Year: 1876

A TROUBLESOME ANIMAL.


The Story that Mr.. Lowell Narrates


About a Horse.


Mr.. Lowell, says the Philadelphia
Bulletin, sends the following narrative
to us for publication. We do not vouch
for its truth, but Mr.. Lovell's address
will be furnished to any reader who
wishes to put him under oath:


Last summer I bought horse. BE
was warranted sound and kind in har-
ness, but discovered that it was very
poor kind. He had an irresistible pro-
pensity to b,ck. Hsseemed to be i'm
pressed with conviction that nature had
put his hind legs in front and that he
could see with his tail, and whenever I
attempted to start him he always pro-
ceeded stern foremost, until whipped
him savagely, and then he would go in
proper manner, but suddenly, and
with the air of horse who had con-
viction that there was lunatic in the
carriage who didn't know what he was
about. One day, while we were coming
down the street, the theory became so
strong that he suddenly stopped and
backed the carriage through the plate
glass window of drug store. After
that always hitched him up with his
head toward the carriage, and then he
seemed to feel better confessed, only
sometimes he became too sociable, and
used to put his head over the dasher and
try to chew my legs or eat up the lap
cover.


Besides, the peculiar arrangement Of
the animal excited unpleasant remarks
when drove out, and when I wanted to
stop and would hitch him by the tail to
q post, he had a very disagreeable way
of reaching out with his hind legs and
sweeping the sidewalk whenever he saw
anybody that he felt as if he would like
to kick.


He was not much of a saddle horse;
not that he would attempt to throw his
rider, but whenever a saddle was put
on him it made his back itch, and he
would always insist upon rubbing it
against the first tree or fence or corner
of a house that he came to, and if he
could bark the riders leg he seemed to
be better contented. The last time I
rode him was upon the day of Aleck
Burgers wedding. I had on my best
suit, and on the way to the festival
there was creek to be forded. When
the horse got into the middle of it he
took drink, and then looked around at
the scenery. Then he took another
drink, and gazed again at the prospect.
Then he suddenly felt tired, and lay
down in the water. By the time he
was sufficiently rested I was ready to 60
home.


The next day he was taken sick. My
hired man said it was the epizooty, and
he mixed him up some turpentine in
bucket of warm feed. That night the
horse had spasms, and kicked four of
the best boards out of the side of the
stable. Jones said that the horse hadn't
the epizooty, but the bolts, and that the
turpentine ought to have been rubbed
on the outside of him instead of going
into his stomach. So We rubbed him
with turpentine, and the next morning
he hadn't hair on his body.


Colonel Smith told me that if I want
ed to know what really allied the horse
be would tell me. It was CHAMBERS, and
if he wasn't bled he would die. So the
colonel bled him for me. We took away
D tubful, and the horse thinned down 50
that his ribs looked as if he had swal-
lowed hoop skirt. 1t made him hun
cry, too, for that night he ate the feed
box, a breeching strap and two trace
chains.


Then I sent for the horse doctor, and
he said there was nothing the matter
with the horse but heaves, and he left
some medicine "to patch up his
wind" The result was the horse
for two days as if he had gone
into galloping consumption, and be-
;ween two of the coughs he kicked the
hired mau through the partition and
bit our black-and-tan terrier ia half.


I thought perhaps little exercise
might improve his health, and drove
aim out one day, and he proceeded in
such peculiar manner that was afraid
ne might suddenly come apart and fall
20 pieces. When he reached the top of
White House hill, which is very steep |
oy the side of the road, he stopped,
gave sort of shudder, coughed cou-
pie of times, kicked fly off his near
shoulder with his hind leg, and then
ay down and calmly rolled over the
oank. got out of the carriage before
ne fell and I watched him pitch clear
lown to the valley beneath, with the
7ehicled Raging after him. When wegot
% him he was dead, and the man at the
farmhouse close by said he had the
blind staggers.


I sold him for $8 to man who want
ed to make him up into knife handles,
buttons and glue; and, since
hen, when we have wanted to take
ride we have walked. The next time
attempt to buy a horse I will get a
mule.


A Titled Sexton.