A SLEEPY HORSE

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1093, 1 October 1883, Page 2

A SLEEPY HORSE

A certain carter of this city (says the Wellington Times) is afflicted with the possession of a horse whose somnolent habits frequently involve him in heavy expenses. On Wednesday the animal in question, which had drawn a few hundredweight of camp ovens in a dray from a store down town, was left in front of a store on Lambton-quay for a short time, and a nose-bag put on. Dobbin, who is noted to be of a contemplative disposition, after a few moments spent in feeding, peacefully sank to the ground, and went quietly off to sleep. This somewhat unusual behaviour on the part of a horse supposed to be on duty, attracted a crowd of persons, some of whom, after surveying the sleeping beautyfora time and finding hisdrivor was not present, proceeded to take off the harness. The animal, after mutually remonstrating with his biped friends for a short while, resented the interference by suddenly regaining his feet, but, unfortunately, in his efforts he broke one of the shafts of the dray. A friendly policeman remained in charge of the equipage till the return of the driver, who expressed himself in language more forcible than polite, at what he termed the undue interference of the gentle public. It appears to be perfectly understood by the carter that the horse in question shall recline whenever he has occasion to leave it for a few minutes.