Eleanor Waring Burnham

“ At this time Samuel Goss owned a newspaper called The Montpelier Watchman, and in its columns could be found notices of the endurance, beauty and gentleness of the Goss—​but far from turning his level head, it only made him strive harder to deserve the praise. Modestly and cheerfully he went his way as farm-horse, saddle-horse, carriage-horse: always endearing himself to every one associated with him. It was his perfect training and his willingness to obey that was ever the secret of success of Justin Morgan. ”

“ Morgan tossed his head, and his tail waved slightly.
“She shall ride you, little horse, for, by my sword, there never was a more delightful, under the saddle. My mind is made up, I shall buy you, old as you are!”
There it was again—​“As old as you are.” Age! what has age to do with it if the heart and spirit are young?
“As for these Vermonters,” the Captain continued, thinking aloud, and riding on, “they are brave, fine men and they will stand by Ethan Allen’s ideals; if war comes they will be with us. ”

“ Such amazement there never was in any dull horse’s quiet, stupid mind! He squealed and sprang one side, startled into anger and affright. But when he recovered himself all was still; no suspicious noises came from his neighbor’s stall.
Caesar had been standing on his hind legs, peeping through a hole in the partition and at sight of Ceph’s bewilderment, he rolled over in a paroxysm of mirth, as if he did not have a bone in his body, while True stood motionless, guarding their secret. ”

“ Do you recall, Father, how he won last year at Epsom on Tyrant, the very worst horse that ever won a Derby?”
“My daughter is almost as light as Buckle and the Morgan a better horse. We have nothing to fear!” So spoke Colonel Lloyd, bravely, and, patting Morgan’s long shoulder, he raised his hat with courtly grace and bade his daughter, “God-speed!” right gaily.
And Mistress Lloyd? She laughed serenely—​that same brook-like laugh of long ago; her lip did not quiver nor her voice tremble. With such spirit do men go into battle. ”

“ With much hilarity three men climbed up on the log.
By this time darkness had fallen and Master Chase ran to get his lanthorn, swinging it back and forth, as he returned.
“Mind you don’t fall off,” Evans warned the men. “‘Something’ is about to ‘come’.”
And “something” did!
Justin Morgan’s horse gathered himself together, almost crouching, and waited for the word to start. When it was given, his chest-muscles strained, his wide nostrils were scarlet and dilated, and this scion of Arabia’s proud breed moved off as if inspired by Allah himself for an almost miraculous feat. ”

“ To this sally the cat had no reply, both he and Gipsey had known women better than the yearling True.
One day Silas brought a black lamb to the pasture, who at once made friends with the colt. The two romped and played together, much as human children might. For the timid little creature True came to have a deep attachment; he liked the feel of the warm little body against his leg. No doubt they exchanged ideas about things of interest as they listened to the brook, singing happily of woods and meadows through which it had run on its way to the river. ”

“ When he was quieted Justin Morgan climbed into the hay-loft and down a ladder on the other side of the barn rather than let the light shine through the door again, which was very considerate and no doubt True was proportionately grateful.
Those were wild, unsettled days in Vermont, and tales of Indians pillaging and burning were so fresh in the minds of the pioneers that a certain feeling of insecurity remained, ready to be roused into action any minute. The forests were dense and dark, the farms scattered and lonely and the life primitive. ”

“ Gipsey peered over the partition of their stall and whinneyed softly, but with resignation, for, wise old horse that she was, she knew it was the lot of horses to be parted, sooner or later—​here to-day, there to-morrow.
Presently the cat sprang nimbly down, and arching his back, rubbed himself against his master’s leg and purred with sympathy.
In spite of a certain sadness, True himself felt no little excitement—​anticipating adventure, as is the manner of youth first starting out into the great world. ”

“ True found himself in a small, bare room, standing beside a cot, and, as his eyes grew accustomed to the dimness, he recognized his old master, wasted with illness, lying helpless before him, his cheeks flushed, his eyes bright with fever. The affectionate little horse nosed among the quilts, trying to express his joy at seeing his old friend and at the same time his grief at finding him so weak and ill.
“Wife,” called the sick man, presently, “wife, fetch me some maple sugar and do go into the barn and give the colt all there is left of food there.” ”

“ In summer he went with them to pick berries of all sorts or wild grapes, and when the autumn came, with its glory of beech and maple, turning to copper and scarlet, he would bring home their bags of nuts across his round back.
In winter his coat grew long and thick; and Evans himself rode him to distant traps set in the forest for bear, musk-rat and foxes, which supplied food or clothing for the family. The horse grew accustomed after a while to the monotony of his life and tried to make the best of it. ”

“ Editor American Horse Breeder:—​I am an old man, eighty-three, this month, and seeing an article in your last in praise of the Morgan Horse, I want to add a word of gratitude for their noble service done me as a stage-proprietor on the Fourth New Hampshire Town-pike; as livery man and farmer.... For endurance, intelligence and as trappy drivers, the Morgans have no equals. To handle six or eight horses on a stage-coach over hills—​without accident—​looks to me wonderful now, for brakes were not known in those days. ”

“ But may be the sight of a good old Continental uniform—​God bless it!—​may bring them our way!”
The lake glinted blue in the sunshine, the birds twittered in the forest, as they passed on slowly.
Suddenly Captain Dulaney addressed the horse gaily:
“Look at that view, Morgan. Shall we let a king wrest it from us? No, I swear it! This air is like wine. Who would live in towns, say I, with houses crowding, one upon the other, peeping over each other’s heads to see the narrow streets that lie between? ”

