HAPPY HOLLOW FARM 183 



run of spavins and ringbones and "hollow- 

 tail," taking in a dollar or two now and then, 

 and getting some of his pay from the farmers 

 in trade. No, he didn't do a land-office busi- 

 ness ; but it beat working, anyway. 



Well, one day a farmer friend of ours had 

 an old horse fall sick genuinely sick. As the 

 "boss doctor" happened to be the only man 

 handy who might be able to help, he was called. 

 The case troubled him. By the time he got 

 there, the poor beast was down and out; he 

 was all in; he was gone up that is to say, he 

 looked sort of scattered, which is a bad sign. 

 The doctor couldn't make out what was the 

 matter. 



"Ef he was only swole up some," he said, 

 "it might be the colic. But he ain't. Nor there 

 ain't nothin' the matter with his feet. I've saw 

 'em ga'nted up like that with the milk- fever; 

 only this is a geldin'. I don't b'lieve I can 

 make out what's ailin' him. You might try 

 rubbin' him with turkentime; sometimes that 

 pearts 'em up a little. If he was mine, I 

 reckon I'd jest wait an' see how he gits." 



They met in town a few days later. "Oh, 

 say, Mister !" the "boss doctor" said. "I b'lieve 



