HOW TO TEACH A HORSE TRICKS. 239 



"Do you see that colored boy standing over there?" The 

 horse bowed, signifying that he did. I then asked him if he 

 thought he could catch the boy, and he replied by bowing that he 

 could. Then I said to him : 



" If he does not leave, will you go and bring him to me V 

 The horse answered in the affirmative. 



This was too much for the boy, who immediately took to his 

 heels and ran for dear life, probably thinking that the horse 

 would surely catch him, as he had answered all questions relative 

 to himself. 



At another time, while in Acamack County, Va., I went out one 

 morning to see how my horse Tom was being cared for, as I sus- 

 pected that he was not fed as I wished. On entering the stable 

 I said : 



" Did you have a plenty of corn this morning V s and he quickly 

 shook his head as much as to say " No." 



The colored stable-boy stood near and heard me question the 

 horse. He looked first at the horse, then at me, and said : 



" Look here, massa, dat ar horse ain't telling de truff " 



" Well," I replied, "you give him about four ears of corn, and 

 if he refuses to eat them, I will know he did not tell the truth > 

 but I have never known that horse to tell a lie." 



The boy went off, and soon returned with four ears of corn, 

 which he gave to the horse. Of course, he began eating the corn, 

 at which the boy remarked : 



" Dat ar hoss am de smartest what dis 'fisticated young nigger 

 eber seed in he life." 



Now, as you have taught your horse to lie down, sit up, come 

 to you when you call him, pick up any designated article, answer 

 questions, follow you about, etc., you are prepared to go on and 

 teach him other tricks, by the experience and methods employed 



