JUSTIN MORGAN 



CHAPTER I. 



EARLY INFLUENCES. 



Once upon a time — but why should I begin this horse- 

 tale as if it were a mere fairy-tale? It is founded on 

 the story of a real horse in a setting of incidents related 

 in the histories of the various localities in which he lived. 

 Where possible, history has been so closely followed as 

 to use the real names of those vigorous pioneers who 

 helped to make it. 



And so, upon a certain time — 



In 1789,'^' when there were but thirteen stars on the 

 American flag, and George Washington was the newly- 

 made President, near Springfield, Massachusetts, a colt 

 was born, a colt destined to become the founder of the 

 finest breed of horses ever known in America. 



A wide, lush pasture on the gently-sloping bottom 

 land, through which the Connecticut River winds its 

 way to the Sound, was the scene of his earliest gamboll- 

 ing. 



* According to Joseph Battell. Encyclopedia Britannica says 

 1793. 



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