“ True had no answer ready, so Beautiful Bay continued:
“If you meet one of the Faithful in the Desert mounted on a kochlani, and he shall say to you, ‘God bless you!’ before you can say, ‘And God’s blessing be upon you!’ he shall be out of sight.”
True learned how to judge a horse by his color through Arabian tradition.
“White is for princes, but these do not stand the heat; black brings good fortune, but fears rocky ground; chestnut is most active—​if one tells you he has seen a horse ‘fly in the air,’ and the horse be chestnut, believe him!” ”

“ True shook himself in disgust. To be called a striding Canadian. A horse who travels with purposed exertion, while he glided over the ground with scarce an effort. A Canadian scrub, indeed, a horse whose thick nostrils speak of low birth and whose flat sides and thick hair seem made for much cold and beating; and he, with the blood of the South in his veins!
It was too much for Evans. ”

“ She was good to him and made his visits to their barn most pleasant. In the mornings she would come tripping out, her arms full of dew-wet clover or grass, just cut, or she would have a dish of goodies from the kitchen—​some carrots or turnips. ’Twas no wonder the horse loved her and called to her, as she drew near, with his affectionate little neigh. He always hoped David might buy him from Hawkins; he loved the Wings and they returned his friendship. And a horse never knows when he may change owners. He can only hope his next one may be the one of his choosing, which does sometimes happen. ”

“ The fire blazed and was soon roaring up the chimney as the lightwood caught and the pine-knots flamed; then Master Morgan straightened himself.
“By the Constitution of these United States,” cried the old man, “’tis not a time to think of brute-beasts. I tell you a human lies ill and needs the Dame. Come, come, have done, and let me fetch the horse from the stable!”
But Master Morgan still hesitated, as he hung the turkey-tail back in place beside the high mantel. ”

“ Beautiful Bay told True many stirring tales in the quiet nights they spent so close together, for the older horse had ever been a “soldier of Fortune” and his life one of constant change and excitement.
It was a great boast for a horse to say he had been bred in the De Lancey stables, for those De Lanceys, like Mahommed, had been lovers of horses, and their stables and half-mile running track, in the centre of what was so soon to be the very heart of the great city of New York, was the finest in the Northern Colonies before the War of the Revolution. ”

“ It was with no little regret, therefore, that True found one day Master Morgan was making ready to leave, and he must say good-bye to his father and friends in that pleasant town.
Nevertheless, when they set out, and turned their faces northward, he stepped out with a stout heart, remembering his mother’s instruction:
“Duty that we cheerfully do,
Is always quickest through!”
The highway they took was the one they had travelled when on their way to Hartford, and True’s spirits rose, thinking he might soon see his dear mother and Caesar. ”

“ Against the sky the Green Mountains reared their heads, the pastureland on their sloping sides was patched here and there with cloud-shadows, and, where the sun’s rays slanted on the Winooski it glittered like a silver line in the valley. No wind, and a late rain, made the condition of the road perfect.
Loitering about the smithy were a few men who roused themselves at sight of the Morgan cantering up with a lady on his back.
Across the way, on the Inn porch, the sound of voices rose and fell in argument over the policies of Thomas Jefferson, the “Farmer” President ”

“ Davis, hoeing, hard by, also heard and dashed frantically into his hut, closing the door and barring it securely—​right well did everyone of the time know what those dreadful war-whoops and blood-curdling yells foreboded!
Old Grey threw back her head and sniffed for a better scent with red, comprehending nostrils. Then, as a band of painted, half-naked savages, brandishing their tomahawks, rushed from the forest, she snorted and fled—​her sparse tail high in the air, her heart stricken with fear. ”

“ The “old” horse was led out, bold and ambitious, his eyes bright, his ears pointing, his spirit fresh as ever! He stepped smartly about, supple and sound as a horse of ten, at the most. It is the spirit that makes the horse and there was a springiness of youth in his gait. Well had he known—​this wise animal—​that every trait and characteristic he developed in himself would be his gift to posterity! His feeling of responsibility to future generations was great. [15]
A week later the Morgan was led to the Tavern entrance in Burlington. ”

“ Van Sicklen shouted:
“The British are coming!”
Then over his shoulder:
“They have invaded Plattsburg and volunteers are wanted! On to Burlington!”
Every mouth took up the cry.
“On to Burlington, the British are coming!”
Morgan’s nostrils showed red—​but he was just beginning this wonderful experience, for which he had waited so long. On, on, to serve his country!
They left the people hurrying into their houses for their muskets. Men snatched them from the high mantel-shelves and started out leaving their plows stuck in the earth. ”

“ If they were not in a hurry David would allow him to play along the way, knowing well enough the horse would not abuse the privilege. He rode with a loose rein, and on the way home would let the Morgan choose his own gait and trail. The firm touch on the bridle was as light as a woman’s, but Morgan was not fooled by it. He well knew this was a rider who would brook no impertinence, and it kept him steady and respectful, even while he took advantage of the permission to frolic a little. ”

“ Binding him tightly, and securing everything that might be of use, they set fire to the hut and disappeared into the forest with war-whoops, taking Davis with them.
Old Grey waited sadly on the river-bank until hunger and loneliness induced her to return. Alas, the ruin that met her eyes!
A neighbor who had escaped the massacre of that day found her, wandering about in despair, and, thinking his friend Experience must have been burned in his hut or scalped, took the old mare to share such life as the pioneers of that day had to endure. When he went to live in Hanover, Old Grey went along, too. ”