READING. 



How Beautiful Jim Key was 

 taught, by Dr. William Key. 



Finely Bred. 



"For nearly a year after Jim was foaled I had no hope of him. 

 Knowing he was the finest bred horse in the country, I was very 

 anxious to see what he would turn out, for Lauretta, his dam, was the 

 smartest horse I had ever seen, and his sire, Tennessee Volunteer — 

 well, he couldn't be beat. But Jim pretty near done broke my heart, 

 for he was the most spingled, shank-legged animal I ever did see. 

 There was an old, no-account, bow-legged nigger named Jim that lived 

 near me, and I named Jim after him, though I had some very fine 

 Bible names picked out; but I took mighty fine care of Jim, and be- 

 fore long, his legs began to straighten out. He was a knowing colt, I 

 tell you. He just lived in my house and would follow me around like a 

 dog. He wanted to know what everything was, and I commenced to 

 teach him simple things. One of the first things he learned, and I 

 didn't teach it to him, either, was to unfasten the gate and let himself 

 out in the road. 



