Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-08-31
Mr.. PeasIee Learns How To Cure A
BaIky Horse.

Ddlkf tlOEScs
lingering his chin thoughtfully, Mr..
Caleb PeasIee watched man who was
driving a rangy, high stepping sorel
horse toward him. As the man came
nearer, Mr.. Peaslee approached the road
and held up his hand.
"Wait a minute, Naldron," he COM
manded. 81 want to look at that hoss."
Mr.. Waldron halted obediently, and
Caleb went over the horse carefully with
eye and hand.
"Ain't that the hoss," inquired Mr.
Peaslee, Strengthening himself with an
effort, "that Newt Budslow used TO own p
Mr.. Wadron nodded.
"The balky one ?" persisted Mr.. Peas
lee.
"He used to balk-once in a while, "
admitted Waldron cautiously.
"Used to - snoned Mr.. Peaslee.
"Newt Budslow didn't dare TO put that
boss at hill for anything-notifhe he want
ed TO get home the same day s'pose
I'd bought that hoss once, fithadn't been
for that. wanted him drettul bad, but
wouldn't give cent for a hoss thatll
baIk."
Mr.. Waldron grinned. "He goes up
hills all right for me" he said.
Mr. Peaslee looked up alertly. "You
nights we'll go right ahead and tell me
what you done to break him OF it, he
said firmly. 81 amt goin' TO let you
bulge step firm here till know !"
Mr.. Waldron crossed his legs comfort
ably and looked at Caleb quizzically.
"As a matter OF iact," he began slowly,
"a didn't do anything 10 him to break him
OF balkin'. II was my yonng nephew,
that sprout OF Susan'S.
81 got this hoss about the first OF July,
Mr.. Waldron, went on, land it so hap
pened that didn't hitch him into any
thing till the mornin' OF the Fourth. That
mornin' my wife wanted some things
down TO the store; so thought I'd hitch
up my new boss and see what kind OF a
trade I'd got.
"My nephew wanted to 60, so he elm
intothe wagon and we started off. There's
quite a stretch level goin' from my place
toward Drew's store, and put the hoss
right along. was beginnin' TO think
mebbe Pdreally bettered myself in hoSs
trade for once, when we got 10 Burnham
Hill. And there he baked solid as a
granite boulder.
al s'pose was bout as mad man as
you could find in Penobscot County.
'f tried every namable thing I'd evei
heard OF to start boss, but il never jar
red him. And then clim back into the
wagon and tried TO tucker him out. ]
guess waited an hour, and he was jest
as solid and sot as he was at the begin
min.
"My nephew got out once or twice
and walked round little and then got
back into the wagon. Fin'ly he begun TO
fidget round in his pockets, and he fetched
out a lot OF firecrackers, and 'mongst 'em
was three-four Of these big ones, five or
six inches long, you know.
81 d'know what possessed him, but the
fust thing knew he'd lit one OF them big
crackers and he'd reached out over the
dasher and dropped it right between the
hoSs's hind feet
81 had jest time TO grab the reinS tight
and get my feet braced before that thing
went off with noise like small cannonI
al don'twant 10 stretch itany PeaSlee,"
Mr.. Waldron said impressively, "but !
honestly b'lieve the fust jump that hoSs
made he took wagon and all fifteen feet.
And he KEEP on maxim 'em! don't
b'lieve any boss ever hauled wagon up
Burnham Hill anywhere near as quick as
we went up that day. was mighty glad
it was a longhill-Id never gothim stilled
if il hadn't been And he's all right now
or if he ever hesitates know what TO
do. Want 10 see him ?"
Mr.. Peaslee nodded and Waldron gath
cred up the reins. He made queer
noise, something like the Sputtering OF a
firecracker fuse, and the horse started
with jump that almost threw his own
er's hat off. Mr.. Waldron looked back
over his shoulder gleefully.
"Best boss ever owned, three hun
dred and sixty-four days in the year, he
shouted back, "but wouldn't hitch him
up on the Fourth if you'd give me your
farm for doin' itp'