Year: 1873

JOHN PAUL ON THE PANIC.


Well, as [ was saying, we all knew
this storm was coming. But I have vet
to see the man who thought it was CON-
ing just yet or took in his aower sails, if
ne did his topsails. When it came or
showed itself near at hand would be time
enough to be lodging, they thought.
And my father once had horse in his
stable, fine, spirited creature, which I
was fond Of fondling around. The old
gentleman warned me that he MIGHT
kick, but I didn't thank him for that ::
Of course he might kick-any horse
might kick for that matter. But I
hadn't been round the stables when SUD-
posed to be at school for nothing. I
had noticed that when he kicked he laid
his ears back. So I waltzed around
John the Baptist that was the no.
ble animals name, though why so chris
tened, unless because of his ability to
kick path through wilderness, [ do
not know-just as usual and relied on a
religious observation of his ears for safe
ty' At the least dropping of that barom-
eter l stood ready to jump. One day,
having business about his manger-busi-
ness not wholly unconnected with hens
nest approached by what may be
designated as flank movement and re-
quested him to stand over on the other
side Of the stall, as I wished to come in.
That there might be no mistake about
my meaning, [ made it quite clear by
pricking the flank most in my way gently y
with pitchfork. But was careful to
watch his ears very carefully while max
ing the request.


Now, if you'll believe me, [ didn't see
his ears drop, neither did I see his foot
rise. But l did hear boy about my
size strike against the other side of the
barn with bang. And after an honr
or two, when had collected my scat
tered thoughts, and picked up the jews
harps and jack-knives and green apples
and stolen watermelons that the industri-
GUS animal had kicked out of me, and
climbed up in the hayloft for the double
purpose of picking up the top of nv
head, which, according to all evidences
OF the senses, must have landed there
and getting better view of what was
going on down below, [ remarked that
that horses ears were laid down on his
back as fiat as though tailor's goose had
lit on them. And when I went into the
house and the old gentleman said that he
told me so, and that it would only have
served me right if the horse had kicked
me into the middle of next week, I found
no relief for my bursting bosom till I
had emptied the red-pepper cruet in the
manger Of John the Baptist turn
ing his clover hay into the widest kind
Of honey-and set him sneezing till those
confounded ears of his stood UP so stiff
and straight that they raked forward like
a jack-rabbit's. And I made up nv
mind, then and there, never again to let
my liking for brisk business bring me
round anything the further end of which
one has to watch to see what the nearer
end is going to do especially when that


nearer one


Still, and,a rearer one 49,


:. Yet than the other;


has a way Of lifting SO quick and easy.


1t is sound business judgment to avoid
the vicinity Of any animal whose skin is
so short that he can't drop his ears with
out raising his heels, the more so if he
happens to be SO particularly. lively that
he can go through both motions at once.
Further than this, I don't know that
there's any special point to my story.
But was a good deal hurt at the time,
and my nose ever since has borne consid-
cradle resemblance to a badly turned pan
cake It has been some satisfaction to
feel that | am more familiar with the
habits of the horse than I was before the
accident happened, and if any one fishes
moral out Of my story, it will further
gratify me to know that my nose was
not fattened IN vain.


For an explanation Of the present
trouble ] do not think that it is necessa-
~ to look very far. If you have ever
had ' hold of . young and growing dog,
you must have noticed that nature keeps
the skin good deal bigger than the
dog You can take up the slack of the