FIRE HORSES. 1^53 



and a good head. His great age is indicated by an 

 extremely hollow back, but otherwise he is still a 

 grand-looking horse. He, too, is a mottled bay or 

 'brown, and not unlike Grief, except that he is even 

 larerer. In fact, the four old fire horses whom 1 have 

 particularly described would have made a great team 

 in their youth, — broad-chested, deep-lunged, low- 

 standing, short-backed fellows, with immense shoul- 

 ders, roomy stomachs, and strong hind quarters. Joe 

 is now an engine horse. His mate, though in com- 

 parison with him a mere colt, is in truth an oldish 

 beast ; and the two agreed some time ago that they 

 would trot out no more from their stalls when the 

 alarm sounded (having as it seemed to them, done 

 that sort of thing quite long enough), but would pro- 

 ceed from the stable to the pole at a dignified walk. 

 This resolution has been kept. The firemen have 

 tried to hurry them, but without success, Rattan 

 rods (such as schoolboys used to be whipped with) 

 are hung behind their stalls, and descend automati- 

 cally when the alarm strikes ; but the old horses laugh 

 at this gentle flagellation ; they refuse to hurry their 

 pace, and, alone among the fire horses of Boston, they 

 advance with slow and measured step from the stable 

 to the engine house. 



The only remaining question which we have to ask 

 is this : What becomes of them all ? What fate is in 

 store for Old Joe, for Grief, for that veteran hose- 

 cart steed, who gallops with his heavy load till the 

 blood runs from his nostrils ? When thoroughly 

 worn out, fire horses are sold, or, more commonly, 

 handed over to a dealer in part payment for new ani- 

 mals. In some cities, in Brooklyn, in New York also. 



