Justin Morgan, founder of his race : $b the romantic history of a horseBurnham, Eleanor Waring
History
Justin Morgan, founder of his race : $b the romantic history of a horse
Burnham, Eleanor Waring
Morgan horse
One day the colt invented a game which he called “Chasing the
Red-Coat,” and fine fun it was, to be sure! With one accord the
calves and True made Caesar the “Red-Coat” because he was such
a fleet runner! That Caesar did not think much of the game was
obvious as he dashed wildly at a tree and running up its trunk sat
spluttering at them, his fur on end, his tail straight in the air.
Being interrupted by Silas,--for daily exercise and practise in
the arts of being bitted and led about--never annoyed the colt.
The calves and Caesar watched these performances, furtively, and
wondered when their turns would come; True always told them the fun
he had and took care to mention the subsequent reward of maple sugar.
For a short time a gentle pigeon came and sat between the young
horse’s ears and cooed, softly, whilst he munched at his manger. This
was agreeable to the sociable colt, but he was puzzled to notice
that the bird did not like his other friend, the cat. True could see
how tactfully Caesar tried to win the affections of the pigeon, even
reaching out a paw to pat him sometimes.
One day his feathered friend did not come to the stable at the usual
time and when the cat sauntered in that afternoon, with a look of
keen content on his face, and a feather in his whiskers, True asked
if he had seen the pigeon.
Caesar had not, of course!
He added, however, as he placidly washed the feather from his face,
that “birds often flew away and did not return!” His expression was
so sincere and sympathetic that the colt was no little comforted.
In spite of this treachery, Caesar was really fond of True, and
brought him, from time to time, tokens of his affection in the
way of delicacies--rats and mice he had caught in his stealthy
rounds--sometimes a chicken’s foot or a fish’s head from the kitchen.
It was difficult for True to refuse these cat-dainties without
hurting Caesar’s feelings, until he hit upon the clever expedient of
pulling out a mouthful of delicious fodder from his rack and offering
it in his turn to the cat!
One day the colt boasted to the cat that he “could see in the dark.”
Caesar purred, contemptuously, washing his face the while.
“That, my friend,” he said, “is a mere trifle, hardly worth bragging
about! Now, if you could but speak the human language, then, indeed,
would I wave my tail and meow, ‘Hail, Master!’”
True was abashed, but said:
“Nay, my mother says speech is but a vain and doubtful good,
especially in women!”
To this sally the cat had no reply, both he and Gipsey had known
women better than the yearling True.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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