156 JUSTIN MORGAN 



"That sounds reasonable — if Morgan was younger." 

 "Younger? Why, man, this horse'U never grow old! 

 Wait and take a look at him." 



The "old" horse was led out, bold and ambitious, his 

 eyes bright, his ears pointing, his spirit fresh as ever ! 

 He stepped smartly about, supple and sound as a horse 

 of ten, at the most. It is the spirit that makes the horse 

 and there was a springiness of youth in his gait. Well 

 had he known — this wise animal — that every trait and 

 characteristic he developed in himself would be his gift 

 to posterity ! His feeling of responsibility to future 

 generations was great.* 



A week later the Morgan was led to the Tavern en- 

 trance in Burlington. He stepped nobly, and understood 

 all the paces and evolutions of a showy parade-horse. 



At the door of the Tavern appeared a man, noticeable 

 for that dignified and courtly bearing that marked the 

 Colonial gentleman. He was attired in a costume of 

 the latest cut — somewhat new to the Vermonters. 



He raised his hat and bowed to the right and left as 

 cheer after cheer rose from the people who recognized 

 their President. 



Accompanied by General Joseph G. Swift, he started 

 down the steps. 



Suddenly over the face of President James Monroe 

 there passed a look of keen interest, followed by one of 

 intense admiration. 



He had caught sight of Morgan, and his eye, unerring 

 in its judgment of horseflesh, was arrested at once by 



* "I see horses every day with, perhaps, a thirty-second part of 

 the blood of Old Justin Morgan, but there it is, still predominat- 

 ing; there is the Morgan still to be seen plainly. Every close 

 observer, every discerning judge of horses always admits this 

 tendency of his blood." — From an article by James D. Ladd, Wal- 

 lace's Monthly, July, 1882. 



