138 THE MORGAN HORSE 



more tractable, was exceedingly spirited, and a keen, rapid driver, 

 possessed of great powers of endurance, a free and noble spirit, that 

 needed neither whip nor spur, and courage that never flagged". 



In his discussion of " Different Families", Mr. Linsley says: 

 "We think the Shermans are generally smaller than the Woodburys. 

 They are more inclined to be hollow-backed, but their backs are very 

 short, with wide, full and exceedingly muscular loins, so that, although 

 some of them may be called hollow-backed, yet we venture to say 

 that none of them were ever known to have weak backs. They are 

 deeper in the chest, with more prominent breast-bone, and lighter 

 quarters than the Woodburys. Their limbs are superlatively good ; 

 and, although they oftener have more long hair upon them than the 

 Woodburys, yet underneath this hair will invariably be found a hard, 

 sinewy limb, free from wind-galls or any other unsoundness. They 

 have a shorter gait than the Bulrushes, and do not raise their feet as 

 high in traveling. They have not so bold, eager and commanding a 

 style of action as the Woodburys, but we think they have a better 

 temper for driving, and full as much spirit; and nothing can exceed 

 their courage on the road. They have a more rapid walk than either 

 of the other families, and an exceedingly short, nervous step that 

 creeps up the longest hills at a rate that would surprise a person un- 

 acquainted with them. They are easily broken to harness, and, 

 though spirited, are very gentle and tractable, and may be easily 

 taught to stand, without fastening, wherever left. A little circum- 

 stance that came under our own observation will illustrate this. 

 Sitting one evening in the hotel at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, and talk- 

 ing with a conductor of the Passumpsic railroad, we said to him that 

 we understood he had a very smart little mare of the Sherman fam- 

 ily. He said he had, that she was out in the street before a cutter, 

 and as the night was not very dark, proposed that we should go out 

 and look at her. We went out upon the steps, but did not notice any 

 animal about the premises. However, our friend commenced calling 

 'Nelly! Nelly! here Nelly'! and sure enough the mare, who was 

 standing on the opposite side of the street, and some six or seven 

 rods from us, pricked up her ears, and immediately came over to the 

 place where we were standing. We jumped into the sleigh and took 

 a turn down the street, the mare proving herself as spirited as she 

 was gentle. 



" The Shermans, like the Woodburys, are generally chestnut or 

 bay, chestnut being the prevailing color, light chestnut being more 

 common in this than the other families. A white stripe or star in the 

 face, and white hind feet are common. 



