The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-26
THE RACING PARsoN.
(By NJ. Quad.)


was honest and upright nobody ques-
toned, and it was further added that
he had discharged hired men for
clubbing a hog or kicking back at a
and a merciful man, and what higher
praise could be asked?
One day as Farmer Barrows sat on
his Veranda smoking his pipe a
came along. Just opposite the house
the horse suddenly halted and refused
to go on.
"Balky," said Farmer Barrows to
himself.
The stranger waited a minute and
thu began curSing.
'It never started balky horse yet"
smiled the farmer.
In another minute the whip was ap-
piled.
May do some good, but 1 doubt it"
He was right in doubling. The horse
kicked in the dashboard and then
flung himself down
Seems to be trouble there said
Moses as he walked down to the gate.
II should say there was!" exclaimed
the stranger. "Consarn his pesky
hide, but if you'll lend me an ak I'll
cave his head in
'Balky, l take it?''
"Of course he's balky. The dog
goned critter was going along all right
when he suddenly decided to stop.
Here 1 am, in the greatest kind of a
hurry to get over to Charlotte, and
dust. If I had a gun here"-
Had him long, stranger" was
asked.
"About three weeks, and this is the
third time he has baked on me. Say,
now ! :"
Don't swear. Let's get him up.
There's always cause for horse
baking"
devil in him.
Purity good lookin' hoss." said
Farmer Burrows, after he had looked
him over. 'Where'd you get him?"
Traded with a Teller"
"Mebbe we can swop. I've got
boss that
''Then trot him out. I'll trade you
even up for anything with hide and
hoofs."
Hes rather old"
ct don't care if he's a hundred"
But he won't balk."
''Trot him out, 1 say, and don't keep
me waiting"
The exchange was made without
further words, and the stranger drove
off. Farmer Barrows had said that
there was a cause for a horse baking.
1t is generally understood that it is in
his training. He is asked to do what
he feels he can't do, and then beaten
because he can't accomplish it.
The new owner began to practice a
not get a harsh word, and was asked
to do only light work. In the course
of a couple of weeks his sullenness
had quite vanished, and he was hitch
ed to q buggy to be driven to town.
He took about 20 steps and then stop
ped. He expected to hear swearing
and to feel the whip, but nothing of
the sort followed. He was given a
lump of sugar and patted on the back
as a reward of merit.
The next day he was hitched up
again. This time he took a hundred
steps before baking. No swearing
xxyhin
petting. Farmer Barrows even sung
the first verse of the Sweet BY and
By into his left ear. So it went every
day for a week, and the farmer then
said to his wife:
That boss is all right now and will
give more trouble.
II hope not
81 have always contended that kind
ness would do it, and here's plain
case of it. I shan't have a mite of
trouble driving to town and back"
On the road to the village, and half
mile from Farmer Burrows house,
the highway crossed a swamp by
narrow corduroy road. Only one We
hicle could pass at a time for a dis
lance of 40 rods. The new horse am
bled along as if it were a joy to live
until he reached the middle of the
causeway, and then he stopped as sud
denly as if hit by a bullet.
by thunder" exclaimed Farmer
Burrows.
He gave the horse five minutes and
then asked him to please go on.
No use.
Then he descended and gave the
animal a lump of sugar and toyed
with his ear and asked him as a per-
sonal favor to resume his amble. Not
a resume. Not an ambIe.
Travellers came up and stopped at
and called out:
Say, you, what in thunder is the
matter!"
Horse has baked on me-"
Don't you know any better than
to drive a balky horse on a public
road?"
More sugar. More petting. More
kind words 1t was all thrown away.
while the blockaded travellers were
crying out:
Skin him aliVei"
knock his brains OUT"
Cut his throat!'
Farmer Barrows used the whip
lightly, apologizing to the horse at
the same time. No good. Then he
used the lash with more force and
was kicked out of the back end of the
buggy. The. travellers came and helped
him off the causeway. His jaw was
set and he was pale with anger. He
removed his coat and vest, spat on
his hands and was preparing to give
that horse the licking of his life when
the parson of his church drove up
with a:
Hello. Brother Barrows. what's the
matter?''
It's this Internal horse, He baked
with met
That's bad. You've treated him
kindly, of course %
Il have. but it's done no good. and
now I'll cut the hide off'n him."
The parson got down and gave the
new horse a looking over and said
Brother Barrows. you've got
sulxy at home, haven't you?"
Yes"
Come on back and hitch that
horse to the sulky. 1 think l know