A HORSE THAT ENJOYED A JOKE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 612, 5 November 1880, Page 2

A HORSE THAT ENJOYED A JOKE.

Horses have sense, and a very fair understanding of whaV fun is. -I had , one once that objected seriously to being caught up again'after he had been turnedill to pasture,'aiid he would give all thetrouble lie possibly could. If J took the.' and attempted to catch him he me come quite close 'up to him, but ijust as I waiilfSiit'to throw the' straps aroUnd his neck, he would lower his head, throw up his heels, and dart off, looking b.ick to see whether I followed. After his repeating this manoeuvre half a dozen times-1 would turn to leave the field in disgust, aud walk rapidly away. Then compuuction always seized the horae, and he would come trotting up behind me, set his teeth carefully in my dress, and jerk at it, as much as to say, "There, can't you take a joke? I was only in fun, and I am ready to come with you.now. And it takes so short a time to, make a horse love you and lose all fear of you. At one time I was.acquainted with a horse in Alameda whose reputation for gentleness did not equal his beauty. Ho was a large, handsome bay, and when I first approached his keepera big burly English: ogtler—with the pui> pose of taming the horse, and frith a handful of sujar ho refused to let me'go hear him. " Couldn't allow itnmyays, miss, l! lie said; " thai 'orse would biteyour'aud right off if you 'eld it out to him with the sugar." I persevered, howevor. The ( horse didn't" bite my 'and off,!' but took the sugar, like a lamb; and iu less thfjn; two weeks from that time he would whinny and, paw the ground with impatience if he heard my voice in the stable and I did not come directly to him. To be sure he had nearly squeezed me to death.against the.side of the stall';; but it was sheer good will and affection,' not viciouaness; for William, wha had hurried up, pale.and scared, stood'speechless to see that he neither struck at nor bit me. —Oalifornian." -■