Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1948-05-06
. Montgomery SideIights :
By ELSIE WHITE HAINES

1t was Lou Tilley, a young col
ored woman who lived with the
Whites at Muncaster's Mill, in the
late 1900's, who first told us that
"horses and dogs don't go to
Heaven" thus almost breaking our
hearts and for a time lowering our
estimate of Heaven. The small
Whites were planning to be good"
so that they might meet the white
horse "Arch" on whose fat back
they had their first rides and "Old
Joe" the half mastiff, half blood
hound which together with the
famous Haviland's ghost, kept the
mill free from pilferers.
We still cannot imagine Heaven
without animals-horses anyway
for did not we learn at Sunday
School to picture the good place
as inhabited by angels in chariots
drawn over the clouds by horses ?
Last Fall, while gathering mat
erial for a story of the Boyer
Clinic at Damascus, the elder Df.
Boyer reminisced about his horse
"Deck." 1t was so typical of the
relations between the old time
country physician and his horse
that we asked him to write US
more. Here is his reply:
"When beginning the practice of
medicine in this community, l
bought a fine looking dark bay
blooded horse called "Deck." He
was Az years old and we kept him
go years until he died peacefully
one Christmas night, aged 33
years. We felt as if we had lost
friend. Only a few days before
he died l was standing before the
lane where he just returned from
water and was looking over the
gate. l patted him on the nose and
side of his face and said, "Deck,
we have had great times together"
He appeared to understand me
and answered me with low whin-
ney. He seemed to posses almost
human intelligence. Many times
when receiving urgent calls I
would draw the lines little tight
er and tell him we were badly
needed. He would catch the spirit
of the occasion and stick up his
head and travel very fast. At other
times when there was no need to
hurry he would loiter along the
road. He was very dependable.
81 have been out, some dark
nights and could not see the road
but he always brought me home
safely. l have been able to get
many good maps while returning
home with him. We have owned
some good horses but none other
quite so good as he. After the
advent of the automobile and good
roads and we did not need to drive
him, he would help to do some
light work on the farm. This he
resented and would show his heels
if someone went toward him with
work bride but / could catch
him at any time.
"on my way home one night !
came to a place where the road
was completely blocked by drift
ing snow. Although Deck was the
pluckiest snow fighter ever own
ed, he became hopelessly stalled in
the snow. I had to tramp the snow
down around the horse and sleigh
so they could be turned around and
driven into a field through a gap
in the fence which / had to make.
After numerous hardships and by
driving across some farms through
other fences which mad to be open
ed, ! reached home so cold / could
scarcely put the horse in the stable.
Zone very dark, cloudy night.
when returning from an urgent
call off the main highway, being
very tired secured the lines and
resting my head on the seat, went
to sleep in the bottom of the
buggy. have a dim recollection
Of passing a church after getting