father would say: Get up, George; ;
but he didn't strike the horse a blow. By
and by he says: This is going to take
time. Well, George, well see which
has got the most patience, you or L. So
he sat in the wagon, and took out his
skeletons"
"'Skeletons p said Poppet, inquiringly.
"Of sermons, you know. Ministers
always carry around a little book TO put
things into they think Of when they are
out walking or riding or hoeing in the
garden.
"Well, father sat two full hours before
the horse was ready 10 start; but when he
did there was no more trouble for that
day. The next morning it was the same
thing over again, only George gave in a
little sooner. All the while ii seemed as
if father couldn't do enough for the horse.
He was around the stable, feeding him
and fussing over him, and talking TO him
in his pleasant, gentle way, and the third
morning, when he had fed and currled
him and harneSSed him with his own
hands, somehow there was different
look in the horses eyes. But when faith
er was ready to go, George put his feet
together and laid his ears back, and
wouldn't stir. Well, Dove was playing
about the yard, and she brought her stool
and climbed up by the horses head.
"Dove, tell what you said TO George
that morning"
81 gave him talking to, a" said the little
girl. al told him il was perfectly 'dicu-
louS for him TO act so; that he'd come 10
a real good place to live, where every
body helped ; that ne was a minister's
horse, and God would not love him il he
was not a good horse. That's what told
him, and then kissed him on the nose" "
"And what did George do?"
"Why, he heard every word said;
and when got through he felt so 'shamed
OF himself he couldn't hold up his head,
so he just dropped It till it almost touched
the ground, and he looked as sheepiSh as
if he had been stealinga hundred sheep"
eyes," said Reuben; "and when father
told him to 90 he walked off like a shot.
He has never made any trouble since.
That's the way father cured a balky
horse. And that night, when he was un-
harnessing, he rubbed his head against
his shoulder, and told him, as plain as a
horse could speak, that he was sorry.
He's tried to make up with father ever
since Tor the trouble he made him. When
he's loose in the pasture, father has only
TO stand at the bars and call his name,
and he walks up as quietly as an old
sheep. Why, I've seen him back him
self between the shafts Of the old wagon
many a time, to save father trouble. Faith
er wouldn't take two hundred dollars for
the horse to-day. He eats anything you
give him. Sis very often brings out some
Of her dinner to him."
"He likes to eat out OF the plate, said
Dove; "it makes him think he's folks"
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