92 JUSTIN MORGAN 



pleased was Mistress Hannah to be able to awaken so 

 much admiration for her husband's taste. 



Unfortunately David did not wait until the Sabbath 

 to wear his new hat ; had he done so history, in all likeli- 

 hood, would never have recorded the fact that he had 

 owned a beaver. 



The very next morning he came swinging out of the 

 house looking most gentlemanly in his high stock, ruffled 

 shirt and shining boots. On his head sat, most jauntily, 

 the new hat. 



David was off for a town meeting. 



Down the road cantered Morgan, meeting many ac- 

 quaintances who paused in speechless admiration until 

 they passed out of sight. Some with envy, alack ; some 

 with criticism of the extravagance, but others with 

 friendly nod of greeting and approval. 



The sun shone, the crisp air was fragrant with pine 

 needles, and birds chirped in the trees that fringed the 

 highway. Morgan champed his bit and curvetted from 

 one side of the road to the other, his heart full of the 

 morning freshness. 



Suddenly a yellow dog came in sight, and the horse, 

 full of fun and spirit, lowered his head and made a dash 

 at him, remembering his colt-days and the game of 

 "Red-Coats." The dog tucked his tail between his hind- 

 legs and made off down the road at lightning speed. 



This was enough to rouse Morgan ; even though he 

 did not like dogs, he thought it might be a race. Helter, 

 skelter, he started ; ever fleet in running, he was soon 

 gaining slowly, but surely, on the dog, who was little 

 more than a yellowish brown streak on the landscape. 



Morgan heard David say, good-naturedly : 



''Go it, my boy, stop when you get good and ready ; I 

 am having as much fun as you." 



Once, as the dog glanced hurriedly back over his 



