AN EXTRAORDINARY HORSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 42, 18 February 1905, Page 14

AN EXTRAORDINARY HORSE.

(BY MAX ADELER.) Cooley and I went out the other afternoon to see Mr Keyeer abont buying a liorse that he had. He asked us into the parlour, and while we were sitting there we heard Mrs Keyser In the dining room, adjoining, busy preparing for supper. Keyser would not sell hia horse, but he was quite sociable, and after come conversation he said:—■ "Gentleman, in 1872 I owned a hoes that never seen his ekal In this yer State. And that lioss once did the most extr'ordinary thing that was ever done by an animal. One day I had him out, down yer by the creek " Here Mrs Keyser opened tie door and exclaimed, shrilly: "Keyser, ef yer want any supper yon'd better git mc some kin'lin' wood pntty quick." Then Keyser turned to us, and said: "Excuse mc for a few moments, gentlemen, ef you please." A moment later we heard him splitting wood in the cellar beneath, and Indulging in some very hard swearing, with his soft pedal down—Mrs Keyser being the object of his objurgations. After a while he came into the parlour again, took his seat, wiped the moisture from his brow, put his handkerchief In his hat, Ids hat on the floor, and resumed: 'As I was «ayin', Mr Adeler, one day I had that hoss down yer by the creek; it was lv '72 or '73, I most forget wliich. But, howßomedever, I took Sim down yer by the creek, and I wus jest rfbout to " Mrs Keyser (opening the door suddenly): "You, Keyser! there's not a drop of water In the kitchen, and nnless come's dr.Twed putty quick there'll be no supper in this house this night, now mind mc!" Keyser (-with a look of pain upon his face)—" Well, well! This Is too bad! too bad! Gentlemen, Jest wait half a minute. I'll be right back. The old woman's rarin' 'round lively, and she won't wait." Then we heard Keyser at work at the well bucket, and looking out the back window we saw him biinging in a pall of water. ~On-his -way he encountered a livercoloured dog, and in order to give his pentup feelings adequate expression he "kicked the animal clear over the fence. Presently he came into the parlour, mopped his forehead, and began again: Keyser—"As I was a-sayln', that hoss was perfeckly 'stonißhin'. On the day of which I was syeaJdn", I was rldin' him down yer by the creek, clost by the cornfield, and I was jest about to wade him In, when, all of a suddent like, he " Mrs Keyser (at the door, and with her voice pitched in a high key)—" Are you goln' to fetch that ham from the smokehouse, or are you going to set there jabberln , and go without your cupper? Ef that ham isn't here in ahort order, I'll know the reason why. You hear me.'" Keyser (his face red and his manner eiirited)—"Grashus! If this isn't . Well, well, this jest lays over all the--—Pshaw! Mr Cooley, ef you'll hold on for a second I'll be -with you agin. I'll be right back." Then we heard Keyser slam open the smokehouse door, and presently he emerged with a ham, which he carried in one hand, while with the other lie madS a fist, which he shook threateningly at the kitchen door, as if to menace Mre Keyser, who couldn't see him. Again he entered the parlour, smelling of smoke and ham, and, crossing his legs, he continued: Keyser—'Excuse them little Interruptions; the old -woman's kinder aing'ler, and you've got to humour her to live in peace with her. Well, sir, as I said, I rode that extr'ordinary hoss down yer by the creek on that day to which I am teferrin', and after passin' the cornfield I was goin' to wado him into the creek, when, jest then, all of a enddent, what ihould that hoss do but " Mrs Keyser (at the door again)—"Keyeer! you lazy vagabone! Why don't you 'tend to mllkin' them cowe? Not one mossel of snpper do you put In yp.nr mouth this night unless you do the mllkin' right off. Ton sha'n't tonch a crust, or my name's not Emeline Keyser!" Then Kcyser jumped to his feet in a perfect frenzy of rage and hurled the chair at Mrs Keyser; whereupon she seized the poker and enme toward him with savage earnestness. Then we adjourned to the front yard suddenly; and a,s Cooley and I got into the carriage to go home, Keyser, with an humble expression in his eyes', said: "Gentlemen, I'll tell yon that hose story another time, when the old woman's calmer. Good day." I am going to ask him to write it out. "l am ansious to know what that horse did dowa at the creek.